Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Thursday November 12, 2009 and we are continuing our studies in the book of Acts, please read chapters 9-10 in your Bible or Click Here to read them. http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-november-12

Today's Message: See The Truth
While we are all blessed with the free will to choose whether or not we are a follower or hater of Christ, God is in authority of it all and He will get His elect to see the truth one way or another. .

One of the most amazing acts of God is His love for and willingness to forgive all whom have accepted, Jesus Christ into their lives, even the most profound God hater. As I mentioned a few days ago, there are many who believe in God, but the second Christ is mentioned they completely change. Guess what? If a person hates Jesus, they hate God, they ignorantly refuse to believe that HE IS GOD. However, God still loves them too and gives all a chance to see the truth. There was a man named Saul, a Pharisee, who despised the name of Jesus and set out to kill anyone, including the apostles and disciples, who preached and taught in His name. Little did he realize that Jesus was watching him, “And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.” - Acts 9:1-5. The phrase “kick against the pricks” means that Saul was resisting the facts and authority of God. Every time he taunted and killed one of Jesus' disciples he was persecuting or crucifying Him all over again. Every person that persecutes a follower of Christ is resisting the authority of God and crucifies Jesus all over again.

However, God never gives up on anyone, He gives all an opportunity to receive and hear the truth. In order to get Saul to see the truth He blinded him for 3 days. “And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.” - Acts 9:8,9. Three days later, Jesus spoke to a man named Ananias, a disciple of Christ who lived in Damascus. “And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 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: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.” - Acts 9:11-18. Though Saul does not know of Ananias, Ananias sure knows of Saul, after the many murders and havoc that he has caused in the church of Christ. Ananias is not going to argue or question God's authority, however he does want to be sure that Saul is the right man that Jesus is talking about. Does this say that Saul was a volunteer for the service of the church? No, God said, "He is a chosen vessel unto me," meaning that Saul was one of God's elect. Saul was selected by God to bare the name of Jesus Christ the Son of God, before the Gentiles, the kings, which are those in authority, and the children of Israel.

Today, we know Saul as Paul whom in fact did suffer many things for Jesus' sake as we will learn throughout the Book of Acts. Paul had a three fold mission. Therefore, he taught on three levels, and it is for this reason that any true teacher, gifted in God's Word, will also teach on three levels. These levels mean that wherever one person is in the Word of God, there will be a message in it for them. God's Word builds on itself, and what is important to the baby in Christ, seeking the milk of the Word, is different then the mature Christian that seeks more then just salvation and baptism. A gifted teacher teaches on whatever level the listener is at. That is why it is important that you learn from the Word of God, and not the words and traditions of men. If we are destined as one of God's elect He will grab our attention, just as He did with Paul. We can not escape destiny, but we can change needless suffering by simply realizing that God has authority over all things no matter how many times we try to deny or ignore His calling.

Have a wonderful and blessed day/night
God Bless You,
Christina

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