The Holy Spirit used Paul to pen the deep things of God's heart.  Instead of starting each of his letters with our modern-day custom of "Dear so-and-so," Paul started his letters with the Holy Spirit's declaration of who Paul is.  It was out of that holy declaration that Paul dared to write the deep things of God. 

 

The Holy Spirit now uses these penned words to write upon our hearts God's declaration of who we are in Christ.  Our highest calling in life is to come along side others to teach (disciple) them to live out of God's declaration written upon their hearts.

 

Following is my amplification of the first word in Paul's letter to the Romans -- PAUL.  Enjoy and be encouraged!

To my dear brothers and sisters in Rome, this is Paul.  P-a-u-l.  PAUL!  Oh how I love the sound of that name!  It's not that I love that name per se, but I love the One who gave me that name!  Jesus gave me that name.  Jesus.  J-e-s-u-s.  JESUS!  Now that's the name I love!  You see, my name is in Jesus' name.  Yes, I am in Christ!  I can pray in His name.  I can love in His name.  And I am writing you this love letter in His name and to be signed "Paul."

 

My name has not always been Paul.  I was once Saul, but (pardon my grammar) I ain't no more!  As Saul, I graduated top of my class from the best seminary in the world.  I just knew God was so proud to have me on His team.  I was so busy working for God that I could not hear the cries for help from others...and I really never heard God either...I just heard my own voices of pride.

 

However, Grace Himself spoke to me on an ol' dusty road to Damascus.  Christ blinded me so that I could focus on hearing His strong, yet tender voice.  And I heard Him call me by my name Saul.  How could the spotless Lamb of God speak such a dirty word as that?  "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"

 

I am so grateful He called me by my sinful name.  He met me where I was right in my self-righteousness.  My hearing Christ certainly did not have anything to do with Saul's ability to hear...it had all to do with Christ's ability to speak.  Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!

 

And Christ named me Paul!  He took my old name Saul as His own name on the cross...and He took ol' Saul to the grave.  That old name is gone forever and ever amen!  On Easter morning, He arose and called me by my new name Paul.  P-a-u-l.  PAUL!  A new name for a new life. 

 

Gasps from millions of angels thundered from eternity past through the halls of heaven and into my new heart when the risen Christ uttered the name "Paul" for the first time!  Then the angels sang:

 

 

I stood in weakness but in a newfound boldness, as a trophy of God's grace, and heartily responded to join the chorus, "I, Paul, will...I, Paul, will...I, Paul, will glorify Your name O Lord!"

 

So everything I am about to share with you in this letter is to glorify the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to be the outshining of His voice...from His heart through my personality to you in Rome...and to a fellow in South Carolina...and to many others!

 

Whew!  I no longer have to strive making a name for myself!  I am free!  I am free to be who I already am because of what Christ did to re-name me and who He is now in me Paul.  I am free to write living words I hear from the living Word of God Himself!

 

Paul.  Oh how I do love that name for it is permeated with the genuine life of the name above all names -- Jesus Christ! 

 

And now I can truly relate with you through your new name in Christ!  You and I, we have the same family name and we are now called as a family to turn this world upside down (Acts 17:6)!

 

Therefore, I have only one credential for writing this letter...I have only one claim for the authority with which I send this letter...I have only one reason for my joy in writing to you...I have only one hope as you read this letter:  MY NAME IS PAUL!

 

I am a missionary with

a non-profit, non-denominational

discipleship counseling

and training ministry.

 

Our goal is to minister Christ

through proclaiming

the message of the cross

with passion and clarity.

 

The message of the cross is the death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and seating of Christ AND

our being united with Christ

throughout this complete work.

 

This message is the purpose of history and of our lives, and is worth giving our lives!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 "The High Calling of Discipleship"

Testimonies by Gregg and friends including Bobby Richardson