DO YOU THINK I SPEAK THIS STRONGLY IN ORDER TO MANIPULATE CROWDS? ---------------- OR CURRY FAVOR WITH GOD? -------------------- OR GET POPULAR APPLAUSE? ------------------- IF MY GOAL WAS POPULARITY, I WOULD NOT BOTHER BEING CHRIST’S SLAVE. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- KNOW THIS — I AM MOST EMPHATIC HERE, FRIENDS --------------------------------------------------- THIS GREAT MESSAGE I DELIVERED TO YOU IS NOT MERE HUMAN OPTIMISM. ---------------------------------------------------------------- I DID NOT RECEIVE IT THROUGH THE TRADITIONS, AND I WAS NOT TAUGHT IT IN SOME SCHOOL. ---------------------------------- I GOT IT STRAIGHT FROM GOD, ------------------ RECEIVED THE MESSAGE DIRECTLY FROM JESUS CHRIST. - GAL 1:10 ************************************************* All this time Saul was breathing down the necks of the MASTERS disciples, out for the kill. ------ He went to the Chief Priest and got ARREST WARRANTS TO TAKE TO THE MEETING PLACES in Damascus SO THAT IF HE FOUND ANYONE THERE BELONGING TO THE WAY, ---- whether men or women, HE COULD ARREST THEM AND BRING THEM TO JERUSALEM. ------------------------------- He set off. -------- When he got to the outskirts of Damascus, he was suddenly DAZED by a BLINDING FLASH OF LIGHT.--------------- As he fell to the ground, HE HEARD A VOICE: ---- “Saul, Saul, WHY ARE YOU OUT TO GET ME?” ----- He said, “WHO ARE YOU, MASTER?” --------------------------------------------------------------- “I AM JESUS, THE ONE YOU ARE HUNTING DOWN. ---------------------------------------------------- I WANT YOU TO GET UP AND ENTER THE CITY. ------- IN THE CITY YOU WILL BE TOLD WHAT TO DO NEXT.” -------------------------------------------------- His companions stood there dumbstruck — THEY COULD HEAR THE SOUND, BUT COULD NOT SEE ANYONE — while Saul, picking himself up off the ground, FOUND HIMSELF STONE-BLIND. ------------------------ They had to take him by the hand and lead him into Damascus. He continued BLIND FOR THREE DAYS. He ate nothing, drank nothing. --------------------------------------------------- There was a disciple in Damascus by the name of Ananias. THE MASTER SPOKE TO HIM IN A VISION: ------------------------ “Ananias.” --- “YES, MASTER?” he answered.----------------------------------------------------------------------- “GET UP AND GO OVER TO STRAIGHT AVENUE. ----------- Ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus. His name is Saul.------- HE IS THERE PRAYING. -------------------------- HE HAS JUST HAD A DREAM IN WHICH HE SAW A MAN NAMED ANANIAS ENTER THE HOUSE AND LAY HANDS ON HIM SO HE COULD SEE AGAIN.” ------------------------------ Ananias protested, “MASTER, YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS. --------------------------------------------- EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT THIS MAN AND THE TERRIBLE THINGS HE HAS BEEN DOING, ----- HIS REIGN OF TERROR AGAINST YOUR PEOPLE IN JERUSALEM! ------------------ AND NOW HE HAS SHOWN UP HERE WITH PAPERS FROM THE CHIEF PRIEST THAT GIVE HIM LICENSE TO DO THE SAME TO US.” ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- But the MASTER said, “DO NOT ARGUE. ----- GO! ----------------------------------------------------- I HAVE PICKED HIM AS MY PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE TO NON-JEWS AND KINGS AND JEWS. ----------------------------------- AND NOW I AM ABOUT TO SHOW HIM WHAT HE IS IN FOR -------------------------------------------- THE HARD SUFFERING THAT GOES WITH THIS JOB.” ----------------------------------------------- So Ananias went and found the house, PLACED HIS HANDS ON BLIND SAUL, and said, ----------------------------------------------------------- “Brother Saul, THE MASTER SENT ME, --- THE SAME JESUS YOU SAW ON YOUR WAY HERE. ------------------------------------------------------ HE SENT ME SO YOU COULD SEE AGAIN AND BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.” --------------------------------------------------------------------- NO SOONER WERE THE WORDS OUT OF HIS MOUTH THAN SOMETHING LIKE SCALES FELL FROM SAULS EYES ------------------ HE COULD SEE AGAIN! -------------------------------- HE GOT TO HIS FEET, --- WAS BAPTIZED, ---- and sat down with them to a hearty meal. --------------------------------------------------------------- Saul spent a few days getting acquainted with the Damascus disciples, but THEN WENT RIGHT TO WORK, ---------------------------- WASTING NO TIME, --- PREACHING IN THE MEETING PLACES THAT THIS JESUS WAS THE SON OF GOD. - ACTS 9:1 ************************************************** YOU CANCEL GOD’S COMMAND BY YOUR RULES. ---------- FRAUDS! ------------------------------- Isaiah’s prophecy of you hit the bull’s-eye: ------------------------------------------------------------------ THESE PEOPLE MAKE A BIG SHOW OF SAYING THE RIGHT THING, ------------------ BUT THEIR HEART IS NOT IN IT. ------------------ THEY ACT LIKE THEY ARE WORSHIPING ME, -------------------------------------------------- BUT THEY DO NOT MEAN IT. ---------------------- THEY JUST USE ME AS A COVER FOR TEACHING WHATEVER SUITS THEIR FANCY.” ------------------------------------------------------------------- HE then called the crowd together and said, “LISTEN, AND TAKE THIS TO HEART. ----------- IT IS NOT WHAT YOU SWALLOW THAT POLLUTES YOUR LIFE, --- BUT WHAT YOU VOMIT UP.” --- MATT 15:7 ************************************************ MAY THE GRACE OF GOD BE UPON YOU, AND HIS SPIRIT BE YOUR GUIDE. *************** SHALOM. *******************
Posted on: Sat, 06 Dec 2014 02:54:17 +0000
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