Redeemer Church Mauritius
Finishing Well: Lessons from the Life of Paul - Carlo Casaleggio
You are invited to reflect deeply on the life of the Apostle Paul, a man who not only started strong in faith but finished even stronger. His life, shaped by grace, marked by suffering, and crowned with eternal reward, challenges every believer to examine what it truly means to finish well in Christ. Drawing from Acts 7 and 9, the message explores the dramatic transformation of Saul of Tarsus, from a fierce persecutor of the Church to one of its most powerful and faithful apostles. At the heart of Paul’s journey are four themes that serve as signposts for anyone desiring to live and finish the Christian life well: Impressions, Intervention, Intention, and Intensity.
Locations & Times
Redeemer Church Mauritius
Mauritius
Sunday 9:30 AM
1. Impressions – Who Has Shaped Your Life?
Paul's life was deeply impacted by the lives of others. First, Stephen, whose courageous and Christlike death left a mark on Saul that would never fade. Stephen’s words of forgiveness and his unwavering commitment to Jesus planted seeds of conviction in Paul long before his conversion.
Then came Ananias, a humble but obedient servant of God, who overcame fear to lay hands on the very man who once hunted down believers. His faithful obedience and quiet courage left an unforgettable impression.
But the deepest and most lasting impression came from Jesus Himself. When Jesus met Paul on the road to Damascus, Paul fell in love with the One he once opposed. From that moment on, Jesus became everything to him.
Who is shaping your life? And whose life are you shaping in return?
Paul's life was deeply impacted by the lives of others. First, Stephen, whose courageous and Christlike death left a mark on Saul that would never fade. Stephen’s words of forgiveness and his unwavering commitment to Jesus planted seeds of conviction in Paul long before his conversion.
Then came Ananias, a humble but obedient servant of God, who overcame fear to lay hands on the very man who once hunted down believers. His faithful obedience and quiet courage left an unforgettable impression.
But the deepest and most lasting impression came from Jesus Himself. When Jesus met Paul on the road to Damascus, Paul fell in love with the One he once opposed. From that moment on, Jesus became everything to him.
Who is shaping your life? And whose life are you shaping in return?
2. Intervention – Has God Broken Into Your Story?
Paul’s transformation was not a result of personal growth or gradual change. It was a divine disruption. A sudden light. A heavenly voice. A complete undoing of the man he was. And it led Paul to ask two of the most vital questions any soul can ask:
- “Who are You, Lord?”
- “What do You want me to do?”
Divine intervention may not always come in the form of blinding light, but it is always life-changing. When God intervenes, He turns lives around—bringing clarity, conviction, and calling. Whether through dramatic encounters or quiet moments of surrender, God still steps in to transform lives today.
Paul’s transformation was not a result of personal growth or gradual change. It was a divine disruption. A sudden light. A heavenly voice. A complete undoing of the man he was. And it led Paul to ask two of the most vital questions any soul can ask:
- “Who are You, Lord?”
- “What do You want me to do?”
Divine intervention may not always come in the form of blinding light, but it is always life-changing. When God intervenes, He turns lives around—bringing clarity, conviction, and calling. Whether through dramatic encounters or quiet moments of surrender, God still steps in to transform lives today.
3. Intention – Do You Know God’s Purpose for Your Life?
In Acts 9:15, God reveals to Ananias that Paul is His “chosen instrument”, set apart to proclaim the name of Jesus to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites, and to suffer for that Name. From the beginning, Paul’s calling came with a cost.
God’s intentions contrast with the many other voices that try to define our lives: our parents, our ambitions, the culture, even the schemes of the enemy. But above all of these, God has a divine plan that surpasses them all. His purpose isn’t always easy, but it is eternal.
Those who have received divine intervention are called to walk in divine intention. God has a plan. The question is whether His people will embrace it, or settle for less.
In Acts 9:15, God reveals to Ananias that Paul is His “chosen instrument”, set apart to proclaim the name of Jesus to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites, and to suffer for that Name. From the beginning, Paul’s calling came with a cost.
God’s intentions contrast with the many other voices that try to define our lives: our parents, our ambitions, the culture, even the schemes of the enemy. But above all of these, God has a divine plan that surpasses them all. His purpose isn’t always easy, but it is eternal.
Those who have received divine intervention are called to walk in divine intention. God has a plan. The question is whether His people will embrace it, or settle for less.
4. Intensity – How Are You Running Your Race?
If anyone lived the Christian life with passion and focus, it was Paul. His life was marked by:
- A call he never abandoned.
- A commitment that endured suffering, imprisonment, persecution, and danger.
- A vision of an eternal crown that kept him pressing forward, even when it cost everything.
Paul’s testimony in 2 Corinthians 11 recounts shipwrecks, beatings, sleepless nights, and hunger, not as complaints, but as proof of his unwavering dedication. He didn’t just live for Christ; he poured out his life for Him. And as Paul neared the end, he declared with confidence: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)
Jesus is the coxswain in our boat race of life, calling out the rhythm and leading His people across the finish line. Like in the Oxford-Cambridge boat race, the rowers keep their eyes on the one who leads. In the same way, believers are called to fix their eyes on Jesus, the One who saves, sustains, and stands to welcome them home.
In Stephen’s final moments, heaven opened, and he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God, an image rarely described in Scripture. The Son of God stood to welcome home a faithful servant. That is what it means to finish well.
If anyone lived the Christian life with passion and focus, it was Paul. His life was marked by:
- A call he never abandoned.
- A commitment that endured suffering, imprisonment, persecution, and danger.
- A vision of an eternal crown that kept him pressing forward, even when it cost everything.
Paul’s testimony in 2 Corinthians 11 recounts shipwrecks, beatings, sleepless nights, and hunger, not as complaints, but as proof of his unwavering dedication. He didn’t just live for Christ; he poured out his life for Him. And as Paul neared the end, he declared with confidence: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)
Jesus is the coxswain in our boat race of life, calling out the rhythm and leading His people across the finish line. Like in the Oxford-Cambridge boat race, the rowers keep their eyes on the one who leads. In the same way, believers are called to fix their eyes on Jesus, the One who saves, sustains, and stands to welcome them home.
In Stephen’s final moments, heaven opened, and he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God, an image rarely described in Scripture. The Son of God stood to welcome home a faithful servant. That is what it means to finish well.
Remember:
This is not just Paul’s story; it’s the story every believer is invited into. May we live lives that bear godly impressions, surrender to divine intervention, walk in God’s intention, and serve with holy intensity. And when our race is done, may we hear the only words that matter: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
This is not just Paul’s story; it’s the story every believer is invited into. May we live lives that bear godly impressions, surrender to divine intervention, walk in God’s intention, and serve with holy intensity. And when our race is done, may we hear the only words that matter: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
