Breaking the Family Curse Part 9 "Saul the Persecutor"
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Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: In the morning he shall devour the prey, And at night he shall divide the spoil.
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.
Introduction
Introduction
Please listen to Paradox Dec, 1961
Egypt trip
Meetings
Benjamin will Ravin (tear, rend) as a wolf.
(2017) There have been ten attacks by wolves on humans in the past four months in Israel, and in most cases the animals were trying to make off with infants or babies, the Haaretz daily reported on Tuesday.
In what is becoming an increasingly common phenomenon, wolves are approaching campsites to try and snatch what they can — including small children.
Haim Berger, described in the report as a wolf expert, said he believes that the animals were not playing or feeling threatened but were hunting for small human prey.
The nature of a wolf is to kill anything that is weak. If a herd of elk are standing in deep snow, the wolves will attack all of them, not just what they need for food.
This is the nature that drove King Saul to persecute David.
Jonathan interceded to Saul for David.
And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the Lord liveth, he shall not be slain.
And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past.
And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him.
And the evil spirit from the Lord was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.
And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul’s presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.
Time doesn’t change a spirit or strain in a family. This nature still existed in Saul of Tarsus 1000 years after King Saul’s death.
“Eventually we’ll get over it” Doesn’t work.
There must be a paradox in your life, nothing else will break the curse.
14 Now according to Webster, a paradox is “something that seems incredible, but it’s true,” therefore a paradox then would be the same as a miracle. A paradox is when something that seems like it just couldn’t be, the knowledge of the human mind; it’s altogether incredible, but yet it’s proven true.
Now, a miracle would be the same thing, for a miracle cannot be explained. A miracle is something that happens, and you cannot explain it, that make it a paradox. It’s incredible, but yet it’s the truth.
15 Now, people today, a lot of modernists, believe that the days of miracles are past. They don’t believe there is such a thing as a miracle. But, yet, I believe that the world is full of miracles. I believe the paradox is constantly.
16 For instance, I believe that every born-again member of the Body of Christ is a paradox in themselves. I believe each one of you Methodist and Presbyterian and Lutheran, that never had experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit,
was in some formal church that did not believe in the genuine new Birth, and has now received the baptism of the Holy Ghost, is a perfect example of a paradox. Because, something happened to you, that changed your whole being, and anyone could look at that and know what a paradox is: a miracle.
17 Unless that happens, you cannot be a Christian. There must be a paradox, for you to become a Christian. Cause, no one can change a spirit in a man, and give him new Birth, outside of God.
God alone is the only One can do it. And it’s a miracle how that God can take a man’s thinking, and his ways, and his life, and everything, and change it from what it was, to what it can be, what He can make it.
18 For instance, a few days ago, I was called in on a scene, or on a little something going on. There was a fine young man, very fine boy, he was going with a little girl, very fine little girl out of a fine family. And this boy, all of a sudden, came up with some kind of an idea, and he just walked away.
He did something wrong to the little girl, and much as promised her to do a certain thing and then didn’t do it. And instead of coming to the girl and apologizing, like a gentleman should do, he, it just wasn’t in him to do it.
19 And the father and mother called me to the scene, and said, “We would desire to know what is wrong with our boy.”
20 Now, it’s not easy to do sometime, but you must be truthful and honest. Therefore, the boy was a Christian, as far as a believer. He had repented and had been baptized, and had his position among the believers, but yet had not received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, no matter how much he thought he had.
21 You thinking you have, and having It, is two different things. You might be able to try to say you have, and you might be able to show some evidence of some emotion; but unless your life is vindicating what you’re professing to have, you still haven’t got It.
No matter how many emotions, how much you jump, run, sensations, speaking in tongues, or shouting, or whatever you might lay it upon; which is all right, I believe in all that, too; but unless your life copes with your testimony, then you haven’t got It.
Cause, the fruit of the Spirit vindicates what you are, just like the fruit of any tree tells what it is. Jesus said, “By their fruit you shall know them.”
22 Now, this young fellow’s parents. His mother is German. No reflection on the German, but there is a strain in that family. And, that is, they’ll just sit, and you can talk to them, and they’ll just stare you right in the face. …This girl’s sister, the mother of this boy, her sister.
I have come down the street, many morning, and this young lady be setting out in the yard, and I’d say, “Good morning, to you.” She’d just look at me. And I’d stop, and I’d say, “Sure a fine morning.”
She would just stand, look right at you; an intelligent woman. And I’d say, “Come up to see us sometime.” She’d just stand and look. Well, her brothers are that way, father and mother is that way.
23 Now the father of the boy, is strictly an Irishman, moody, and high-tempered, high-strung. That’s his whole family like that, except one other out of the family, converted.
24 This father and mother, both are Christians, filled with the Holy Ghost, and they have brought this young man up in the way of the Lord. And now the young man is about seventeen or eighteen years old, something along there, very fine kid, and he’s been a real model boy at home, nice kid. And he’s got a brother that’s just vice versa.
25 But the girls, the mother’s family, lives close to the…a fine church. But do you think they’d ever come over there? No. And they know It’s right, but it’s just not in them to ask forgiveness or ask pardoning. They just won’t do it. It’s just not in them.
26 Now the genes in the father and the mother of this boy, no matter how much they are converted, still remains the flesh that’s been interbred out to this boy.
Therefore, the boy has got a complex in him, just like from his mother’s family, and they are not forgiving, they will not apologize, and that’s where that boy stands.
27 Now, I said to the father, “No matter how much you’ve raised him up…” I said, “Now look at you, out of your family: all of them, drunks, and fighting, and shooting, and cutting, and so forth.”
28 “Now look at your family,” to the mother. “They’re a bunch of people, just set there and won’t speak, very independent, and so forth, irreverent to religion. But,” I said, “it’s not you. You’re the only one of all your sisters and brothers, and you are sweet, kind, and forgiving.
What does that? And you’re tree, part of that family tree, yet you have received the Holy Ghost. That’s the thing that made you tender and sweet. It’s not your people anymore, it’s your Christ that lives in you.”
29 I said to the boy, “Look at your family, practically all of them are drunks, and so forth.” I said, “And how moody, and high-tempered and high-strung, but you’re not.
You’re kind, forgiving. What is it? The Holy Spirit. You’re no more what you are; it’s Christ in you.” I said, “Now that same thing has to happen to your son.”
30 And the father raised up and said, “My son went to the altar. He was baptized correctly, in the Name of Jesus Christ, and water baptism in the pool.” Said, “I know my son has come to Christ.”
31 I said, “That may be all right, all the outward motions. He might be identified as a believer with the believers. But until he is regenerated, born again, I’d advise that young man to never marry a woman. He’ll make Hell on earth for her, until that gentle, sweet, forgiving Spirit of Christ comes in.
Then that will be a paradox in itself, to take the very nature of a boy that’s bred between father and mother. And yet, in his intellectuals, he is trying his best to overcome it. He can’t do it.
He’ll never overcome it. Christ will have to overcome it. When he lets Christ in, then he’s already overcome then. It’ll be a perfect paradox, when a man is born of the Spirit of God.
32 I’ve seen critics stand off and make fun, and carry on, of a Holy Ghost revival. And after a while, God get a hold of that same man and change him, and here he stands right in the pulpit preaching the same thing that he once hated. It’s a paradox, how that God can take the unbeliever and make a believer out of him.
33 Now I wonder, if a man thinks that miracles is passed, I wonder what kind of a scientific medicine you could give such a person to change that disposition in them, to take that hatred and malice and strife, out? There is no one can explain it.
But it’s a paradox, because it’s a miracle of God. When a man is changed from the person that he is, to a new creature in Christ Jesus, he becomes a new creation. He is no more what he used to be. He is absolutely a new creation in Christ. 63-0801 - A Paradox
Saul of Tarsus experienced this paradox. He was born around 10 AD and lived 56-57 years. He was born in Tarsus, 961 miles from Jerusalem. He was born a Roman Citizen, which means he had social status and wealth.
He gives us a glimpse of his life:
Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
History tells us he was under Gamaliel for 8 years, then returned to Tarsus. He was then either elected to the Sanhedrin Council or was being groomed for that position.
I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.
That this man could be converted, is truly a paradox. The difference in King Saul and Saul of Tarsus is that one came before Christ, one was after.
The difference is Christ. He is just as stubborn, just as bloodthirsty, just as violent.
This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
We find Saul as a young man standing and watching the stoning of Stephen.
Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
These were Saul’s closest friends. This was his church.
Stephen preaches one of the greatest sermons ever recorded.
When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.
And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
Made Havock = Injured. He Ravined like a Wolf.
Conclusion.
Conclusion.
How did this man become the Apostle to the Gentiles? A Messenger of Grace?
Remember King Saul said that he was the least of the tribe of Benjamin?
For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
There is the right balance, no false humility, no insecurity, no arrogance or pride, just grace.