Just as Christ transformed Saul from wicked to godly person, God can transform and make the worst criminal His beloved child. Acts 9: 15 - The Lord said unto him (Ananias), Go thy way: for he ( Paul) is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. The followings are discussed: Life-transforming Encounter with Christ; Commissioned by Christ, and Preaching and Persecuted for Christ.
Life-Transforming Encounter with Christ: If God could save Saul and use him to fulfil His purpose, He can save those we might have considered impossible to be saved. Saul had continued to deliver the murderous task since execution of Stephen and couldn't be stopped from pursuing, arresting and taking christian in bondages to the presence of religious leaders for persecution (Acts 9:1-2). He was very active in the efforts to persecute Christians and stop the gospel from spreading when the risen Jesus confronted him.
As Saul was going in the company of those assigned with him for persecution of Christians, he saw powerful light and heard a voice from heaven asking for the reason he was persecuting the Church (Acts 9:3-9); immediately he knew it was an encounter with the Lord. Jesus could have smitten and destroyed him but he showed mercy and saved him. The merciful and loving God wants sinners to be saved and useful for His service. Jesus identifies with the sufferings of his followers in the course of spreading the gospel just as he identified with and saved sinners while on earth. The Lord meets and uses people for His service based on their knowledge and understanding of His work.
Commissioned by Christ: The Lord had told Saul where he should go and who to meet for his sight to be restored. Meanwhile, the Lord instructed Ananias to meet and pray for Saul so that his sight could be restored, and to be endued with Holy Spirit for the task ahead (Acts 9:10-16). Ananias was frightened, knowing Saul could arrest and torture him, but Jesus had told him that he had chosen Saul to carry out his mission. Ananias obeyed God's command and went ahead to lay hands on the man that would become one of greatest missionaries in Church history. His obedience made it possible for Saul to receive both physical and spiritual healing (Acts 9:17-19). God used Ananias to restore Saul's sight and help him receive the baptism of Holy Spirit.
Preaching and Persecuted for Christ: Saul demonstrated the sincerity of his decision to serve Christ by preaching boldly in synagogues where enemies of the Early Church had gathered against Christians (Acts 9:20-25). Members of synagogues were surprised and troubled to see Paul's zeal and pursuit of his newfound faith in Christ. Paul justified his teachings that Jesus is the Messiah with Old Testament prophesies. Only Old Testament was available for early Christians to know and hold unto the truth about God's plan to send the Messiah and renew the covenant. Saul's knowledge and understanding of the Old testament helped in his writing and presentation of messages of the New Testament.
The religious leaders made attempts to kill Saul and stop his ministry in Damascus and Jerusalem but he was saved by the believers. Saul couldn't be stopped from preaching the gospel (Acts 9:26-30). He went to places proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah. He preached the gospel in Damascus, Jerusalem and Arabia and then returned to Tarsus (Turkey), his hometown. Saul was dedicated to preaching and sharing the good news anywhere he went following his conversion. Lesson texts: Acts 9:1-31.
No comments:
Post a Comment