Saul Went From Persecuting to Preaching

Bro. Winstead
Date: August 21, 2011 (Sunday morning)
Scripture Text: Acts 9:1-9
Title: Saul Went From Persecuting to Preaching.
Notes taken by: Dawn H.

If there is a change in your life there is a difference!

ACTS 9:1-9
vs. 1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
vs. 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.
vs. 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus : and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
vs. 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
vs. 5 And he said, Who are thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
vs. 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thouh have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Airse, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
vs. 7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
vs. 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.
vs. 9 And he was there three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

Saul's manner of life...
Acts 23:6 shows that he was a Pharisee. He was a religious person. He knew about the way.
Acts 8:3 shows he persecuted the Church.
Acts 26:12 shows he was powereful.

ACTS 23:6But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethern, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee:
of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

ACTS 8:3As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

ACTS 26:12Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commision from the chief priests,
Saul met the Lord and oh what a difference there was.
A lot of people know religion today and know about God yet, they do not have a relationship with Him.

It is not about good intentions it is about indication.
[indicate: 1. To show the way to or the direction of; point out:]

Too often we get too comfortable instead of doing what we could be doing for the glory of God.

Use your skills in a POSITIVE way.

Often we miss the mark because we do not allow God to work.

Just as Saul was on a mission to prevent the spreading of Christianity is just as the devil works everyday to prevent the movement of God.

We have weed as we go, the things in our lives.
Things grow up, grow up, grow up until it starts to take over and we keep backing away from it because we do not want to get off our comfort to deal with it.

Persecution will either strengthen you or destroy you.

There is to be a DIFFERENCE in the life of anyone that the Lord touches!

ACTS 26:13At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about meand them which journeyed with me.

ACTS 9:4And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Jesus is the Word!

Are we listening? GOD SPEAKS!

Is it just going in an out or are we being doers?

Saul asked two questions:
1. Who art thou Lord.
2. Lord, what will thou have me to do?

Once we have heard we are responsible for what we do from then!

If we are not for Jesus we are against Him.

Would we rather be comfortable than correct in the Lord?

Ask God what would thou have me to do?
This is not about me, what I can do; but it is about what He can do through me!
The Lord is not going to mislead you or misguide you!

- Unity & Love -

It is not about being comfortable and satisfied.

It is about to benefit God and to help our brother and our sister.

Get in the Right Place, YOUR PLACE IN GOD!

Arise and Go!

Keep Listening!