You must be in fellowship prior to your Bible study, so that the spiritual information you receive can become a source, of blessing to your soul and produce spiritual growth.
7 Whereof[hos] I was made[ginomai] a minister,[diakonos]
according[kata] to the gift[dorea] of the grace[charis] of
God[theos] given[didomi] unto me[moi] by[kata] the effectual working[energeia] of his[autos] power.[dunamis] KJV-Interlinear
7 of which
I was made a minister, according to the gift of God's grace which was given to
me according to the working of His power. NASB
When Paul was still on the road to Damascus and still blinded by the light, Christ commanded him to arise for he was to be appointed a minister.
Paul did not seek the appointment, nor did he ask for it. Christ simply appointed him and that, as they say, was that.
God knows what he is doing and what the outcome will be from that which He does.
The gospel and the scriptures were going to be spread throughout the world and they were going to be started by Paul and the apostles and all who God appoints throughout history.
In every generation, God appoints people to teach doctrine. None are appointed so dramatically as Paul, but none the less, all appointments regardless of the office held by any individual, come from God and from no other source.
If you are a ditch digger, you were appointed to that work by God. If you are a president, you were appointed to that office by God. This appointment does not mean that you are somehow perfect because God chose you, all it means is that God appointed you in accordance with His divine plan, and you fit His purpose, not yours. After all there are many people in positions from throughout history who have been totally evil, and yet their appointments came from God, just as your appointment, in whatever you do, came from God.
Often times God will appointment those of whom the people want, and so evil is perpetuated, however unfortunately, but God does allow people to have that which they want and deserve, even though their choices are really bad. In this fashion, evil chooses evil and disaster comes upon a selfish and evil people by their own hands.
In this case, we have Paul, who was appointed by God, to be the minister of doctrine, and not only doctrine in general, but of new doctrines of the Church Age, so that all may know and understand Gods plan more thoroughly.
Even in verse ten, when we get there, angels will learn of Gods plan just as man learns it. Angels don't know the details of history, but must view it as it unfolds, just as we learn of it.
This appointment was due to the grace of God. Grace means favor, and anything that God does for you, is a huge favor indeed. Your birth was by grace. Your life was and is by grace. All that you have and are, is courtesy of the grace of God. Even obligations and burdens and responsibilities placed upon you, are favors that God has given you in order to help you advance in your spiritual life.
Pauls appointment came with its drama and pressures and sufferings and so forth, and eventually ended with his execution, and it was still the best thing that could possibly have happened to him.
Regardless of the things that are in your life, all that you see and hear and experience and do or don't do, are there for your benefit and growth. You can either take advantage of your situation and advance in your spiritual life, or you can grumble and moan and complain and waste your God given opportunities for greatness.
The spiritual life is designed for greatness for all of eternity. Unfortunately far too many people grumble through life and do not recognize the poor decisions they are making and what they are really losing.
