2015 04 05 Damascus Road

Damascus Road The church was growing. New people believed as the apostles traveled telling about Jesus. Lives were being changed. God’s message of life and love was beginning to fill the earth. Not everyone was thrilled. There were still religious leaders who refused to believe Jesus was the Messiah. They were stuck on what they had expected God to do, so they missed God’s gift when it came. God sent His only Son and they rejected Him. In their fight to keep the Christian faith from growing they persecuted and some times even killed new believers. Among those persecuting the Christians was a man, named Saul. Saul was determined to stop the word of Jesus from spreading. He was a devout Jew. He knew all God’s commands, and He obeyed them. Like many others, he believed he knew how God was going to work and he did not believe Jesus was God’s son. He believed Christians were spreading lies and turning people away from God. He threatened Christians terribly. He went to the high priest to ask permission to arrest anyone who believed in Jesus. He was going to take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. Saul set out and as he traveled he saw a great light. He fell to the ground as a voice spoke, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Confused Saul wondered who was speaking. After Saul asked, the voice replied, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.” Jesus instructed Saul to go into the city and he would be told what to do. When he opened his eyes, he was blind. Those with Saul led him into the city. For three days he waited, unable to see. God sent a man named Ananias to minister to Saul. Ananias had to trust God. He knew of Saul and his intent to destroy Christians. He obeyed God. After he prayed, Saul’s sight was restored. Ananias told him about Jesus, and Saul believed. He was filled with the Holy Spirit and was baptized. God changed Saul’s name to Paul. He followed Jesus completely ministering and proving Jesus is Lord. Those who knew him before were baffled. God had a special assignment for Paul. When Jesus was first resurrected it was only the Jews who were receiving the special gift of God’s love. God had said all people on earth would be blessed through the Israelites. This gift wasn’t just for them but for everyone! God called Paul to tell those who not Israelites about Jesus and His amazing gift to them.