FOLLOW THE LEADERhow some of the Corinthian Christians belittled him because he was not
physically impressive. Their criticism was that Paul was “...‘timid’ when
face to face, but ‘bold’ when away!” They further said that “...in person
he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing” (II Cor. 10:1,
10). Paul even admitted that he had come to them “...in weakness and
fear, and with much trembling” (I Cor. 2:3). Paul further suggests that
he was not that eloquent of a speaker. “My message and my preaching,”
Paul admits, “were not with wise and persuasive words...” (I Cor. 2:4).
If it was not Paul’s physical appearance or his speaking ability – what
was it that made him stand out? What was it that caused people to stop
and take notice of him? Why was it that his presence could not be long
ignored? What was it that made his life such a spiritual and social catalyst?
Why was his presence so divisive that you were either for him or against
him? I think there were two distinguishing marks of his life. First, the
presence of Christ, and secondly, the power of the Holy Spirit. Let’s look at
those two distinguishing things for a moment – attributes that made Paul
such a personal precipitator:
Th e Presence of Christ: Everywhere Paul went, he was marching in a victory
parade – which is hard to ignore! He exclaimed: “Thanks be to God, Who
always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ...” Paul used a familiar
mental image for his readers. It was one of a victorious military general
returning from battle – with both his soldiers and captives following
along behind his chariot in “triumphal procession.” That kind of victory
parade marching through town would be impossible to ignore! But it did
not stop there. It was not a physical battle that Paul was celebrating. It
was a spiritual “triumphal procession” over Satan, sin and death. It was
not his victory that Paul was celebrating – like some egotistical Roman
General. It was Christ’s victory that Paul celebrated everywhere he went.
It was because he was “in Christ” that everywhere he went God used him
to “...spread everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.” But
not everyone wanted to smell the “fragrance of Christ.” They preferred
the more familiar stench of death and decay that they had grown up with.
Paul’s provocative presence was the “...smell of death” to those who were
perishing, and the “...fragrance of life” to those who were being saved.
Through it all, there was also a humble integrity about Paul’s life that could
not be ignored. He readily admitted that in and of himself, he was “...not