A Blessed Christmas to You & Yours

Music The Brush Of A Delibrate Atrist

              Music The Brush Of A Deliberate Artist

 

Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?  (Daniel 3:15 NIV)

(See 2kings 3:14-16)

Music is one powerful aspect of life most of us living in the world today are probably going to look at and pay less attention to. The truth is it’s a way of life just like worship.  Worship and music are linked. No one can separate them even if we all try to.

 Music is so powerful that it influences  the emotions of men.  Although most music are composed by song writers as a result of an incident or circumstances , but there’s no music put together with out a purpose or should I say motive.  For every music there’s a spirit behind it. Music is nothing but the brush of a deliberate artist.  It paints a picture, negative or positive depends on the intentions, and  nature of the artist (spirit / Spirit) behind it.

As harmless as music seems to come across to many of us it’s so powerful that it causes us to bow our heads in worship to whatever deity it is been dedicated to. 

When we speak of worship most times we only think of the word; bowing down or prostrating in the literal sense before an image or person. But worship is deeper than that. It’s a way of life and often times the music we listen to influences our choices of what we eventually worship as suppose to what we claim to pay obeisance to.  Music like I said, is the brush of a deliberate artist. It has the ability to paint an image in the heart and mind of it listener so much so that he or she begins to gravitate towards acting out the image painted by the music in the mind. 

It’s impossible for someone to lead a life any different from the intention of the artist (spirit/ Spirit) behind the music he or she listens to. Music is a way of life, so also is worship.

Music has the ability to alter a man’s mind and control the emotions of a person, swaying it towards the intentions of the artist ( spirit / Spirit)  behind it. As such it's not just the combination of sounds that is pleasant to the ears but also a mechanism deliberately constructed to move one towards a particular direction of worship.

The subtlety of music is so great that it can play it way into the mind of an individual with out him /her realizing it. I have caught myself in different occasions singing songs I knew I do never intentionally listen to only to realize that I heard it played out loud while passing through a particular music outlet.

In altering the curse of life the music we listen to is as important as the words we sow into our lives. There is something about the text in Daniel 3:15 that is true about the influence music has over the soul of a man.  I realize that the king in order to get the people to voluntarily bow down to the image he had set up ,  added music to the process of getting  them to worship his image  (Idol).

The three Hebrew boys mentioned in this scripture were able to figure this out because they had a close relationship with God. I want to believe that there were  other men and women from the Hebrew clan who fell face flat in response to the music and worshiped the king’s image, an act they wound not have find so easy to perform without the help of the music playing in the background.  The same image this particular three Hebrew boys refused to bow down and worshiped.

  

Music (the wrong music) has the ability to set the desire of our soul so high that it systematically disengage our spiritual sensors as believers there by putting us in a space where we find our selves conforming to the worldly desire of our heart above God’s will and purpose for our  lives. This same truth can be said to be true when we listen to the right music. 

 Nothing console the soul of a man to the point where he or she becomes a wiling party in making decisions that are contrary to the Spirit of God living inside of him /her like the wrong music does .  Music helps open up the soul of a man and set his /her heart ready to receive a deposit of whatever the lyrics of the song listening to has install according to the nature of the artist (spirit / Spirit behind it). It steers us into worshiping something we would  ordinarily not pay attention to.      

Why we may unintentionally stumble into some wrong (genre), and lyrics of  music we must have it in mind that the artist behind it was deliberate in penning and composing it and as such should  also take deliberate action in deleting them from our memories.     

One lie we should never give in to is that of the one often made mention of; ” its just a music and, it does not matter”.

Music is so powerful that it facilitate the reception process of power from an external source into the spirit of  a man , there by enabling him to access to its full capacity a realm that lies within his / her spirit. Something in a normal circumstance he wouldn’t be able to do. 

That music you re listening to is more than the combination of sounds (lyrics and rhythm), it has been put together by an artist to either inspire you to be all God has made you to be or better still to reduce you spiritually using your soul as a channel to drain you of every spiritual capacity God has place in your spirit.  

Be careful what you listen to because music is definitely the brush of a deliberate artist and no artist paint a picture without an intention or purpose. Every painting has a story behind it. Never listen to a song with out a knowledge of it intention and the artist (spirit/ Spirit) behind the artist.

God bless you!

Shifting Shadows

What looks like a closed door to you is God’s pathway to blessing. What appears to be a nightmare can become His dream for your life. And what may seem like the worst news you could possibly receive can actually be the point of a new beginning. This is because no matter what God allows to touch your life, He has a plan for your future through it.

“Everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude” (1 Timothy 4:4).

It is easy to think of God’s goodness in a lighthearted way when it seems that we have everything going for us—a good job, health, a growing family, two new cars in the garage, and a house with several bedrooms. Life seems rich and full. But if we never learn to say “thank you” to the Lord, then we have not learned the truth of James 1:17. “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”

There are two extremes that can prevent us from living with grateful hearts. One is a sense of pride. We become prideful and believe that we have earned all that we have. When we have this attitude, we can expect to run headlong into trouble (Proverbs 16:18).

The second extreme comes as a result of feeling sorry for ourselves. While the temptation to be sorrowful—and even depressed—may pull at our hearts at times, we need to refuse it by turning our eyes heavenward. With a grateful heart we should say, “Thank You, Lord. I’m hurting, and I know You understand. I don’t know how You will use this heartache that I am feeling, but I trust You to do just that—use it for Your glory and for my blessing.”

God loves to hear our words of worship and praise. When we thank Him—even in times of difficulty—for His constant care over our lives, we are expressing our faith and trust in an omnipotent God who watches over every aspect of our lives.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). Therefore, be grateful that the light of His love covers you. 

Still Hungry: Genesis 1;10, Mark 7;18, Romans 14;4,

Wishes

"So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil." - 1 Kings 3:9

As kids we used to play a game asking that question, “If you could make one wish, what would it be?”

I would sit quietly and think; “Lots of money,” “A big house,” or “A beautiful car.” Then I’d say, “I’d wish for unlimited wishes!” I felt so smart,(my school friends still think that I am) but now that I’m older (and, hopefully, wiser), it simply revealed incredible selfishness.

Years ago, God said to Israel’s young King Solomon, “Ask whatever you wish Me to give you.” What an offer! Solomon chose “wisdom to lead and discernment between good and evil.” God was pleased, knowing he could have asked for wealth or long life. So God granted his wish and a wealthy, long life.

Asking God for wisdom is a wise request indeed, for so often with wisdom comes great success and the respect of others. The world is drawn to people who are wise. Remember, God and His Word are the best sources of wisdom

Still Hungry? Deuteronomy 1:16, 2 Samuel 14:17

Tribute to Dr Myles Munroe

                                      Tribute To Dr Myles Munroe

                                 Where, O death, is your victory?

                                 Where, O death, is your sting? 1Corinthians 15:55

                            But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory

                            Through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:7 

As God’s children our sorrow always leads to repentance which in turn causes us to draw closer to God our Father through Jesus. As such the news of the exit of any one of us from this part of God’s kingdom is a celebration under the pretence of sorrow.

Knowing that death has no power over us, because Jesus took away it’s  victory the day He went to the cross on our behalf.

This is why I can boldly declare in the midst of the sad news of your unexpected exit from this part of God’ kingdom that indeed “ Thanks be to God! For what?  You may want to ask. For giving us the victory over death which is total separation from God due to sin by the single act of Jesus’ work on the cross.

Although we may miss you this minute due to our own selfish nature of thinking you could have lived a bit longer, but who are we to decide that when we re not God the all knowing King?  Who are we to tell God when to recall any of His generals when the soul of all men belongs to Him?

Thanks for the years you spent with us, and thanks for the wisdom you shared with us.  

just few weeks ago after finished praying, and my eyes where open the Spirit of God directed my eyes towards a copy of your book “Rediscovering the Kingdom” sitting among  a pile of books from other authors on a desk in my room.  As soon as my eyes came in contact with it, I Could hear in my spirit the nudging of God through His Spirit saying to me. “Pick and read again” Pick and read again Lord?  But why because I have read this particular book before and if I’m not mistaken, I have read it more than once?

This Was my response to the gentle nudging of The Holy Spirit that soon became very strong and convincing to me the need for me to re read this particular book of yours. And for the record Bro. Myles, I did pick it up and read it again, and just like I have always done. I also loan it to another brother of mine. I wish I could tell why God through His Spirit wanted me to re- read your book just couple of weeks before your unannounced exit.  Dr. Myles you have been a source of inspiration to me and I will truly miss your wisdom and ability to inspire thoughts and ideas that are capable of starting a fire with a flame large enough to affect everyone around me. You are truly one of God’s Apostles especially to your generation and ours.

I could recall the last time I saw you ministering at a seminar and how you got some of us to come out so you could pray for us as ministers. I could recall the passion and humility in which you poured out your heart in prayer to God the one and only wise king while praying for us.

Brother Myles, concerning your sudden exit from this part of God’s kingdom like you have always taught us through your messages, books and tapes I can only say but one thing and that is, it is well. I will never forget the first time I read your book “ The burden of freedom ”and how it  revolutionalized my thinking regarding the subject of freedom. I’m pretty sure God used you to set free so many captives who thought they were free by be bound by their own lack of responsibility towards freedom.  Like you truly stated; “Freedom is not the liberty to do as one pleases ,  but the ability to be responsible to do what is right  when no one is watching ”

Bro. Myles, do you know the reason why I didn’t have your autograph  in any copy of your books that I have presently? I’m sure the Wise one Himself, the only One that is indispensable must have told you by now, because I’m pretty sure you’re with Him as I pay my tribute to you.

Any way I ‘m still going to tell you, the reason was because the impact your book “ The Burden of freedom” had on me was so great that , I found my self lending it to as many people I believe it could be of help to and could not afford to buy a copy of their own due to it not been available at the book stores around after I my self had personally looked for it and later had to place an order to get my own copy. The book was no where to be found when I needed you to autograph it because the last person I lent it to never returned it and by the time I rushed out to get another copy of your book so you could autograph it you were already gone, just like you have done now when so many of us where actually expecting your arrival at the venue of the Leadership Conference / Seminar you have put together. 

Oh , how I wish that this news concerning your exit from this earth is nothing but mere speculations. Don’t get me wrong, I know to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord as God’s children and often times just like the apostle Paul we are often caught up in the midst of the great struggle of deciding whether to remain on this side of God’s kingdom or give up our spirit just to be with The only wise God who always know which is best.

 Bro. Myles you have truly impacted your world, you have lived your purpose, you have helped so many others rediscover the purpose of God’s kingdom within our human domain.

I salute your courage!

I salute your bravery! I salute your wisdom!

And most importantly I salute your humility!

Adieu Bro. Myles

Adieu God’s general

Adieu Dr Myles Munroe

Rest Well

Dr Myles and Ruth Munroe! 

Flowers By The Grave

My Tribute to Senzo Meyiwa- Tony O

Our society is rapidly becoming a habitat for hypocrites and a juggle for those that are truly brave. The wise has being tamed foolish while the foolish parade them selves as the wise ones. I’m not sure whose fault this is though. We live in an era where people would rather contribute to your funeral after you are dead than helping you overcome whatever illness that is threatening your life before their very eyes.

 A friend of mine once said to me, “when I die, I do not want any one to bring flowers to my grave side as  dead men has no need for flowers. How true is this statement to us today? Have you noticed that while you are alive, you could actually count the number of times you received flowers from the people around you? But once you’re dead, you will be surprised at the numbers of flowers that get laid by your grave side. I don’t really know what we mean by that, but the truth is, we seem to be celebrating the dead more than we celebrate the living.

When someone is living a double life style around us we pretend not to care, by saying after all it’s their life, but once they are dead due to their double life style we suddenly rush to the scene and start trying to do things and say words all in the name of preserving their legacy or should I say memory. I’m beginning to believe that the majority of us are hypocrites. We are all drama kings and queens. And this needs to change.

We need to realize that dead men do not see us when we run around, no matter how much we run around while they are already dead. We need to take cognizance of the fact that a living dog as the scripture puts it in Ecclesiastes 9:4 is better than a dead lion. Again this is why Jesus would never prefer any one dead even if they are chief sinners before extending His hands of compassion and love towards them.  Show me a man who died in his or her sin and I will show you a person who has refused corrections and despise God’s rebukes. 

We most realize that even the devil works for God and he is there to punish those who have taken light God’s rebuke and despised God’s corrections through what ever means they were sent to them. Let’s stop being hypocrites. If you could not (send flowers) advice a friend from giving up habits and characters that puts his or her life in danger, then I think you do not deserve to lay by his or her grave side a leaf not to talk of putting a bunch of roses. The truth is dead men do not smell the rose so why waste your time and money.

On Sunday evening at about 11:15 pm, I logged on to the internet to continue my research on a project I was working on, but what I discovered was nothing short of a heart breaking news. I was so shocked as one of the headlines on the news page reads “Senzo Meyiwa is dead” I thought to my self just when I was contemplating joining the Bucs because of this same  talented goal keeper haven being a chief fan behind the veil for years.   What a chattered hope for so many others like myself who truly admire the courage and talent of this very fine soccer player. After going through the story as to what lead to his death I was left with just one question in my heart, and that question is, who killed Senzo Meyiwa?

Was it the gun man who stormed his girl friend’s resident on that fateful Sunday night? Or was it the government, his friends or perhaps the more than 50 million South Africans including foreigners residing in the Republic? I realize failure to accurately answer this question posed to me would mean that in no short space of time we could be losing another very important citizen, which could be you reading this article right now.  At this point friends I believe the gun man only pulled the trigger, but we all, I mean all of us mentioned above killed him. Oh Yeah, we did!As his friends, we killed him the day we found out about his extra marital affair and refuse to protest against it like we would normally protest against our government when we are asking for jobs and increment of salaries. We killed him the day we told him it’s a man thing to have an affair outside his matrimonial home as almost every men indulge in such act including our very selves. As fellow citizens and foreigners residing in the republic we killed him either by refusing to speak against infidelity within our immediate environment or by giving reasons why it wasn’t our place to speak up. Most of us killed him by giving in to the huge pressure of following the crowd even when we have the knowledge of where they were heading.

Someone once said “for evil to prevail all the good men must just sit and do nothing”. As a government we killed him by passing bills and laws that enslave our youth in the name of democracy. We killed him by forcing most good people who would have probably literally go after him in a bid to get him to retrace his  steps to think of the consequences of a possible fine from the law enforcement agents.  As a  government we didn’t only kill him, we have also set in motion a proceeding- if not careful that is capable of killing brilliant sports and state future  leaders by allowing laws that are capable of binding the hands of most parents while washing their children throwing their future away all in the name of freedom of expression.

Can you truly leave a piece of fish with a hungry cat while going out and expect to have it in good shape when you return?  If your answer is no, why then do you expect a child or a teenager to know how to manage freedom when it has being handed to them at a stage when they are no different from a hungry cat with a piece of fish in it custody.

Most of us often wonder why our children find it very difficult to listen to us as parents when we try to show them what morality is, amidst the immoral environment they are being raised in- little wonder Senzo refused to hear the call of his parents to retrace his step about his relationship with his mistress. Like the saying goes “ you cannot teach an old dog new tricks” . The mind of a child is not different from that of soft clay and as such it’s easily influenced by the affirmation of the majority. When an individual learns a particular habit as a child or teenager, it will only take the help of God to unlearn it, even after becoming a Christian. This is one reason why the scripture passage in proverb 6:22 “train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it” should be a watch word for every parent.

As it stands our government is really doing a great job by training our children in the way they should go by passing immoral laws and bills that is shaping the mind of our future leaders.  No wonder they are not departing from it even as leaders of various sectors within our community.

While humans has the ability to shape the mind of a child- Only God can change the hearts of grown ups. This is one reason it become almost impossible for an adult to unlearn thoughts and habits they have learnt from child hood.

I believe as a country, a government, friends and parents of the late talented Senzo Meyiwa the best condolence and tribute we could pay to him right now is not the laying of roses by his grave side or the rendering of eloquent speeches at his funeral but simply taking our stand and pledge our allegiance to make sure we will never lose any of our future sports and states men in such a manner. Let’s take the responsibility upon our selves to train our future leaders in the way they should go while we still have the privilege to shape their future by refusing to affirm things and habits that are hazardous to their moral formation. Let’s say no to crime in South Africa, No to crime in Africa and No to crime in the globe!

Rest In Peace Senzo

What is a Biblical Marraige

Embedded in the Christian community, as well as the secular, is the notion and practice that marriage is non-existent unless each participant makes a vow to the other in front of a government official, and in most cases other witnesses. Once this is accomplished, the official declares, "By the power vested in me I now pronounce you husband and wife."

Believers in Jesus Christ defend Christian marriage based on these stated vows. They proclaim that we will be accountable to God for our vows to one another, and they are correct. We will be held accountable before God to uphold whatsoever we have sworn by oath, but when it comes to the vows that supposedly makes a Christian marriage, are the stated vows valid and are they acceptable to God?

When two people state their vows to one another to unite in marriage, they can concoct the vows to say or imply whatever they want. The most popular is "for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, till death do us part." Just to pick out one aspect of this vow, what is their meaning for "worse?" If this were true, there would never be a divorce. Just how bad do they consider the word "worse" to mean? Some have vowed to each other "as long as our love shall last." I take this to mean that one could abandon the other, because now their love for the other has diminished and, then, go take another to marry, doing it all over again. Would this vow be acceptable to God in that He would join two together based on this vow? Would this fit within His framework and commands of Biblical marriage?

Does the Creator of marriage base that union on the content of our vows? Does our responsibility end with our stated vows? If so, then marriage is defined based upon what our vows encompass (what we mean at the time) and not what God has prescribed. If we think that, we are sorely mistaken and in deep trouble. In fact, vows aren't even required to be married Biblically.

If one will examine the Scriptures, one will see that Biblical marriage was not fortified based on our present cultural system of vow making. The beginning process of Biblical marriage was cemented by the making of covenants. A covenant was a binding agreement of purchase, as is depicted and exemplified to all believers, through God's Word, who are under the covenant of Christ, "...and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore... (1 Corinthians 6:19,20). Joseph and Mary were husband and wife by covenant to begin with.

Still Hungry? 1 Corinthians 7:23, Matthew 20-28, Acts 20-28, John 2:21

The Reward

One of my lifelong struggles has been finding freedom in the most basic part of the Christian life—personal devotions. It’s not that I don’t do them, of course, but that they rarely seem to come easily and naturally. I want to wake up longing to read the Bible and eager to pray. I want to get up in the mornings thinking, “I just can’t wait to hear from God and speak to God.” But so often I find myself reading and praying out of simple obedience. That duty is too seldom joined by delight.

It isn’t always that way. There are times—times I love—where there is tremendous joy and freedom. For weeks now I have been in one of those periods, and it has been a joy and a delight to spend time in the Word and to pray. And in this time I’ve been drawn to parts of Scripture that rejoice in Scripture. I was recently transfixed by Psalm 19 and David’s sheer joy at this great gift of God. After listing so many of the benefits of God’s Word he says,

More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

David tells us that God’s Word is precious. David is king over his nation and has access to all of its wealth, yet he looks at it all and sees that it is nothing compared to the surpassing worth of God’s Word. Where other men’s desire is to enrich themselves with gold, David’s desire is to enrich himself with the wisdom of God through the Scriptures.
David tells us that God’s Word is pleasurable. I don’t think there is any natural substance more delicious than honey (though perhaps maple syrup could be a close contender), and yet David can proclaim that God’s Word is sweeter even than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. As honey brightens the eyes, God’s Word brightens the soul.

David tells us that God’s Word is protective. He knows that the wisdom of God revealed through his Word will warn him and protect him away from sin and its consequences. David can look at his life and see those times he did not heed the warnings and receive God’s protection, and now he knows: God protects us through his Word.

David tells us that God’s Word is profitable. The Word of God does not only warn, but it also profits. Those who heed God’s wisdom and obey his law receive all the benefits that come from walking with God. They receive the greatest reward of all: they are with God and in God today and every day.

God’s Word is precious, pleasurable, protective, and profitable. What a gift it is!

Still Hungry? Job 22:24, Psalm 119:72, Psalm 119:103

Handling your God given Assignment

What do you do when God gives you an assignment?   One definition of the word assignment is "appointment: a position, duty, or job for which somebody is chosen".   When God chooses you. When God appoints you. When God puts you in a position and assigns duties and jobs for you to complete. What do you do?   Do you work your assignment as though man put you there?  When you get hired by a company, they give you an employee handbook.  A book that tells you the rules and the regulations for working there. They give you the handbook so that you will have an understanding of their expectations. If you don't abide by what is in the handbook, you lose your job.  

What about the assignment and job God has given you?   He gave you a handbook as well.  His Word.  Thankfully, along with His handbook comes grace and mercy. His mercy for you to complete the assignment is renewed every day ... just in case you need it. The one thing we must learn to do in order to complete the assignments that God has set before us, is allow Him to be the boss. We must allow Him to lead.  We must respect His position of authority in our lives. Once we do that, it will be easy to walk out our assignments to completion and help to train others along the way.  

God Rules

Daniel 4: ¹⁷ “‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High(AC) is sovereign^(AD) over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest^(AE) of people.

’

God will give the Kingdom to the lowest of men and women. Similarly, Paul writes in I Corinthians 1:26, "For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called." The lesson is to know that God rules, which has been the issue from the very beginning.

Adam and Eve did not act as though they knew that God rules; they acted as though Satan or they ruled. They rejected the rule of God, and from that time on, God has concentrated on this very fact. Mankind will learn that God rules, and in order to do that, God is going to have to judge, to issue decrees, and to hand down sentences.

His sentences are going to be very stiff indeed, because Scripture shows that the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord will reduce the population of the earth to about 10% of all of mankind. The carnage that will result from God's judgments being handed out, so that mankind will know that God rules, will be bloody to an extreme. An awful lot of pain will result from the execution of this sentence. God judges, and it will begin at the fulfillment of the Feast of Trumpets.

To most people on earth—if God even exists in their thoughts—He is, at best, a rather remote personality who acted a long time ago but seems to have grown disinterested, as nothing has happened for quite a long time. However, the Bible shows Him to be a hands-on ruler. He is overseeing planet earth, and He is doing it for the purpose of fulfilling His purpose of establishing His Kingdom.


Still Hungry? Daniel 11:21, Matthew 23:12, Psalm 103:19, Jeremiah 27:5-7

God shapes our Lives

Do we get the significance of the truth that He works all things in our lives too, according to the counsel of His will? This truth does not apply to just the "big" things of His overall purpose but even to us! Do we really perceive our relationship to Him as being one of the Potter to the clay?

Ephesians 1:11-12 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, ¹² in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

As He formed and shaped Adam and Eve, He is forming and shaping us, and it is our responsibility to accept and submit. Do we live our lives as though He truly is omnipotent, omniscient, and individually aware of us? Do we conduct our lives in such a manner that we fully understand that this awesome Being is actively and personally involved in what we do?

By viewing Him as Potter, do we grasp that He has every right to mold the clay into whatever form or state and make whatever use of it as He chooses? He can fashion from the same lump one person to honor and another to dishonor. He can determine our sex, race, ethnicity, level of wealth, or location. He is under no law or rule outside of His own nature and purpose. He is a law unto Himself, under no obligation to give an account of His actions to anybody else. He exercises His power as, where, and when He wills.

He is not merely overseeing our lives but actively participating in them, and He is ultimately responsible for what happens in them just as much as those national and worldwide occurrences that we hear in the news. The sovereignty of God is absolute, irresistible, and infinite. Our trust is to be in Him

Still hungry? Romans 16:3, Hebrews 6:17

A New Life

"At that time, I did not go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus." "I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which were in Christ; but only, they kept hearing, 'He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy.' And they were glorifying God because of me."-  Galatians 1:17, 22-24

Following his encounter with Jesus, Paul was struck blind for three days and, as instructed by the Lord, was led into Damascus.  There, God sent a man by the name of Ananias to come and baptized him as a new follower of Jesus Christ.  We also see that immediately Paul began to testify of his life change.  Now this had to be dumbfounding to the followers of Jesus in Damascus - I imagine they all knew of the old "Saul" as a religious terrorist, so they probably weren't sure how to take all this new "Paul."

After a short time in Damascus, he was sent to Arabia.  A desert. Wilderness.  Not surprising, when you think about how many great men of the faith in Scripture were sent into the wilderness at the beginning of their callings:  Moses, Elijah, even Jesus Christ.  And now we see Paul spending up to three years in the wilderness before going back to Damascus.

Interestingly enough, after he returned from the wilderness, Paul spent the majority of his first three years in his hometown of Tarsus just going about the work of ministry.  Imagine the people in his hometown who witnessed the change in this man!

"I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which were in Christ; but only, they kept hearing, 'He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy.' And they were glorifying God because of me." Can you imagine the joy Paul must have felt? To have gone from being someone hated and feared, to being someone who was sharing the joy of the Lord wherever he went?

If God's grace can be extended to a religious terrorist like Paul, what's your excuse?  Do you think the grace of God cannot be extended to you for the things you've done in your life, if God extended that to Paul? Of course, it can!

And another thing to realize - Paul's greatest influence in the lives of his contemporaries and in all of the lives of those who came after him - didn't happen overnight. It took 14 years of being a follower of Jesus Christ before Paul was seen as a leader in the church. This is his story.  Part One - his life before Christ.  Part Two - his encounter with Christ. - his life after meeting Christ as his Savior and Lord.

We all have a Part One in our life story.  What is your life story?

Still Hungry?  1 Thessalonians 2:14, Romans 16: 3, Acts 6:7

Paul- On the Road

“But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me, and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ And I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.'" - Acts 22:6-8

Continuing from yesterday, this is Part Two of Saul’s story.  Up until now, he has described to us his life before he met Christ.  Now, he is describing that turning point in his life when he meets Christ. It was such a complete transformation that God would lead him to change his name to Paul.

Saul had been persecuting his fellow Jews who were followers of Jesus only in Jerusalem.  But now he wanted to take his persecution on the road.  So, he decided to go north to Damascus, to what is now modern day Syria. There, he would find more Jewish followers of Jesus, persecute them, bring them back, and have them imprisoned.  Now, take a minute to read today’s Scripture again before continuing to read the devotion.

What happened? Here was Saul, upholding traditional Judaism, on his way to persecute followers of the Way, when all of the sudden, Jesus Himself confronted him from heaven!  Christ said, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”  And believe me.  He had no doubt that this was the Lord talking to him. Imagine the conviction of sin that began to come over Paul as he realized the things he had been doing were not only bad, they were evil in the eyes of God. Read what Paul said in verse 9:

“And those who were with me saw the light, to be sure, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me. And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Get up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told of all that has been appointed for you to do.’ But since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me and came into Damascus.”

Here was this zealot who had been charging to Damascus, along with those who were with him.  And now pitifully and humbly, he has to be led by the hand, because he was literally struck blind by the Light of Christ. Imagine the turmoil going on inside of him. Realizing he had been wrong about everything, this is where the beginning of repentant faith takes place. Until a person is convicted of their sinfulness compared to Jesus Christ, we never really understand the second part of the life story.  This was Part Two of Paul’s story.  By the grace of God, he had been called to follow Jesus who gave him this second chance.  It was God’s plan that was about to be fulfilled in Paul’s life.  And He wants to fulfill His plan in your life, too.  Stay tuned.

Still Hungry? Acts 9:3, Mark 1:24