St.

Paul
The Zealous Servant
By
Fr. Rewis Awadalla
Definition of Service
Service, in general, is an expression of love
The greater the love, the greater the service
The objective of any form of service is aiming
the benefit of those we love
Service is not to glorify the servant but to glorify
the Lord in the life of His children
Serving with sacrificial love would be acceptable
and fruitful
Our Lord Jesus gave
us Himself as ideal
example to follow
He defined the true
and only meaning of
service Just as the
Son of Man did not
come to be served,
but to serve, and to
give His life a ransom
for many (Matt
20:28)
Differences of Ministries
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same
Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but
the same Lord. And there are diversities of
activities, but it is the same God who works all
in all (1Cor 12:4-6)
Three types:
Ministry of the Word (Act 6:4)
Ministry of the needy (Act 9:36,37)
Ministry of the sick, the handicapped, and the
imprisoned (Matt 25:31-37)
A Zealous Servant
St. Paul, being filled with love, was very zealous for the
glory of God and for the salvation of every soul in the
entire world
You yourselves know that these hands have provided
for my necessities and for those who were with me. I
have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that
you must support the weak, and remember the words
of the Lord Jesus, that He said, It is more blessed to
give than to receive (Act 20:34,35)
Evaluation of His Service
To evaluate the service
is to measure the love
behind it
By 3 measures:
1. Sacrificing and giving
mans self
2. Holy zeal for the
salvation of everyone
3. Enduring suffering for
fulfilling the service
Sacrificing
At St. Paul time, Service among Jews was
targeting the servants personal benefits
About them, our Lord Jesus said, Assuredly, I
say to you, they have their reward (Matt 6:2)
St. Paul was qualified to be one of the greatest
Jewish leaders; but he was ready to sacrifice
himself for Christ who loved him
He served with sacrificial love (Act 20:24; Php
3:7-9)
He considered death for Christ a great gain (Php
1:21)
Holy Zeal
St. Paul wished if he was accursed from Christ
for the salvation of all (Rom 9:1-3)
He couldnt tolerate to see someone stumbled or
deprived from Christ (2Cor 11:29)
His ministry revealed that zeal with his feeling of
the spiritual responsibly (Act 20:18-23)
He was not ceased to warn everyone with tears
day and night (Act 20:31) with prayer and fasting
(Act 26:28,29)
Enduring Suffering
Defending his apostleship, St. Paul revealed his
labors and sufferings (2Cor 11:22-28)
He labored abundantly than the other Apostles
(1Cor 15:10)
He took pleasure in infirmities, reproaches,
needs, persecution, and distresses (2Cor 12:10;
Col 1:24)
He was always ready to die for fulfilling his
ministry (Act 21:10-14; Rom 8:36,37)
Characteristics of His Ministry
He preached almost in the entire known world
in 27 years
He was responsible to preach the Gospel to the
un-circumcised (Gal 2:7; Rom 15:20; Act 22:21)
He was sent out by the Holy spirit on three
extended journeys to several countries in Asia
Minor and Europe beside some other short
journeys
He founded many churches in all places he
visited
He was imprisoned 2 years in Caesarea and 2
years in Rome
In his 2
nd
imprisonment in Rome, he was
martyred under Nero
During these periods, he preached and wrote
some Epistles
He is still preaching among us through his
Epistles and his intercessions
During his ministry, he didnt loose his focus on
his personal salvation (1Cor 9:25-27; Rom 15:30)
I have fought the good fight, I have finished
the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is
laid up for me the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to
me on that day. (2Tim 4:7,8)
Words to You
I thank my God, making mention of you
always in my prayers, hearing of your love and
faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and
toward all the saints. (Phil 1:4,5)
I charge you therefore before God and the
Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and
the dead at His appearing and His kingdom;
preach the word. Be ready in season and out of
season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all
longsuffering and teaching (2Tim 4:1,2)
Exhort the young men to be sober-minded. In
all things showing yourself to be a pattern of
good works; in doctrine showing integrity,
reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that
cannot be condemned, that one who is an
opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil
to say of you. (Tit 2:7,8)
Be an example to the believers in word, in
conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
(1Tim 4:12)
Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine.
Continue in them, for in doing this you will save
both yourself and those who hear you. (1Tim
4:16)
As for you, speak the things which are proper
for sound doctrine. (Tit 2:1)
Hold fast the pattern of sound words which
you have heard from me, in faith and love which
are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was
committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who
dwells in us. (2Tim 1:13,14)
Do not be ashamed of the testimony of our
Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me
in the sufferings for the gospel according to the
power of God. (2Tim 1:8)
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on
eternal life, to which you were also called.
(1Tim 6:12)
You therefore must endure hardship as a good
soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in
warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this
life, that he may please him who enlisted him as
a soldier (2Tim 2:3,4)
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled
me, because He counted me faithful, putting me
into the ministry. (1Tim 1:12)