A Mission To Damascus: Saul P/5

Read Part One HERE
 

           A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS 

                              PART IX - V

"The Lord listened patiently to me, Ananias.... I felt I had to tell Him of all the terrible things the persecutor Saul had done to His Church in Jerusalem.... But He did not change His mind... He still told me to go to Judas' home on Straight Street.... I was to go there to pray for Saul... He had chosen him for a specific task.... The Lord went back to heaven after His visit to me.... I remained in my chair... Pondering what I had just heard.... I did not know details but I knew one thing... Somehow this man Saul was no longer the persecutor of the Church ... He had become my brother in the Lord....So I should go to him... And I should welcome him into the family of God."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of Ananias visit to Judas' home on Straight Street...

                  ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                                          PART IX -V

After the Lord had spoken to Ananias, He went back to heaven. The vision disappeared. Ananias, still sitting in his chair, realised something had happened to this man Saul. He did not know exactly what had happened. Neither did he know how it had happened. But he knew one thing: something had happened to this man causing this man to no longer be the persecutor of the Church but to have become a brother in Christ for whom God had very specific plans. And so Ananias, in obedience to the word of the Lord, got up and went to the home of Judas on Straight Street to pray for Saul as you can read in Acts 9:17-19

Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord - Jesus Who appeared to you as you were coming here -  has sent me to you so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit."

Consequently, Saul's eysight was restored as you can read in Acts 18-19

Immediately something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptised, and after taking some food, he regained strength.

Anaias did go and see Saul to minister to him. 

Read Part Six HERE

A Mission To Damascus: Saul P/4

Read Part One HERE
 

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                     PART IX - IV

 This morning I, Ananias, and my fellow believers in Damascus had an emergency meeting.... We had received some alarming news.... Saul the great persecutor of the Church had left Jerusalem... He was on his way to Damascus.... He planned to find believers like myself.... And to take us back to Jerusalem to have us thrown into prison.... We spent time praying and discussing what to do... We then decided that each one of us should trust the Lord to help us make the right decision.... I wondered if I should go into hiding... I am not afraid to suffer and die.... But I do not think it is my time as yet to die... So this afternoon I spent some time praying asking the Lord for guidance...You will never believe what happened when I prayed....The Lord appeared to me in a vision....And He asked me to visit someone at Judas' home on Straight Street.... I know Judas... He is one of the fellow believers.... So I told the Lord I was very happy to go to Judas' home.... But then the Lord told me who He wanted me to see there... He wanted me to see Saul... Saul?... Does the Lord not know that he is the great persecutor of the Church?.... How can the Lord ask me to go and see him?....Please read the typed out attachment to learn who Ananias is to go and see....

                   ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                                   PART IX - IV

Having prepared Saul for his visit from Ananias, God next needed to prepare Ananias for his visit to Saul. And Ananias was very troubled. He had heard that this great persecutor of the Church, this man Saul of Tarsus, was on his way to Damascus from Jerusalem and might even have arrived already in the city to take back with him to Jerusalem people like himself and have them put in prison. As he sat in his chair trying to pray he kept thinking what he should do about the situation.Perhaps he should go into hiding for a while until this man Saul had gone back to Jerusalem. It was true, of course, that he was willing to give his life for Jesus. But he did not feel it was time as yet for him to die. As he was praying, the Lord appeared to him in a vision and spoke to him. "Ananias," "yes Lord." "Ananias, I want you to go to Judas on Straight Street." "Sure Lord. It will be good for me to go so he and I can have a time of prayer and fellowship to encourage each other especially during these challenging days." "Ananias," "yes, Lord." "I want you to go and pray for someone in Judas' home." "Sure Lord, I am happy to pray for one of the brothers in his home. "Ananias, the person I want you to pray for his not someone you think it might be." "What do You mean, Lord?" "Ananias, I want you to pray for a man named Saul." as you can read in Acts 9:10-11

In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias, "yes Lord," he answered. The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Strteet and ask for a man fromTarsus named Saul for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him and restore his sight."

Ananias replied, "Oh, Lord, You cannot mean You want me to pray for this man Saul? Lord, don't You know who this man is? He is the great persecutor of the Church. And he has come from Jerusalem to Damascus to take people like myself back with him to Jerusalem to put us in prison. Lord, I cannot possibly go to Judas on Straight Street to pray for that man. You know that I love You with all my heart and that I want to be obedient to You. But You cannot ask me to do such a thing" as you can read in Acts 9:13-14

"Lord," Ananias answered. "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to Your saint in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name."

The Lord listened patiently to Ananias' outburst and then spoke again as you can read in Acts 9:15

But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go.This man is a chosen instrument to carry My Name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for My Name."

Ananias knew that the Lord would not take "No" for an answer.

Read Part Five HERE

A Mission To Damascus: Saul P/3

Read Part One HERE
 

 A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          PART IX - III

"I, Saul, arrived in Damascus but not in the way I had planned..... I had planned to take believers back to Jerusalem... But my plans were interrupted by none other than the Lord Jesus..... In His mercy He met me on the road to Damascus.... And he spoke to me.... He told me to stop persecuting Him.... I did not know I was persecuting Him when I was going after His followers.... I am now in the house of a believer named Judas... He lives on Straight Street... I have now been here for three days... During that time I have been praying to God for mercy... God has shown me that a believer named Ananias will come to see me... Will this man know that I was planning to take believers like him back with me to Jerusalem?.... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of Saul's three days at the home of Judas on Straight Street....

                       ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                                         PART IX - III

Not so long ago Saul had been a man totally in charge of his life, knowing full well his mission But that was no longer the case. Instead, he had become a helpless man who no longer knew what he was about. His companions took him to the house of man named Judas who lived on Straight Street after his encounter with the Lord Jesus. And there Saul spent the next three days seeking the Lord in prayer and fasting in the hope that the Lord might be merciful to him and that the Lord might show him His plans for his life as we can read in Acts 9:9

For three days he was blind and did not eat or drink anything.

While Saul was praying the Lord gave him a vision of a man named Ananias whom God had chosen to minister to him. Such a scene would have been unthinkable a few days ago for a few days ago Saul had been on his way to Damascus to find just such people and take them back to Jerusalem to be put in prison. But now God had selected one of these believers to pray for him. Truly, nothing is impossible with God as we know from Matthew 19:26

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man, this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

And so Saul waited for this visit from Ananias.

Read Part Four HERE

 

A Mission to Damascus: Saul P/2

  Read Part One Here

          A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                             PART IX - II

"Just as Philip said, I, Saul, had indeed left Jerusalem... I was on my way to Damascus... The reason I was on my way there was to find men and women there who followed this Man Jesus.... For I was determined to stamp out this "cult".... But I was stopped in my tracks by a bright light.... It so overwhelmed me that I, the mighty Saul, who was afraid of nothing and no-one, fell down.... I then heard a Voice speak to me.... I did not know who was speaking to me... So I asked who it was.... To my utter shock and horror I learned that the Voice belonged to Jesus.... He is the One whose followers I was trying to destroy... Amazingly, He did not destroy me at that moment... He simply told me to get up.... And He would then tell me what I should do."... Please read that typed out attachment when you will learn who spoke to Saul.....

                      ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                                       PART IX - II

Saul was a very devout Jew who loved God. His aim was to please God in whatever way he could. And he believed that finding these followers of Jesus and having them put in prison was greatly pleasing to God. He had already done so in Jerusalem. But then he had heard news that there were even followers of Jesus in Damascus. How dare they be there!And he determined he would go there and he would find them, bring them back to Jerualem and have them put in prison; stamp out this group of people. So the day after he had prepared for his trip, he and his companions set off for Damascus. When they neared the city, a very bright light from heaven came upon them.It was, in fact, so bright that Saul fell of his horse onto the ground. Then Saul heard a Voice speak to him. And the words he heard this Voice say to him were words he never expected to hear for he heard this Voice say to him, "Saul Saul why do you perecute Me?" He was shocked to the core. He never expected to hear these words. Neither did he know who had spoken these words to him. But it was very clear that the One who had spoken these words to him was not at all plesed with him, but was, in fact, very opposed to his actions. So who could it be that had spoken to him? The Voice then spoke again and said to him, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.But Saul, I still want you to go to Damascus. However, you are not to take My followers back to Jerusalem. Instead, you are to wait for My directions." as you can read in Acts 9:5-6

"Who are You, Lord, "Saul asked. "I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting," He replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

Saul was totally overwhelmed by his experience.By now the bright light had gone back into heaven but he was still very blinded by it so his companions had to take him into the city as you can know from Acts 9:7-8

The men travelling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground but when he opened his eyes he could see nothering. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.

Saul did arrive in Damascus but not in the way he had intended. 

Read Part Three HERE

 

A Mission to Damascus: Saul P/1

   

                        

        A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                 PART IX - I

"I, Philip, have just received news about Saul, the man who was present at the stoning of Stephen... It is not good news.... He is planning to go to Damascus...I am very concerned about his plans.... For he intends to look for believers in that city.... I know too that he will not stop looking until he finds them... And he then plans to take them back to Jerusalem as his prisoners.... I know as well that he has the full support from the high priest for his actions.... He was even given letters from him to take to the synagogues over there....I and all the other believers must pray that the Lord will prevent that from happening.".. Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of Saul's journey to Damascus....

       

                        ATTACHMENT  A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                                             PART IX - I

One of the main persecutors of the Church was a man named Saul. He is first of all mentioned in Acts Chapter seven at the time of the stoning of Stephem as you can read in Acts 7:59 - Acts 8:1a

While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep. And Saul was there, giving approval to his death.

Saul, as a Pharisee, was one of the religious leaders, and he too was very opposed to the followers of Jesus as you can read in Acts 9:1-2

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the igh priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

Saul firmly believed that these followers of Jesus were a threat to Jewish society. He was certain that God was very pleased with him for going after them and having them put in prison. Having learned that the teachings of Jesus had gone beyond Jerusalem and had even influenced Jews in Damascus, he felt it his God-given dutyto go there and to find these followers of the Way for he was totally convinced that God was as against these people as he was. And so he and some companions set off for Damascus. But then something happened he was completly unprepared for as you can read in Acts 9:3-4

As he neared Damascus on his journey,suddely a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the fround and heard a Voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?"

Saul was stopped in his tracks in a way he never expected....Who could possibly be speaking to him?

Read Part Two HERE

A Reminder of Philip's Assignment: Ministry Beyond Jerusalem P/10

http:ministryto-silencedwomen.com

 

 

 It is time to pick up the story of the early church again. You may remember our final post was on Philip who had baptised the Ethiopian man....

                                      A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                       PART VIII - VIII

"Thinking about what happened at the Desert Road, it was quite an adventure as you can imagine... I, Philip, learned as well how important it is to obey the Holy Spirit even when it does not make sense.... I was, after all, having a very successful ministry in Samaria with many people coming to faith in jesus Christ.... Therefore, to go to a lonely road, not knowing if there would be anyone I could minister to... And then seeing one chariot only.... But God knew that this one man in that chariot would be the key to bringing the gospel to his nation even if I did not know."... Please read the typed out attachment, which shows that Jesus' words in Acts 1:8 are beginning to be fulfilled....

                       ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                        PART VIII - VIII

Going back to the man Philip shared the gospel with at the road, Philip did not know who this man was, for the Holy Spirit had not revealed to Philip who it was He was leading him to speak to. Philip just obeyed the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit knew how important it was for this man to hear the gospel for her would be the key in bringing the gospel to his nation. So He made sure Philip left the city in Samaria at the right time and that he was at the right road to meet this particular chariot with this person in it, just at the time this man was reading a certain portion of the book of Isaiah... Talk about perfect timing... Co-incidence? I don't think so. It was more likely a God-incidence.

 So we see here that God was using the persecution that had broken out against the Church as His instrument for the gospel to take taken to places beyond Jerusalem. This was God's plan all along as we know from the last words of Jeus to His disciples spokwen just before He was taken up into heaven, which we can read in Acts 1:8

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

It is true, the believers had not yet gone as far as the end of the earth. But they had, at least, gone to Samaria...