Two Thousand Years Ago and Today.

Act 12:25  And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.

Act 13:1  Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 

Act 13:2  As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 

Act 13:3  And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. 

The work of God.  We have to consider time and place don't we? Christianity was brand new, the first generation of Christians still forging a path for the many Christ followers to come. Prophets and teachers ministering for the Lord to the people.  AS they ministered to the Lord they FASTED. We've discussed fasting before and we individually need to determine whether or not we need to fast as we serve the Lord. As we make this determination- praying and seeking guidance towards this end- we have to continue to study.  These earlier pioneers of Christianity were ministering to the LORD- FASTING and as they did the HOLY SPIRIT spoke to them, giving them instructions. God wanted Barnabas and Saul (Paul) separated from the group there because they had a different work to undertake. God was calling Barnabas and Paul. What did the disciples do after the Holy Spirit gave His instructions? They FASTED more and PRAYED more, then they LAID their HANDS on them and after all that- they sent them away.

This is the work of God in action.

Do we have this same work going on today?

Many are working for Christ- wait, I take that back, few are working for Christ today. I have to say few because the Bible tells me it is few, not many who are truly Christs. Are those few truly working for the Savior? Today's work is NOT the same as the new Christians. Today's work is taking place in a world some two thousand years later, a world ravaged by sin as never before. We may think back to two thousand years ago and think of the Christians being martyred - tortured by lions, crucified, burnt, gladiators killing eating other for the sport of the people and in all that we may believe the world was a much worse place, but it wasn't.  Sin is sin. Murder and lying both deserve the penalty of death. Any disobedience to God's truth is worth death- but forgiveness is found through CHRIST!  There are MORE people today filled with lives of willful sin from the worst of sins to the least, than there were two thousand years ago. Not just because there are more people, but percentage wise in proportion to the population, there are MORE sinners today than back then. This world is overcome by sins so vile it's  unbelievable, yet a lot of sins are called good today, they are accepted and even encouraged.

We do have a work today, and maybe, just maybe we need to be fasting and praying more, not less than they did in the early days. 

Please, Lord, please guide us to Your will and enable us to follow Your will now and always!

All through the love of our Savior, our Lord, Jesus Christ!!!!!!!

Stephen's Killers Now Want to Kill Paul.

Act 9:28  And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. 

Act 9:29  And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. 

Act 9:30  Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus. 

Act 9:31  Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. 

Paul joined up with the Apostles in Jerusalem. Barnabas vouched for him and the others let them into their fold. Immediately Paul began to speak boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus. Paul wasn't shrinking from his duty to the Lord, he was going to preach the gospel and preach in loudly. The miracle that occurred leading him to his Savior was something he could never forget. If only ALL of us would realize the miracle of our own conversions. True, we may not have been stopped while walking and blinded by a heavenly light, Jesus may not have appeared to us and spoken to us personally, face to face in the flesh, but HE SPEAKS to us through the Spirit, He leads us through the Spirit, He keeps us in Him through the Spirit. Jesus touches all of us in a very special unique way. We aren't lined up and given a pat on the back, we are embraced individually and welcomed into Jesus' way. We need to revisit our conversion and if we can't remember that conversion, we need to rededicate ourselves to Christ and be converted anew.

Paul preached loud, boldly and disputed against the Grecians.  DISPUTED AGAINST. These same Greeks disputed with Stephen--

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. 

Now Paul is disputing with them having believed like they believed not too long ago.  Instead of being amazed by Paul's conversion they wanted to kill him just as they'd killed Stephen.

Killing the messengers, this was their answer to the Christ follower problem, and it wasn't going to work. They killed Stephen only to have Paul convert from Judaism to Christianity. When they sought to kill Paul the Apostles had him leave Jerusalem and go to Tarsus. The churches of the Christ followers- NOT synagogues but home churches of Christians had peace for a time. They were learning truth and many were accepting the truth their numbers multiplying. This  had to be a good time for Paul. Paul was preaching and people were hearing and believing in Christ.  This was Paul's desire- that all should believe in Jesus Christ for their salvation. Paul had NO ulterior motive, he wanted no self-glory, he only wanted Christ preached! What do we want? In our lives, what do we want? Shouldn't we too want Christ preached?  No, not everyone is called to be a preacher, but we are all called to witness as our Savior leads us through the Holy Spirit.

May we do all the LORD wants us to do! Please Lord, please bless us with the knowledge of knowing what you will for us to do in all things! All through YOUR LOVE! All in the name of our Savior, JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD NOW AND FOREVER!!!!!!!

Feared Then Accepted.

Known to be fighting against the Christ followers, known to be a terror- his very name bringing shudders to the people who heard it, people who were waiting for their turn under his imprisonment. Paul was very well known but not as a Christ follower- not yet.

Saved from being murdered by the Jews in Damascus, Paul went to Jerusalem and wanted to join with the Christ followers there. What he wanted didn't come to pass, not right away. The Christ followers of Jerusalem FEARED Paul, they didn't believe he was truly a Christ follower at all. They hadn't witnessed his preaching, they hadn't been a part of his conversion from Christian hater to Christian himself.  They had heard rumors perhaps but no solid intel. How could they let a persecutor of them and their kind into their fold. You don't invite the wolf into the sheep fold.

God had a plan for Paul though, and that plan wasn't going to be thwarted. Barnabas--

Act 4:36  And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, 

Act 4:37  Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet. 

--  became a teacher--

Act_13:1  Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

-- Barnabas known to the Christ followers in Jerusalem as a trustworthy man, it was Barnabas who took Paul and BROUGHT him to the apostles. Barnabas knew Paul's back story and he declared it to the Apostles. He told them that Paul had seen Jesus, how Paul had spoken to Jesus and how Paul preached BOLDLY at Damascus all in Jesus' name.

Paul was vouched for! And Barnabas's word was good with the Apostles. They didn't reject Paul, they took Him in based on what Barnabas declared to them. From then on Paul was accepted as a Christ follower, a fellow disciple and even an apostle- in time.

People know those of us who haven't always followed Christ- as the people before our conversions and NOT all of them believe instantly that we've changed.  Becoming a Christ follower does bring about a change in people. Some are born into Christianity- raised to believe, accepting Christ out of that belief but even they often, but NOT always, will have a falling away only to return. Those who turned from being blatant sinners to those who are forgiven sinners- repenting of their sins and seeking to turn from them- do not always have friends and family that accept that change in them readily.  Some even disown their family members for changing, others destroy friendships because of the change.  Then there are those who didn't like the blatant sinner before the change and despised the willfully sinning ways they lived. These people won't instantly believe the change of the sinner, but if another who knows they've changed vouches for them, they'll trust them and then try that person to see if the change is real. This is how it is today for people, it is something that has been since Christianity's start.

Paul didn't want to be feared by the Christians, he was a Christian himself now.

Paul wanted only to follow the Lord's teachings and only time would prove this fully to those who had walked with Christ when He ministered on the earth.

We too need to let our LIVES speak for us and by the grace of God we will live for Christ and others will believe- not in us- but in CHRIST and His amazing POWER of SALVATION!

Act 9:26  And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. 

Act 9:27  But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 

Truth Incites Murder.

Act 9:23  And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: 

Act 9:24  But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. 

Act 9:25  Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket. 

Yesterday we talked about Paul immediately starting to preach after being baptized. Paul has a story to preach about, not a story as in entertainment fairy tale, but a real miracle story, a personal story to share with people. What happened to Paul was amazing and he had to preach in every synagogue he could, to as many people as he could. The zeal he possessed had to be out of this world amazing! His personal testimony of what the Savior did for Him was unlike any others. To go from persecutor to advocate was astounding. The Jews of Damascus were amazed and I imagine many believed him, why would they doubt him, why would he lie? He was telling the truth of Jesus Christ and the unbelievers were those who were blind to the truth, wanting to believe in the traditions of men over the truth of God.  Those deceived Jews - after many days- took counsel to KILL PAUL!  Their top star Christian hunter was a turncoat, a traitor! Worse that that He was blatantly promoting Christianity and turning Jews into Christians!  Just like the Jews plotted and sought to kill Jesus Christ, they were now turning on Paul.

Paul however, somehow found out about the Jews plans to kill him and knew they had people waiting for the opportunity to get to him- night and day. Christ's disciples devised a plan to get him out of the city and in the dark of night they had him get into a basket and lowered him over the wall to the city.

Put yourself in Paul's place, put yourself in that basket. Realize that because of your belief people want to kill you and were actively and aggressively seeking to do just that.  People had never wanted to kill you before, not when you were persecuting Christ followers- the Christ followers didn't want to kill you even when you wanted to kill them. The evil was clear the heart of murderers was revealed and for Paul going from seeking to kill to be sought to be killed had to be awful. He was leaving under the cover of darkness over a wall skulking away so that he could continue to live and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Paul, we have to remember, is a pattern for us of Christ's longsuffering towards us we can never forget that as we learn more and more of Paul's life. Paul's suffering had begun in earnest, and if you don't believe that you suffer when your life is being threatened, you're wrong.

More tomorrow by the GRACE of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, may HIS will be done now and forever.

Paul Preached Right Away.

Act 9:19  And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. 

Act 9:20  And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. 

Act 9:21  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? 

Act 9:22  But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. 

After being baptized- Paul finally broke his fast. He had his sight back- physically and spiritually, and now he needed sustenance. The meat strengthened him, giving him what he needed to survive. Three days without food and water is a rather long time- not extensive but still a long time if you are used to eating and drinking everyday which most people are - even if it's only a little bit.

Paul stayed with the disciples of Christ in Damascus, and it had to be very strange for those disciples which had heard of Paul's persecution.

Paul didn't sit still for long, he was recovered from all weakness brought on by his sudden conversion and then he began preaching in synagogues.  Paul preached Christ, telling all his fellow Jews that Christ truly is the Son of God.

ALL, not some, but ALL that heard him were AMAZED.  They were amazed because they'd heard of Paul, they KNEW he was the one who wanted to destroy all Christ followers. Paul was famous for his hatred of Christ followers so much so they knew in Damascus- another city - of his fame. They knew Paul was supposed to be hunting down Christ followers, NOT preaching the same blasphemy. They were shocked.  Let's try to supply a similar situation in our day and age. We could use politics for a moment-  if Hilary Clinton suddenly started advocating for Donald Trump (or vice versa) we'd be shocked! We'd find it very hard to believe. In fact we wouldn't truly believe it until time passed and they continued doing the advocating of one who was once their adversary.

Paul shocked so many Jews in Damascus that many of them believed Him.  Only a miracle could transform Paul, the Christian destroyer, into the Christ follower. 

Paul was doing the work of Christ, going against the Jews of His day who refused to acknowledge that Christ was indeed the Son of God. It would take a MIRACLE for Paul to change so drastically, a true miracle and people knew this.

Paul could have continued on wanting to destroy Christ followers. He could have denied the vision. Paul had a choice and He chose to follow Christ and accepted the path filled with many sufferings that was set before Him.

More on this tomorrow- by the WILL of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST!!! Now and forever!

Winning Christ.

Paul was baptized.

Act 9:17  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. 

Act 9:18  And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

What's the big deal about Paul being baptized? Well, let's think about it, Paul was a staunch Jew if the highest order of Pharisees, a Christ persecutor, a Christ follower persecutor. Just days before Paul had happily taken part in the murder of Stephen, a Christ follower.  Being baptized signifies what exactly?

Mar_1:5  And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

Confession of sins.

Act_2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Repentance.

Rom 6:3  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 

Rom 6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 

Buried with Christ in baptism into death
Raised up from the dead.
Walking in newness of life.

If you've been baptized by immersion as an adult or at least as a young adult or and older mature child that comprehends fully the depths and meaning of baptism then you truly (symbolically) were buried beneath the water, dead, and raised up from that death, rising from the water to now walk a NEW life. The OLD life is buried, all the sins are buried, life previously walked without Christ is dead and gone. To be truly baptized is to have confessed very single sin you're aware of, as well as repenting of those sins making a conscious effort to no longer commit those sins again.

Paul had much to confess once he realized that he'd been fighting against God the entire time he thought he was actually doing God's work. He had great things to repent of. He had many friends and fellow Pharisees that were proud of his zeal for destroying the work of Christ. He had an entire life that he was leaving behind completely in order to follow Jesus. Paul was killing a part of himself as he was baptized. Rising from the water in newness of life had never been more true, more realized. 

Paul knew exactly what he was doing by being baptized.

Too many are flippantly baptized. I'm not saying they don't have a desire to be Christ's and to witness to that through baptism, I'm saying that not many people truly rise to a new life. Their lives go on in the same vein as before, all that is different is they've put on a show of being a follower of Christ. We know that there are going to be many that believe they are Christ's but aren't. These deceived people will have been baptized, they'll outwardly appear to belong to Christ, but they won't be His, not in reality.

When Paul was converted from Judaism to Christianity it was a whole life altering experience. Being baptized was a huge event for Paul, huge. He was becoming the very thing he had been trying to rid the world of. He was voluntarily putting himself into a position to be persecuted. Jesus had shown him the suffering he was going to endure by taking on the title of Christian and he gladly accepted what was to come for Him. We spend a lot of time avoiding suffering at all costs, looking upon suffering as being shunned by God, not as being refined.

Paul had this to say- 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

He suffered the loss of all things and he knew he was going to suffer in that way, but it didn't matter to him because all that mattered was winning Christ!

May we win Christ all through the LOVE of our Savior, now and forever!  

God's Will Was Everything to Paul.

A disciple of Christ's named Ananias was instructed by Jesus Himself in a vision to go to where Saul (Paul) was and put his hands on him to heal him of his blindness. The Lord told Ananias that Paul was a CHOSEN VESSEL, told him this--

Act 9:16  For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. 

The Lord was to show Paul how greatly he was to suffer for Him. 

We touched on that yesterday- suffering for Christ. Many, much more than we can truly fathom, suffer today for Christ in horrific ways. Suffering for Christ isn't a foreign concept. We try to imagine no suffering but that is NOT going to happen here on this earth the way it is, it just isn't. If you ARE NOT suffering for Christ in any way you are either truly very blessed, or very deceived.  How many Christ followers start to suffer and quickly give up on Jesus? Why do they give up? Because they don't think that they should be suffering if Jesus in on their side. They believe they deserve a free pass in the suffering department, but there can be NOTHING further from the truth. Most of those chosen by God have known great suffering, so why would anyone believe they shouldn't have to suffer if they have Christ as their Savior? It is a great deception of Satan's that we believe Christ has failed us when we suffer. We begin to think that Christ doesn't hear our prayers when they aren't answered in the way we desire, but quite the opposite at times. Christ does hear our prayers and if we are praying for Christ's will to be done in us then that means we are trusting that every single evil bit of suffering we have to endure is for a reason we can't comprehend but God does and it will work out HIS will for our eternal good. We have to start looking more towards HEAVEN and less at here and now on earth. Heaven is where our TREASURES should be. The hope of no suffering any capacity large or small is to be found only in eternity, through the salvation found only in Christ Jesus  our Lord and Savior!

Paul was going to be shown what he would suffering, that's something to really think about. What would you do if you were shown the things you would suffer in advance of suffering through them? What if those things you were shown were horrible things, awful, terrible things? It's something to think about, hmn?

Act 9:17  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. 

Act 9:18  And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

Ananias went to Saul(Paul) and put his hands on him as instructed and told him that 'the LORD even JESUS that appeared to him in the way he came, sent him so he would receive his sight again AND be FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT!

The supernaturally placed scales fell from Paul's eyes and he could see! Paul stood up and then was baptized.  Now we know he wasn't baptized in the house, they had to go to the river at least. There was time between receiving his sight and being baptized. How do you imagine Paul was reacting to the miracle performed on him? Do you believe that Jesus showed Paul the great suffering he'd under go? Why wouldn't He, He said He was going to. Paul was shown the suffering in store for Him and still he went to be baptized. It wasn't a matter of suffering to Paul, what mattered to Paul was following God and God wanted Him to be a follower of Christ, an apostle of Christ's.  This is ALL that mattered to Paul- God's will! Yet, Paul was far from perfect- far, far from perfection.

Remember this? I'm not going to let you forget it….

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

Paul's words!

Does that sound like the words of a perfect man with a perfect life?  NO.

Paul KNEW who his deliverer was and NEVER forgot it! 

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. 

Paul wanted only ever to be God's and God's led Him to that end, but it was NOT EASY.

May God lead us to HIM- and may any suffering we have to endure be done knowing it is temporary to eternity with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!