Has God shone you the light? Have you been converted
just like Saul he became Paul? Don't turn away but face God today...

Today's Scripture:

Acts 9:1-20

1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 3 And as he journeyed , he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said , Who art thou , Lord? And the Lord said , I am Jesus whom thou persecutest : it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6 And he trembling and astonished said , Lord, what wilt thou have me to do ? And the Lord said unto him, Arise , and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do . 7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened , he saw no man: but they led him by the hand , and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight , and neither did eat nor drink . 10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said , Behold , I am here, Lord. 11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise , and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold , he prayeth , 12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in , and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight . 13 Then Ananias answered , Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way : for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake . 17 And Ananias went his way , and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said , Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest , hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight , and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose , and was baptized . 19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened . Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. 20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

The keyword in this message is conversion. Saul was converted to Paul. Paul's new sight, given to him through Jesus' dramatic intersession, was an "insight" into the Word of God. Because of the zealous ways in which Saul had persecuted the Christians through his Jewish eyes, Jesus must have seen the great possibilities of converting that zealousness for the good of Christianity. This would seem to be quite a risk, by some, but it definitely paid off to the advantage Christ was expecting. In this decision, the Good News was spread far and wide throughout the Roman Empire by Paul's three missionary journeys.

Saul's conversion from a persecutor to an apostle confirms the Good News is this:

Forgiveness and eternal life are available to all people and are gifts of God's grace through having faith in Christ.

There is nothing you can do to remove yourself from forgiveness through God's grace.

"Selah people' and friends sometimes we are aware of God's intervention in dramatic ways. Sometimes the intervening may be so subtle as to miss it entirely. During the coming week, look for ways God's intervention may present itself in your daily routine. Your simple acts of kindness may turn into moments of renewed faith through the grace of God. Start today with a conversation, Where did you see God in your life today?"

It is my humble prayer that your eyes will be opened as to what God has for you.

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston

Selah Christian Church

Four Oaks, NC
http://selahchurch.com/

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