Apostle Paul's Vision: To Make All Men See
Ephesians 3:9a
And to make all men see…
What I love about this portion of scripture is the use of the word “all”. Paul’s vision was the world! If you read about his life in the scriptures, you will discover that he was more than just talk. He literally “fought Hell by the acre” as some would say, just to be able to finish his course. What drives a man to the point in his heart and mind where he will stop at nothing to fulfill the mission entrusted to his care? What makes a man, who was tortured, shipwrecked, imprisoned, abused, betrayed, and plotted against during his entire ministry, say something like, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”? Seriously, the man would not cower, bend, bow, or quit at nothing! The only time he quit was when he was martyred for the name of Christ, and that’s because he had no choice! And even now, he being dead yet speaketh!
What I’m attempting to point out is the level of passion and commitment Paul had in fulfilling his mission! I believe that if Paul had what we call a “mission statement”, it would be this; To make all men see! I truly believe that what made Paul’s ministry so powerful was the drive that was put in him the day Jesus saved him and put him in the ministry. That drive was fueled by what Paul saw for the first time in his entire life; a Jesus that was not defined by religion, nor halted by death. The same can be true for us; if we were to see Jesus in all of HIS glory, minus our preconceived ideas of who He is, and if we could see Him ALIVE and WELL, then we too would adopt this mission statement, “To make all men see”!
As a matter of fact, the more I SEE Him, the more I burn with passion to help others see Him even as I have. Those of you who have spent some time in His presence understand what I am talking about. The truth is, most people who even grow up in church hear about Jesus, read about Jesus, and talk about Jesus, but never really SEE Him for who He is! Oh that we may KNOW Him! Oh that we might taste of the POWER of His resurrection, and that we might partake in the FELLOWSHIP of His sufferings. If you ever get a real close glimpse of HIM, you will never be the same, and you’ll want to spend the rest of your days making other men see Him as well! And for those of you who would like to see me just quit, sorry, but I’ve seen too much to be quiet!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill
And to make all men see…
What I love about this portion of scripture is the use of the word “all”. Paul’s vision was the world! If you read about his life in the scriptures, you will discover that he was more than just talk. He literally “fought Hell by the acre” as some would say, just to be able to finish his course. What drives a man to the point in his heart and mind where he will stop at nothing to fulfill the mission entrusted to his care? What makes a man, who was tortured, shipwrecked, imprisoned, abused, betrayed, and plotted against during his entire ministry, say something like, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”? Seriously, the man would not cower, bend, bow, or quit at nothing! The only time he quit was when he was martyred for the name of Christ, and that’s because he had no choice! And even now, he being dead yet speaketh!
What I’m attempting to point out is the level of passion and commitment Paul had in fulfilling his mission! I believe that if Paul had what we call a “mission statement”, it would be this; To make all men see! I truly believe that what made Paul’s ministry so powerful was the drive that was put in him the day Jesus saved him and put him in the ministry. That drive was fueled by what Paul saw for the first time in his entire life; a Jesus that was not defined by religion, nor halted by death. The same can be true for us; if we were to see Jesus in all of HIS glory, minus our preconceived ideas of who He is, and if we could see Him ALIVE and WELL, then we too would adopt this mission statement, “To make all men see”!
As a matter of fact, the more I SEE Him, the more I burn with passion to help others see Him even as I have. Those of you who have spent some time in His presence understand what I am talking about. The truth is, most people who even grow up in church hear about Jesus, read about Jesus, and talk about Jesus, but never really SEE Him for who He is! Oh that we may KNOW Him! Oh that we might taste of the POWER of His resurrection, and that we might partake in the FELLOWSHIP of His sufferings. If you ever get a real close glimpse of HIM, you will never be the same, and you’ll want to spend the rest of your days making other men see Him as well! And for those of you who would like to see me just quit, sorry, but I’ve seen too much to be quiet!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill