April 15, 2012
Morning Service

Acts 7 -8-9;

 

I made the statement, “so we will be able to cover more ground in our studies, we will begin to study the book that we are in, 3 times a week.”  That would mean Sunday morning, Evening, and Wednesday.  We will use Wednesday for prayer, and discussion.

     At the end of 2009 we began a study in St.Jn. then went to the Book of Acts, from there back to another gospel, Matthew.  From Matthew we began studying the acts, and messages of Peter.  From Peter we went to the life of James.  Today we want to look at the life, and teachings of St. Paul.

     We begin our study in the Book of Acts, chapter 7.

 

     Jesus said, Joh 6:63 KJVR  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

     Peter said, Joh 6:68 KJVR  Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

     Jesus again said, Mat 24:35 KJVR  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

     Heb 4:12 KJVR  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

 

     The Word of God, Jesus before His flesh, gives us witness to how important the Word of God is for our lives.  Each time we read, and see that It is relevant for our needs, every moment of our lives, then we look for how it will impact our lives today, and every day we read it, for spiritual growth, and instruction in daily living.  We will watch for these things as we study the life of Saul of Tarsus, the Apostle Paul.

 

     We first meet Saul, who eventually will be given the name of Paul, in chapter 7 of the Book of Acts.

 

Act 7:58 KJVR  And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.

• Stephen has just finished preaching the longest sermon in the N.T.  a history lesson, witness to Jesus, and brought great conviction on the Jews.  It gets him stoned.
• For Stephen, his faithfulness, and steadfastness, has brought deliverance from this ole world, and a time of rest in the grave until the resurrection.  Short, and sweet, and it’s over.
• But for a young man who is witnessing this account, and consenting to it, Saul of Tarsus, the trials, and pains of this life have just begun.  Even though he is consenting to this happening, we find out later, that it bothers him, that this man can die for his belief in Jesus as the Christ.

Then in chapter 8 we find:

Act 8:1-3 KJVR  And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.  (2)  And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.  (3)  As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

• Again, notice the steadfastness of the Apostles.  They were not scattered as the rest of the church was.  They knew that no matter what the punishment, it would be short compared to eternity.
• This same man, Paul, will one day cry out to the church at Corinth, “be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”   STEADFAST, UNMOVABLE, the punishment, no matter how long will be short, then your reward, which will be forever.  Glory to God.

 

Then in chapter 9 of Acts we find the conversion of Saul:

LOOK AT WHAT GOD CAN DO!!  PLEASE TAKE NOTE, THIS MAN IS EXTREMELY RELIGIOUS.

1. Takes a man that is determined to persecute Christians, even unto their death, and makes him an Apostle, a messenger of the very thing he starts out to condemn.
2. Saul is miraculously struck blind, and given instructions on what to do, by Jesus.
3. The Lord speaks to Ananias, instructing him what to do with this Saul of Tarsus.
4. Act 9:15-16 KJVR  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 show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
5. Ananias lays his hands on Saul, Saul is filled with the Holy Ghost, the scales fall from his eyes, and he can now see.  Ananias explains what is happening, and he takes Saul, and baptizes him the same night. 
6. Saul is physically exhausted.  Hasn’t eaten for 3 days, been blind, delivered, had his sins washed away in the name of Jesus, and is now contemplating all of this.

 

Saul has been converted, and has a new direction in life.

 

Now, if we have been listening, and we are looking at how the Word of God is prevalent in our world today, then we could see how this same Jesus could do this for any, and all who come to Him for deliverance from this ole present world, the flesh.  This Saul says, a little further into his life, “Rom 8:5-8 KJVR  For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.  (6)  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  (7)  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  (8)  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”

1. So we ask ourselves, am I serving, or after the things of this ole world, or am I after the things of God?
2. Oh, I am so very religious, but I find that the things I want to do, I don’t do them, and the things I don’t want to do, are the things I find myself doing?  WHAT A DILEMA I AM IN!!!  WHO SHALL DELIVER ME FROM THIS SITUATION???   JESUS.
3. You see, most people believe in some divine being.  People of all races, and nationalities have worshipped the higher power for ages.  But just as Saul later in life will tell the people of Athens Greece, “He it is I want to tell you about.”  Concerning the unknown God.  JESUS.

 

WHAT COULD GOD HAVE IN STORE FOR YOUR LIFE, AWAY FROM THE FLESH, AND THINGS OF THIS WORLD???  TOTAL COMMITMENT TO HIM.

 

We have just witnessed the conversion of a man that was, in the beginning, very satisfied with his life.  He was affluent, money, this worlds goods, great education, very religious, Moses was his guide, very comfortable in his lifestyle, BUT HE KNEW HE LACKED SOMETHING ELSE….

 

And when he saw Stephen stoned, looking up into heaven, and asking forgiveness for those that were stoning him, he knew there was something better, and he didn’t have it.

 

I WOULD ASK YOU THIS MORNING, “DO YOU LACK SOMETHING ELSE?”

HAVE YOU MADE CHRIST JESUS YOUR ALL IN ALL THIS MORNING.  HAVE YOU ALLOWED HIM TO DELIVER YOU FROM THE DESIRES OF THE FLESH, AND THIS WORLD?        JESUS SAID, “YOU HAVE NOT, BECAUSE YOU ASK NOT.”

 

THE BEHEADING OF PAUL:  THE QUICKEST, AND MOST HUMANE PUNISHMENT.