PAUL'S SPIRITUAL SECRET

And he trembling and astonished, said, Lord, what
wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto
him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told
thee what thou must do. Acts: 9:6
Paul greatest among Christians of all ages. What was the
secret? Was it love for the Word, or righteousness or
hatred for unrigheousness? Was it his education? Personality?
Oratorical ability? Or abundance of labors?
NONE of these. It was SUBMISSION.

I. Submission to a person. "Lord, what wilt THOU have
me to do?" Had been breathing out threatenings. Voice
came from Heaven: "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou
me?" Then beautiful submission.

II. Submission to a plan. "Lord, what wilt thou have me
TO DO?"
God spoke to Aananias, too, and when things cleared up
for Paul, then "straightway he preached Christ in the
synagogues, that he is the Son of God."
A. When Holy Spirit called for missionary workers
there was no debating, but obedience.
B. When plan called for Paul to suffer, he was ready.
To Philippi he wrote: "That I may know him, and
the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of
his suffering, being made conformable unto his
death."
C. When called on to lose reputation, hear him in
I Cor. 4: 9-10. "We are made a spectacle unto the
world, and to angels, and to men. We are fools
for Christ's sake."
D. God's plan called for bearing burdens. "I say the
truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing
me witness in the Holy Ghost, that I have great
heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart . . . "
Rom. 9:1-33.

III. A submission to a Power. "I can do all things . . . "
A. Power in face of great odds.
B. Power to overcome temptation.
C. Power to sing at midnight in jail.
D. Power to face the chopping axe. 'I am ready to
be offered."