When last we saw Paul/Saul he was meeting Christ on the road to Damascus. If you will remember he was out persecuting the church which he considered a false religion. Saul was a Pharisee, a rich young ruler, he was present at the murder of Stephen and was taking his work very seriously. Then he met Christ in a blinding light.
Acts 9:6-9KJV
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.
7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
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.
9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
Saul was so deeply affected by this visit that he neither ate nor drink for 3 days. The Glory of Christ had blinded him, he could not see, the men with him had to lead him. Here the mighty Saul was humbled, his mission was completely thwarted by Christ, his heart was turned upside/down, inside/out. All that he knew and was purposed to do was turned into nothingness.
Has that ever happened to you? You are purposed to something, feeling that you are about to embark on a mighty work for God only to have your feet knocked out from under you? Saul was ignorant in his mission, his eyes at the start were so clouded by man's religion and man's purpose that Christ had to blind him so he could truly see. Too often we are so lost in our own ways, our own purpose that God is left out through our ignorance, our ability and our "vision" of what needs to be.
However, Saul did not roll over, curl into a fetal position and cry. No he sought the Lord. He asked what he was to do, and oddly enough God answered.
God provided Saul with a mentor, Ananias. Ananias was told to go and see a man and restore his sight. Ananias though had doubts that this man Saul was truly converted. However, he did as God commanded.
At this point I want to make a seminal point. It is not up to us to determine the heart. God is the only one who truly knows the conversion factuality of any given person. We can not discern. It is not up to us to convict, condemn or to wonder if a person is truly saved, That is solely God's area. It is up to us to Serve.
Saul was them met by Ananias.
Acts 9:17-19KJV
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.
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.
Saul's conversion was complete. He is now to be God's messenger to the Gentiles, kings, and Israel. Saul is truly an inspirational story from the viewpoint that if he can save such a one as Saul then all sinners especially me has hope. No one is beyond redemption. No one is incapable of receiving Christ. We as believers have proof that we too can bear witness of Christ to ALL (even the most hardened heart) with the fervent hope that they will come to know Christ.
There are quite a few salient points to be made in this short passage.
1. None are beyond the reach of Christ.
2. We are not to judge the conversion experience.
3. We are to mentor.
4. God truly is Awesome in His design.
This experience of Paul's is truly inspiring when thought upon. Reading the whole of Paul's experience will hopefully inspire, and touch your heart.
As the old song goes "would He devote that sacred head for such a worm as I". This was surely Paul's motto. He was ,in his opinion, the chief of sinners and yet he worked till the day he died for Jesus and His Word.
Acts 9:6-9KJV
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.
7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
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.
9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
Saul was so deeply affected by this visit that he neither ate nor drink for 3 days. The Glory of Christ had blinded him, he could not see, the men with him had to lead him. Here the mighty Saul was humbled, his mission was completely thwarted by Christ, his heart was turned upside/down, inside/out. All that he knew and was purposed to do was turned into nothingness.
Has that ever happened to you? You are purposed to something, feeling that you are about to embark on a mighty work for God only to have your feet knocked out from under you? Saul was ignorant in his mission, his eyes at the start were so clouded by man's religion and man's purpose that Christ had to blind him so he could truly see. Too often we are so lost in our own ways, our own purpose that God is left out through our ignorance, our ability and our "vision" of what needs to be.
However, Saul did not roll over, curl into a fetal position and cry. No he sought the Lord. He asked what he was to do, and oddly enough God answered.
God provided Saul with a mentor, Ananias. Ananias was told to go and see a man and restore his sight. Ananias though had doubts that this man Saul was truly converted. However, he did as God commanded.
At this point I want to make a seminal point. It is not up to us to determine the heart. God is the only one who truly knows the conversion factuality of any given person. We can not discern. It is not up to us to convict, condemn or to wonder if a person is truly saved, That is solely God's area. It is up to us to Serve.
Saul was them met by Ananias.
Acts 9:17-19KJV
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.
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.
Saul's conversion was complete. He is now to be God's messenger to the Gentiles, kings, and Israel. Saul is truly an inspirational story from the viewpoint that if he can save such a one as Saul then all sinners especially me has hope. No one is beyond redemption. No one is incapable of receiving Christ. We as believers have proof that we too can bear witness of Christ to ALL (even the most hardened heart) with the fervent hope that they will come to know Christ.
There are quite a few salient points to be made in this short passage.
1. None are beyond the reach of Christ.
2. We are not to judge the conversion experience.
3. We are to mentor.
4. God truly is Awesome in His design.
This experience of Paul's is truly inspiring when thought upon. Reading the whole of Paul's experience will hopefully inspire, and touch your heart.
As the old song goes "would He devote that sacred head for such a worm as I". This was surely Paul's motto. He was ,in his opinion, the chief of sinners and yet he worked till the day he died for Jesus and His Word.
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