Posts
Sunday
7/13/14
Greg Laurie
Acts 8:1-4
Greg just finished interviewing
former mob captain Michael Fanzese.
Has it ever seemed that God could
not reach some people?
Is there someone you are thinking
of right now that you think could not become a Christian.
Greg thinks those people that we
all think of maybe closer then others.
Saul was one of those people, he
was brilliant and deeply religious in Jewish law. Stephen was in front of him
and others on trial before Stephen was stoned to death.
Acts 8:1-4 NLT
[1] Saul was one of the
witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen. A great wave
of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all
the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea
and Samaria. [2] (Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.)
[3] But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to
house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison. [4] But the
believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they
went.
God can use intentions of evil to
do good in the church. The apostles that were not going out and preaching the
Gospel were now being chased out by Saul and now spreading the gospel to
others.
The word of God is kind of like
throwing a seed out. You never know when it will grow or be used in someone.
Stephen sowed that seed in Saul.
Acts 9:1-9 NLT
[1] Meanwhile, Saul was uttering
threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord's followers. So he
went to the high priest. [2] He requested letters addressed to the synagogues
in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the
Way he found there. He wanted to bring them-both men and women-back to
Jerusalem in chains. [3] As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a
light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. [4] He fell to the ground and
heard a voice saying to him, "Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting
me?" [5] "Who are you, lord?" Saul asked. And the voice replied,
"I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! [6] Now get up and go into the
city, and you will be told what you must do." [7] The men with Saul stood
speechless, for they heard the sound of someone's voice but saw no one! [8]
Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was
blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. [9] He remained there
blind for three days and did not eat or drink.
Acts 26:11 NLT
[11] Many times I had them
punished in the synagogues to get them to curse Jesus. I was so violently
opposed to them that I even chased them down in foreign cities.
"Saul was uttering threats
with every breath"
"He requested letters
addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the
arrest of any followers"
"Jesus said why are you
persecuting me" Meaning He identifies those that are proclaiming the
Gospel are His.
Acts 9:10-21 NLT
[10] Now there was a believer in
Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling,
"Ananias!" "Yes, Lord!" he replied. [11] The Lord said,
"Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there,
ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. [12] I
have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on
him so he can see again." [13] "But Lord," exclaimed Ananias,
"I've heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done
to the believers in Jerusalem! [14] And he is authorized by the leading priests
to arrest everyone who calls upon your name." [15] But the Lord said,
"Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles
and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. [16] And I will show him how
much he must suffer for my name's sake." [17] So Ananias went and found
Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus,
who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your
sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." [18] Instantly something like
scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was
baptized. [19] Afterward he ate some food and regained his strength. Saul
stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days. [20] And immediately he
began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is indeed the
Son of God!" [21] All who heard him were amazed.....
Ananias is one of the heroes of
the Bible that we hear very little of. For every hero of the faith, there is
always a back story and people working there. When God does something through
someone we have touched, we will receive rewards in heaven for it.
Through God nothing is
impossible.
Three things Saul/Paul was doing.
1. He was praying v.11
Probably asking for forgiveness.
The same mouth that was saying
murderous request about disciples was now worshiping The Lord.
2. He was preaching.
1 Timothy 1:13-15 NLT
[13] even though I used to
blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God
had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. [14] Oh, how
generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that
come from Christ Jesus. [15] This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should
accept it: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners"-and I
am the worst of them all.
3. He was suffering.
He was used by God during his
suffering.
Acts 9:23 NLT
[23] After a while some of the
Jews plotted together to kill him.
2 Timothy 3:12 NLT
[12] Yes, and everyone who wants
to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
Saul of Tarsus became Paul, the
greatest preacher in the history of the church.
Pray for the biggest sinners you
know, God can reach them too!
For the nonbeliever this life is
as good as it gets, for the believer this life is as bad as it will ever be.
Nonbelievers have tragedies and
Christians do too. For Christians we have the hope of seeing The Lord in Heaven
some day.
Love God because God loves you.
We are put on this earth to
glorify God.
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