4. THE BOOK OF ACTS.

FROM SAUL TO PAUL.

Saul was born in Tarsus. He was from a Jewish family living in Tarsus, a trading city in the Mediterranean in Asia Minor. (He was of the Benjamin tribe in Israel.)                                       Tarsis was influential in trade since the time of Alexander the Great. Today, the country from which Paul came is now called Turkey.

Saul was trained as a Pharisee, a sect of the Jewish faith.

Acts 23:6, Saul was indeed a “Pharisee of the Pharisees” and a son of a Pharisee.  Now, Paul states this in his own words in the book of Philippians, chapter 3:5,6. He studied under a renowned Pharisaic teacher, Gamaliel, one of the great teachers of the first century.

He studied the Prophets, Classical literature and Philosophy.

SAULS  ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS CHRIST.

Saul, being a Pharisee hated those Jews who had been converted into Christianity. He spoke murderous threats against them.

He was a man of super intelligence and passionate Legalism. He was angry with those who contradicted  the laws of God. He saw the church as subversive and dangerous. He strove to abolish all believers who followed “The Way” the true message of the Gospel.

While riding to Damascus with an order from the High Priest to arrest all believers living there. He rode down the road to Damascus, and Saul was suddenly  blinded by a flash of heavenly light with an incredible voice of accusation saying,

“SAUL, SAUL, WHY. ARE YOU PERSECUTING ME?”

Saul was thrown from his horse and fell on to the hard stoney ground before anyone could catch him. Everything was dark and he badly bruised cried out.

The air was electric!

“WHO ARE YOU LORD?”

The voice said,             “I AM JESUS, WHOM YOU ARE PERSECUTING. NOW GET UP AND ENTER THE CITY, AND YOU WILL BE TOLD WHAT TO DO.”

Saul was helped to his feet. He couldn’t stop shaking and was very much afraid as he still had no sight!

After this frightening encounter, Saul never doubted that Jesus Christ had made His last resurrection appearance to Saul, “One born out of time.”

Saul, now humbled, repented of his evil ways. Three days later, he was baptised. God had chosen a reluctant Ananias to lay hands on him and heal his eyes. Scales fell from them, and much to his delight, he could see again.

So Saul was renamed by the Lord and took on the name “Paul.”                       This indicated the radical change God had wrought in his life. After a period of preparation and prayer, he then began to share his testimony of the risen Christ with the Greeks.

This took place twenty-five years after Jesus’ crucifixion. Paul travelled the Roman Empire. He preached in Cyprus and the lower cities of Asia Minor, then in the northern cities. He then crossed over to Macedonia and travelled south into Greece, Philippi, Barea, Athens, and Corinth.

He wrote many letters of encouragement to all the churches he birthed.

When times are hard, remember the life of Paul with all the challenges he faced, take courage and  soldier on.

In today’s World, things are definitely growing worse for the Jew and the Christian.

Paul remained consistent to what he had experienced and preached. Thousands of people came into the Kingdom of God through Christ. Many people were healed, delivered and set free.

Indeed, Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit, confirmed by speaking in a heavenly language. Through much hardship, persecution and even temporary death, he persevered in spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ.

PAUL IS NOW A THREAT TO THE AUTHORITIES.

When he was in the Temple at Jerusalem, certain people cried out.

“THIS IS THE MAN WHO IS TEACHING AGAINST THE LAW, AND AGAINST THIS PLACE. HE IS DEFILING THE TEMPLE!”

These accusations stirred up a big mob, and they grabbed him and dragged him into the street and began to beat him to death. A massive riot began.

The Roman Tribune quickly sent Centurians and Soldiers to enforce peace. They arrested Paul and bound him with chains,  beat him and carried him to prison bleeding and severely battered.

Paul lay there in that filthy prison in so much pain, yet rejoicing that he was worthy to suffer persecution for the sake of Christ.

Dear Christian, are you willing to suffer persecution for the sake of following CHRIST?                        It’s happening everywhere in this world,  Christians are persecuted by ISIS’s radical terrorists.

AUSTRALIA 🌏 BEWARE!!

OUR TURN IS COMING!

Be armed with the Word of God, fixed firmly in your memory so you will have an answer according to the hope that is in you”

Be bold, brave, and prepared, as you remember that the Lord is with you and will keep you from falling into compromise, Be continually filled by the Holy Spirit, He will teach you how to answer your enemies.

Jesus said,                       “I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU OR FORSAKE YOU.”

You may not be a Paul and travel the seas to preach the Good News of the Gospel, you may be a housewife, or a worker on the Council roadworks, but …

“THOSE WHO KNOW THEIR GOD, WILL DO GREAT EXPLOITS.”

Be vigilant and a loyal follower of Christ. Stay close to God and don’t return evil for evil; stand against evil, forgiving one another as Christ has forgiven you.

We will win in the end because He has overcome all  evil, making us “more than conquerors through Him who loves us so!”

As Paul never gave up but fought the good fight and finished his course, and the Lord laid up for him a crown of Life in Glory.

Amen.

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Heather Dalzell.               0427545814

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