June 07, 2022

 God With Us

Happy Tuesday!

A Very Religious Man Meets God

The Apostle Paul

Acts eight is a great introduction to the Apostle Paul. During this time the Lord ascended to heaven, and he appointed Apostles to spread the good News. Spreading the good news caused for those who persecuted Jesus to become angry and they wanted to stop his apostles from spreading the good news. This cause for persecution of the church. When the Pharisees wanted to get rid of Jesus, they had to make the people believe that he was trying to destroy the church. In summary they wanted to spread evil about him (they accused him). In the book of Acts the Apostle Paul wanted to put the believers in jail. He believed in his mind that they were bad. He was a devout Pharisee. A man who lived by the rules and codes of his religious sect. We know how his religious sect operated from Matthew, Mark, and John. They followed the Lord, but they did not submit to the Lord. They were angry when God did good things for the lame, the blind, the helpless. They were the social elite. The Apostle Paul comes out of this group and goes on to be one of the greatest leaders. 

What we see in the Apostle Paul's character before Christ:

He has orders. He follows his Leaders. He does what the tell him. He does not submit to God. God does not give these men their orders but men do. They follow each other. 

He is determined. 

He believes the church (a group of believers not a building) should be jailed.

He is on a mission.

He is firm and he is cold. 

What does he lack?

1. Mercy

2. Grace

3. Love

Many can say it differ ways but what was is (real) difference between Jesus and the Pharisees? 

There is the church the Pharisees had. Then there is the church that Christ builds. Christ church is believers a group of people not a building. They felt like Jesus was taking away from them. Just like David they went on to build builders but in the beginning, they were just people who believed and teach the good news. 

Acts 8

Saul was one of the official witnessed at the killing of Stephen. 

Persecution Scatters the Believers

A great wave of persecution began that day sweeping over the church in Jerusalem, and all the believers except the apostles fled into Judea and Samaria. (Some godly men came and buried Stephen with loud weeping). Saul was going everywhere to devastate the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into jail. 

(He was a sheep led to slaughter. He healed the sick and raise the dead. If the good news is true then those who sentenced him to death are murderers. To stop the good news is for the religious sects to hide the darkness in their hearts. Saul was one of the men who did not want the good news to spread. He was part of the very group that did not know God but they knew rules. They understood order. In their minds the church (it was not a building but a group of people that had Faith in God) was scattered. 

What will Paul Preach later on?

FAITH in God is the only justification for going to heaven. 

Psalm 145

A psalm of praise. Of David.

1 I will exalt you, my God the King;

    I will praise your name for ever and ever.

2 Every day I will praise you

    and extol your name for ever and ever.

3 Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;

    his greatness no one can fathom.

4 One generation commends your works to another;

    they tell of your mighty acts.

5 They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—

    and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

6 They tell of the power of your awesome works—

    and I will proclaim your great deeds.

7 They celebrate your abundant goodness

    and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

8 The Lord is gracious and compassionate,

    slow to anger and rich in love.

9 The Lord is good to all;

    he has compassion on all he has made.

10 All your works praise you, Lord;

    your faithful people extol you.

11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom

    and speak of your might,

12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts

    and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

    and your dominion endures through all generations.

The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises

    and faithful in all he does.

14 The Lord upholds all who fall

    and lifts up all who are bowed down.

15 The eyes of all look to you,

    and you give them their food at the proper time.

16 You open your hand

    and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways

    and faithful in all he does.

18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,

    to all who call on him in truth.

19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;

    he hears their cry and saves them.

20 The Lord watches over all who love him,

    but all the wicked he will destroy.

21 My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.

    Let every creature praise his holy name

    for ever and ever.

Hve a great day