" The Making of an Apostle "

Acts 9:1-31   " And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the LORD, went unto the high priest, 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.  And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:  And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him,  ' Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou ME ? '  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.'  And he trembling and astonished said, 'LORD, what wilt THOU have me to do ?'  And the LORD said unto him,  'Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.' 

And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.  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.  And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. 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.'  And the LORD said unto him,  ' Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.'

Then Ananias answered,  ' LORD, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to THY saints at Jerusalem: and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on THY name.'  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: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for MY name's sake.'  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.'

And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached CHRIST in the synagogues, that HE is the SON of GOD. 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 ? ' But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very CHRIST. And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

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. 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. And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. And he spake boldly in the name of the LORD JESUS, and disputed against the Grecians; but they went about to slay him. Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus. Then had the churches rest throughout all Judea 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. "

     The story is told of a malicious old Scotsman with the last name of Kline, who was saved through the misunderstanding of a line in a familiar hymn. As he walked down a country road past a small church, the singing of a hymn caught his attention, and, pausing for a moment as the congregation sang  " JESUS died for all mankind,"  and he thought he heard  "JESUS died for auld man Kline."  That roadside incident led to the transformation of the man's life as he came to JESUS CHRIST for redemption.

     Today's text tells of another roadside occurrence that changed the life of Saul of Tarsus, whom we know as the Apostle Paul.  Over twenty years later, looking back, Paul declared that he was  "apprehended of CHRIST JESUS" (Phil.3:12).  In other words, CHRIST got a grip on him and would not let go. The turnabout of Paul's life demonstrates the tremendous power of JESUS CHRIST. Becoming a follower of JESUS was the farthest thing from Paul's mind as he traveled the Damascus Road.  His whole focus was on destroying all who trusted in the SAVIOR.  He was obsessed with his scheme of sweeping Christianity off the earth, once and for all.  Never did he dream that he himself would become a believer.  But then, he also had not reckoned on the power of JESUS CHRIST.

     The LORD JESUS CHRIST changes men and women who come to HIM by faith (2nd.Cor.5:17).  HE turned the life of Saul inside out and right side up. Saul the persecutor became Paul  "the Apostle of the Gentiles"  (Rom.11:13), carrying the message of  "the Gospel of CHRIST"  to Jew and Gentile (Rom.1:16).  Hopeless cases are GOD's specialty.  Keep praying for those who perhaps seem to be beyond hope.  The LORD is able ! JED

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

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