Scripture:
"And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this waya, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, And heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink." Acts 9:2-9
"Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief."[1] I Timothy 1:13
You have to get the whole picture here. Saul (who became Paul) – was a Zealous Pharisee the scripture says. This was a “Zealous” man for the law. He was a Pharisee who gave his all to the persecution of the Christians. You know the Story of Stephen being stoned to death. Saul was right there in the middle of it throwing the stones that killed a fellow Christian.
You know, lot's of "you knows" in this blog, there are many people in this world who firmly believe they are doing the right thing. They give everything to their cause yet it can often be so contradictory to the Word of God. Are these people still important in Gods eyes? ABSOLUTELY!
You never know one of them may be your pastor some day, or an evangelist, or a missionary!
In his autobiography, Col. Harland Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame says that he was always a God-fearing man. In every venture he gave God a tenth of the profits. Yet he knew that if he died, God probably wouldn’t take him to heaven.
Worried, he traveled to Australia to a special church convention for the answer. He didn’t find it.
One day, Sanders was walking down a street in Louisville, Kentucky, when Rev. Waymon Rodgers of Louisville’s Evangel Tabernacle invited him to some evangelistic services. Several days later, Sanders went. At age 79, he claimed the promises of Rom. 10:9. “When I walked out of that church that night, I knew I was a different man. All my tithing and good deeds had never given me the sense of God’s presence that I knew then,” he says.[2]
I have a simple thought for this blog entry, “There must be a life change”
It isn’t enough to talk the talk, it isn’t even enough to walk the walk! There has to be a life change take place. Saul would become Paul! The man who killed Christians would become one of the greatest missionaries of all times!
We find him preaching in Damascus, he’s persecuted by the very people that he used to work for, the Jews, he becomes one of the 12. There comes a point in a Christians walk with God that we aren’t what we used to be. We aren’t accepted amongst those we once partnered with in the same way.
Have you wondered why relationships have changed in your life since you made a decision for Christ? Have you wondered why you face this inner struggle to change? Perhaps you need to act as Saul did! The light was blinding! He recognized who it was that he was dealing with…he responded to the light by falling to his knees and saying “Lord, who art though”..but it wasn’t until those scales came off that he became Paul and began to preach a different message.
Let the Spirit lift your spiritual scales off our eyes and realize that God is calling you to a greater cause, a greater level of commitment. Perhaps you need to fall to your knees and say, “Who art though Lord” Perhaps you need to start with a relationship with Christ! You may have been a Saul, but He says you’re a Paul!
According to an ancient legend, a man became lost in his travels and wandered into a bed of quicksand.
Confucius saw the mans predicament and said, “It is evident that men should stay out of places such as this.”
Next, Buddha observed the situation and said, “Let that man’s plight be a lesson to the rest of the world.”
Then Mohamed came by and said to the sinking man, “Alas, it is the will of Ala.”
Finally, Jesus appeared on the scene and said, “Take my hand, brother. I will save you!”
-Author Unknown
There are many religions in the world-and most all have things about them which are admirable and even true. But only one provides salvation! Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me” (John 14:6). No other religious leader has ever made that claim-because they can’t. Only Jesus has the power and the authority under heaven to forgive us from our sins and to give us eternal life.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
“What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and loose his own soul?” the scripture asks.
You may be reading this and you haven’t followed the Biblical plan of salvation, you need to make that commitment today!
"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." John 3:5
The only way to be baptized is in the Name of Jesus by immersion in water! Go back and read through the book of Acts and you'll find it's true. The only way to truly be born again is through the Spirit! When the disciples baptized it was always by immersion in the name of Jesus! When people were filled with the Holy Spirit there was evidence of it by speaking in a language that you never learned, what the Bible refers to as speaking in tongues.
You can find more information at www.havenofhope.us
aof this way: Gr. of the way
[1]The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995 (electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version.) (Acts 9: 2-9, 1 Ti 1:12, and other scriptural references). Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[2]Tan, P. L. (1996, c1979). Encyclopedia of 7700 illustrations : A treasury of illustrations, anecdotes, facts and quotations for pastors, teachers and Christian workers. Garland TX: Bible Communications.
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