Saul was one of the chief Pharisees during the time of Christ. He made "havoc" of the church as stated in Acts 8:3, persecuting them for preaching this "new doctrine" contrary to the Law. He was so consumed with his persecution that he was "yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter," (Acts 9:1). He was on his way to Damascus to look for more Christians to put in prison when a LIGHT shone down around him from Heaven, calling him by name. It was the Lord asking Saul why he was doing this and "kicking against the pricks." Acts 9:5. The Lord had already been dealing with Saul's heart, pricking it through his conscience, that what he was doing was wrong, and that Jesus Christ was LORD!!! Saul's answer proclaimed his faith when he asked, "Who art thou LORD?" It was that same voice that had been speaking to his heart, the whole time, that he could now hear audibly and he knew it!! The Lord left no room for doubt when He said, I AM JESUS, WHOM thou PERSECUTEST.." Acts 9:5. Saul trembling, asked what the LORD wanted him to do. He knew that there was something that the Lord was calling him to do. The VOICE was spoken specifically to him for instruction, NOT the other men with him. Verse 7 says the men heard a voice, but saw no man: to them it wasn't as clear as Saul hearing his name. It was more like hearing a sound of thunder, BUT they knew that something was happening!!( Isn't this how it is when the Holy Spirit moves in church? You may not hear exactly what the Lord is speaking to hearts, but you can see the effects of it at the altar!!! We don't know what the Lord is dealing with hearts about, the those people sure do!!!) He was told to go forward to Damascus and that he would be further instructed there. The Lord ALWAYS wants us to go forward and never backward. He wanted Saul to obey the first thing he told him to do and then, he would give him something else to do. WE need to do the same. But, to make this simple task harder, the Lord blinded Saul. The bright Light, Jesus Himself, purposefully took Saul's sight from him. He had to be led by the hand into Damascus, and was there for three days with no sight, and did not eat or drink anything. During those days, the Lord told Saul that He had appeared unto him for this purpose: to make him a minister and witness both of the things that he had seen and that was to come. He told Saul that he would be delivered from the people and the Gentiles. He was going to be God's chosen vessel to reach the Gentiles, to "open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins...." Acts 26:16-18 & Acts 9:15 &16. The Lord not only told Saul what he had been called to do, but He also told him "how great things he must suffer for my name's sake." Acts 9:16. During those three days Saul learned he would be stoned, beaten, put in prison, shipwrecked, drifting in the sea for a day, robbed, weary, in pain, hunger and thirst, cold and naked, and have to care for the churches that would be started from preaching the Word (II Corth. 11:22-29). How many of US would have obeyed knowing all of this from the start??? Saul did and received sight after Ananias, a disciple called of the Lord, laid hands on him. He was immediately baptized after this, and then went straight to preaching!!!!!!!(vs 19& 20). What obedience and faith!!!! WE all know how the Lord used the Apostle Paul to spread the Gospel and write over half of the New Testament. Is this strength of faith and obedience beyond us as Christians today friend??? The answer is NO!!!!! This same Jesus that enabled Paul is the same One that lives within us if we have accepted Him. We should ALL ask ourselves this question: are WE willing to obey what the Lord has called us to do????? (Conclusion tomorrow)!
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