SAUL THE PERSECUTOR / PAUL THE APOSTLE

Newsletter 248 June 19, 2011

Acts 9:1-22
King James Version (KJV)

SAUL THE PERSECUTOR

Do you see a comparison? Saul of Tarsus was a young fire brand sort of personality, on fire for God, or so he thought. He was of good background, well educated at the best money could buy. He had been taught by Gamaliel, the most outstanding teacher of his day. He was a Pharisee, the most strict, of the strict, in as far as the Law of Moses was concerned. He had everything going for him politically, if he was not a member of the Sanhedrin, he was certainly headed there, and he was determined that this upstart movement called simply, “the way” must be stopped and destroyed right from its roots. Apparently he and his followers felt that they had cleared it from Jerusalem, so he turned his attention to Damascus.

What he had not taken to mind was the fact that God had other plans for him; plans that were directly opposite to those he had. God made him with this personality, but directed in a totally different direction. He was a persecutor, today we would say “guilty of murder,” for he “aided and abetted,” and probably organized the stoning of Stephen, an innocent man. God took him over as he was headed to another city to search out these believers in Jesus Christ. First, God stopped him in his tracks as he neared the city, and left him blind and groping for someone to lead him. Listen to what the Bible says.

1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, (Acts 8:3, Acts 9:13-21)

2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. (Acts 9:14, Acts 9:21, Acts 22:5, Acts 26:10, Matthew 10:17, Genesis 14:15, 2 Corinthians 11:32, Galatians 1:17, John 14:6, Acts 18:25, Acts 19:9, Acts 22:4, Acts 24:14, Acts 4:22)

MEETS CHRIST


He was not yet converted while on the way. This bewildered man had time to contemplate what he was doing, and that he had God’s full attention. God was not pleased. That was not what he expected. He expected God to bless and assist him! What did God want? What was he doing that was wrong in God’s sight? He was ready to listen. And God had the answer. “Go into the city, and it shall be told you what you must do.”

3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: (1 Corinthians 15:8)

4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? (Acts 22:7, Acts 26:14)

5 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.

6 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. (Acts 9:16)

7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. (Acts 26:14, John 12:29, Acts 22:9)

SAUL THE HUMBLED LED TO ANTIOCH

He was led into the city of Damascus, where he sat and thought about what had happened. For three days he thought, and you can be sure, prayed. He did not even drink anything.

8 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. Acts 9:18, Acts 22:11, Genesis 14:15,,2 Corinthians 11:32, Galatians 1:17)

9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

GOD SENDS HELP TO HIM

God sent a very reluctant, but obedient man, Ananias, to lead him and baptize him. How would we feel, if we knew about any prospect, what Ananias knew about Saul of Tarsus?

10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. (Galatians 14:15, 2 Corinthians 11:32, Galatians 1:17, Acts 22:12, Acts 10:3, Acts 10:17, Acts 10:19, Acts 11:5, Acts 12:9, Acts 16:9, Acts 18:9)

11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, (Acts 9:30, Acts 11:25, Acts 21:39, Acts 22:3)

12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. (Mark 5:23, Acts 6:6, Acts 9:17)

SOMETIMES GOD GIVES HARD INSTRUCTIONS.

It is not for us to be shy, when God says, “do this.” Ananias probably felt that he was walking into a death trap, but nevertheless, he went, and he did his part in the conversion and baptism of the most powerful evangelist the world has ever known. God had a plan for Saul, and Ananias had a simple part in making it come to be. Because he did this, it was said later of Paul that he “turned the world upside down.” for the Lord.

13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: (Acts 8:3, Acts 9:32, Acts 9:41, Acts 20:10, Romans 1:7, Romans 15:25, Romans 15:26, Romans 16:2, Romans 16:15, 1 Corinthians 1:2)
14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. (Acts 9:2, Acts 9:21, Acts 7:59)

15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: (Acts 13:2, Romans 1:1, Romans 9:23, Galatians 1:125, Ephesians 3:7, Acts 22:21, Acts 26:17, Romans 1:5, Romans 11:13, Romans 15:16, Galatians 1:16, Galatians 2:7, Ephesians 3:1, Ephesians 3:8, 1 Timothy 2:7, 2 Timothy 4:17, Acts 25:22, Acts 26:1, Acts 26:32)

16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. (Acts 20:23, Acts 21:4, Acts 21:11, Acts 21:13, 2Corinthians 6:4, 2 Corinthians 11”23-27, 1 Thessalonians 3:3)

17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. (Mark 5:23, Acts 6:6, Acts 9:12, Acts 22:13, Acts 2:4)

18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

WAS HIS EYESIGHT THE “THORN”?

Even after all of this preparation, God chose to leave Saul with one major weakness, probably eye problems. The glorious light from above had simply been too much for human eyes to handle. This remaining problem, which he called a “thorn in the flesh” stayed with him for life, (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) a constant reminder of what he had been, and now had become. He was now a new man, with a new direction in his life. From then on, we know him as, “Paul the Apostle.” He became a “fire brand’ for God in God’s way now. You and I an rejoice in this. Without it, history would be different, and mankind would possibly already have destroyed all life on earth.. He wasted no time and immediately began to preach Christ, to the very people that he carried letters of authority to destroy what he was now preaching.

19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. (Acts 26:20, Acts 9:26, Acts 9:38, Acts 11:26)

20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. (Acts 13:5, Acts 13:14, Acts 16:13, Acts 17:2, Acts 17:10, Acts 18:4, Acts 18:19, Acts 19:8, Matthew 4:3, Acts 9:22, Acts 19:33)

21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? (Acts 8:3, Acts 9:13, Galatians 1:13, Galatians 1:23, Acts 9:14)

THE TEACHER IS MORE BLESSED

22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

If we allow him, we too can be a changed people, being a light to the darkness around us. Remember, I said, “see a comparison.”

There are a misinformed people of great zeal, ready to give their very lives for a false message that they believe to be the will of God. We are engaged in a “holy war” in that sense only. God sent a reluctant believer, fearing for his very life, to convert just such a man. God is able to bring about just such a change when the time is right. This is the same God, the same Jesus,. The same personality, dedication to a false premise, and we are certainly as hesitant as was Ananias.

Who knows but perhaps we are today’s equivalents of Esther to whom it was said, “Who knows but that thou art come unto the kingdom for such a time as this.“ (Esther 4:14) We are of his kingdom, the church. Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (1 Timothy 6:15)

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READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2011
JUNE

19th. Sunday – 1 Kings 7, Acts 13:26-52, Psalm 75
20th. Monday – 1 Kings 8, Acts 14, Psalm 76
21st. Tuesday – 1 Kings 9, 10, Acts 15:1-22, Proverbs 15:9-18
22nd. Wednesday - 1 Kings 11, Acts 15:23-41, Psalm 77:1-9
23rd. Thursday - 1 Kings 12, Acts 16:1-18, Psalm 77:10-20
24th. Friday – 1 Kings 13, Acts 16:19-40, Psalm 78:1-8
25th. Saturday - 1 Kings 14, 15, Acts 17, Proverbs 15:19-26


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THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE

“Who knows but that thou art come unto the kingdom for such a time as this.“

Esther 4:14

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We Three Tortoises...

Three tortoises, Mick, Alan and Les, decide to go on a picnic. So Mick packs the picnic basket with Coke and sandwiches. The trouble is the picnic site is ten miles away so it takes them ten days to get there.

When they get there Mick unpacks the food and Coke. "Ok, Les Give me the bottle opener."

"I didn't bring it," says Les. "I thought you packed it."Mick gets worried, He turns to Alan, "Did you bring the bottle opener??"

Naturally Alan didn't bring it. So they're stuck ten miles from Home without a bottle opener. Mick and Alan beg Les to go back for it, but he refuses as he says they will eat all the sandwiches.

After two hours, and after they have sworn on their tortoise lives that they will not eat the sandwiches, he finally agrees. So Les sets off down the road at a steady pace.

Twenty days pass and he still isn't back and Mick and Alan are starving, but a promise is a promise.

Another five days and he still isn't back, but a promise is a promise. Finally they can't take it any longer so they take out a sandwich each, and just as they are about to eat it, Les pops up from behind a rock and shouts....

"I KNEW IT!......I'M NOT FREAKING GOING!