On the Road to Imprison Christ Followers.

1Ti 1:16  Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. 

Paul, a pattern- A pattern of JESUS' LONGSUFFERING towards all of us!

Act 9:1  And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 

Act 9:2  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. 

Very vocal, Paul (Saul) talked greatly against Christ's followers. He threatened them, he talked of slaughtering them.

Take a moment to really let that sink in.

Today here in America it is common to read in the news about terrorist led threatening to destroy all Americans, calling America the great Satan and so on and so forth. We hear about various terrorist threatening various countries they're at odds with. We can comprehend threatening and a desire to slaughter, and it's not something we enjoy hearing. Paul was VERY loud in his desire to slaughter all Christ followers. This wasn't a passing fancy for him. He wasn't just following a crowd of others. He wanted to lead a charge against Christ followers. Just think what that had to be like for Paul. The mindset he had that filled him with a murderous rage against people he didn't even know. All Paul did know was they weren't following His ways but the ways of one His leaders had crucified. If the leader had to be crucified it stood to reason that all the followers of that leader needed to die as well, right? They had to stamp out all this awful blasphemy before it got out of control and infected more and more the Jewish people. This was what Paul was so upset about- Jesus was born a Jew- circumcised a Jew on the eighth day just as he was. Jesus was raised in the synagogue in the ways of the Jewish faith. Jesus' followers were also mostly Jewish and to lead people away from what Paul perceived was the truth was worthy of death.

Paul was a blatant murderer who wanted more people murdered- though to himself it was a justifiable death and not really murder at all.

Going to the High Priest, Paul wanted permission- written permission to go further to another city to root out more of the evil Christ followers plaguing them. He wanted to gather them up and bring them back to Jerusalem to be imprisoned.  He was on a holy mission, he believe God wanted him to do this thing and he was going to stay true to God and do all he could.

Given permission, and most likely the blessing and gratitude of the High Priest, Paul left on his holy crusade.

Act 9:3  And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven

Act 22:6  And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. 

Act 26:12  Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, 

Act 26:13  At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. 

Remember- Paul was on his way to persecute Christ followers, his heart was set on his mission.

Suddenly at noon a GREAT light, greater than the light of the sun, enveloped Him and those around him.

Out of nowhere he was in the intense spotlight of supernatural light, light from a source other than the sun- it was BRIGHTER than the sun. Such a light!

Have you ever been put in a spotlight? I literal one? How about the spotlight of someone's flashlight? You can comprehend a bright light suddenly shining on you, yes? You don't keep moving, you are taken off guard, you are shocked even if it's only for a few moments. Paul was thrust in the light of God.

More on this tomorrow, by the GRACE of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST!!!!!!! Now and forever!!! In His love!

Paul Imprisoned Every Christian He Could Find.

1Ti 1:16  Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. 

Paul, a pattern- A pattern of JESUS' LONGSUFFERING towards all of us!

Act 8:1  And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. 

Act 8:2  And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. 

Act 8:3  As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. 

Saul (Paul) was CONSENTING unto Stephen's death.

Paul was guilty of murdering an innocent man in consenting to the stoning. Murder. A crime in the Israelite's religion worthy of death in return. Yet, in Paul's mind he was innocent of murder. Paul believed Stephen's death was justified. Blasphemy was also a crime worthy of death and to Paul, Stephen's blasphemy was believing in Jesus as being God's Son. Stephen laid the guilt of Jesus' death upon the very ones that would kill him just minutes later. The guilt was unrepentant of, the guilt was glorified, the guilty turned their sin into righteousness but they couldn't have been more wrong.

The man that revealed the longsuffering of Jesus Christ our Savior, did so firstly when he was forgiven of the death of not only Stephen, but of Jesus Himself.

Paul consented to Stephen's death. Paul consented to the death of the Savior. Paul was a very guilty man.

The great persecution against the church at Jerusalem was condone by Paul. The Christ followers scattered throughout the land- all but the apostles.

Devout men CARRIED Stephen to his burial and lamented his death greatly.

Saul(Paul) went on to WRECK HAVOC on the church.

Paul entered EVERY HOUSE.

Paul captured EVERY CHRISTIAN- men and women alike and put them in prison!

Such zeal! Such dedication to a cause! He left no house untouched. Just imagine how people thought of him, how his reputation was made among the Christians. He was a vile, vile man intent on destroying those who followed the Savior! The intensity of his purpose was unmatched. Persecute all Christ followers!  Just imagine those who ruled over Paul, how happy they must have been to have someone so incredibly dedicated to the destruction of Christ's followers. He was the best of the best in his devotion to what he truly believed was truth- and he was WRONG!

More on this tomorrow by the Grace and Mercy, the unfathomable love of our Savior, Jesus Christ, our Lord now and forever! 

Murdering Mob- Forgiven.

Paul, a pattern- A pattern of JESUS' LONGSUFFERING towards all of us!

1Ti 1:16  Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. 

We meet Saul (Paul after name change in the future) at the stoning of Stephen, a Christ follower.

Act 7:54  When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 

Paul gnashed his teeth at Stephen- he was cut to the heart by Stephen's words, hating Stephen for all he'd revealed in those words. Paul didn't want the truth, he wanted his comfortable lies filled with his traditions and hypocrisy- he was safe there. Paul had grown up in a family of Pharisees and proudly became a Pharisee. Paul loved serving God in the ways of his forefathers. Paul did NOT believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, the Messiah promised to his people. Paul believe any who did believe in Jesus Christ as the Messiah were guilty of blasphemy and should die. Have you ever hated anyone? Have you ever despised anyone? Has anyone ever made you furious, livid, filled with intense dislike? If you can remember what it felt like to hate someone so completely then you know what Paul felt towards Stephen, and in truth, towards ALL Christ followers.

Stephen gave his speech telling the truth that those listening could not bear to hear and this is what happened next--

Act 7:55  But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 

Act 7:56  And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. 

Act 7:57  Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 

Act 7:58  And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. 

And there is Paul(Saul). A young man. A young man filled with fury for his beliefs that were in opposition to Stephen's beliefs. A young man who watched as the first piece of clothing was tossed at his feet as one of the furious people took off their outer garment so they could more easily throw the stones that would kill Stephen. Not just one person tossed their clothing at his feet but many. Just picture it, visualize the furious mob completely incensed by Stephen. They were going to kill him, they wanted to kill him, they had to kill him and they weren't going to shirk their duty. Off went their outer coat with its long cumbersome sleeves, nothing would interfere with their ability to easily bend down and grab up the rocks. Nothing would impede their throwing their arm back as far as they could to give their throw as much momentum as possible. You've thrown a rock before haven't you? Maybe not with the hatred filled intensity that these men had, but you've thrown things- maybe a ball that you wanted desperately to go as far as possible. You know what it's like to throw something hard, don't you? You understand the muscles involved in this. You comprehend how some throws make it seem as if your entire body is a tightening spring ready to be sprung upon the release of the object in your hand. You feel the power, the adrenaline, the rush of it all as that object meets its intended target and you are filled with happiness.  With stoning - you can imagine the wildness of it all, the chaos. Not one man throwing stones, but a whole group picking up rocks and hurling them with as much power as they can at one helpless target, one man. Stephen was that man, that target and he was lifted off the ground and manhandled viciously out of the city and thrown down while many men surrounded him and began to kill him.

Act 7:59  And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 

Act 7:60  And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. 

There, as Saul (Paul) stood with a pile of clothing at his feet watching the business end of the murder taking place, he may or may not have thrown rocks, but the fact he was standing there with a pile of clothing in front of him leads me to believe he didn't participate in the rock throwing aspect. He consented whole-heartedly to the murder, he joined the throng in its fury. He was probably shouting as mobs tend to shout as they are out of control and committing heinous acts.
 

And Stephen… Stephen called upon God…. Saying…. LORD JESUS RECEIVE MY SPIRIT!  And that spirit was his breath, his life source… the breath of life we ALL receive is returned to God upon death.

roo'-akh  (spirit)

From H7306; wind; by resemblance breath..

Stephen asked the LORD JESUS to receive his last breath and He did, we know He did.

Stephen also cried out…. With a LOUD voice….

LORD LAY NOT THIS SIN TO THEIR CHARGE!

Stephen didn't want his murder upon their heads, the sin of murder they were committing against him. Stephen didn't want the guilt upon his murderers!  Paul heard that! Paul heard Stephen, yet that did NOT stop Paul from his hatred towards Stephen and all he stood for as a Christ follower.  No, it did not stop Paul, it fueled his hatred.

As Stephen fell into death's long sleep, Paul was celebrating with those around him - maybe not with any literal blood on their hands but figurative…. But then again… maybe no blood in any manner because Stephen did not want his blood on their hands. Paul was celebrating the death of a Christ follower and his own resolve stiffened and he knew he had to go after more of these awful Christ followers.

More tomorrow by the MERCY, the GRACE of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST NOW and FOREVER!!!!!!!! All in His amazing LOVE!

Paul Hated Jesus.

1Ti 1:16  Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. 

*******

Let's learn more of Paul-- We start with the first martyr Stephen.

Act 6:8  And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. 

Act 6:9  Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. 

Act 6:10  And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. 

Act 6:11  Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. 

Act 6:12  And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, 

Act 6:13  And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: 

Act 6:14  For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us. 

Act 6:15  And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel. 

Act 7:1  Then said the high priest, Are these things so? 

Act 7:2  And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, 

Act 7:3  And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee. 

Act 7:4  Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell. 

Act 7:5  And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child. 

Act 7:6  And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years. 

Act 7:7  And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place. 

Act 7:8  And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs. 

Act 7:9  And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him, 

Act 7:10  And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. 

Act 7:11  Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance. 

Act 7:12  But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. 

Act 7:13  And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh. 

Act 7:14  Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls. 

Act 7:15  So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers, 

Act 7:16  And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem. 

Act 7:17  But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, 

Act 7:18  Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph. 

Act 7:19  The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live. 

Act 7:20  In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months: 

Act 7:21  And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son. 

Act 7:22  And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. 

Act 7:23  And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. 

Act 7:24  And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian: 

Act 7:25  For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not. 

Act 7:26  And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another? 

Act 7:27  But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? 

Act 7:28  Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday? 

Act 7:29  Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons. 

Act 7:30  And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush. 

Act 7:31  When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him, 

Act 7:32  Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold. 

Act 7:33  Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground. 

Act 7:34  I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt. 

Act 7:35  This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush. 

Act 7:36  He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years. 

Act 7:37  This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear. 

Act 7:38  This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us: 

Act 7:39  To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt, 

Act 7:40  Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. 

Act 7:41  And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. 

Act 7:42  Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness? 

Act 7:43  Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon. 

Act 7:44  Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen. 

Act 7:45  Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David; 

Act 7:46  Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. 

Act 7:47  But Solomon built him an house. 

Act 7:48  Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, 

Act 7:49  Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? 

Act 7:50  Hath not my hand made all these things? 

Act 7:51  Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. 

Act 7:52  Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: 

Act 7:53  Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. 

Act 7:54  When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 

Paul was there listening to Stephen witness to truth- ONLY truth!

Paul was one of those who 'heard these things' he was 'cut to the heart' and he 'gnashed on' Stephen with his teeth. That is to say his fury had him railing against Stephen. He hated Stephen, yet Stephen spoke ONLY truth. There was not a single word that Stephen spoke that was false. So when he said- 'Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears' he was speaking of Paul along with the others.  Stephen also said this- 'ye do always resist the Holy Ghost, as your fathers did so do ye'.  Again Paul (known as Saul then) heard these words! Stephen did not stop there he said- 'Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted, and have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One….'   Paul heard truth from Stephen. The prophets were persecuted this is fact, this is history! The prophets were killed and the prophets revealed the coming of Jesus Christ our Savior.  And Stephen told Paul - as well as the others that THEY were no better than those who killed God's prophets of old. They had BETRAYED the Just One. They Murdered the Just One and Stephen TOLD them so. And Stephen didn't stop there he told them THEY received the law by the disposition of ANGELS and didn't keep it!

He revealed their wrongs, their lies, their deceits, their hatred and just as no one likes to have their faults brought into the light, they didn't want their evil in the light and there is was revealed for all, plain to see and they were furious! Paul was furious! Paul was incited toward evil having his sins exposed so blatantly.

More on Paul tomorrow- remember He is a pattern!

Please Lord, please help us to know and believe, and follow all YOUR TRUTH! Guide us! All through the love, the grace, the mercy of our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST! Now and ALWAYS!

Through All of Life's Agonies- We Can Still Belong to Christ.

1Ti 1:16  Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. 

Paul was a man who actively hunted down Christ followers. Paul stood there holding the garments of murderers as they stoned Stephen to death. Now stop for a moment and picture it, really picture it and put yourself or those you love in the same situation as Stephen.

You profess your love for your Savior and a wild mob grab you up and are determined to do you nothing but harm. You give aloud your profession of faith and the first stone is hurled at you slamming into your body hard igniting it with instant pain. Before you can recover even a moment another rock and another, and another. Stoning is brutal. Most likely stoning doesn’t result in an instant kill unless the one being stoned is lucky. Rock after rock pelleting you, big ones, small ones, sharp, flat, painful rocks whipped at you until you die.

Paul stood there watching this happen and he was pleased! He was so pleased by this Christ follower being murdered that He ASKED to go round up more Christ followers.

Act 8:1  And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. 

Act 8:2  And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. 

Act 8:3  As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. 

Act 9:1  And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 

Act 9:2  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. 

Paul wreaked HAVOC on Christ followers. Paul was adamant in his pursuit of destroying ALL Christ followers. He wanted to round them up far and wide. Paul BREATHED out threatenings and slaughter against all Christ followers.

Paul was LIVING to hunt down Christians! Imagine it, he HATED those Christ loved! So what did Christ do?

Christ KNEW that inside Paul was a heart desiring TRUTH and only TRUTH. Finally confronted with the TRUTH, the real truth not the traditions of man, He relented to that truth and gave up ALL that hatred! When Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus he was a changed man and it wasn't a forced change, it wasn't a coerced changed, it wasn't a change he was looking for- perhaps anything but. The thing is, PAUL WANTED TRUTH and he wanted to FOLLOW GOD with his whole heart! He was following Him in the wrong way, but when he was given the new light, he walked in that light!

Paul is a pattern for us. Christ suffered LONG with Paul's actions, and He suffers long with our actions as well. Christ will forgive the worst of sinners, Christ will be with us as we struggle once we are His and the evil of the world wars against us. We will have awful days, great hardships, sickness, pain, agonies… but we can have Christ through it all!

More tomorrow by the GRACE and WILL of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST NOW and FOREVER!!!!!!! All in HIS LOVE!!!!!!!

Paul- A Pattern for Us.

1Ti 1:16  Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. 

Paul- a pattern for us.

Is it any wonder a verse I consistently return to in my studying is this--

Rom 7:22  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 

Rom 7:23  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 

Rom 7:24  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 

Rom 7:25  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. 

How many of us can relate to these verses? How many of us can relate to Paul whom Jesus Christ gave mercy, that He showed forth ALL longsuffering as a PATTERN for us if we believe in our Savior?

We can relate and we SHOULD be able to relate to Paul because we need to study his life in the shadow of our Savior's life so we may learn from him. He had such a special relationship with our Lord, its beginning alone so incredibly noteworthy.   He wasn't a disciple of our Savior when He lived. We don't even know if he saw Jesus whil Jesus walked the earth. Paul comes on the scene AFTER the death of Jesus. As I think about it, I can't imagine that he didn't even see Jesus because of how notorious Jesus was to the Pharisees. Remember this--

Jesus chastising a Pharisee- Mat_23:26  Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

Luk 18:10  Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 

Luk 18:11  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 

Luk 18:12  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 

Luk 18:13  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 

Luk 18:14  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. 

Mat_5:20  For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

And now read this--

Act 23:6  But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. 

Php 3:1  Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. 

Php 3:2  Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. 

Php 3:3  For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 

Php 3:4  Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 

Php 3:5  Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 

Php 3:6  Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 

Php 3:7  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 

Php 3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 

Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 

Php 3:10  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 

Php 3:11  If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 

Circumcised the eighth day of the stock of Israel of the tribe of Benjamin.

A Hebrew of the Hebrews as touching the law- a Pharisee.

Concerning Zeal.

Persecuting the church.

Touching the righteousness in the law.

Blameless.

Paul-- was a very STAUNCH Pharisee - he had to know OF Jesus before He was crucified, yet he did NOT walk with Jesus. He HATED Jesus. He HATED the man- the great pretender, the fraud, the thorn in the side of the Pharisees and all Jews. The hate Paul had for Jesus extended toward any followers of Jesus. When Jesus was crucified and His memory did NOT die with Him, Paul was furious! The zeal of Paul was unchallenged, he wanted all those followers of Jesus taken care of as well. 

How does this relate to us today?

How many of us have in our past a hatred of the things of God? How many of us have thumbed our noses at Jesus and all He stands for only to later repent of such actions, whole heartedly repent of our sins. How many of us have held traditions of men over the truth of Christ? How many of us were very zealous in the truth we once held but knew we had to give up a cherished life because it wasn't Christ's truth? How many have had great truth revealed that countered all we believed in?

We have Paul as our example, our pattern in so many ways. Paul was a man who wanted only the truth and when he was given truth he walked in that truth, but that didn't mean his life was one of ease.

More on this tomorrow, all by the GRACE, the WILL of our Savior, our Lord, Jesus Christ and His love!

Our Foundation- Christ Crucified.

1Ti 4:16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. 

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Take heed--

1Co 3:10  According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 

1Co 3:11  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 

Our FOUNDATION is JESUS CHRIST. We should have NO OTHER foundation. We need to build upon the FOUNDATION of Jesus Christ- taking heed to the doctrine HE gave, continuing in HIS doctrine! When we get caught up in the doctrines of people and lose sight of Christ's doctrine we've slipped off the Foundation and anything we build that isn't on that Firm Foundation means nothing! No one can be saved when they build their lives around a false foundation.  Imagine a house being built upon a foundation and its built just a little bit off kilter on that foundation. Is the house safe? No. Being off the foundation the risk of complete destruction is great. Yet there are many people who build upon false foundations. They build upon a crooked foundation, a false foundation, a foundation not Christ. They try to build their houses uncentered upon the foundation yet think it's enough because they are near the foundation. People do NOT continue in the doctrine of Christ and they still believe they are Christ's.

Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 

Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ

Men will deceive! And how a man deceives others is by giving them a lot of truth, but not all the truth and what we need is ALL the truth!

In love we speak TRUTH.

In the love of our Savior Jesus Christ!

We are told these things so we will HEED them, not to ignore them!  We have to comprehend that there are a lot of winds of doctrine floating about, there is a lot of sleight of hand, cunning craftiness and deception! If we ignore this very real truth, then we are most likely going to be caught up in the deception.  SEEK only TRUTH!

 1Ti 4:16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. 

Salvation- the REASON our Savior sacrificed Himself for us! Let's learn of the truth in Christ's doctrine, the truth that leads to salvation for us and those that may hear us by the will and grace of God.