August 10, 2014

  Evil Threats....Redemption....Suffering....Hope   

Acts 9: 1 - 19

 Luke

Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath.  He was eager to destroy the Lord's followers, so he went to the high priest.  He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking 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. 

As he was nearing Damascus on this mission, a brilliant light from heaven suddenly beamed down upon him!  He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul! Saul!  Why are you persecuting me!"

"Who are you, sir?  Saul asked.

And the voice replied, "I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!  Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you are to do." 

The men with Saul stood speechless with surprise, for they heard the sound of someone's voice, but they saw no one!  As Saul picked himself up off the ground, he found that he was blind.  So the companions led him by the hand to Damascus.  He remained there blind for three days.  And all that time he went without food and water. 

Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias.  The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, "Ananias!"

"Yes, Lord!" he replied.

The Lord said, "Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas.  When you arrive, ask for Saul of Tarsus.  He is praying to me right now.  I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying his hands on him so that he can see again."

"But Lord," exclaimed Ananias, "I've heard about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem!  And we hear that he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest every believer in Damascus."

But the Lord said, "Go and do what I say.  For Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.  And I will show him how much he must suffer for me."

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 may get your sight back and be filled with the Holy Spirit."  Instantly something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he regained his sight.  Then he got up and was baptized.  Afterward he ate some food and was strengthened.   

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Thoughts....

Evil threats....persecution....same thing.  Has anyone been on the receiving end of this type of behavior?  If you are a Christian, you most assuredly have probably experienced this once, or a great deal more, in your life.  Been there....not done that....would be my experience. 

If you recall from Acts 7:54-58, Saul (soon to be renamed Paul) witnessed many people stoning Stephen.  As with any militant behavior, it can be impressionable.  Saul experienced it first hand.  And he chose to duplicate it.  'See, watch, learn, duplicate' can have positive or negative implications.  It's a great premise to follow in the positive, NOT so great in the negative.  He duplicated it as evidenced by verses 1-3 in Chapter 8 of Acts.

Saul also shows his continuation of negative abominable behavior in todays lesson in Acts 9:1-2.  But he was thwarted!  Jesus steps in to save the day like Mighty Mouse in the children's cartoons.  Mighty Mouse used to sing "Here I come to save the day!"  But Jesus steps in to not only save the day, and the people, but Saul and his soul.

In verses 3-8 we learn that a bright light from heaven....the light of Jesus....beamed upon Saul, who, when exposed, fell down and heard Jesus say to him "Saul!  Saul!  Why are you persecuting me?"

Here's a thought:  When you are being persecuted, AND Jesus is in you ('you ARE a Christian as evidenced by thought, word, and deed'), is it you who are being persecuted, or Jesus IN you?  Could it be both?  Yes, and yes, are the correct answers here.  Satan is an evil foe who will most assuredly attack Jesus in you, and his assigns can do the same to you.  Even if you are not a Christian, this can occur.  And SADLY I need to say that there are many professing and misguided Christians who will do this, too.  Please note that just because someone SAYS they are a Christian does not mean they are INDEED a Christian in thought, word, and deed.  All fall short of the glory of God, but many break/fall off the tree and are set to be burned as chaff.     

So Saul is called out by Jesus.  Note what the first words to Jesus are from Saul...."Who are you, sir?"  In the King James he asks also what he is to do.  First Saul wants to know who is speaking, but he gives reverence by asking 'sir'.  He probably knows that anyone who can speak through a bright light from heaven is not one of the guys on the street he can disrespect and knock around.  Jesus has put him in his place, so to speak.  Certainly in a position whereby Saul may actually choose to listen.  Note I said 'choose to' listen.  This something we all have a choice in.  Hopefully you will choose to listen to Jesus. 

Then Jesus tells Saul to get up and go into the city and that he will be told what he is to do.  Through all this, the men surrounding Saul were speechless and surprised.  They, too, heard the voice, saw no one, yet they learned it was Jesus speaking to Saul. 

When Saul stood, he realized he was blind.  Do you think the light blinded him or Jesus chose to blind him?  Does it matter?  Sort of.  Light can blind us.  But when Jesus blinds us, he REALLY wants our attention.  If this happens to you, BOW DOWN, KNEEL, PRAY, PRAISE, OPEN YOURSELF UP TO GOD, JESUS, HOLY SPIRIT, LISTEN immediately!  

We learn that Saul had to be led by the hands of others.  Unless you want to be led by the hands of others, make correct choices in life.    

So Saul and his companions went into Damascus where Saul remained there for three days, all the while blind.  He went without food and water, too.  Why do you suppose that is?  Throughout the Old and New Testament people who wanted answers to prayer fasted, so as to be an open vessel by which the Lord could enter, heal, give answers.  I am guessing he chose to go without food and water in a fast to obtain answers to his prayers, to be healed, and as to learn what to do with his life.  Do we have to fast today?  No.  Should we?  There are times you should consider doing this.  Recall in Matthew 4 that Jesus fasted for 40 days while being tested/tormented by Satan.  He was fed by the Word of God:  Jesus told Satan, 'People need more than bread for their life; they must feed on every word of God.'  See Deut 8:3 and Matt 4:4.  Whenever we are going through what Jesus, Saul or others went through, it can be very helpful to fast, but also feed on the Word of God as you do.  I am guessing Saul went to the Temple throughout his young life and learned his lessons despite his recent choices.  He had only to draw on his memory and open his heart.  Do you know Scriptures/the Word well enough to call them to mind, were you to go blind....literally or otherwise?

Enter Ananias to the picture.  He was a believer in Damascus at the time.  The Lord spoke to him in a vision telling him to go over to Judas' house on Straight Street to see Saul of Tarsus.  Jesus told Ananias that he had given Saul a vision of Ananias going to him to lay his hands on him so that he could see again.  Ananias balked, knowing the terrible things Saul had done to believers and told the Lord of his deeds.....like the Lord didn't already know....he who knows all.

Jesus did know and didn't care.  Jesus had decided to choose Saul as an instrument/vessel for him to take his message to the Gentiles, kings, as well as to the people of Israel....the Jews.  And then Jesus said something profound.  He said "And I will show him (Saul) how much he must [will...future tense intended] suffer for me."  This is a stand alone, almost mind blowing statement.  Jesus clearly stated that Saul would suffer for him.  After he receives him as his own.  We know this because the Lord said to Ananias, "Go and do what I say".  And THEN Ananias went and laid hands on Saul and spoke over him to be healed and receive the Holy Spirit.  Note that he received the Holy Spirit BEFORE he was water baptized. 

Is Saul's suffering meant only for him or can this mean that all who are Christians will suffer for Christ?  It has certainly been my experience that Christians suffer for Jesus.  But the glory of being in his arms in heaven is worth all of it.  Is it a bear to get through it.  Yes....very yes.  Will the glory be even greater.  A kazillion times yes.  We can be assured because he tells us so.

So Ananias did what the Lord told him to do and Saul was healed....he regained his sight, received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and received the water baptism for forgiveness of sins.  Do you think Saul's regaining his sight was only a physical manifestation?  Could it have also been a spiritual one?  It was both. 

As a young Jew, Saul would have been devout in his faith, but, [big but] with the onslaught of the attack on Stephen, he had apparently lost his spiritual focus/sight on/of God.  Certainly his background/spiritual foundation was why he knew to fast.  And perhaps, because he had been a devotee of God, is why Jesus felt confident in 'working with him'/refine him for the fires to come, and for the ministry he was placing on his life.  Note that we cannot be refined without the fires.  Personally speaking, I've had enough fires....how about you?  So the refining fires can be classified as sufferings.  Perhaps now you can understand the meaning as to why Saul would need to suffer for Jesus.  And why you may be suffering as well.  They are refining fires.  Something HUGE may be about to happen for which you will need to be very close to Jesus to hear him, and to get through what is to come....large or small, good or bad.  I pray for all of us that it will all be good this time around.

For more info on a refiner's fire see Malachi Chapters 3 and 4, Matthew 3:11-12.  But see also the hope and promise.  Hebrews 10:37-39 reminds us "For in just a little while the Coming One [Jesus] will come and not delay, and a righteous person will live by faith, but I will have no pleasure in anyone who turns away."  But we are not like those who turn their backs on God [like Saul did] and seal their fate.  [Fortunately for the world for generations to come, Saul saw the error of his ways and Jesus was able to bring him back to the fold having seen the error of his ways.]  "We have faith that assures our salvation."  See Habakuk 2:3-4.

Do you need to be brought back to the fold?  Or do you have faith that assures your salvation?   Cling to Jesus with me!

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  Let Us Pray

Almighty Father God, Savior and Lord Jesus Christ, Teacher and Comforter Holy Spirit, open my eyes that I might 'see you more clearly, follow you more nearly, love you more dearly day by day'.  So much is going on all at once in my life, and I know not which way to go on the path, but you know.  Please guide me, lead me and direct me....and let me clearly hear you, so I do not miss a step on this journey you've given me.  I cling to you as the evil threats come, I believe in the promise of your redemption, and, if I am being refined for something better, great.  If it's for something worse....please, Lord....please....help me.  I pray for all in the world who are suffering for you, in your name, who love you and continually seek your face, your direction, your focus.  Please embrace them, send your guardian angels to surround them, and me, and keep us safe, as well as all of our families.  Let not anyone of us go astray, or lose sight of who you are, that you are, and how wonderful you are, and all you have to offer....forgiveness of sins and eternal life.  May we all continue onward, heavy load or not, until we reach upward in your arms.  In Jesus' name I pray, by and with the Holy Spirit, to Heavenly Father God.  I praise you!  I love you!  Amen!          

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Let us hear from Paul as he prays:  

When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.  And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him.  May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it.  Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now glory be to God!  By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.  May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages.  Amen.  Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT         

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Scroll down to read Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving...'The Unforced Rhythms of Grace'.

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    One last thing....

 Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving

'The Unforced Rhythms of Grace'

"Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer:  "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth.  You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people.  Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work."

Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly.  "The Father has given me all these things to do and say.  This is a unique Father - Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge.  No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does.  But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen."

"Are you tired?  Worn out?  Burned out on religion?  Come to me.  Get away with me and you'll recover your life.  I'll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn how to live freely and lightly.

   Matthew 11:  25-30

  The Message

And the people said,

"Amen."

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 I now write most prayers in the position of ' I ' (first person) because most people are sitting at their computer alone, not in groups, and it allows those reading and praying to personalize the prayer as coming from them going to God.  Variations may appear on holidays when families may wish to use the prayer provided.  I encourage you to pray your own prayers as well.

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  Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189.  All rights reserved.

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NOTE:  I said it long ago, but let me say it again.  If you are wanting to lead a group, start a church, or are confined in an institution, or live in a country where the Gospel is not preached, and you don't know what to say or how to say it, and yet feel led to share, teach, or preach, besides just reading straight out of the Bible and sharing what God puts on your heart, please feel free to share any or all of what I've written, if it will help you, as long as you include where it comes from, due to copyright laws.  Jesus gave God's love and healing freely, as well as his message.  Our responsibility is to get the Word out to those who need to hear it.  If what I've written....by the power and direction of the Holy Spirit....or what he has said through me....has helped you, it may help others that you know.  You are welcome to share it.  God calls all of us to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the world.  Please share it with the fullness of love that God, Jesus, Holy Spirit....and I....have given it.  Amen!

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