A New Direction!
I am sorry for not posting a blog yesterday. I found out Tuesday night that I had lost a dear friend and I just never felt like writing. His name was Kim Powell and he is now in the presence of our Lord. I will miss his sense of humor and his love for telling others about the incredible grace of our God. Kim was like Paul, a man who Jesus radically grabbed hold of and had given a second chance in life and a new direction to travel. Kim and his wife Martha made an impact on my life at a time when their friendship was a blessing from God and a direct answer to my prayers. I was fortunate to know this man and I am glad that I can, with Martha his soulmate in Jesus, remember his life and ministry. I'll miss you Kim but I will see you again one day!
Acts Chapter 9
Scripture= Acts chapter 9:20-22
At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, "Isn't he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn't he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?" Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.
Observations and Applications=
When I was a kid I loved to watch westerns'. Of course as a boy one of my favorite parts of the movie were always the gunfights. I especially liked when the cowboys were shooting each other or Indians off their horses. The horse was going really fast in one direction and suddenly they were snatched off their horses in midair. The horse was going in one way and suddenly the men who got shot were flying in the opposite direction. Later, as I grew older I found out how they made this stunt work in the movies. The horse rider was literally tied to a rope and the rope was secured to a fixed object. When the rider took off riding their horse they were eventually ejected off the horse by the now completely taut rope. The effect was great it looked like the bullets had knocked the riders right off their horses.
Saul of Tarsus had a very similar encounter in Acts chapter 9. No, Saul wasn't shot off his horse but the encounter he had with Jesus virtually had the same effect. Not only did Saul (Paul) get knocked on the ground altering his travel plans, his life's direction would never be the same as well! Saul thought he had everything figured out. Paul was persecuting this rebellion of Judaism in order to please God. Now suddenly Saul discovered that this rebellion was actually of God and that Jesus was in fact, the Son of God, Saul's messiah! Saul realized that his whole life had been heading in the wrong direction! Now suddenly Saul is left blind and without direction. He is so moved that he cannot even eat of drink. He is suddenly a very humble and powerless man.
After Ananias meets with him, Saul's entire life immediately begins to radically go in the opposite direction of where it had been heading. Now instead of persecuting those who believe in Jesus he is preaching about having a relationship with him. Instead of persecuting those who followed Jesus, Saul is arguing for their position and helping to strengthen the church. Now instead of taking peoples lives Saul is actually on the run to save his own. If ever there was a man whose life looked like one of those riders who were shot off their horse it was Saul (Paul). It is almost unbelievable to conceive that so much change could occur so quickly and so radically! Saul had been RADICALLY SAVED!
The church had a hard time accepting and believing that this change was genuine. This Saul had done great damage to the cause of Christ and I am sure they all knew people whose lives were drastically altered due to Saul's zealousness. How could they trust Saul? It might all be a trick? Isn't that the way we often view our own walk with Christ? We think back about the Saul that we once were and often doubt the radical work of Jesus in our own lives. Philippians 1:6 says we can be confident that Jesus will finish the work in us that he started. Colossians 3 tells that we can set our hearts on heavenly things and walk away from what we used to be. We too can be radically saved; never to be the same ever again (see Colossians chapter 3). Believe this day in your Savior who like he did for Saul changed the course of your life forever and started you in the right direction. Jesus is both the author and the finisher of our faith (Hebrews. 12:2).
Prayer=Lord Jesus, thank you for my salvation. May I continue to see the fruits of my salvation and my relationship with you. You have stopped me from the path of destruction and placed me on your highway to holiness.
Acts Chapter 9
Scripture= Acts chapter 9:20-22
At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, "Isn't he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn't he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?" Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.
Observations and Applications=
When I was a kid I loved to watch westerns'. Of course as a boy one of my favorite parts of the movie were always the gunfights. I especially liked when the cowboys were shooting each other or Indians off their horses. The horse was going really fast in one direction and suddenly they were snatched off their horses in midair. The horse was going in one way and suddenly the men who got shot were flying in the opposite direction. Later, as I grew older I found out how they made this stunt work in the movies. The horse rider was literally tied to a rope and the rope was secured to a fixed object. When the rider took off riding their horse they were eventually ejected off the horse by the now completely taut rope. The effect was great it looked like the bullets had knocked the riders right off their horses.
Saul of Tarsus had a very similar encounter in Acts chapter 9. No, Saul wasn't shot off his horse but the encounter he had with Jesus virtually had the same effect. Not only did Saul (Paul) get knocked on the ground altering his travel plans, his life's direction would never be the same as well! Saul thought he had everything figured out. Paul was persecuting this rebellion of Judaism in order to please God. Now suddenly Saul discovered that this rebellion was actually of God and that Jesus was in fact, the Son of God, Saul's messiah! Saul realized that his whole life had been heading in the wrong direction! Now suddenly Saul is left blind and without direction. He is so moved that he cannot even eat of drink. He is suddenly a very humble and powerless man.
After Ananias meets with him, Saul's entire life immediately begins to radically go in the opposite direction of where it had been heading. Now instead of persecuting those who believe in Jesus he is preaching about having a relationship with him. Instead of persecuting those who followed Jesus, Saul is arguing for their position and helping to strengthen the church. Now instead of taking peoples lives Saul is actually on the run to save his own. If ever there was a man whose life looked like one of those riders who were shot off their horse it was Saul (Paul). It is almost unbelievable to conceive that so much change could occur so quickly and so radically! Saul had been RADICALLY SAVED!
The church had a hard time accepting and believing that this change was genuine. This Saul had done great damage to the cause of Christ and I am sure they all knew people whose lives were drastically altered due to Saul's zealousness. How could they trust Saul? It might all be a trick? Isn't that the way we often view our own walk with Christ? We think back about the Saul that we once were and often doubt the radical work of Jesus in our own lives. Philippians 1:6 says we can be confident that Jesus will finish the work in us that he started. Colossians 3 tells that we can set our hearts on heavenly things and walk away from what we used to be. We too can be radically saved; never to be the same ever again (see Colossians chapter 3). Believe this day in your Savior who like he did for Saul changed the course of your life forever and started you in the right direction. Jesus is both the author and the finisher of our faith (Hebrews. 12:2).
Prayer=Lord Jesus, thank you for my salvation. May I continue to see the fruits of my salvation and my relationship with you. You have stopped me from the path of destruction and placed me on your highway to holiness.
I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. Sounds like he was a blessing to know.
Posted by
Jaqua (Jāy 'Quāy) |
12:01 PM