Would You Like to Come Inside?

Only takes One

Got to tell somebody!

By: Valery Dierdorf

Acts 9:19-31

Saul was the type of guy, if he really believed something he wouldn’t hide it. He wasn’t afraid of offending someone. He wasn’t going to be a secret Christian. It was so real and he was so full of the truth that had been revealed to him that he could not contain this love. Had he lived nowadays, he might have broken out in, “Praise Will Be My Song—I cannot contain, I cannot contain this love.”

So, this passage tells us as soon as he started feeling good he began to preach in the synagogues and tell everyone Jesus really is the Son of God. Many were like, “Isn’t this the guy that raised havoc over in Jerusalem with those who believed in this Jesus, even taking them as prisoners and killing them?”

Yet Saul became more powerful which really brought a division in the Jews living in Damascus by him proving Jesus was the Messiah to those who would hear. Then Saul learned of a plan of how these Jews were looking to kill him. But his followers helped him escape to Jerusalem. Oh, more fun begins! He wants to join up with the disciples. Can you imagine…let’s be honest! We would have been just as afraid and not trust him. The zebra stripe story I’m sure would be quoted.

But Barnabas took him to the apostles and explained what had happened and how the Lord had spoken to him and how fearlessly he was now preaching of Jesus. So Saul was then able to stay with them and move about freely in Jerusalem speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. He even debated with the Hellenistic Jews which once again put a price on his head. So a new address was in Saul’s future! Caesarea to Tarsus was the new itinerary.

Then in God’s plan, the church in Judea, Galilee and Samaria had a time of increase, peace and strengthened as they lived for the Lord and was encouraged by the Holy Spirit.

In God’s time, He does all things beautiful in His time! He sees so much farther ahead than we ever could. He anoints, He calls, He sets apart, He protects—yet I love that it takes the whole body of believers to have His plans succeed. Serving God is exciting and can be costly far more than being a 007 agent. Because it’s real! And so are the rewards!

Will you accept this mission?

Open the eyes of my heart

by: Valery Dierdorf

Acts 9:1-19

Have you seen the movie: Paul, Apostle of Christ? If not, there is no other movie I could recommend to be seen more than this one! It shows the risk and cost and reward of following Christ.

You see Paul was formally Saul. No one had hated the believers like Saul. Hunting them down like dogs with the blessing of the high priest.

You’ve heard the expression “but God!”.  We use it when God steps in with a different plan or a different view of what the outcome should be.  The Bible is filled with examples of lives changed when God stepped in. I’m not sure of many I enjoy more, or that give the lasting effect more, than Paul’s encounter with Christ.

He first calls him by name (he already knew him), he met him on the road to Damascus (he knew where he was and the direction he was going), he spoke into his life that He was Jesus, the One he was really persecuting by his daily actions.

Those with Saul heard the noise but saw nothing except Saul fall. Helping him, Saul traveled for three days, blind, no food or drink.

Then the “but God” part starts. The Lord goes to Ananias in a vision and tells him to go to Judas’ home and, in short, pray for Saul as the Lord had already prepared him. Sounds great! Stop: Ananias said, but I have heard this is the guy that is hurting your people and has the chief priests’ okay. But the Lord still said, GO! I have chosen to use ‘this’ man to proclaim my name to the Gentiles, their kings and people of Israel. So, Ananias (obeyed) went, prayed and, of course, the results were healing, and the Bible says Saul was filled with the Holy Spirit and baptized.

I love this story because it gives me hope. Not just for me, but all who are away from God or those who have never met Him. He knows us by name, He knows where we are going, He has the healing we need and who will bring it to us, and He has a purpose for our lives. A purpose way beyond today… beyond what we can ever imagine. Yet for the “but God” moment to happen, we see both men had to obey and blindly trust in someone bigger than themselves. More than just physical sight—maybe I need to sing the song, “Open the eyes of my heart Lord. I want to see you.”

Part of my daily prayer is that God would put someone in my path to share the good news of the gospel, and He usually does. A frequent comment that is usually shared by people is that they don’t understand scripture. I love when people say that. That statement presents the opportunity to share and explain the gospel.

The disciples of Jesus often asked him to explain some of his teachings when they were alone. A family my wife and I visited said that they were confused because too many had shared their opinions and not the gospel. I read them John 15:1-8.  After reading the scripture, I asked them if they had understood the reading.  They replied that it was very clear to them.

Blessings – Pastor Andy