Today we read this about the Saul who would become the apostle Paul in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan! Acts 8:1-3:
And Saul was [not only] consenting to [Stephen’s] death [he was pleased and entirely approving]. On that day a great and severe persecution broke out against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles (special messengers). 2 [A party of] devout men with others helped to carry out and bury Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul shamefully treated and laid waste the church continuously [with cruelty and violence]; and entering house after house, he dragged out men and women and committed them to prison.
As I was meditating on these verse today I saw something in a new light! In yesterday's reading in Acts 7 we read that Saul was a witness to the stoning of Stephen and here we see here that he was all in favor of this, Even after hearing how wonderfully Stephen presented the Gospel! What was I thinking about this? That Saul knew of the ministry of JESUS. He also KNEW about, and may have been present at, the Crucifixion! Do you remember how the crowd, when asked if they wanted JESUS released by Pilate, SCREAMED "Crucify Him"! Saul would have been right there, screaming in frenzy himself! Now fast forward to PAUL, who had already had an encounter with JESUS on the road to Damascus, and was born again! He had been taught by JESUS directly about the Gospel before he ever met with the CHURCH! Can you even imagine the thoughts and taunts that the enemy hurled at him? Paul had to have developed a very strong and powerful thought life to be able to resist every time the enemy reminded him of his previous words and actions! BUT, because he KNEW the Gospel, He was totally convinced of the TRUTH that he was a NEW MAN and that the old man was completely dead! THAT is the most vital TRUTH that every born again believer must have inside! When we really KNOW that, then the enemy has nothing with which to trip us up! We KNOW how bad we WERE! We were DEAD! We needed a SAVIOUR! And we have JESUS! AMEN! Continue to remind yourself, and others, of this TRUTH so that you can share the Gospel with all of the boldness that is available to you - IN HIM! AMEN! HE will confirm what you speak with signs, wonders and miracles! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "You Are Life":
Shalom in Him!
