Last Sunday, in our sermon time, I mentioned how Saul was persecuting Christians in Jerusalem and decided to head for Damascus in order to destroy or murder even more early believers. It was on the road to Damascus, Saul encountered the Lord, was thrown to the ground, and found himself blinded by the Light of Truth. Saul realized he was persecuting the living Lord and turned to Christ for salvation.
God used a man, Ananias, to visit Saul, pray, and ask the Holy Spirit to restore Saul’s eyesight and fill him. Initially, Ananias was leery of meeting with Saul, because of his quest to destroy Christians. But, God revealed to Ananias that Saul was his chosen vessel to bring the gospel to the Gentiles.
In our passage today, we continue the journey with Saul and his new life being led by God’s Spirit. To say that Paul’s conversion stunned a few folks is an understatement. This was a huge change for Saul; he was now heading in a completely different direction as he preached the gospel. However, many of Christ’s early disciples and believers still struggled with a lack of trust when thinking about fellowshipping and sharing ministry with Saul. It wasn’t until Barnabas stood up and encouraged the apostles to embrace Saul that he was welcomed into their group of witnesses.
It is miraculous how the love of Jesus and the work of the Spirit can change a heart and turn a life around. God partners with and uses unlikely people like Saul, you, and me. Sure, not everyone will accept us or be willing to see the grace on our lives, but we are not on earth to please people. We are here to worship and glorify our King. Remember, you carry the supernatural and redeeming gospel of peace, so go today and grow the Kingdom. The Holy Spirit goes with you…
Acts 9:19-31 NLT Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem
19 Saul stayed with the believers [disciples] in Damascus for a few days. 20 And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!”
21 All who heard him were amazed. “Isn’t this the same man who caused such devastation among Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem?” they asked. “And didn’t he come here to arrest them and take them in chains to the leading priests?”
22 Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn’t refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. 23 After a while some of the Jews plotted together to kill him. 24 They were watching for him day and night at the city gate so they could murder him, but Saul was told about their plot. 25 So during the night, some of the other believers[his disciples] lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the city wall.
26 When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he had truly become a believer! 27 Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them that Saul had preached boldly in the name of Jesus in Damascus.
28 So Saul stayed with the apostles and went all around Jerusalem with them, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He debated with some Greek-speaking Jews, but they tried to murder him. 30 When the believers [brothers] heard about this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus, his hometown.
31 The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for this lesson from Saul and for helping us all remember how you have turned our lives around, too. We are ordinary people who serve an extraordinary Lord. Thank you for living in us and filling us with your Spirit of Truth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.