The Glorious End-Time Church
From The HeartPublish date: 04/26/2015
Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. 10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.” 13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” 17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. 19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. 20 Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. 21 Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ. Acts 9:1-22 NKJV
Divine encounters:
Saul was on his way to capture Christians to be jailed and executed; sincerely believing that he was doing God’s work. When he least expected it, Jesus showed up and got his attention in a big way. The light, the voice, and three days being blind, were signs that made Saul wonder. Then Jesus showed up, in a vision, to Ananias, and told him to go to lay hands on Saul, for he was a chosen vessel. Ananias told Saul that the Lord Jesus, who had appeared to him on the road, had also instructed him to come to Saul so that he might receive his sight, be baptized in water, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Saul changed his name to Paul. He was a completely changed man because of God’s love and grace. From that time on, Paul submitted himself, spirit, soul, and body, to Father God, so that only God’s plans and purposes would be wrought through his life.
God wants to do a deep work in every person.
Many times, in order to get man’s attention, God has to move very strongly on the five physical senses.
Most of the time, we don’t see God move, because we do not give Him the opportunity to move. We must expect Him to move; we must expect Him to show up and to do what He has said that He will do.
We must allow Him to do whatever, whenever, however, to whomever. When we allow God to have His own way, great and mighty things will be made manifest.
Anyone, who has been mightily used by God, has had an encounter with Him. They have allowed Him to do a work in them and through them.
Divine judgments:
And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. 22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. 23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost. 24 But the word of God grew and multiplied. Acts 12:21-24 KJV
Paul’s story is a story of grace, because he yielded himself to God. However, there were a few people who set themselves against God and did not survive. Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit over an offering. Herod set himself up as a god and was smitten by the angel of God and was eaten up by worms.