1 00:00:00,710 --> 00:00:03,890 Speaker 1: I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no 2 00:00:03,930 --> 00:00:09,150 Speaker 1: longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. Galatians 3 00:00:09,150 --> 00:00:14,520 Speaker 1: 2.20 Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of 4 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:19,380 Speaker 1: freedom through Christ, who has crucified our sins and shame 5 00:00:20,220 --> 00:00:23,989 Speaker 1: on the cross. We are no longer bound by the 6 00:00:24,030 --> 00:00:29,830 Speaker 1: weight of our past, but walk as free people, redeemed 7 00:00:30,650 --> 00:00:35,710 Speaker 1: and renewed by your grace. Lord, we acknowledge our deep 8 00:00:35,790 --> 00:00:39,550 Speaker 1: need for you and ask that you guide our hearts 9 00:00:39,610 --> 00:00:44,200 Speaker 1: to fully embrace this freedom, living in a way that 10 00:00:44,340 --> 00:00:50,520 Speaker 1: honors you. Strengthen us to pursue what is right, to 11 00:00:50,580 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 1: seek Christ daily, and to be a light in this world. 12 00:00:56,560 --> 00:01:01,480 Speaker 1: Empower us to live boldly in this new life, reflecting 13 00:01:01,540 --> 00:01:10,750 Speaker 1: your love and truth in all we do. In Jesus' name, amen. 14 00:01:15,350 --> 00:01:18,770 Speaker 1: Thank you for praying with me today. You're listening to 15 00:01:18,790 --> 00:01:23,990 Speaker 1: the Jesus Podcast. Remain here for our mini-series on the 16 00:01:24,090 --> 00:01:28,130 Speaker 1: birth of the church. If this podcast has blessed you, 17 00:01:28,709 --> 00:01:32,130 Speaker 1: we would love it if you left a review. Doing 18 00:01:32,209 --> 00:01:39,350 Speaker 1: so makes a huge impact on our team. The two 19 00:01:39,430 --> 00:01:42,970 Speaker 1: of them made it to the Abana River. The water 20 00:01:43,030 --> 00:01:47,440 Speaker 1: glistened in the sunlight and invited them in with enthusiasm. 21 00:01:49,500 --> 00:01:52,640 Speaker 1: Saul felt the coolness of the river crawl up his 22 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:58,260 Speaker 1: spine and wake him up. He breathed in deeply and 23 00:01:58,300 --> 00:02:05,140 Speaker 1: held Ananias' hand Ananias looked at Saul and smiled. Ananias 24 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:08,799 Speaker 1: grasped Saul's hand with his left hand and placed his 25 00:02:08,900 --> 00:02:13,530 Speaker 1: right hand on his back. He dipped him back into 26 00:02:13,540 --> 00:02:19,470 Speaker 1: the water, then lifted him out. The cascading sunlight split 27 00:02:19,530 --> 00:02:23,329 Speaker 1: into a million directions as Saul emerged from the water. 28 00:02:24,650 --> 00:02:30,380 Speaker 1: Saul emerged under the radiance of Christ's unending love. Saul 29 00:02:30,430 --> 00:02:34,210 Speaker 1: could not see it, but every angel in heaven was 30 00:02:34,350 --> 00:02:40,010 Speaker 1: rejoicing over him with a cacophony of praise. The water 31 00:02:40,570 --> 00:02:45,530 Speaker 1: represented a tomb for Saul, the persecutor. That man was 32 00:02:45,620 --> 00:02:51,940 Speaker 1: buried and would never return. Emerging from the water was 33 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 1: a new man. Just as Christ rose from the grave, 34 00:02:57,320 --> 00:03:01,080 Speaker 1: Saul was resurrected from the water. 35 00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:08,079 Speaker 2: The church's greatest enemy became its greatest advocate. What does 36 00:03:08,100 --> 00:03:11,090 Speaker 2: that say about our potential if we are to yield 37 00:03:11,150 --> 00:03:15,390 Speaker 2: our pride and follow Jesus? Welcome to the Jesus Podcast. 38 00:03:15,750 --> 00:03:17,989 Speaker 2: I'm Zach with Pray.com, here to lead you through another 39 00:03:18,050 --> 00:03:20,850 Speaker 2: story about the birth of the church. We've been taking 40 00:03:20,889 --> 00:03:23,390 Speaker 2: the better part of this month to go through the 41 00:03:23,490 --> 00:03:26,649 Speaker 2: early church to see how Jesus works and moves through 42 00:03:26,750 --> 00:03:29,869 Speaker 2: ordinary people like you and I. Today, we're diving into 43 00:03:29,910 --> 00:03:31,910 Speaker 2: an episode from the book of Acts that reads like 44 00:03:31,970 --> 00:03:36,180 Speaker 2: a plot of an ancient thriller. In Acts 9, 23-25, 45 00:03:36,220 --> 00:03:38,360 Speaker 2: we find Saul, soon to be known as Paul, in 46 00:03:38,380 --> 00:03:42,740 Speaker 2: a precarious situation that teaches us profound truths about God's ways, humility, 47 00:03:43,060 --> 00:03:45,260 Speaker 2: and the unexpected paths of obedience. 48 00:03:48,570 --> 00:03:53,710 Speaker 1: Saul followed Ananias through the narrow alleyway, dimly illuminated by torchlight. 49 00:03:54,970 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 1: Their shadows slid across the walls. and then upwards as 50 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:02,020 Speaker 1: they climbed the stairs to the roof. Under a canopy 51 00:04:02,060 --> 00:04:05,880 Speaker 1: of stars was a large group of people reclined on 52 00:04:05,990 --> 00:04:11,030 Speaker 1: rugs and pillows. Lanterns were firmly set around them, showing 53 00:04:11,150 --> 00:04:16,789 Speaker 1: their laughing faces. They were all facing one another, enjoying 54 00:04:16,850 --> 00:04:21,589 Speaker 1: a simple meal of bread and wine. Saul knew about 55 00:04:21,630 --> 00:04:24,610 Speaker 1: the people of the way. He had studied them with 56 00:04:24,710 --> 00:04:29,110 Speaker 1: great detail to persecute them. He knew that they met 57 00:04:29,150 --> 00:04:33,450 Speaker 1: in homes and talked about Jesus. He knew that they 58 00:04:33,529 --> 00:04:38,960 Speaker 1: shared bread and wine together to remember his crucifixion. Although 59 00:04:38,980 --> 00:04:44,020 Speaker 1: he knew these things, seeing them was a different thing entirely. 60 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:48,460 Speaker 1: He beheld the most eclectic group of Jews he had 61 00:04:48,700 --> 00:04:54,490 Speaker 1: ever seen. Slaves and prominent merchants sat beside each other 62 00:04:55,270 --> 00:04:59,850 Speaker 1: and shared stories. A lame beggar broke bread with a 63 00:04:59,960 --> 00:05:06,120 Speaker 1: wealthy nobleman from Ethiopia, and children of different classes played together. 64 00:05:07,140 --> 00:05:10,799 Speaker 1: Saul peered at a table in the corner. He watched 65 00:05:10,860 --> 00:05:14,279 Speaker 1: an elder of the city pour wine for a widow. 66 00:05:15,100 --> 00:05:18,040 Speaker 1: She kissed him on the cheek in gratitude, and he 67 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:21,420 Speaker 1: left to break more bread for the children. Saul had 68 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:26,060 Speaker 1: never seen anything like it. These people, who should have 69 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:32,120 Speaker 1: been separated by class and creed, shared laughter and love 70 00:05:32,970 --> 00:05:38,670 Speaker 1: under the warm torchlight. Saul stayed a few paces behind Ananias. 71 00:05:39,710 --> 00:05:41,970 Speaker 1: He saw the faces of a few people he had 72 00:05:42,050 --> 00:05:46,159 Speaker 1: sent to the flogging beam in Jerusalem. Many had fled 73 00:05:46,220 --> 00:05:50,260 Speaker 1: to Damascus because of his cruelty, and now he stood 74 00:05:50,339 --> 00:05:54,850 Speaker 1: before them to share a meal. He paused and turned 75 00:05:54,930 --> 00:05:58,930 Speaker 1: back in shame. How could they accept him after all 76 00:05:58,970 --> 00:06:03,510 Speaker 1: the brutality he had shown them? Images of children crying 77 00:06:03,910 --> 00:06:07,740 Speaker 1: as their mothers were taken away flooded his mind. It 78 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:11,720 Speaker 1: was nearly unbearable. He closed his eyes and buried his 79 00:06:11,779 --> 00:06:16,080 Speaker 1: face in his hands. Who am I to be among them? 80 00:06:16,110 --> 00:06:22,110 Speaker 1: As Saul reeled in guilt, a reassuring hand touched his shoulder. 81 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:26,330 Speaker 1: Saul looked up to see Ananias smiling at him. 82 00:06:26,850 --> 00:06:29,870 Speaker 3: Brother Saul, I would like to introduce you to your 83 00:06:29,930 --> 00:06:30,630 Speaker 3: new family. 84 00:06:31,110 --> 00:06:34,190 Speaker 1: He gestured to the crowd and took Saul by the arm. 85 00:06:34,750 --> 00:06:38,490 Speaker 1: The two of them stepped closer and Ananias addressed the crowd. 86 00:06:39,029 --> 00:06:42,950 Speaker 3: Brothers and sisters in Christ, this is Saul of Tarsus, 87 00:06:43,610 --> 00:06:46,810 Speaker 3: a new friend and brother. No doubt many of you 88 00:06:46,850 --> 00:06:47,670 Speaker 3: recognize him. 89 00:06:48,270 --> 00:06:51,529 Speaker 1: Some women clutched their children, and the men tensed up, 90 00:06:52,170 --> 00:06:57,659 Speaker 1: rolling their shoulders back. Initially, they were all afraid. Paul 91 00:06:57,760 --> 00:07:02,360 Speaker 1: symbolized death to many of them, the reaper himself, and 92 00:07:02,420 --> 00:07:05,880 Speaker 1: Ananias smiled and patted Saul on the back. 93 00:07:06,500 --> 00:07:09,660 Speaker 3: Truly, no one is past the reach of our Lord. 94 00:07:10,220 --> 00:07:14,280 Speaker 1: The crowd's intensity slowly subsided, and many stood to their 95 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:18,000 Speaker 1: feet to come and greet him. They kissed him on 96 00:07:18,040 --> 00:07:22,179 Speaker 1: the cheek and welcomed him. They shared bread and wine 97 00:07:22,260 --> 00:07:26,520 Speaker 1: with him and brought him over to sit. Saul was 98 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:30,880 Speaker 1: swept away in a current of love and acceptance in 99 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:37,830 Speaker 1: mere minutes. He was eating communion, singing hymns, and experiencing 100 00:07:38,350 --> 00:07:43,610 Speaker 1: the body of Christ. The following day, Saul awoke in 101 00:07:43,650 --> 00:07:46,130 Speaker 1: the same bed he had lain in for three days. 102 00:07:46,990 --> 00:07:51,130 Speaker 1: Only this time, he could see the sun rise. He 103 00:07:51,180 --> 00:07:53,640 Speaker 1: looked out the window and caught a glimpse of the 104 00:07:53,740 --> 00:07:58,720 Speaker 1: sun's rays scattering over the mountain range, with hues of 105 00:07:58,820 --> 00:08:04,260 Speaker 1: bright orange, painting Damascus in splendor. Saul looked back at 106 00:08:04,300 --> 00:08:08,460 Speaker 1: his Pharisee garments. Today, he was supposed to address the 107 00:08:08,500 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 1: synagogue about the Nazarenes. The elders had been waiting for 108 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:17,410 Speaker 1: him with anxious excitement. Before meeting Jesus, He planned to 109 00:08:17,510 --> 00:08:22,630 Speaker 1: rally the people against the Nazarenes. But things had changed. 110 00:08:23,590 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 1: Saul was a new creature with a new purpose. He 111 00:08:28,060 --> 00:08:31,860 Speaker 1: washed his face, put on his blue fringed robe, and 112 00:08:31,900 --> 00:08:35,920 Speaker 1: secured the leather amulet to his turban. He looked like 113 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:39,940 Speaker 1: a Pharisee, but he would no longer teach like one. 114 00:08:40,610 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 1: The congregation was in for a jarring surprise. The synagogue 115 00:08:46,300 --> 00:08:49,680 Speaker 1: was overflowing with people. The Jews had come to hear 116 00:08:49,740 --> 00:08:55,640 Speaker 1: Saul's famous prose, while some Christ-following Jews arrived to support 117 00:08:55,679 --> 00:09:00,250 Speaker 1: him as he gave a new message. The Chazan escorted 118 00:09:00,370 --> 00:09:03,770 Speaker 1: Saul to the dais. He gripped the edges of the 119 00:09:03,809 --> 00:09:08,130 Speaker 1: dais and paused. He looked out at the sea of faces, 120 00:09:09,010 --> 00:09:12,850 Speaker 1: recognizing many of the believers he had met the previous night. 121 00:09:14,010 --> 00:09:17,980 Speaker 1: Their smiles were reassured him, and he knew they were 122 00:09:18,100 --> 00:09:23,000 Speaker 1: praying on his behalf. Everyone else gathered to hear Saul, 123 00:09:23,460 --> 00:09:27,240 Speaker 1: the zealous Pharisee. They had no idea what had transpired 124 00:09:27,280 --> 00:09:31,160 Speaker 1: in the last three days. The Chazan placed a scroll 125 00:09:31,220 --> 00:09:35,680 Speaker 1: in Saul's hand and gestured for him to read. He 126 00:09:35,760 --> 00:09:39,959 Speaker 1: opened the scroll and smiled. It was a powerful song. 127 00:09:40,940 --> 00:09:44,670 Speaker 1: The elders had probably chosen it. hoping he would apply 128 00:09:44,730 --> 00:09:49,520 Speaker 1: it to the Nazarenes. However, now equipped with the Spirit 129 00:09:49,559 --> 00:09:55,010 Speaker 1: of Christ, Saul could see the Scripture more clearly. He 130 00:09:55,130 --> 00:09:56,770 Speaker 1: cleared his throat and read. 131 00:09:59,270 --> 00:10:04,130 Speaker 4: There are none that are righteous. No, not even one. 132 00:10:05,270 --> 00:10:09,050 Speaker 4: No one understands or seeks God. All have turned from 133 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:13,199 Speaker 4: him and become worthless. No one does good, not a 134 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:18,220 Speaker 4: single one. Their throats are open graves and their tongues deceive. 135 00:10:18,980 --> 00:10:22,080 Speaker 4: The venom of asps is under their lips, and their 136 00:10:22,100 --> 00:10:26,059 Speaker 4: mouths are filled with curses and stench. They are swift 137 00:10:26,100 --> 00:10:29,400 Speaker 4: to shed blood, and in their paths are ruin and misery. 138 00:10:29,940 --> 00:10:32,420 Speaker 4: And they do not know the way of peace, for 139 00:10:32,460 --> 00:10:34,900 Speaker 4: there is no fear of God in their eyes. 140 00:10:35,679 --> 00:10:38,209 Speaker 1: Saul closed the scroll and looked out at the crowd. 141 00:10:39,450 --> 00:10:42,070 Speaker 1: He stroked his beard and stepped away from the dais. 142 00:10:43,350 --> 00:10:48,170 Speaker 1: The people were leaning over in anticipation. Saul had always 143 00:10:48,250 --> 00:10:52,620 Speaker 1: spoken confidently, but this time he spoke with a different 144 00:10:52,740 --> 00:10:53,960 Speaker 1: type of authority. 145 00:10:55,920 --> 00:11:00,700 Speaker 4: This psalm tells us that there is none righteous before God. 146 00:11:01,460 --> 00:11:01,720 Speaker 3: None. 147 00:11:02,700 --> 00:11:06,640 Speaker 4: So tell me, what advantage does a Jew have over 148 00:11:07,020 --> 00:11:12,780 Speaker 4: any random Greek, Ethiopian, or barbarian? By works of the law, 149 00:11:13,280 --> 00:11:17,540 Speaker 4: no human being is justified before God. The law is 150 00:11:17,580 --> 00:11:22,589 Speaker 4: a mirror revealing every sin we've ever committed. With a 151 00:11:22,660 --> 00:11:26,209 Speaker 4: greater knowledge of the law and God's righteousness comes a 152 00:11:26,250 --> 00:11:30,270 Speaker 4: greater knowledge of our sin and depravity. If we cannot 153 00:11:30,330 --> 00:11:33,830 Speaker 4: attain righteousness by any sort of obedience to the law, 154 00:11:34,460 --> 00:11:35,980 Speaker 4: how do we attain righteousness? 155 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:40,400 Speaker 1: Saul rhetorically asked the question and paced to and fro 156 00:11:40,559 --> 00:11:44,650 Speaker 1: from the platform. He was giving a sermon, but also 157 00:11:44,770 --> 00:11:49,350 Speaker 1: working out his new beliefs in real time. It was 158 00:11:49,429 --> 00:11:53,110 Speaker 1: as if God was teaching him as he taught others. 159 00:11:54,309 --> 00:11:56,350 Speaker 1: He raised his voice for everyone to hear. 160 00:11:57,450 --> 00:12:01,410 Speaker 4: What if the law and the prophets weren't pointing us 161 00:12:01,809 --> 00:12:08,770 Speaker 4: toward human righteousness, but God himself? What if faith in 162 00:12:08,809 --> 00:12:11,610 Speaker 4: God is what gives us a right to stand before him? 163 00:12:12,530 --> 00:12:15,710 Speaker 4: If God is the only one who is righteous, then 164 00:12:15,750 --> 00:12:19,270 Speaker 4: he alone can give us righteousness. We cannot hope to 165 00:12:19,530 --> 00:12:24,319 Speaker 4: attain it on our own. We need saving. We need 166 00:12:24,340 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 4: the righteousness of another to act on our behalf. And 167 00:12:28,860 --> 00:12:31,559 Speaker 4: I have come to know deep in my heart that 168 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:35,340 Speaker 4: God has made a way to righteousness through Jesus Christ. 169 00:12:35,820 --> 00:12:40,030 Speaker 1: The entire crowd gasped. The religious leaders were taken aback 170 00:12:40,110 --> 00:12:43,920 Speaker 1: by Saul's statement. Saul did not have much more time, 171 00:12:44,559 --> 00:12:45,260 Speaker 1: so he continued. 172 00:12:46,040 --> 00:12:48,689 Speaker 4: All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, 173 00:12:49,290 --> 00:12:53,070 Speaker 4: but there is forgiveness for sins through the grace of Jesus. 174 00:12:53,670 --> 00:12:57,429 Speaker 4: We are justified by his grace and brought near by 175 00:12:57,470 --> 00:13:00,540 Speaker 4: the redemption that is in Christ, whom God put forward 176 00:13:00,820 --> 00:13:06,240 Speaker 4: as a propitiation by his blood to be received in faith. Blasphemy! 177 00:13:07,059 --> 00:13:08,200 Speaker 3: Silence, you traitor! 178 00:13:08,920 --> 00:13:10,449 Speaker 4: You dishonor Moses! 179 00:13:11,309 --> 00:13:12,290 Speaker 2: I do not. 180 00:13:13,190 --> 00:13:16,610 Speaker 4: This is what Moses was speaking of. This is why 181 00:13:16,670 --> 00:13:20,949 Speaker 4: we have the sacrifices established by Moses and Aaron. Don't 182 00:13:20,990 --> 00:13:24,710 Speaker 4: you see? It was all to point toward the ultimate 183 00:13:24,830 --> 00:13:29,250 Speaker 4: sacrifice of our Messiah. God has passed over the sins 184 00:13:29,330 --> 00:13:33,330 Speaker 4: of those who believe in the cleansing power of Jesus' blood. 185 00:13:36,530 --> 00:13:40,679 Speaker 1: The crowd became more unruly. And Saul slammed his fist 186 00:13:40,740 --> 00:13:44,860 Speaker 1: on the dais. The room was silent for a long, 187 00:13:45,100 --> 00:13:50,630 Speaker 1: drawn-out moment. Tears welled up in his eyes, and his 188 00:13:50,730 --> 00:13:52,130 Speaker 1: bottom lip quivered. 189 00:13:52,910 --> 00:13:58,670 Speaker 4: I have spent so much time boasting about my own righteousness, 190 00:13:59,890 --> 00:14:03,140 Speaker 4: boasting in my own works as if they have given 191 00:14:03,179 --> 00:14:07,729 Speaker 4: me favor with God. But none are righteous. not even 192 00:14:07,770 --> 00:14:13,270 Speaker 4: a Pharisee like me. So I will no longer boast 193 00:14:13,309 --> 00:14:16,380 Speaker 4: in the law of works. I will boast in the 194 00:14:16,429 --> 00:14:20,700 Speaker 4: law of faith. I will boast in Jesus Christ. 195 00:14:21,380 --> 00:14:25,240 Speaker 1: Saul could have spoken for hours, but the congregation would 196 00:14:25,260 --> 00:14:28,100 Speaker 1: have none of it. They seized him by the robes 197 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:31,920 Speaker 1: and threw him out of the synagogue. Ananias and the 198 00:14:31,990 --> 00:14:35,650 Speaker 1: others picked him up and took him away. Saul looked 199 00:14:35,730 --> 00:14:39,630 Speaker 1: back at the scowls of the Jews. He had worn 200 00:14:39,690 --> 00:14:44,310 Speaker 1: that scowl too. He had raged against God and felt 201 00:14:44,350 --> 00:14:48,470 Speaker 1: the hatred deep in his bones. But Saul no longer 202 00:14:48,590 --> 00:14:53,240 Speaker 1: felt hatred. He felt a burden to proclaim the name 203 00:14:53,380 --> 00:14:58,700 Speaker 1: of Jesus to every person he met. Saul lay awake 204 00:14:58,740 --> 00:15:03,980 Speaker 1: that night thinking about Jesus. The followers in Damascus were 205 00:15:04,060 --> 00:15:07,410 Speaker 1: kind people, but very few of them had actually spent 206 00:15:07,510 --> 00:15:12,840 Speaker 1: time with Jesus or seen his face. Saul longed to 207 00:15:12,900 --> 00:15:16,700 Speaker 1: connect with Christ again in the whirlwind of light. He 208 00:15:16,740 --> 00:15:22,060 Speaker 1: had many questions and very little answers. He sat up 209 00:15:22,100 --> 00:15:25,460 Speaker 1: in his bed and rubbed his face. He held his 210 00:15:25,540 --> 00:15:30,360 Speaker 1: head up to the heavens and prayed for guidance. Time 211 00:15:30,720 --> 00:15:34,960 Speaker 1: was of the essence. Every day Saul remained in Damascus 212 00:15:35,300 --> 00:15:38,420 Speaker 1: increased his chances of being arrested by the high priest. 213 00:15:39,580 --> 00:15:42,560 Speaker 1: No doubt word had already been sent to the Sanhedrin 214 00:15:43,040 --> 00:15:48,240 Speaker 1: that their most loyal watchdog had broken free from his chains. 215 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:53,900 Speaker 1: I need to know more, Saul whispered into the night. 216 00:15:54,660 --> 00:15:58,130 Speaker 1: He gathered his scrolls and tucked them securely into his pack. 217 00:15:58,750 --> 00:16:01,750 Speaker 1: He threw it over his shoulder, grabbed a walking staff, 218 00:16:02,250 --> 00:16:06,229 Speaker 1: and left the house of Ananias. The next move was simple. 219 00:16:06,870 --> 00:16:11,690 Speaker 1: He needed to escape, meditate, and get clear direction from Jesus. 220 00:16:12,370 --> 00:16:16,250 Speaker 1: He needed to be unhindered in listening and undisturbed by 221 00:16:16,270 --> 00:16:20,040 Speaker 1: the barrage of questions that would inevitably come his way. 222 00:16:20,780 --> 00:16:24,560 Speaker 1: The spice routes provided a clear path for his escape. 223 00:16:25,380 --> 00:16:28,660 Speaker 1: As the sun rose in the distance, he followed a 224 00:16:28,720 --> 00:16:33,890 Speaker 1: caravan of camels, to the soft and sandy shores of Arabia. 225 00:16:38,010 --> 00:16:42,280 Speaker 2: Paul, being humbled by Jesus and nurtured by Ananias, is 226 00:16:42,360 --> 00:16:46,440 Speaker 2: now boldly proclaiming the gospel. It doesn't take Paul long 227 00:16:46,540 --> 00:16:47,980 Speaker 2: since he is a prolific teacher. 228 00:16:48,180 --> 00:16:48,920 Speaker 4: He's a speaker. 229 00:16:48,980 --> 00:16:52,200 Speaker 2: It's kind of who he is on the inside. You see, 230 00:16:52,740 --> 00:16:56,110 Speaker 2: when you come to know Jesus, what you had previously 231 00:16:56,350 --> 00:16:58,810 Speaker 2: used for the kingdom of darkness, he now wants you 232 00:16:58,830 --> 00:17:01,150 Speaker 2: to use for the kingdom of light. And so naturally 233 00:17:01,190 --> 00:17:03,950 Speaker 2: in this story, Paul shifts his focus to now teaching 234 00:17:03,970 --> 00:17:06,970 Speaker 2: the gospel. He's been leading people away from Jesus for 235 00:17:07,030 --> 00:17:09,580 Speaker 2: so long with so much passion and zeal. But when 236 00:17:09,650 --> 00:17:12,820 Speaker 2: Jesus flips the script and shows him the error of 237 00:17:12,880 --> 00:17:16,399 Speaker 2: his ways, Paul hits the ground running. He proclaims and 238 00:17:16,460 --> 00:17:19,740 Speaker 2: preaches the gospel. We have all been given certain gifts 239 00:17:19,780 --> 00:17:21,780 Speaker 2: by our creator. Some of this is innate in us, 240 00:17:21,840 --> 00:17:24,180 Speaker 2: and some of these are skills and talents that we've 241 00:17:24,200 --> 00:17:27,470 Speaker 2: acquired over time. No matter how you acquired these skills, 242 00:17:27,510 --> 00:17:29,629 Speaker 2: these gifts, and these talents, God wants to use them 243 00:17:29,670 --> 00:17:32,700 Speaker 2: for his kingdom. I remember in my own life using 244 00:17:32,800 --> 00:17:36,139 Speaker 2: some semblance of charisma speaking and writing skills that the 245 00:17:36,180 --> 00:17:38,730 Speaker 2: Lord gave me and using them for my own gain. 246 00:17:39,270 --> 00:17:42,590 Speaker 2: I would schmooze people. I would try and manipulate conversations 247 00:17:42,670 --> 00:17:44,390 Speaker 2: to get a rise out of people or to get 248 00:17:44,450 --> 00:17:47,260 Speaker 2: exactly what I wanted. But as the Holy Spirit worked 249 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:49,560 Speaker 2: in my heart, I was able to use these gifts 250 00:17:49,580 --> 00:17:52,139 Speaker 2: for the kingdom of God. I became a pastor, a 251 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:55,800 Speaker 2: preaching pastor, and now a writer here at Pray.com. What 252 00:17:55,820 --> 00:17:58,940 Speaker 2: the enemy intends for evil and what the world intends 253 00:17:59,020 --> 00:18:01,719 Speaker 2: to bolster your pride, the Lord wants to use to 254 00:18:01,780 --> 00:18:04,760 Speaker 2: expand his kingdom. But what had to happen for Saul 255 00:18:04,880 --> 00:18:07,350 Speaker 2: first is that he had to be humbled by God. 256 00:18:07,869 --> 00:18:10,810 Speaker 2: He had to come to this place of brokenness before 257 00:18:10,869 --> 00:18:13,870 Speaker 2: he can truly use his gifts and step into his potential. 258 00:18:14,369 --> 00:18:17,510 Speaker 2: But he also needed the nurturing of a community around him. 259 00:18:18,010 --> 00:18:21,010 Speaker 2: You see, the early church in Antioch really embraced Saul 260 00:18:21,050 --> 00:18:23,869 Speaker 2: despite his past. And isn't it funny? This is the 261 00:18:23,910 --> 00:18:27,320 Speaker 2: church that he had planned on persecuting, but now they're 262 00:18:27,380 --> 00:18:30,419 Speaker 2: coming in and providing this safe haven for him to 263 00:18:30,500 --> 00:18:33,639 Speaker 2: learn and to grow. These are the two key elements 264 00:18:33,680 --> 00:18:37,000 Speaker 2: for being effective in ministry and in the kingdom of God. 265 00:18:37,440 --> 00:18:40,520 Speaker 2: We need to first be humbled and receive humbly the 266 00:18:40,560 --> 00:18:43,229 Speaker 2: correction that God would give us. You see, those who 267 00:18:43,290 --> 00:18:46,650 Speaker 2: are unable to be questioned do questionable things. We need 268 00:18:46,670 --> 00:18:49,610 Speaker 2: to open up our lives to be questioned by the gospel. 269 00:18:49,970 --> 00:18:51,770 Speaker 2: We need to open up our lives to be corrected 270 00:18:51,810 --> 00:18:54,650 Speaker 2: by the gospel and the people around us. Which leads 271 00:18:54,690 --> 00:18:56,649 Speaker 2: me to my second point. If we are going to 272 00:18:56,670 --> 00:18:59,790 Speaker 2: be effective for God's kingdom, we need a nurturing community 273 00:18:59,850 --> 00:19:02,379 Speaker 2: around us. People who are willing to be patient with us. 274 00:19:02,460 --> 00:19:05,220 Speaker 2: People who are willing to hold our hands and walk 275 00:19:05,400 --> 00:19:09,020 Speaker 2: through all these hard things with us. If Paul wasn't 276 00:19:09,060 --> 00:19:11,360 Speaker 2: accepted by the church in Antioch, I don't know how 277 00:19:11,460 --> 00:19:14,970 Speaker 2: far he would have gotten. If Ananias had disobeyed God 278 00:19:15,010 --> 00:19:17,050 Speaker 2: and said, no, he's a persecutor of the church. I 279 00:19:17,090 --> 00:19:19,510 Speaker 2: want nothing to do with him. Who knows where Paul 280 00:19:19,550 --> 00:19:21,270 Speaker 2: would have ended up? He would have ended up maybe 281 00:19:21,310 --> 00:19:23,100 Speaker 2: going back to the Pharisees, or maybe he would have 282 00:19:23,119 --> 00:19:25,480 Speaker 2: just been blind for the rest of his life. But 283 00:19:25,520 --> 00:19:28,560 Speaker 2: the Lord wants to use the community around you and 284 00:19:28,920 --> 00:19:31,699 Speaker 2: the soft and sometimes harsh rebuke of his word and 285 00:19:31,720 --> 00:19:35,379 Speaker 2: the truth of Christ's spirit to transform our lives. He 286 00:19:35,420 --> 00:19:37,880 Speaker 2: wants to do that with you, my friends. So today, 287 00:19:37,960 --> 00:19:41,159 Speaker 2: let's embrace the humility of Paul and be members of 288 00:19:41,200 --> 00:19:44,479 Speaker 2: a community just like Paul had found. Thanks again for 289 00:19:44,520 --> 00:19:47,189 Speaker 2: listening to the Jesus Podcast. If you've been enjoying this 290 00:19:47,230 --> 00:19:49,350 Speaker 2: podcast so far and found it enriching for your faith, 291 00:19:49,369 --> 00:19:50,409 Speaker 2: we would love to hear from you. it if you 292 00:19:50,450 --> 00:19:53,310 Speaker 2: left a review. And for prayers, daily devotionals, and a 293 00:19:53,390 --> 00:19:56,520 Speaker 2: library of content that will bolster your faith and empower 294 00:19:56,600 --> 00:19:59,520 Speaker 2: you for the battle ahead, download the Pray.com app.