Introduction: I enjoy reading biographies and auto-biographies of great Christians: Billy Graham, Charles Spurgeon, Henry Parsons Crowell, and I have many others in my library. It is inspiring and encouraging to see their joys and sorrows, trials and triumphs. Here Paul speaks of himself, and the thoughts he had about the ministry that God had given to him. We learn four things about Paul.....

I. Paul was grateful that God had given him a ministry.

A. Paul was the Apostle to the Gentiles (Acts 9:1-16).

B. God acted in mercy to give that ministry to Paul. He really deserved judgment, not mercy.

C. God has likewise given a ministry to each of us (Ephesians 4:7-12).

II. Paul was concerned to do his ministry with integrity.

A. He had renounced secret and shameful ways (moral purity).

B. He refused to practice deception. (Illustration)

C. He was careful not to distort God's Word. "Distort" may also be translated: "adulterate, falsify or use deceitfully."

D. We need to do our ministries with integrity, too.

III. Paul's ministry focused on Jesus and the Gospel.

A. Those who reject Jesus are perishing. It is an unpopular doctrine, and rejected by many today; but the Bible tells us that eternal damnation awaits all who reject Jesus (Revelation 20:11-15).

B. Unbelievers have no spiritual light, because Satan blinds them. Unbelievers SAY that they have light, but you must not believe them. The most blind person of all is the one who refuses to recognize his problem and seek help.

C. Believers have light, because God shines it into their hearts. It is God's grace, not deserved by us.

D. Paul preached Jesus as Lord, not merely as Savior. You cannot have one without the other (James 2:14-26).

IV. Paul viewed himself as a mere clay jar containing great treasure.

A. Paul did indeed have many faults and sins: He was half blind, short of stature, not a polished speaker. Before becoming a Christian he was a "Pharisee of the Pharisees" and presided over the killing and imprisonment of Christians.

B. But God accomplished great things through Paul. Many converts, many new churches, the authorship of much of the New Testament.

Conclusion: We are like Paul. We have many faults, sins and weaknesses. But God in His mercy may use us to do wonderful things, for the Glory of His Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.