Today we will look at the salvation story of the Apostle Paul. Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee by training and quickly rising star and leader in the Jewish hierarchy. In his zeal to keep the faith pure he charges off to exterminate the new heretics that we lovingly call the Early Church.
An unexpected complication awaits Saul on the Damascus Road - Jesus the Risen Lord. Saul is literally knocked to the ground by a blinding light and is led away from this fantastic scene by his companions to the nearby town of Damascus. For three days Saul fasts and prays and seeks the Lord.
The Lord appears on the the third day to a man named Ananias and instructs him to go to Saul and pray for his healing. Ananias is understandably reluctant. He has heard of Saul and the persecution he has brought upon the church and he wants no part of him. Finally Ananias obeys, he lays hands on Saul and Saul is filled with the Holy Spirit, his sight is restored, and he is baptized!
For several days he stays with the saints in Damascus - the same folks he was coming to persecute, and he begins to preach that Jesus is indeed the Son of God! Interesting that when Saul (Paul) comes to Jerusalem the Disciples want nothing to do with him! It is our friend Barnabas, the Son of Encouragement that brings Saul to the Disciples and makes a way into the fellowship for him.
Chapter 9 ends with the account of Peter bringing healing to a crippled man and calling a woman who had died back to life! No wonder the church grew and grew in the shadows of these miraculous signs and wonders.
I long to see the Spirit sweep through the church again. I long to see the crippled healed and the dead rise. I wonder what it might take for us to do what we already know to do - witness and pray and love the lost. Perhaps if we are faithful with what we know God will blow through here again.
About Me
- Pastor Bill
- I am a committed follower of Jesus Christ, a happy husband, father and grandfather!
4 comments:
Amen, PB!
I too look forward to a revival with healings and baptisms in the Holy Spirit!
Acts 9 is absolutely one of my favorite chapters - I think I can relate to Saul and the conversion to Paul.
As we talked before, PB, most of my school days were spent "correcting" bullies...
I have talked to some of the guys since then, and the distrust is still there.
I can only imagine Paul going back and trying to convince the people that he is saved and changed.
But the Lord prevails in everything He does.
Thank God He is in control!
This passage is both humbling and invigorating.
I can recall several times as a Camp Aldersgate counselor and Young Life leader when kids seemed to have the idea that I was perfect. To them I was a person who never did anything wrong because I was a Christian, and some accused me of thinking that about myself. This passage is humbling because it reminds me that even the worst sinner can become a follower of Christ and that all sins are equal in God’s eyes anyway. When we would discuss this passage at camp or in Young Life, many kids are have been amazed that a person like Saul could become a Christian. It creates a great discussion.
Furthermore, this terrible sinner who hates Christians becomes an active follower of Christ. I remember first understanding what it means to be a Christian in early high school. I had a hunger to learn as much as I could. I wanted to join groups, go to camp, meet other Christians. I even read a book about something called the Mercy Ships that go to Africa. I sent away for the brochure but then my parents wouldn’t let me go. I think they were worried. Reading about Saul’s excitement when he first becomes a Christian and how he goes to meet with the other believers who are at this point afraid of him reminds me of this excitement for Christ. Sometimes I really need this reminder so that I can remember what I am called to do here on this earth. I am not here to just read the bible and have a nice life, but to go out, find other believers, be excited about Jesus and let everyone know that I am!
Wow, great comments, Sara, PB, and MW.
I'll never get over that verse, "WHO ARE YOU, LORD?" he answers his own question. I wonder if "whoops" went through his mind after that?
His conversion is really a testament to our faith - you don't have to be born perfect and live perfectly your whole life to become a Christian - Jesus paid the price. Saul shows us how this is done, and it's really amazing.
I wonder if how Ananias and the others respond to Paul (Saul) as he shows them he has been converted can be seen today. Let's say Timothy McVeigh becomes a Christian and joins our bible study - will we be concerned at first, or welcome him whole-heartedly? I guess if you think of it that way, it's easy to see why these early disciples had trouble accepting Paul. We need to trust the new believers with the faith, and let the spirit work thought them as much as possible, instead of being nervous.
Miracles and wonders, life changing excitement. Thank God for Paul, he really helped the New Testament!
God Bless!
Marshall
"Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit" - I like this - somewhere between this - well, I'll call it awe of God and comfort of God is where we find our path of discipleship.
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