~ Consider 4 Aspects of the Apostle
Paul’s Spiritual Growth ~
Paul’s Conversion (a complete change of direction)
~ “I [Saul, later Paul] persecuted
this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women,
as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the council of the elders,
from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to
bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished. Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about
noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice
saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ So I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth,
whom you are persecuting.’ And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him
who spoke to me. So I said, ‘What shall
I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Arise
and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed
for you to do.’ And since I could not
see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with
me, I came into Damascus. Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having
a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, came to me; and he stood
and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that same hour I looked up at him” (Acts
22:3-13, also see Acts 9:3-6 and 26:12-18).
Paul’s Confession (chief of sinners) ~ “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all
acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into
the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy,
that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to
those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life” (1
Timothy 1:15-16). “Indeed, I myself thought I
must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the
saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests;
and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. And I punished them often in every synagogue
and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I
persecuted them even to foreign cities” (Acts 26:9-11).
Paul’s Persuasion (I am persuaded) ~ “For I
am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor
powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any
other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is
in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).
Paul’s Determination (I determined) ~ “For I
determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him
crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
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