1 00:00:02,560 --> 00:00:08,720 Speaker 1: Saul of Tarsus, Pharisee executioner. He moved the land like 2 00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 1: a drawn blade. His conviction was a flame that consumed 3 00:00:13,240 --> 00:00:17,239 Speaker 1: the followers of Jesus. They called him the reaper of 4 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:21,599 Speaker 1: the church. In the name it like a curse, the 5 00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:24,639 Speaker 1: cracking of whips and the wails of men whomen followed 6 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 1: him like a choir. He was immovable in his conviction, 7 00:00:29,960 --> 00:00:34,360 Speaker 1: a coursing river, a judgment bent on ending the people 8 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:38,800 Speaker 1: of the way. But what happens when an unstoppable force 9 00:00:39,479 --> 00:00:47,920 Speaker 1: meets the immovable rock of ages. The Judean sky bled 10 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:51,640 Speaker 1: into dusk, and Saul approached the home of Nicholas, one. 11 00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:52,120 Speaker 2: Of the faithful. 12 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:55,000 Speaker 1: He walked with the confidence of a man who never 13 00:00:55,080 --> 00:00:58,680 Speaker 1: lost a fight, hands folded behind his back, his cloak 14 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:03,240 Speaker 1: fluttering slightly in the breeze. Inside, the family of Nicholas 15 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:07,200 Speaker 1: ate their evening meal in silence. Their peace, though, was 16 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 1: interrupted with a gentle knock. 17 00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:30,160 Speaker 2: Nicholas, open up, I just want to talk. Got your room. 18 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:36,200 Speaker 2: Good evening, Nicholas. May I come in, Saul of Tarses, 19 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:40,400 Speaker 2: I was just sitting down for dinner with my family. 20 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:42,759 Speaker 2: This won't take long. 21 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:50,760 Speaker 1: Please hurry, Saul, entered as though he owned the ground 22 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 1: he stood on. He didn't seek permission, he took it. 23 00:01:56,600 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 1: Saul sat uninvited. He reached for the bread and poured 24 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:04,559 Speaker 1: the wine with elegance. Nicholas's wife trembled as she pulled 25 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:05,480 Speaker 1: the children close. 26 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:09,440 Speaker 2: I've heard the whisperers of you, Nicholas. They say you 27 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:15,959 Speaker 2: are one of the seven Faithful. But faithful to whom 28 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:20,920 Speaker 2: I wonder, I serve the son of the living God, 29 00:02:21,960 --> 00:02:23,360 Speaker 2: Jesus of Nazareth. 30 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:28,280 Speaker 1: Saul's eyes twitched at the name of Jesus Ah. 31 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:33,200 Speaker 2: Yes, Jesus of Nazareth, the dead radical. 32 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:42,840 Speaker 1: Nicholas consents. Two of Saul's men looming over him. 33 00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:50,720 Speaker 2: Your people are a problem, Nicholas, a blevish at Saul's god. 34 00:02:50,919 --> 00:02:52,160 Speaker 2: The shadows of the green. 35 00:02:52,000 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 3: Killing Ruffy and sees Nicholas vanished into dark. 36 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:09,640 Speaker 4: There's nothing quite like getting knocked down. The lights are 37 00:03:09,639 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 4: flashing all around you. The crowd is raging. You're in 38 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:17,600 Speaker 4: the moment, you're honed in, You're feeling the rhythm of 39 00:03:17,639 --> 00:03:25,480 Speaker 4: the fight. Then darkness. Greatness is defined by what we 40 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:29,800 Speaker 4: do in that darkness. I'm Michael Chandler, and this is 41 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:31,720 Speaker 4: Heroes in the Bible Paul. 42 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 1: The streets of Jerusalem bled with the shadows cast by torchlight. 43 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:42,760 Speaker 1: Dozens of people filed into the city square as Saul 44 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 1: stood over the beaten Nicholas like a statue sculpted from rage. 45 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:57,400 Speaker 5: Jesus of Naseby is dead, and yet these so called 46 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 5: people of the Way refuse to let their devotionhit die 47 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:04,240 Speaker 5: with me. 48 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:10,120 Speaker 2: They will tear Is and I a apart with their lies. 49 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:17,159 Speaker 6: A false sign. A lash cut the air, and Nicholas 50 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:23,440 Speaker 6: screamed in d The word cracked, flesh torn, and Nicholas writhed, 51 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:27,360 Speaker 6: do you renounce his vain? 52 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:31,440 Speaker 2: I will never renounce the name of Jesus. 53 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:35,840 Speaker 1: The sound of suffering echo through the stone, and soul 54 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:40,039 Speaker 1: song raised his voice like a conductor demanding more from 55 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:40,760 Speaker 1: his orchestra. 56 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:43,720 Speaker 2: Renounce Jesus, something Elsa, renounce his. 57 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:49,720 Speaker 1: Name again and again He was went into the night, 58 00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:52,839 Speaker 1: until Nicholas sagged, bloodied in breathless. 59 00:04:54,279 --> 00:05:01,000 Speaker 2: I will ask one more time, do you renoun this 60 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:07,840 Speaker 2: false god in this world? He would have troubles, But 61 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:10,240 Speaker 2: take heart for the eye. 62 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:14,880 Speaker 1: Saw snarled at that. 63 00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:19,640 Speaker 2: That is what I thought you might say. Then forth 64 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:21,039 Speaker 2: the more shall suffice. 65 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:26,320 Speaker 1: The sound of violence resounded against the cobbled streets of Jerusalem. 66 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:31,000 Speaker 1: The echoed reaching the ears of the heavens. They were listening. 67 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:35,200 Speaker 1: Saul thought he was doing all of this for the Lord. 68 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:38,679 Speaker 1: What he didn't know is that the Lord was watching 69 00:05:39,279 --> 00:05:46,159 Speaker 1: and waiting to respond. Deep beneath the temple's grandeur was 70 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:50,400 Speaker 1: the hall of polished stones. The chamber flickered with torchlight, 71 00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:53,560 Speaker 1: and the heavy presence of judgment rustled in the air. 72 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:58,440 Speaker 1: The cold eyes of the Sanhedrin watched as Saul entered 73 00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:03,120 Speaker 1: and dropped to his knees. At the center of the 74 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:07,279 Speaker 1: Sanhedrian sat honest the high Priest. He was robed like 75 00:06:07,320 --> 00:06:09,279 Speaker 1: a king, and twice his cunning. 76 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:17,600 Speaker 7: Saul of Tarsus, student of Gamaliel, Roman by birth, but 77 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:20,440 Speaker 7: Hebrew in blood and zeal. 78 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:24,159 Speaker 1: Saul tilted up his head. 79 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:29,640 Speaker 2: High Priest, and us Council, I come with news regarding 80 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:31,000 Speaker 2: the Nazarenes. 81 00:06:31,279 --> 00:06:34,839 Speaker 7: Blasphemous strikers. 82 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:42,960 Speaker 1: Annus leaned forward, his voice, cold, indiscerning the. 83 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:48,520 Speaker 7: Nazarenes are like rats multiplying in the shadows. And you 84 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:51,520 Speaker 7: saw were brought here to bring them into the light. 85 00:06:53,839 --> 00:06:58,040 Speaker 2: Lashians imprisonment. They do not fear these things. 86 00:07:00,880 --> 00:07:06,640 Speaker 7: Jerusalem is fragile soul. Jesus's name is like a festiving wound. 87 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:11,320 Speaker 7: Can you heal it before it infects our people? 88 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:17,360 Speaker 1: Saw gripped the stone beneath him tightly. He was sure 89 00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:19,520 Speaker 1: of himself, ready to strike. 90 00:07:20,880 --> 00:07:27,480 Speaker 2: Allow me to cleanse the wound with fire. You mean death. 91 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:32,880 Speaker 7: The Romans will never allow us to enact out of injustice. 92 00:07:33,640 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 7: We barely escaped their judgment when we stoned Stephen. 93 00:07:38,480 --> 00:07:45,240 Speaker 2: You forget enough. I am Roman. I have certain privileges. 94 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:47,000 Speaker 2: This council does not. 95 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:50,720 Speaker 1: A murmur ripple through the council. 96 00:07:52,760 --> 00:07:57,640 Speaker 2: Send me, high Priest, and I will end this. 97 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:02,680 Speaker 1: And has considered him torchlight dancing in his calculating gaze. 98 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:09,040 Speaker 7: Grome protects its own. Your citizenship can be a weapon, 99 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:12,760 Speaker 7: a license the counsel may wield. 100 00:08:13,600 --> 00:08:20,960 Speaker 2: I will procure the rights to execute God's judgment. Good. 101 00:08:21,280 --> 00:08:27,280 Speaker 7: Your first aim should be Damascus. It rots with heresy. 102 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:30,080 Speaker 7: Do you understand what it required? 103 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:39,480 Speaker 1: Sala's reply was quiet and terrifying, not required, desired, honest 104 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:41,360 Speaker 1: leaned in voice, low. 105 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:47,640 Speaker 7: Bring us their heads, bring us silence, cleanse the synagogues, 106 00:08:49,320 --> 00:08:53,240 Speaker 7: and made the God of our Father's guide your hand. 107 00:08:56,280 --> 00:08:59,800 Speaker 1: Saul turned and strode from his chamber, his groot striking 108 00:08:59,840 --> 00:09:06,520 Speaker 1: the stone like the drums of war. Night met him outside, 109 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:12,720 Speaker 1: wind curling through the courtyard, then a whisper, a ghost 110 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:19,280 Speaker 1: on the wind. Saw froze and turned, but he saw nothing. 111 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:24,760 Speaker 1: The shadows stretched beneath him, the moon casting long rays 112 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:42,000 Speaker 1: above him. The voice lingered in his mind for a while, 113 00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:45,680 Speaker 1: but Saw crushed it beneath his resolve and walked on. 114 00:09:46,600 --> 00:09:53,800 Speaker 1: Damascus awaited him, the reaper of the church. Saul rode 115 00:09:53,840 --> 00:09:56,240 Speaker 1: at the head of his company, with his cloaks snapping 116 00:09:56,280 --> 00:09:59,360 Speaker 1: behind him like a banner of war. The road to 117 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:03,559 Speaker 1: Damascus wound narrow. Before him was a pale scar through 118 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:07,319 Speaker 1: the wilderness, and far ahead, faint in the morning haze, 119 00:10:07,679 --> 00:10:11,880 Speaker 1: the city of Damascus shimmered a mirage of stone and promise. 120 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:16,160 Speaker 1: To the followers of Jesus, it was a refuge, a 121 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:18,760 Speaker 1: place to preach the gospel, far from the reach of 122 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:22,720 Speaker 1: the Sanhedrin. But to Saul it was a target, a 123 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:25,560 Speaker 1: nest of brooding vipers that he had to weed out. 124 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:30,520 Speaker 1: Saul urged his horse faster. His men followed, silent but 125 00:10:30,679 --> 00:10:34,679 Speaker 1: uneasy behind him. They had seen Saul ride like this before. 126 00:10:35,120 --> 00:10:43,240 Speaker 1: He was possessed by a mission swallowed by seal. The 127 00:10:43,280 --> 00:10:47,559 Speaker 1: sun climbed higher, heat shimmered on the horizon, and sweat 128 00:10:47,559 --> 00:10:52,920 Speaker 1: gathered at Saul's brow, but he didn't slow. Saul's mind 129 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:56,520 Speaker 1: was like fire, burning with dreams of rising into the 130 00:10:56,559 --> 00:11:00,920 Speaker 1: ranks of the Sanhedrin and being a hero of the Jewish. 131 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:03,199 Speaker 1: He would crush the people of the Way by any 132 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:04,840 Speaker 1: means necessary. 133 00:11:04,720 --> 00:11:10,800 Speaker 7: Bring us their heads, bring us silence, cleanse the synagogues. 134 00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:16,240 Speaker 1: He was exhilarated by the thrill of righteous conquest. But 135 00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:21,480 Speaker 1: then the world changed. Clouds began to turn above them, 136 00:11:21,679 --> 00:11:25,880 Speaker 1: gathering with unnatural speed. Saul's grip tightened on the reins. 137 00:11:26,280 --> 00:11:31,959 Speaker 1: His eyes darted upwards, and then the sky tore open. 138 00:11:31,960 --> 00:11:34,360 Speaker 1: A blast of light fell from the heavens, hitting to 139 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:38,679 Speaker 1: earth with great force. The air exploded all around Saul 140 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:41,520 Speaker 1: that he was thrown from his saddle. He hit the 141 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:45,080 Speaker 1: ground hard, the breath punched from his lungs, and light 142 00:11:45,280 --> 00:11:52,040 Speaker 1: surrounded him. It was everywhere, piercing, pure, unrelenting. The light 143 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:54,880 Speaker 1: pressed against him, around him and through him. 144 00:11:56,000 --> 00:11:57,240 Speaker 2: The light repled, and. 145 00:11:57,200 --> 00:12:02,000 Speaker 1: From within it a figure emerged. Saul could tell it 146 00:12:02,080 --> 00:12:04,840 Speaker 1: was not a vision, nor was he seeing a ghost. 147 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:09,319 Speaker 1: The person he was seeing was as real as himself. 148 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:16,120 Speaker 1: And then came the voice. 149 00:12:14,679 --> 00:12:19,040 Speaker 2: Saul, why do you persecute me? 150 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:23,160 Speaker 7: Who? 151 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:35,080 Speaker 2: Who are you? Lord? I am? I am Jesus, I 152 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:44,160 Speaker 2: am the way, I am the one you are persecuting, Saul, Jesus, 153 00:12:46,360 --> 00:12:47,040 Speaker 2: let me show you. 154 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:53,120 Speaker 1: Saul's heart stopped. The man he had called heretic stood 155 00:12:53,120 --> 00:12:59,400 Speaker 1: before him, alive, clothed in glory. Saul's defiance melted underneath 156 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:03,800 Speaker 1: the righteous Jesus. His body shook, his tears carved paths 157 00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:04,840 Speaker 1: through the dust. 158 00:13:04,559 --> 00:13:05,200 Speaker 7: On his face. 159 00:13:07,640 --> 00:13:11,640 Speaker 1: Saul fell forward, forehead pressed to the earth, sobs racking 160 00:13:11,679 --> 00:13:12,200 Speaker 1: his body. 161 00:13:12,880 --> 00:13:18,880 Speaker 2: You really are, Jesus. What do you want from me? Lord? 162 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:26,880 Speaker 2: Get up yet, go into Damascus. It will be told 163 00:13:26,920 --> 00:13:27,880 Speaker 2: to you what you must do. 164 00:13:29,040 --> 00:13:32,280 Speaker 1: Saul lifted his head towards Jesus. As he struggled to 165 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:37,440 Speaker 1: his feet. The light pulsed once more gentle, now almost tender, 166 00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:40,800 Speaker 1: and then began to recede, folding back into the heavens 167 00:13:41,160 --> 00:13:44,920 Speaker 1: like a tide withdrawing from the shore. The thunder quieted, 168 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:49,520 Speaker 1: the air, stilled dust hung motionless in the silence that followed. 169 00:13:50,760 --> 00:13:55,000 Speaker 1: Saul opened his eyes, but the light was gone. Darkness, 170 00:13:55,720 --> 00:14:00,000 Speaker 1: thick and absolute. Saul blinked, but the world did not return. 171 00:14:01,000 --> 00:14:04,480 Speaker 1: He was blind and everything had changed. 172 00:14:06,760 --> 00:14:11,400 Speaker 4: I was physically built up, I was sharp. I had 173 00:14:11,400 --> 00:14:15,360 Speaker 4: the muscles, I had the fire in my veins, I 174 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:20,600 Speaker 4: had the training. I had built a career of domination 175 00:14:20,920 --> 00:14:26,280 Speaker 4: in Bellator. But my mind wasn't ready. Victory begins in 176 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:30,440 Speaker 4: the heart long before it ever reaches the hands. I 177 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:34,520 Speaker 4: wasn't ready to lose. I wasn't ready for that adversity. 178 00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:39,480 Speaker 4: I had three losses that threatened to end my career, 179 00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:45,160 Speaker 4: and my mind wasn't ready. I wasn't ready for the darkness. 180 00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:51,800 Speaker 4: But darkness isn't defeat it's preparation. Saul of Tarsus was 181 00:14:51,840 --> 00:14:56,520 Speaker 4: a man built to win. He had everything. He had 182 00:14:56,520 --> 00:15:01,200 Speaker 4: what I call a championship pedigree. An a educated pharisee, 183 00:15:01,240 --> 00:15:05,320 Speaker 4: respected among the religious elite. He had climbed the ladder 184 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:07,600 Speaker 4: ready to take his place in the hall of polished 185 00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:12,040 Speaker 4: stones with the sanhedron. And if that wasn't enough, he 186 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:16,960 Speaker 4: had something most of his contemporaries didn't have, Roman citizenship. 187 00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:21,240 Speaker 4: This meant that he had elite access and political power. 188 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:25,320 Speaker 4: All of these things made Saul deadly to the early Church. 189 00:15:26,280 --> 00:15:28,960 Speaker 4: Not only did he have this self righteous zeal, but 190 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:31,800 Speaker 4: he had a license to kill. Saul was a man 191 00:15:31,840 --> 00:15:34,960 Speaker 4: inflated by pride, and you know what they say about pride. 192 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:39,200 Speaker 4: Pride build you up just to watch you fall. When 193 00:15:39,240 --> 00:15:41,200 Speaker 4: I look back at my early days as a fighter, 194 00:15:41,680 --> 00:15:44,200 Speaker 4: I can't help but occasionally feel sorry for the young 195 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:48,760 Speaker 4: man with all the skill but the wrong mindset. But 196 00:15:48,840 --> 00:15:51,440 Speaker 4: I don't wallow and regret about it, because the truth 197 00:15:51,520 --> 00:15:54,960 Speaker 4: is I needed those six hundred eighty eight days. We 198 00:15:55,040 --> 00:15:58,360 Speaker 4: all need our six hundred and eighty eight days. I 199 00:15:58,400 --> 00:16:01,920 Speaker 4: needed to get knocked down. I needed to burn off 200 00:16:01,960 --> 00:16:06,440 Speaker 4: the areas of myself that were filled with pride and ego. 201 00:16:06,640 --> 00:16:08,440 Speaker 4: I needed to get rid of the dead woods so 202 00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:11,480 Speaker 4: I wouldn't carry it into the next season God had 203 00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:15,440 Speaker 4: for me. You can't rise to your calling weighed down 204 00:16:15,640 --> 00:16:20,080 Speaker 4: by your pride. The same was true for Saul. Saul 205 00:16:20,200 --> 00:16:24,160 Speaker 4: was chosen by God. All of the talent and knowledge 206 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:26,880 Speaker 4: he was using for evil would be flipped over and 207 00:16:27,040 --> 00:16:30,280 Speaker 4: used for good. He just needed to have his ego 208 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:34,920 Speaker 4: stripped away. The light of Jesus left Saul blind, and 209 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:39,920 Speaker 4: for three days Saul was in darkness. Sometimes God lets 210 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:44,000 Speaker 4: us stumble once to keep us from falling forever. When 211 00:16:44,040 --> 00:16:48,480 Speaker 4: I went through my losing streak, I made three critical mistakes. First, 212 00:16:48,760 --> 00:16:51,800 Speaker 4: I let embarrassment isolate me from others. I was too 213 00:16:51,840 --> 00:16:55,760 Speaker 4: afraid to show my face. This only made things worse. 214 00:16:56,600 --> 00:16:59,920 Speaker 4: We need others to help us grow, to sharpen us, 215 00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:05,399 Speaker 4: to remind us of our why isolation magnifies weakness, but 216 00:17:05,560 --> 00:17:11,240 Speaker 4: community sharpens strength. My second mistake was forgetting how good 217 00:17:11,280 --> 00:17:15,920 Speaker 4: I was. I got skill amnesia. Something in my mind 218 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:19,280 Speaker 4: began to doubt my abilities and everything God had created 219 00:17:19,280 --> 00:17:28,240 Speaker 4: me to do. Never let temporary setbacks erase your permanent purpose. Last, 220 00:17:28,600 --> 00:17:31,960 Speaker 4: I started to blame others. I started pointing fingers at 221 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:38,560 Speaker 4: everyone but myself. Imagine what Saul must have felt, blinded 222 00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:42,639 Speaker 4: by Jesus soaking in a pool of shame and self doubt. 223 00:17:44,040 --> 00:17:47,760 Speaker 4: But Jesus didn't visit Saul to shame him. He was 224 00:17:47,840 --> 00:17:52,040 Speaker 4: after Saul's heart. Exodus fifteen to three says that God 225 00:17:52,160 --> 00:17:57,439 Speaker 4: is a mighty warrior. Our God is a fighter, and 226 00:17:57,520 --> 00:17:59,760 Speaker 4: it's not just about him fighting the enemies of his 227 00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:03,320 Speaker 4: Israe in the Old Testament or Jesus' final battle with 228 00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:08,520 Speaker 4: Evil and Revelation. God is actively fighting for our hearts. 229 00:18:09,119 --> 00:18:12,560 Speaker 4: Our hearts are the battleground where the spirit wars against 230 00:18:12,560 --> 00:18:16,520 Speaker 4: the flesh. God wants your heart, and he's willing to 231 00:18:16,560 --> 00:18:20,560 Speaker 4: knock you down to get it. Saul's heart was hardened 232 00:18:20,560 --> 00:18:22,679 Speaker 4: by pride, and God knew that the only way to 233 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:25,119 Speaker 4: lift him up into his calling was to knock him 234 00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:27,960 Speaker 4: off of his high horse. Saul could only see the 235 00:18:28,040 --> 00:18:32,720 Speaker 4: light after he had been in darkness. Every failure I've 236 00:18:32,760 --> 00:18:35,119 Speaker 4: ever had in my life has been a launching pad 237 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:39,280 Speaker 4: for greater and greater things. And that's my encouragement for you, 238 00:18:39,359 --> 00:18:42,879 Speaker 4: my friends. When God knocks you down a peg, receive it, 239 00:18:43,800 --> 00:18:47,520 Speaker 4: eat it, learn from it, and don't wallow in it. 240 00:18:48,480 --> 00:18:50,760 Speaker 4: Let God pick you back up and leave your ego 241 00:18:51,040 --> 00:18:53,720 Speaker 4: on the mat where it belongs. In the words of 242 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:57,240 Speaker 4: today's hero, I will boast all the more gladly about 243 00:18:57,240 --> 00:19:00,359 Speaker 4: my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 244 00:19:01,720 --> 00:19:05,120 Speaker 4: That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses 245 00:19:05,560 --> 00:19:11,800 Speaker 4: and insults, and hardships, and persecutions and difficulties. For when 246 00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:15,720 Speaker 4: I am weak, then I am strong Tewod Corinthians twelve 247 00:19:16,320 --> 00:19:20,359 Speaker 4: nine and ten. Paul's heroic journey of faith is just 248 00:19:20,440 --> 00:19:23,600 Speaker 4: getting started. Subscribe to this channel so you don't miss 249 00:19:23,640 --> 00:19:26,720 Speaker 4: out on our weekly drops, and don't forget to download 250 00:19:26,760 --> 00:19:29,840 Speaker 4: the prey dot com app to sharpen your faith, find 251 00:19:29,840 --> 00:19:33,840 Speaker 4: your peace, and deepen your relationship with God, God bless. 252 00:19:34,080 --> 00:19:34,960 Speaker 2: I'll see you at the top.