When He Sees- He Is Blinded.

A Blind Man Sees- 

Yesterday we were talking about Paul and his conversion. It was mentioned that Paul had to endure so much. Even prior to his conversion he was following God's laws to the letter and believed himself to be doing God's will, not his own. When he went after the Christians he did so with the honest intent that he was in the right and they were in the wrong. He believed God hated the Christ followers because they were all blaspheming Him.  When Paul was asked by Jesus  why he was persecuting Him, Paul didn't answer that He was persecuting Him because He was a liar, a blasphemer, an imposter. Paul was shocked. Paul said this--

Act 9:4  And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 

Act 9:5  And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 

Act 9:6  And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?

Who art thou, Lord? This is what Paul asked Jesus.  And Jesus answered, I am Jesus…

Paul then said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?

Paul DID NOT rail at Jesus and tell Him that He was evil and He was going to destroy all His followers. Why didn't Paul do that? He'd been so sure that he was following God's will right up until that very moment of realization that Jesus was really the Messiah! What changed his mind was the MIRACLE he was witnessing firsthand. Just seeing Jesus, just hearing the declaration of the Lord, being shrouded in the light of God, all of this revealed to Paul's heart the truth, the real truth.  Paul could accept that truth because he wanted to know truth, he wanted light, he wanted to follow God from His heart and he always had.   So yesterday the question was raised why didn't Paul recognize Jesus when He walked the earth? Why hadn't Paul been a convicted of the truth then?  And the answer given yesterday was the possibility it was for the glory of God to be revealed and the following is worth reading fully to comprehend a bit more. All by the grace and mercy, the will of our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST!

Joh 9:1  And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. 

Joh 9:2  And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 

Joh 9:3  Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 

Joh 9:4  I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 

Joh 9:5  As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. 

Joh 9:6  When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, 

Joh 9:7  And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. 

Joh 9:8  The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged? 

Joh 9:9  Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he. 

Joh 9:10  Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened? 

Joh 9:11  He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight. 

Joh 9:12  Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not. 

Joh 9:13  They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. 

Joh 9:14  And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. 

Joh 9:15  Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see. 

Joh 9:16  Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. 

Joh 9:17  They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet. 

Joh 9:18  But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight. 

Joh 9:19  And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see? 

Joh 9:20  His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: 

Joh 9:21  But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. 

Joh 9:22  These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. 

Joh 9:23  Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him. 

Joh 9:24  Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. 

Joh 9:25  He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. 

Joh 9:26  Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? 

Joh 9:27  He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples? 

Joh 9:28  Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples.

Joh 9:29  We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is. 

Joh 9:30  The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. 

Joh 9:31  Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. 

Joh 9:32  Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. 

Joh 9:33  If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. 

Joh 9:34  They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out. 

Joh 9:35  Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? 

Joh 9:36  He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? 

Joh 9:37  And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. 

Joh 9:38  And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. 

Joh 9:39  And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. 

Joh 9:40  And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? 

Joh 9:41  Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

*******

Paul, that the works of God should be manifest, was allowed to be blind when our Savior walked the earth for a three year ministry. Paul was blind when Jesus was put to death, and Paul was still blind as Stephen was stoned.  Paul remained blind spiritually until Jesus revealed Himself to him, and as he received spiritual sight he was physically blinded for three days.

More on all this tomorrow, by the will of God!  All in His love!

Paul's Sins.

Act 22:1  Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you. 

Act 22:2  (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,) 

Act 22:3  I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. 

Act 22:4  And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. 

Act 22:5  As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished. 

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 22:7  And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 

Act 22:8  And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. 

Act 22:9  And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me. 

Act 22:10  And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do. 

Act 22:11  And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus. 

Act 22:12  And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, 

Act 22:13  Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. 

Act 22:14  And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. 

Act 22:15  For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. 

Act 22:16  And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. 

*******

Yet another account of Paul's conversion. We have to realize that our conversion stories are important. No, we don't have the circumstances of Paul, but at some point we went from darkness to light, from unknowing to knowing.  Even those who are raised to know Jesus and love Him from their youth have the conversion story it has to be there somewhere because we all must be born again. We all have to be born of the water and spirit.  Often children are baptized and while I'm not saying children can't be baptized I'm saying those children must be of an age of accountability, they must know what sin is and their guilt in it, their part in sinning and their need of salvation. You truly can't repent and be baptized if you do not know what you are repenting of. It's all well and good to believe a child loves the Lord and wishes to be baptized, but in truth, they have to be old enough to know what it all truly means.

Our conversion testimony is our going from death to life, no wonder it is worthy of recounting.

Paul spoke these words--

Act 22:12  And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, 

Act 22:13  Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. 

Act 22:14  And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. 

Act 22:15  For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. 

Act 22:16  And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord

Ananias- a devout man had a good reputation among the Jews and He came to Paul and called Paul a brother, telling him he'd receive his sight and Paul did.  The man also said that God chose Paul to know God's will and to see the JUST ONE, and hear the JUST ONE'S voice. He told him that he would be a witness to all men of what he'd heard and seen.  And then he said to him…

Why are you waiting? Get up, be baptized. Wash away your sins calling on the name of the LORD.

Wash away your sins.

We discussed yesterday about Paul going to be baptized before eating and drinking. It was so vitally important that Paul accept his calling and see it through before he cared for his own physical needs. He was extremely hungry and thirsty, how could he not be. Do you remember when Jesus was in the wilderness after His own baptism? Forty days and forty nights no eating or drinking- clearly sustained by God's power alone because man cannot survive that long without drinking. Paul was perhaps sustained in the same way, but he was weak after only three days and nights without food or drink. He had to be hungry and thirsty but more than that his spiritual need outweighed his physical. He was in desperate need of baptism- he needed his sins to be washed away before he could undertake the mission the Lord had chosen him for.

The weight of the sins upon Paul had to be many in light of the truth of all he'd done and thought against Jesus.  Were they sins of ignorance? Paul was a devout man of God. Paul thought he was doing God's will.  And in truth, he was doing God's will. Just as a man was born blind and the question was asked who sinned to cause his blindness. The answer was no one.

Joh 9:3  Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 

Could Paul have acted as he did so that the works of God should be made manifest in him?

Even if that is the case, Paul needed to have his sins washed away - every single sin. Sins of ignorance, sins of neglect, deliberate sins, sins of any sort all of them needed to be washed away by the blood of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Paul was going to be buried in baptism, his sins washed, and he was going to rise up into new life with Christ as His personal Savior. From that moment on he would be a Christ follower.  Paul would be an apostle of Christ's. Paul would truly work the works of God as no other apostle. And, Paul would suffer horrifically.

More on this tomorrow by the grace of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, now and forever!!!!!!!

Blessed to Suffer.

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

Paul hadn't eaten in three days and because he hadn't eaten he was weak. I know from watching a show on television where the people are trying to survive three weeks in the wild one of the things they portray (whether true or sensationalize, I don’t know) is how quickly hunger sets in when there is absolutely no food at all provided for them. The first day you don't hear too much, but by the third day they are usually feeling it quite a bit. They are weak, their thinking is affected, their emotional state is disturbed and they are quickly thinking about really having to find a food source fast. They get caught up in a conundrum because of their weakened state it is harder for them to hunt for something to eat. Yet, being a television show and all they manage. The point I'm going on about is the truth behind being weak after three days of not eating. Being ill and not being able to eat because of that illness isn't quite the same as being completely healthy and not able to eat by choice or situation. Do we imagine Paul was completely healthy though lacking in eyesight those three days? Nothing says otherwise. Paul chose not to eat and drink, there was food and drink in the home available to him. He was in prayer, in mediation, sleeping, waking, making his human necessities as such. No, we don’t like to think about those things, they're somehow undignified and don't bear mentioning as a rule, but if we're going to imagine Paul for those three days it warrants thinking about. Paul was not bed ridden, he was not in a coma, he hadn't been paralyzed. Being blinded is a shock as anyone who has had the experience of being temporary (or permanently) blinded may attest to, I'm not among those, but some of you may be. I can only imagine the shock of having my sight taken from me. I have been in situations - hospitalized and unable to get out of bed for three days- but truthfully those days are and were a blur of trauma so I don't know how my necessities were taken care of, most likely I was catharized and tended to by a nurse, or aide. Why am I discussing this? Because all of this makes us human, and humanizes those we are reading about. Paul was most likely helped by those in that household,  though how he got to that particular household I don't know. He was the chief agitator of Christ followers, the head persecutor on his way to that very city to hunt down the Christians. Surely his fellow soldiers in the cause who had journeyed with him and had watched as he fell to the ground -

Act 9:7  And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 

Act 9:8  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. 

- they saw what happened, but did not see Jesus as Paul saw Him. They heard a voice and watched as Saul( Paul) rose up from where he'd fallen. They watched his eyes opened and witnessed the scales covering them, blinding him. They grabbed up his hands and brought him into the city.  How they chose the street called, Straight, and the home of Judas to place Paul in I don't know, we aren't told. He wasn’t put in an empty house to fend for himself though. He was tended to as much as he needed tending without eating or drinking. For three days Paul's whole world was about what had happened to him, the miracle that had occurred in his life. He was ready to work for God once more…

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. 

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

Before he took any food or drink, Paul rose up and was baptized. His spiritual experience, His conversion was completed with his baptism and now he could think of his physical needs. Spiritual needs met first and foremost and then…food.

When he'd eaten he was restored, no longer weak from hunger and thirst, his body was revived. After this physical revival he was stayed with the disciples of Christ for days (how many, I don't know) but he stayed with them- learning from them. When they went into the synagogue and gave testimony, Paul preached Christ, that Christ WAS INDEED the SON OF GOD!  Paul spoke to very blasphemy he'd accusd the Christ followers of doing. The words were now falling from his lips. The truth was spoken.

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. 

ALL that heard Paul preaching Christ, the Son of God, were amazed. No wonder. Just as amazed as we are when some of the actors/actresses/singers/famous people who are notorious for their anti-Christian beliefs suddenly start preaching about Him.  It doesn't happen often, but it does happen.

Paul was NOTORIOUS- he was WELL KNOWN as one who wanted to destroy all those who had anything to do with Christ. People KNEW, people like Ananias who and touched Paul and Paul received his sight again. The reputation Paul had wasn't some minor bit of knowledge, it was known and feared by the people choosing to be disciples of the risen Christ. They knew Paul was supposed to be destroy them as Paul had destroyed those in Jerusalem. They were supposed to be put in chains and taken back to Jerusalem as captives to face the Chief Priests, to be sentenced, to be killed, or imprisoned indefinitely, perhaps beaten, whipped, starved. They watched and listened to Paul and couldn't comprehend fully how he could be there preaching Christ as the Son of God, Christ as the risen Savior. He truly baffled the Jews there in Damascus.  Perhaps any of them that were on the fence of belief -so to speak- were fully convinced of the Savior's love and salvation by actually witnessing the testimony of Paul's conversion, because truly ONLY the Savior could have wrought such a miracle! Taking the chief Christ hater and making him the chief Christ believer, supporter, what an amazing, spiritually powerful occurrence.

What a POWERFUL testimony when a lost sheep is found. People all around are amazed. Some are horrified in their amazement, despising the change. Others are joyfully amazed and praising God for the miracle of conversion.

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

He increased in strength.

He confounded the Damascus Jews.

He was proving that Christ was truly the Messiah, to many.

The witness for Christ that Saul (Paul) made was incredible!

The life he was called to endure was going to be severely hard to live. He wasn't tapped on the shoulder by Christ and anointed with happiness ever after, pain-free living for his future. He was going to be a Christ follower and he would suffered exceeding hardship…. So I ask for the hundredth time, why do we think we should have a hardship free life when we are Christ followers? Why?

Listening to this song right now…

Blessings- (Laura Story)

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace

Comfort for family, protection while we sleep

We pray for healing, for prosperity

We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

And all the while, You hear each spoken need

Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near

What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear

We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near

We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love

As if every promise from Your word is not enough

And all the while, You hear each desperate plea

And long that we'd have faith to believe

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near

What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us

When darkness seems to win

We know that pain reminds this heart

That this is not,

This is not our home

It's not our home

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near

What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life

Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy

What if trials of this life

The rain, the storms, the hardest nights

Are your mercies in disguise

From <https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/laurastory/blessings.html>

Scales Fall From His Eyes.

Act 9:10  And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

A Christ follower, a disciple of Christ's living in Damascus had a vision. That man, Ananias, saw the LORD  in that vision. Now, the was a dream and often in dreams we see ourselves doing many different things. In fact, last night I had a dream I was in my childhood home going through some cupboards where some of my favorite things had been stored. I could see myself going through the cupboards, opening the doors, taking out the items inside, I was thrilled. In fact it was one of the few times I started waking from a dream and knew I waking and didn't want it to end and fought to stay sleeping, to stay dreaming.  Ananias saw himself in a dream seeing the Lord Jesus. The Lord called to him, speaking his name and Ananias answered…  Behold, I am here, Lord.

Can you picture that scene? Imagine yourself sleeping and dreaming of the Lord calling you and you answering Him? How amazingly wonderful it had to be!

Act 9:11  And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 

Act 9:12  And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. 

The Lord continued to speak to Ananias. Get up and go into a street called Straight and ask in the house of Judas for Saul of Tarsus, he's praying and seeing you in a dream coming to him and putting your hand on him so he can receive his sight.

Act 9:13  Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 

Act 9:14  And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 

The dream continued and Ananias didn’t just say, "Okay, I'll go." Ananias told the Lord he'd heard of Saul of Tarsus and the evil things he'd done to the Christ followers at Jerusalem. He told Jesus that he knew Saul had the authority from the chief priests to imprison all who believe in Jesus. Ananias did NOT want to be imprisoned by Saul, he knew the followers of Christ had scattered and were hiding from the man, not going to him, not surrendering themselves purposely to be imprisoned.

Act 9:15  But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 

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

Jesus told Ananias to go, because Saul was chosen by Jesus. Saul would take Jesus name to the Gentiles, to kings, and to the children of Israel. Saul would be shown that he would have to suffer greatly for Jesus. 

Ananias woke up, he rose from his sleep, from the vision he had and in his heart of hearts knew he had no choice but to listen to the Lord.  This was what his Lord wanted of him and he'd go. If Jesus wanted the great persecutor of His followers to be a vessel for Him, who was Ananias to not obey.  He love the Lord and would do all he said come what may.

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. 

Ananias went to the house and into Saul an placed his hands on him telling him that the Lord, Jesus, appeared to Saul and now the Lord has sent him to give Saul back his sight and allow him to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

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. 

The scales fell off Paul's (Saul's) eyes and he could see, physically and spiritually he could see. He was ready. After three days of darkness, of contemplation, of prayer

Paul sat in darkness three days. Three whole day no eating, no drinking, he was consumed with everything that had transpired. His entire life had changed in an instant and he was given three days of darkness to comprehend the truth revealed to him.  When he'd saw in his dream that a man was coming to restore his sight, he waited and as soon as the man did so, he knew, he had no doubt whatsoever, at all that all that he knew of Jesus was true. He had to be baptized! He had to belong to Jesus, he had to gain forgiveness for all His sins, every single sin he'd ever committed. The old him had to die in the waters of baptism and the new him had to rise up and the Holy Spirit had to fill him as he was born of water and Spirit!

Jesus had mentioned that Paul had to know this--

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

And he had to have been show this--

He'd be whipped five times and each time he'd receive thirty-nine stripes.

He'd be beaten with rods three times.

He'd be stoned once.

He'd be in three shipwrecks.

He'd journey often.

He'd be in perils of waters, robbers, his own countrymen, heathen, the city, the wilderness, the sea, among false brothers.

He'd be weary and in pain, ever on guard, hungry, thirsty, fasting often, cold and naked.

Jesus showed him that he would suffer greatly, all for Him, and Paul didn't shirk from his duty, he LOVED God, he LOVED the Lord. He lived to love them and would always love them and follow the truth revealed to Him.  Oh, that we could love the Lord with such zeal, such truth, such passion.

2Co 11:24  Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 

2Co 11:25  Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 

2Co 11:26  In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 

2Co 11:27  In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 

2Co 11:28  Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. 

Conversion Story (Paul)

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. 

Paul (Saul) consented to the death of the first Christ follower martyr, Stephen. God knew Paul agreed that Stephen should be stoned to death. Paul watched Stephen being stoned, saw the rocks hitting him, cutting into his flesh, life blood pouring from his body, his skull being battered, fractured. Paul was most likely thrilled at this Christ follower's death. After Stephen was killed, the Christ followers scattered, no longer grouping together. Paul took advantage of the scattering and wreaked havoc on the Christ followers. He went into every house--  how many houses? EVERY HOUSE. Grabbing up men and women he put them all in prison, any suspected Christ follower was jailed. Paul did this with zeal, thrilled with the work he was doing for God.

Now, let us remember this and consider the things Paul thought about as he spent three days and nights blind- in total darkness, not eating or drinking. 

Act 9:9  And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. 

Christ spoke with Paul. Christ blinded Paul. Christ gave Paul a chance to believe and Paul took that chance. Paul didn’t demand to be taken back to where he'd come from. Paul didn’t outright rant and rave, denying what had just happened to him. Paul was given three days of blindness as his entire life was being changed all because his greatest desire in life was to please God. EVERYTHING he thought he knew to be true, everything was changed. The Messiah he'd been waiting for, the same Messiah his entire race of people had been waiting for, for thousands of years had walked the earth and HE'D denied HIM! He'd cheered and celebrated with his fellow Pharisees when the Jesus problem was taken care of on the cross. He then earnestly and happily hunted down the followers of the Messiah and had them imprisoned and consented to their death. He wasn't one of the Apostles, he wasn't one of the disciples of the Messiah. He hadn't spent years with the Messiah, learning at his side, witnessing the true Son of God on earth! He'd missed it all because he'd been caught up in the lies he'd been fed for years. Yet others who were raised like him hadn't been caught up in the lies. Some, though very few, had met with the Messiah and talked with Him. Some had questioned whether or not the man could truly be the Messiah, but not him! He was too deep into what he believed with truth. He was so deep into the lies that he thought were truth that he was ready to stop at nothing to defend that truth. 

Christ came to Him and gave Him the chance to turn from the lies and towards the truth and he did.

Three days of darkness, introspection, admitting, surrendering, confessing, repenting, sorrowing, and yes, there had to be some joy, right? Joy that he was not left in the lies. Joy that while he wasn’t a Christ follower when Christ walked the earth, he wasn't left to die in his lies, die in his sins, die a traitor to the God he truly loved! 

How many of us have a conversion story to tell? All of us come from darkness to light, from lies to truth, or should I say, most of us do. Some come from the deepest darkness that exists, others from darkness that would keep them from the light of truth that isn't the darkest it could be- but they know that any darkness no matter how little is enough to keep the light of truth from shining in their heart.  We have conversion stories to tell. What's yours?

Father in Heaven, we ask you to please touch our hearts, remove the scales from our spiritual eyes, take us from the darkness that tries so hard to destroy us and keep us from YOU. Please, Father, let YOUR will be done now and forever, on earth and in heaven! Please, Father, forgive us, and help us to forgive others as YOU would have us forgive them all! Let Your kingdom come! Let Your will be done! Give us all we need to be YOURS. All through Your Son, You only begotten, declare Son, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior now and forever!!!!!!!

He Gave Pain, He Received Pain.

Paul before conversion--

Act 26:4  My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; 

Act 26:5  Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. 

He lived a Pharisee.

Pharisee

PHAR'ISEE, n. [Heb. to separate.] One of a sect among the Jews, whose religion consisted in a strict observance of rites and ceremonies and of the traditions of the elders,and whose pretended holiness led them to separate themselves as a sect, considering themselves as more righteous than other Jews.

Act 26:6  And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers

Paul declared he was being judged for the HOPE OF THE PROMISE MADE OF GOD unto the fathers of his people.  That hope was the Messiah. The fathers were giving the hope of the Messiah.

Act 26:7  Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews. 

Act 26:8  Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead? 

Act 26:9  I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 

Paul admitted that He THOUGHT all of his own accord that HE ought to do MANY THINGS CONTRARY to the name of JESUS of NAZARETH. Many things against the name of the Savior. Paul wanted to hurt any who spoke the name Jesus and we can only truly imagine ourselves the MANY things Paul wanted to do.

But Paul not only THOUGHT about the things to hurt those who believed in Jesus' name, Paul DID a lot of things.

Act 26:10  Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. 

Act 26:11  And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities. 

He- IMPRISONED them.

He- Agreed with their being put to DEATH.

He- PUNISHED them often in EVERY synagogue.

He- COMPELLED them to blaspheme.

He- TRAVELED to cities that were unknown to him just to PERSECUTE them.

It is very realistic to say Paul HATED Christ followers and went to extraordinary lengths to destroy them.

This is the man our Savior chose, why? Because in Paul's very misguided way he was true to God. Once Paul's eyes were opened to the truth he accepted it.

Some might say if they had the same experience as Paul they'd believe too, and maybe they're right, I have no idea.  We all want this glorious experience, we want to be chosen by God to be used by Him in a special way. We read about many Biblical heroes and the blessed by God and we long to be God's right? Satan will use our desire to get us thinking highly of ourselves, to ignite our pride, our jealousy. The majority of those chosen by God led lives filled with hardships, and they too still had doubts. Read the Psalms of David and you'll see what I'm talking about. 

Paul went on to endure so much that we can scarcely imagine it all--

2Co 11:24  Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 

2Co 11:25  Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 

2Co 11:26  In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 

2Co 11:27  In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 

2Co 11:28  Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. 

The five times receiving 39 stripes….   I can't even imagine one time and one stripe, let alone five times and 39 stripes, can you? Have you ever been whipped? I mean really whipped with a real whip wielded by a man proficient in the art of applying that whip so that it gives bloody, flesh ripping stripes?

We need to really think about these things, think deeply. Paul was chosen by God, and his conversion was a miracle. Paul was chosen to bring the TRUTH of our LORD and SAVIOR, and His SALVATION to ALL! 

More tomorrow by the will of GOD.

Please, LORD, please.

All through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, now and forever and ever!!!!!!!

Darkness Descended.

And darkness descended upon Paul.

Act 9:8  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. 

Act 9:9  And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. 

Blinded.  Told he would be giving light to those in darkness, he, himself was thrust into darkness, his sight taken from him.

Moments before he was blinded, Paul (Saul) was on his way to Damascus. Just imagine what his thoughts had to be centered on. Imprisoning Christ followers. Hunting these blasphemous people down, seeking them out from every corner of Damascus. Taking these fools into custody and keeping them from spreading their awful lies about a supposedly risen Savior. The man was dead! They'd killed him! Didn’t these ignorant people realize that the would be Savior spoke bold, blasphemous lies? It was His duty to apprehend the criminals and put a stop to the craziness and he couldn’t wait to get to Damascus and get to work.

Have any of you ever been so sure of something only to find out you were completely wrong? You were positive that something was a certain way, but it wasn't not at all.  We see this sort of things in movies, in television shows,  it’s a standard plot line in suspense shows, and even in comedies. The reveal of how wrong someone was is often depicted as plot hook and the person goes on to either accept the new revelation- working through the hardship of that, or they go into denial and spend the rest of the movie being forced to accept the truth. There are so many scenarios, and isn't that where we like this sort of situations, on a television, or movie screen? We don’t like it in our real life at all. Finding out you were wrong about something you believe in can be devastating.  It's true too that finding out you were wrong about something that is awful to begin with, is a huge relief. Paul, however was not under the impression that hunting down Christ followers was awful. He believe in his heart, with all he was that what he was doing was God's blessed work. He believed he had God's full approval, that he was a God-fearing man.  He was totally wrong!  All he believed about the man they'd crucified was wrong!

And…after finding out he was wrong, he was blinded.

Act 9:8  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. 

Act 9:9  And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. 

When his eyes were open…. He saw NO MAN. He had to be led by the hand all the way to Damascus.

Blind.  It's no coincidence that Jesus used these words--

Act 26:16  But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; 

Act 26:17  Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 

Act 26:18  To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. 

To OPEN THEIR EYES.     Paul was going to be sent to open the eyes of the Gentiles, and His own eyes had been blinded, he was in complete darkness.  Just as he was spiritually blinded, though he had physical sight, he was now physically blinding but spiritually he now had sight. Spiritual revelation, the truth had been revealed to him by the risen Jesus Himself!

For three days he was allowed this blindness. For three days his spiritual enlightenment was ignited. He had three days to think about nothing but his Christ given revelation.

He was chosen, of all people, he was chosen to turn the Gentiles from the power of Satan. Unless he did this, those people would not receive forgiveness for their sins, and they would not ultimately be with the holy, all through faith in Jesus Christ, Paul's Savior. Paul believed. Paul now believed. He had to review all that he knew of the Christ, all the things he believed were lies were really truths. To have to accept this - Paul was receiving a crash course in Salvation. Jesus hadn't blasphemed when He said He was God's Son. Every miracle that Paul had dismissed as brought to pass by Satan, had really been wrought by Jesus, using His Father's power. Every single person that believed…. Stephen… stoned Stephen, those words he spoke right before he was murdered were all true!

Yes, Paul's spiritual sight was never as vivid as it was when he was blinded. Three days of no eating and no drinking. Paul couldn’t concern himself with something so mundane as eating and drinking. The spiritual water and food he was feasting upon was all he needed.  Paul did not lay there in a coma for three days, Paul was conscious, Paul was thinking, Paul was being taught by the Holy Spirit. Paul was believing, and soon, so very soon Paul would be baptized. Paul will have repented of his sins, the greatest of which was persecuting Christ's followers, when the scales are removed from his physical eyes. He was ready to be baptized into the life of a Christ follower. He was going to be buried with Christ beneath the water and rise up into the new life of a Christ follower.

So amazing. Paul was given a mission, a life-long mission to preach Christ to the Gentiles. To bring Christ to people who otherwise would never have known Him.

May we, like Paul live for Christ in any way He reveals to us. May the Lord use us in His service now and always!

All through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, now and forever!!!!!!!