Sunday, October 23, 2022 AM Service

I'm tired of this one stalls, directive only because I wanted to connect it with what we kind of last week in the passes that we were in last week right before this. Where he's

What is converted and then analyzed comes to him. Again we've it's it's wonderful kind of going through a book like this cuz you kind of get to see the threads of of people, connecting to one another and how God uses them for his glory. When he sees fit just at the right time, they come into each other's lives and the Lord connects them and I'm part of what I thought was. I mean

Don't you love to have like a plan? Nothing to go to the right way. I'm just the way you thought it was going to go. But I mean, don't you like just a good plan? Like you think, you know what you're going to do on Monday or Tuesday or like, you know, there's I know people in this room who do certain things in certain orders. You go to certain restaurant on a certain night, go to their certain plans and everything is laid out that way we make these little and then there's gold in our life that we have, at least, I think there should be nothing like a good goal, to try to reach and then upon reaching that goal the satisfaction of getting to that. When I continue to see an ax is people who I'm sure had plans and and goals, and things in mind and then there's a God in heaven. That's kind of giggling and like, yeah, oh, you thought you were going to Damascus to to kill people. You know, you're going to do quite the opposite, actually. Going to give your life away and you're the one, who's going to be the one that's ends up being persecuted by the time you get there. He said, I just I don't think that was his goal for the week. You know I'll be I'll be on by the Lord by Friday. I don't think was his goal to know that Christ is the Son of God by Friday was not the goal of Saul. Who would come fall? That's it. Wasn't that wasn't it, but somewhere along the way God saw fit to. Well. To save him from himself to bring him to The Marvelous Light. Any of the passes that were in today, the directives of Saul's life now or not his own. He's on a different plan. Is that different goals in mind? Is no longer going after those that are found in the way to drag him into the street.

He is now part of the way and he is himself. Going to be the one, proclaiming the good news about the son of God. Why just comes at you quickly done it? I mean things can change. So one of those things that I have very much enjoyed lately and this is just totally a side note. This is totally free, is it? God is doing some weird things with me right now. Just just in a general sense like he's putting me in situations that I didn't plan on being in. He's, he's telling me that he'll use me. However, he sees fit when he sees fit. And I'm have to say yes, sir because it's really hard to preach out of Acts and not say yes.

And what I found is that the conversations that I'm having amongst us in amongst everybody here lately, seems to me. Well, Don't take this the wrong way more. God driven. We have discussions and we laugh and we cut up, but we also talked about some serious things. And I'm loving it. I didn't I didn't I didn't know how we got here but I sure am thankful that the Lord God is here and I'm praying that the Lord will keep us here in the days ahead that that he would see fit to keep directing and keep guiding and keep these conversations going around him. Guess what? I'm trying to say is that I hear what you're saying. I know what's going on. I know that there are passages that well your heart just struggles with. And I'm so thankful for. My prayer is that as we continue to grow as individual Believers that we will continue to grow together as a body of Believers, that these discussions will go deeper that, we'll see ourselves in the life of Saul. Paul that we'll see ourselves in the lives of these people that are in Acts that are being used for the kingdom of God, and be used the same way. Cuz we are so privileged. We are. To be able to stand in front of you. And to tell you that, I am owned by the King of Kings and the Lord of lords. To be able to have conversations around the word of God, to be able to even understand one line is a blessing. Let alone being able to struggle with you through text. So let's look at the directive, this audience. Okay? So let's just jump into Verse 18. We see that saw was freed to Proclaim. He was freed to Proclaim, I believe it or not. I know this is going to be something crazy but believe it or not, saw wasn't just save, just to be saved. The Lord didn't find him on the road to Damascus, just for the fun of it. He didn't leave him there. We know from Verse 18 that we read last week and immediately something like scales fell from his eyes.

And he regains sight then he arose and was baptized and taking food. He was strengthened for some days, he was with the disciples at Damascus. So The Lord has ananias go. Visit him upon being visited by ananias and and is causing my brother and puts his hand on him. The scales fall from his eyes. He is baptized immediately and he is strengthened He is now in the power of the Holy Spirit walking as a believer in Christ. Same guy, 3 Days Later. Three days before. I mean, was the one who is seeking the life of Christians is now doing the very same thing? But the opposite side. Now, he's seeking this Others May Come to know the same truth, that he knows. So what does he do? Well, obviously he get saved and go straight to the couch finds a good big screen TV puts his feet up and begins to watch while you just pick the show cuz he is saved and redeemed and that's all he needs to do. And there's nothing more to do here, go read the Roxicet or whatever it is and and move on with his life.

Now, he can't help but share what happened? he can't help but after being strengthened it says for some days he was with the disciples in Damascus first 20 and then immediately He proclaimed Jesus in the synagogue saying he's the son of God. When immediately immediately he goes and begins to proclaim the good news. I cannot wait to see Paul in the heavens and I want to know how scripture came to life. I want to know how those Old Testament passages that he knew front ways back way sideways as being all about God, when the light came on, I want to know, man, how, how did that switch happen? Did it like all light up at the same time? Or did you sit there for three days, going through passages in your head? And God was continually showing you. That's about Christ, that's about Christ. That's about Christ. That was about Christ. That's about Christ and he just understood a little bit at a time. Or did it just all come at him as a big wave? Imagine sitting there for 3 Days, understanding the truth in a way that you would never seen it before being blind and not able to do anything about it and you just sit there and you're going through all your thoughts, which I'm sure he had plenty of them but as soon as he's able to see, as soon as he takes food, as soon as he strengthened immediately, he proclaimed Christ in the synagogue. It's all that he could do. 11. What he does is he proclaimed him as the son of God.

Understand this. Everything hinges on Christ, being the son of God. If Christ is not the Son of God, the rest falls apart. So why is it that he preaches about Christ being the Son of God? Because that is the, that is the point at which everybody has to make a decision. Cuz either he is the Son of God and he, who he is, who he says, he was, or he's not, he's just a crazy lunatic. He has to be one of those two things so he takes Old Testament scriptures and he opens it out. This is a huge thing for the wife of Paul being that he was the son of God changed everything for him.

He knew it would change those in the synagogue. Now, this actually become his becomes his pattern, okay? When he goes on his missionary Journeys, when will see those a little bit later, as we go through at, this is kind of how he goes about his business, so to speak. He'll come to a town and is he goes into the town. He'll go to the synagogue and he'll start there, even though he's been sent to the Gentiles, he'll starting that synagogue and then, he'll begin to preach Christ there as the Son of God. And then he'll expand out from there and take it to the Gentiles. But it's just kind of his pattern this way. So to speak missionary 101. Paul's missionary journey, 101. I guess. Maybe something like that. I just go in the synagogues. I know I'm going to meet some Jews there, who already know the Old Testament truth? I can show them. I can bring to light to them Christ in the Old Testament, and show them that he's the son of God.

I mean when he writes it's all in his writing Romans, 14 says it this way, he was declared to be the Son of God and power. According to the spirit of Holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Love of the resurrection of the Dead was when we when Christ was risen from the dead with speaking, that he was the son of God. It was saying that all that he had said is true. Cuz again if he doesn't rise from the dead he's not God. If you can't lay his life down and pick it back up again, he doesn't have the power to do that then he is not God. the being the fact that he did that very thing declares that he is the Son of God and that what he says is true,

Again, this is from our buddy, Paul. 2nd, Corinthians 14, the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you. Sylvanius and Timothy. And I was not yet. Yes or no. But in him, it is always, yes. He is always the Son of God. Jesus Christ. It changed everything in his vocabulary.

Let me think about that, like, everything. He's going every direction that Saul is going, the direction that he's living his life, the goals that he has for his life to be even greater Pharisee to grow. And in that particular, so-called the Jewish religion to be seen as above everybody else all those things. And then one moment none of that stuff matters anymore and then one moment, the Son of God becomes the most important topic that he has look and listen to Ephesians 4. This is him talking about the seat until we attain to the unity of the faith. In the knowledge of the Son of God to mature, manhood to the measure of the Statue of the fullness of Christ maturity in Austin's. Us understanding more and more about who the son of God.

Hebrews 145 that I read earlier having become as much superior to. The angels, is the name. He has inherited, is more excellent than theirs for to, which of the angels that God ever say, you were my son. Today, I forgotten you were again. I will be him to him a father and he should be to me as sun. The sun ship of Christ is extremely important to eat you one of us.

Paul from the very get-go knows that it's important. This aspect of him being the Sun. Again, is what makes us decide? If he's the sign, what do I do with him? It's the decision that every false religion, avoids, completely every false religion takes Jesus Christ and takes away. The fact that he is gone, it has to because if it doesn't take away the fact that he's God and they have to deal with him some other form or fashion. See if they take it away, they can call him a prophet. Then, good man. They can call him many different things but they can fall short of being God. It falls short of his perfection. I can see beloved you needed his perfection.

You were desperate for. In fact, you're desperate for it. As you sit, right? Where you are, then he is the Son of God, the perfect one. The one who is be the perfect substitute for me. The one is without blemish. White as snow.

That's the Son of God that I desperately need.

When he comes to life. He speaks of Christ being the Son of God, because it's the most important aspect. And for a Jewish, man. Before he saw him as nothing, Jesus was nothing to him. Jesus, in fact was a liar. Had to be.

But now, Now, he sees them as a son of God.

Look what he doesn't verse 21 and all who heard him were amazed and said it's not this. The man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon his name. And he is now come here for this purpose, to bring them down before the chief priest. I love it. I got to be telling you. This just makes sense that make sense to you. I'm so glad scripture doesn't try to gloss over some things and act like everybody held hands and grabs all his hands and said, oh so grateful brother that you come to know God and and if you know, him as the Sun instead, they're like I don't know about this guy.

What were they? They were amazed they should have been amazed, aren't you amazed aren't you? Amazed that God can take 12 is just set on evil and turn and one moment and turn him to the Christ, aren't you? Amazed that he can take someone in darkness and make them alive in one moment? Aren't you Amazed by what he's done in your life that he was able to take you who was lost? And now I found aren't you Amazed by the life that you get to live in the blessing of the Lord? Jesus Christ. What an amazing. Good life we have. Not because of awesome because of what Christ has done for us. He changed us. And so it was amazing to them that this man who created habit before is now calling upon the same guy's name.

Gay. Women is this the guy cuz you know these conversations that happened in the corner, right? You like who is that guy like yeah that's all.

He's telling me that Jesus is the son of God now. Yeah, that's what he selling.

I was killing people for that. Same thing, he was The Lord hidden with a light on the Damascus Road. Nobody saw it, but hit him really hard and he went blind for 3 days. Now the sun is out here telling us this, that's his story. That's hard to believe.

So of course, is he selling the Son of God is he not selling? Well, I mean that's what he's doing is laying it out before them and showing them the error of their ways. And as they hear it, they're like he's calling upon the same guy who he was trying to kill us for a couple days ago. I'm not sure if we should totally totally trust this guy.

I don't blame them to you. I'm at we liked all the things that we would just miraculously believe somebody when they're safe. That we would just instantly. Sometimes we're like, you sure.

I want to kind of see what was next because honestly, they're scared for themselves extinct. Like if he's faking this, I can have a really bad Tuesday. I could end up in jail somewhere. I can be dragged back to where I started. I mean, I can have some serious problems.

So it's understandable that they're not quite understanding everything that's going on. I see they're living in this moment.

Man, what a story saw.

And what a testimony it is that he just immediately goes about the business of God. Immediately. What did he do? He just told him what he knew.

Not if you stop for just a minute. And I'm not saying your stall. But you got a story just like his. And that you were lost and he found you.

And that the Lord has prepared you for that moment in that everything that you knew up to that moment changed.

What you thought you weren't new? What you the direction you were heading? The, that you were sure was the right way in the moment, the Lord awakens you to your own, send you come to find out you were going the wrong direction the entire time.

And beloved.

It's worth telling.

Is it? My horrible testimony. It is that we would say are you a follower of Christ?

Yeah. Yeah.

He always has decided most time you'll see me on Sunday. I get really excited.

I'm thrilled to go to church early. I'm thrilled when the pastor goes long. It makes me happy.

What a life that we've been given in Christ. This outfit to awaken you to something. That you were. Never able to understand on your own. But then, but then gives you the ability to the share what, you know.

I meant when I first started teaching golf, the guy who would actually trained me to be a golf as a, as a kid, besides my dad, I was just getting Pig. It was the first. I was his first student and he said the only deal is is I get to try everything out on you and I'm like, okay that's that's fine. And he said, but when you get good later, you just have to tell everybody who taught you. That's the only deal we're going to have. I'm like, okay, that's that's a deal. How many years later? He was teaching at one place and he called me and I got in the office and he said, he wants you to come out here and, and you can start teaching. And I'm like, I'm good. At least come see me. So I wouldn't tell him and I watch them give you a golf lessons and I still wasn't into him like I don't, I don't I don't see myself doing that. I appreciate that eventually, he talked me into it, I remember how and the first time that I've had to give golf lessons was to a large group, that's what they do. We can they put you in this like 14 people. I guess you freaked out all at once or makes it less, I don't know noticeable. I don't know. Until I had this big clinic in front of me in on another lady was working with me and we were going through stuff and I began to just tell them what I knew. I went to the very basics of who I was and what it was to be a golfer in, like how to hold the club and how to do the little bitty things that just start out to let you even be able to swing a club. I got done and I realized I didn't call him stupid. I just went in and I said, they don't know nothing. I do not see. And will hit, that's his name. He laughed at me and he goes, I told you and I'm like, no, you don't understand, like, I'm not kidding, like they don't know anything, like, the things that I knew since I was like four wheel came into my life. They didn't even know that. Genius.

I'm like, I can do that. He says, well that's what I've been telling you and I'm like, I didn't know. That's all I was supposed to do and no idea. Beloved, it's not about study of some deep theological book. It's not about understanding every single page of scripture. It's about telling your story, The Very basics of who you are in Christ. Your stories not complicated, is it You didn't know if you didn't want him. He loves you in spite of yourself. What's your message that you have to tell others funny brother-sister? Whoever you maybe understand. I was just like you. I didn't know. I didn't know. I've no idea. I thought I had it all together.

I got to the end of that and found out. I didn't have it all together. And if this son of God, this Jesus makes a huge difference in my life. But it's not just being, but it makes a difference in my life today. When did you hear safe? Many years ago? But he's just as real today. If not more today than he was. Then I I know more about it, but it's still the basics of I was lost and he found me I repented and believed I believe that he is enough that he is sufficient for everything and I place my faith in Christ, not in myself. But he is the one who paid for my sins. Love is the message. The message is not complicated, is it? It's simple Grace. It is simple Grace that God has bestowed upon each one of us that we might share and give away what he's given to us.

Don't use all the excuses while you know what? I don't know why, but I don't know. You know, I hadn't been able to figure out Isaiah 53, fully that Revelations 12 until I feel the 12. I don't really think I can share the good news of the Gospel. Come on. Roman gives me headaches, join the crowd. It's fall, he was talking about before time and after what you doing where you going I don't he stays when he's telling the story he's telling his story about the Son of God and the difference is the Son of God has made in his life as he's repented and believed upon him and that's his face. That's the story. It's simple. Every one of us in this room can tell her story. If we are here is each one of us can tell a story. The next verse says that it's all increased all the more in strength and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

Okay, here's what happens. Okay, so I'ma take you back, I didn't plan on this. Somebody might feel like when you start teaching golf so it goes first days would like baby steps, right? So they gave me this big crowd, so I guess I messed up. You know what smaller portions cuz he's supposed to get the little bit of it, right? But eventually, I had to do it. One on one. Man, I remember the first time one-on-one, I was scared to death. Until the guy started talking, I saw how bad his swing was. I felt a lot better, I thought I can't mess that up. Much more.

And as I began to teach that day and I caught a little while longer and I kept teaching and the more times I went out there, you know what found out? I found out. I got a little confidence in it. You know what? I can, I can handle this, I can do this, I can I can handle it. You know what, you know what eventually did they gave me that group of men on 13 and 14 all by myself. Eventually not the first day but eventually eventually I would go up and down the line and I would just fix people swings and give him one little thing to see if I couldn't get them to to buy some more lessons to make some money.

I didn't go to break them. I have tried to give him one little thing that would fix something that they didn't know about the. Give them a, a piece of information that I knew they needed.

11. Saw increases even more in strength as he shares the good news of what God's done for him. As he speaks to the Old Testament passages and then God makes that scripture come to live to him and he makes it come alive to others. He is strengthened by himself. He is strengthened by the power of the spirit that's in him. That's what he finds out. If you know, what I can do this, I can share, I can give it away, I can give away to synagogue. In fact, I found out. If I go to synagogue, those people already know the stuff that I know they just do it in the wrong way. I'm just going to I'm going to tweak it. I'm going to tell him about the Jesus. That is in there. That's all I'm going to do. They already know the truth. They already know Isaiah 53. They already know the suffering servant. They already know these passages. I just don't know. It's about Jesus. I'm going to give him the piece of information, they're missing and what happened? He was strengthened to do it more and more and more to give away, that people might come to the kingdom of God. beloved, this is what God's called you and I to be

He didn't save you. So you could sit on the couch He didn't save you to sit in the Pew that you're sitting this morning. Although I appreciate you being here, this is not what it's all about. He saved you that as you were going in your life, that he will use you for his namesake that he would Empower you and draw you nearer to himself that he would teach you along the way. I pray to God. That's what he's doing. I pray that you're listening to him and you're listening to his voice and that you're, you're learning from him day by day.

Then you might Enlighten others to the goodness of your guy.

Paul says, this in Philippians 3, about all that he knew, this is him talking about who he was before coming to know Christ and then after Verse 66 Azeele a persecutor of the church as the righteousness of the law blameless. That's the very end of the long list of things that he used to be and then he says in verse 7. But whatever gain I had I counted as lost for the sake of Christ. Indeed versus a dicount. Everything is lost because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. Jesus my Lord For his steak surpassing, all those things, the worth of just knowing Christ, Jesus, my Lord, then he tells you what he got out of it for his sake, I have suffered the loss of all things. And I count them as rubbish. In order that I may gain what a better job that I might gain a bigger head. No, that I might gain Christ. And be found in him not having a ride to this, to my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith, in Christ, the righteousness from God, that depends on faith. Do you know what? Paul just said? He said I gave it all up because it was worthless compared to knowing the Son of God and being found in him. Everything that I planned all the stuff that I was going to do the list of things that I was going about in my life is worthless compared to just being found in him. And being found in him is change my day today and tomorrow, you know what Paul saying? He's saying he's growing in Christ from the moment that he was hit on that road to the moment that he is here. Pending this in Philippi he's grown he's in the process of growing. He's in the process of knowing more about what it is to be found in Christ. He is Lord.

God working in and through him but it all depends. What did he say? He said, it'll be found in him not having a risin to, my only comes from the law, but which comes through faith, in Christ, the righteousness, from God, that depends on faith. It's his faith.

It's the face. That is growing. Why? Because he's seen Christ show up over and over and over again. Through good times and bad times, he has been there for him.

Through everything that he's gone through, he understands that Christ is more valuable than anything else in his life.

Because he's the son of God.

Although our hearts would be there this morning, Oh, that our hearts would be in the place.

In which Christ is what we want, more than anything else.

More than the job more than the career. More than the girl or the boy.

More than anything else that we would want Christ to be first. I think we would see him as a very Foundation of everything that we are. And understand. Everything else comes after that. Loving my testimony is that when we get Christ in the right place the other things fall in line, according to his will, and his plan.

I have to go by. I have to obey.

I have to live, according to the way he asked me to live today.

And everything else. Will be in him.

I mean, what we're about to find out that happens to Saul. Next is not something that you would go around volunteering for Look what happens. In verse 23, sosol goes from increasing all, the more and strength, his confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus, proving that Jesus was the Christ 2 verse 23. When many days have passed Jews plotted to kill him.

Right now, we have to take a little side note, okay? Just real quick, I'm not going to go far cuz I want to keep on the message in the passage, but I had to share this part with you cuz I knew one of you would find it and then wanted he's going to ask me about it so I have to do it now. Okay, so when it says, many days have passed the Jews plotted to kill him. Understand that when Lucas riding at he, well, he's giving you the details that he wants to give about the early church and it is all about Christ in the early Church in the building up of that. So he doesn't go into many details. There are times where he just kind of runs right over it and just kind of goes to the next thing cuz he's wanting to keep it focused on Saw and the work that God was doing install and through saw in the early church. Okay, so when it says, and many days we have to go over there. Galatians 1:17 where it says this and this is Paul speaking. Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who are Apostles before me. But I went away into a rabea and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years,

I went up to Jerusalem to Venice, visit, cephus and remain within 15 days. So many days of Acts chapter 9, verse 23 is about 3 years. That's many days. That's a whole lot of days. But it's about 3 here. So what happens is, is he's converted, the Lord converts him in Damascus. He again, he goes and begins to share the good news in the synagogue of the Gospel, the Son of God, what sound got his done for him, but then what happens is in both of these things can be true, he then leaves for Arabia, And for about 3 years, he goes and shares. The good news of the Gospel. He doesn't go straight to the Apostle. What he saying in Galatians is is that he didn't run straight to the apostles after getting saved so that they might approve of his message. That's what he saying. And in Galatians he telling him very clearly, it's been approved because well the message he got was from God. It was from Christ himself. There is no reason to go to anybody else can ask anything. He got it on the road.

So according to this timeline many days have passed, and then the Jews plot to kill him. So he goes for about 3 years according to his what he said in galatia. And according to this timeline, he shares the good news and ministers to people. In Arabia, the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and then Upon returning to Damascus, they want him dead. Now, he says the Jews plotted to kill him. Again, I'm going to give you a little information just cuz I know you're going to find it anyway so I'll just get it out now. So the Jews plotted to kill him, he actually tells us and 2nd Corinthians 11, Paul says this at Damascus. The governor under King aritas was guarding the city and of Damascus in order to cease me. But I was let down in a basket through a window on the wall to escape his hands. Okay? So what has to be true to make? Again, what Lucas said an ax and what Paul has said and Corinthians 1 says, it's the Jews plotting to kill him. The other one says, it's the governor. The only one that like those two events go together. Is that the Jews went to the governor and both things. But from a different Viewpoint would be perfectly true. That makes sense though from Luke standpoint. Again, from his writing, he wanted to let you know, the Jews are out to get him because the message he's spreading in the synagogue. Is it pleasing before there When Paul speaking about it out from his side of it, he's talkin about the ruling Authority in Damascus, because that was the one that was looking for him when he got back. But both things are true. Still now, the think anyway, to think that you got these, He saved three days, he's blind after being blind, and a nice touches. His eyes. He can see, he goes to the synagogue, begins to preach the good news of the Gospel. He leaves and goes to Arabia for some three years. The sheriff in the ministry, he gets back to Damascus and they want him dead. They've had enough of the message. By this time the fed up with him.

An amazing part to me. They want him dead but yet it's not time.

Write an essay is not time because well, he gets away. He has to run but he still gets away, right? I mean that's what it said, but their plot became known to Saul verse 24. They were watching the gays day and night in order to kill him, but his disciples took him by night. Let him down through an opening in the wall Laurie. M, in the basket.

It wasn't his time. The Lord has saw fit to use him. Still, it was an instrument of God's and it was it was not time.

You know what?

Solid experience when he was told he would be persecuted. Sol experienced a lot Denis.

I don't I don't think you had any idea, the persecution that would come in the days ahead. I don't I don't think he had any clue. I think it was just, I think it was just simply following what God had before him and going day by day.

I mean, he tells us in those verses that I just ran out of 32 and 33 of a second Corinthians 11, if you go up a little further in verse 24, listen to what he says in 2nd Corinthians 11:24. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews forty lashes, less 13 times. I've been beaten with rods. Once I was stoned three times. I was Shipwrecked a night and a day I was adrift at Sea on frequent Journeys, end in danger, from Rivers, dangers from robbers dangers. From my own people Danger from the Gentiles danger, in the city, danger, in the wilderness, dangerous at Sea dangers, from Falls brothers, and Toil and hardship. Through many sleepless nights and hunger, and thirst, often without food, and cold and exposure. And apart from other things, there is daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.

Who is weak? And I am not weak. Who is my default? I am not indignant. If I must boast, I boast in the things that show my weaknesses.

The God the Father Lord Jesus Christ has blessed me forever knows that I'm not lying. Beloved, the life is so live that Paul would live that he tells about Saint Corinthians danger. I mean, that's just a danger from everywhere cuz that's the short version of it. That's the Eubank version I guess.

And toil hardship, sleepless nights hunger, thirst often without food and cold and exposure. And apart from other things, is his daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.

Glad to hear me.

But it's in Christ.

I can endure all these things because he knows he found. In Christ. He can endure all things in this world because he knows that the Son of God is the son of God.

He can endure whatever it is that God puts before him in this moment, knowing that, whatever it is, God is going to use for his name. No matter what it is, no matter where he is. He's got one task, the One X is to share what Christ has done for him. The one time is to do whatever God has put before him in that moment. Is it to be is it to take a beating it seem like yes. Sometimes it was so Is it sometimes to be let down the window and be able to escape and getaway? Yes, it it seems like it's so

but no matter what it was, no matter where it was found, it was always going to be found doing the work of Christ. Does Domino's.

There's nothing else to know, according to him. Kellogg. Horner a timeline. We got him. I'm in Arabia for 3 years. He comes back. Once he gets back, he now they want his head. They hear about the plot. They let him out the window. He escapes and inverse 26. He gets to go. We'd be with the disciples and when you come to Jerusalem verse 26, he attempted to join the disciples. They were all afraid of him.

Yeah, come on. You have to like if you're him you like. Yeah, this is normal. What you think? Like everywhere he goes like anybody who knows who we used to be is like, aren't you so long? Yeah, that's me. I thought you were I know. come on, you know how you get Yes, that was me. It's not me no more. Right. Got a message now.

They did not believe he was a disciple, but Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord who spoke to him and how I Damascus. He had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. So he went out among them at Jerusalem preaching boldly In The Name Of The Lord.

He says it this way in Galatians, in the passes that we read just a minute ago on Galatians 1, then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem and visit visited to visit, sorry, cephus and remain within 15 days. But I saw none of the other Apostles except for James, the Lord Brother. And what I'm writing you before, God, I do not lie. Then I went into the regions of syrians silicia and I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea That are in Christ. They only were hearing. It said he who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he wants to try to destroy and they glorify God. Because of me So, putting those two accounts together between the graysons 1:18 through 23 and what Luke is telling us in Acts chapter 9, what we get is that he goes to meet, I'm goes to Jerusalem, and when he gets to Jerusalem, he spent 15 days with cephas. And it's bending the 15 days with cephas. He also gets to see James. But in the act's passage what he's trying to tell us is that essentially is that they came to find out that he wasn't lying. But he was. A believer in Christ and he is a follower of the way that he is not trying to set them up that he might drag them out to the streets and then good old Barnabas who began becomes the mediator from this point forward. That's what he's good at is a mediator, he's really good at it. And so Barnabas comes 4 and he's like, hey, hey hey, I know trust me, we've all had this problem. we all couldn't believe our eyes when he's telling us this but I'm telling you he's a follower of Christ and listen to his testimony, you'll be amazed

This is Saul's life now.

This is what he'll experience from this day forward. along with all those things that we read in Corinthians about how he'd been beaten and people are trying to kill him over and over again.

And I almost stopped there but I want you to look at verse 29, cuz 2:29 to me kind of brings the whole thing. Eckl and kind of clothes is it for the next thing to come? Look at verse 29 and he spoke can dispute it against the hellenists.

But they were seeking to kill him. When the brothers learn this, they brought him down to Cesery and send him off to Tarsus.

He was disputing he spoke and disputed against the hellenists. Remember those guys? They're back in Acts chapter 6. You're the one that Steven's talking to.

You're the one that Steven is pouring out a message of the Gospel message of the Old Testament of other, those old passages of Abraham. And Joseph remember, It's the one that he was disputing with. It's the one that saw was standing there in front of As they saw him the crowd Stone, Stephen to death.

Come on. And that was the day, the Lord had decided that Stephen would go home.

He used it in the life of the man that was standing there with his clothes at his feet.

He used it. So now he goes from that moment. When Steven dies, he goes off on the motor Damascus, he's changed forever. It goes into Arabia preaching. The Good News of the Gospel comes back to the Masters. They want his head, they want to kill him, he leaves there, he comes back to Jerusalem and he's back before the hellenists. Doing what? Giving them the truth that they've already heard from Steven once. But now it comes from his mouth. Can you see the testimony?

Yeah, guys, last time I was here, you know, we had to use it as last time I was here. You guys don't even the death. That was a bad day.

At least in the life of Stephen we thought come to find out. He's now out now with the Christ, with the king, with the Lord of Lord, he's in heaven with him. I'm back to tell you that I stood there that day and I watch this, don't you? I watch The Killing. In fact, I was proud that you were doing so cuz I thought he deserved it. Isn't that have to be his testimony?

And then he gets to go, but . But God, what happened was, I was on the road to Damascus. That was going to go kill more people. Yeah, you're right. That was me. I was the one doing all that stuff. I stood there and didn't stop at that day because I thought you were right. And now I'm back to tell you. Yes, you weren't right. I was wrong. The Lord brought me to the place of repentance and faith and I believe, with everything that I am, my faith is in the Son of God Christ, my king, my Lord, I'm about to tell you the truth.