Paul Is Different From Other

¶ … Paul is different from other Biblical praying men because he experienced a radical transformation by God. His life literally turned upside down and he could not run or hide from it. While he underwent a change so powerful that he went by another name thereafter, he was still unique and people recognized this about him. He possessed special strengths and abilities over and above the average praying man. One of the most interesting aspects about him was that he was a healer. He healed a crippled man in Lystra by commanding him to '"Stand up on your feet!'" (Acts 14:10). In Acts 20:10, Paul threw himself upon a young man that fell from a rooftop and died, reviving him. Paul even healed himself when it was necessary. For example, when he arrives at Malta and stirs the fire, a viper jumped on and bit his hand. Paul simply shook the viper into the fire, stunning those around him because the snake did not injure him at all. We read that they even said he was god. (Acts 28: 6). Paul was a regular man but he was also blessed by God - an attribute that would make anyone stand out from a crowd.

2. Paul is similar to other Biblical praying men because he is a believer in the sense that all Christians are believers. He had needs and desires and he prayed to God for assistance in all areas of his life. Paul is like other praying men because he did pray and he did not always receive an answer to those prayers. Yet, he prays. In this sense, Paul is not only doing what he is supposed to do but he is also setting a good example for those around him. He is also similar to other praying men in that he does what he can to spread the word of God and to help new churches establish themselves. Without Paul's service, the word of God would have never traveled as far as it did in that day. Without Paul's persistence and desire for all men to become Christians, the word would have spread so much more slowly. Paul is also like other praying men because he puts others before himself. He risked everything so that others might know God. He made sacrifices and did not question the will of God. Paul is like other praying men because he is human and experiences human things.

3. One instance of a prayer incident in Paul's life can be found in his letter to the Romans. In it, he prays for God to give all believers a "spirit of unity" (Romans 15:5). He prays for other believers to have some of the most important characteristics of all, which are perseverance and hope. This is significant because a sense of unity means life to believers. When the world seems to beat us down, it is good to know that we know like-minded individuals that will be there for us in a time of need. Paul understands this and wants believers to be able to depend on each other even though they are different from one another. When believers are unified, they are joined at the heart and this says a lot in times of trouble and in times of goodness. For believers to be united, they must turn their eyes toward God and not be selfish. This is something that we must practice still today because unity among believers is strong and difficult to break. It seems that Paul prayed for believers everywhere all the time and this small segment of a prayer illustrates his earnest heart.

4. Another instance of a prayer incident in Paul's life can be found in Ephesians 3:14-9. Here, he prays, that God will "strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being... And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge" (Ephesians 3:14-9). This prayer is significant because Paul understands the power of God in each individual believer. The inner man is something that will live forever and this should be very important even in the aspects of daily life. This kind of inner man can only be strengthened through the Holy Spirit and Paul know this so he prays that believers know love that surpasses understanding. He knows that this love will allow believers to endure life's difficult times just as it helps him. Paul also prays that believers experience the depth of God's love, as this is what transforms lives. The strength believers gain from one another and the strength they receive from God cannot be matched by anything on earth and this is why Paul finds a need to pray for these things.

5. Paul's relationship with God looked like an intimate relationship between very best friends that share everything. Paul looked to God for comfort many times because God did indeed provide comfort. In II Corinthians, Paul begins with praising God for his comfort in times of trouble. Paul gives God everything he has and loves God unconditionally. Paul takes everything to God and is open to his answer. He is a true servant and yet he is also a strong man in that he helps other believers find Christ. Paul honored God and respected his word. This honor is reflected in his missions. His relationship with God also looked like the relationship all believers should have with God. It is a living example of honor, respect, love, and faith. His relationship with God illustrates exactly how believers should behave in good times and bad. Believers should always partake of communion with God and they should always communicate with him; they should also let this relationship shine to others so that it will influence others. A relationship with God should be open and it should never be something that believers fear or dread. Paul's relationship with God fits this description and serves as an excellent example.