Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living from The Global Church of the Nazarene of Lenexa, Kansas, United States for Sunday, 7 June 2015 - "Called By God As Witnesses" Scripture: Acts 22:1-21

Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living from The Global Church of the Nazarene of Lenexa, Kansas, United States for Sunday, 7 June 2015 - "Called By God As Witnesses" Scripture: Acts 22:1 “Brothers and fathers! Listen to me as I make my defense before you now!” 2 When they heard him speaking to them in Hebrew, they settled down more; so he continued: 3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city and trained at the feet of Gamli’el in every detail of the Torah of our forefathers. I was a zealot for God, as all of you are today. 4 I persecuted to death the followers of this Way, arresting both men and women and throwing them in prison. 5 The cohen hagadol and the whole Sanhedrin can also testify to this. Indeed, after receiving letters from them to their colleagues in Dammesek, I was on my way there in order to arrest the ones in that city too and bring them back to Yerushalayim for punishment.

6 “As I was traveling and approaching Dammesek, around noon, suddenly a brilliant light from heaven flashed all around me! 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Sha’ul! Sha’ul! Why do you keep persecuting me?’ 8 I answered, ‘Sir, who are you?’ ‘I am Yeshua from Natzeret,’ he said to me, ‘and you are persecuting me!’ 9 Those who were with me did see the light, but they didn’t hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me. 10 I said ‘What should I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Get up, and go into Dammesek, and there you will be told about everything that has been laid out for you to do.’ 11 I had been blinded by the brightness of the light, so my companions led me by the hand into Dammesek.

12 “A man named Hananyah, an observant follower of the Torah who was highly regarded by the entire Jewish community there, 13 came to me, stood by me and said, ‘Brother Sha’ul, see again!’ And at that very moment, I recovered my sight and saw him. 14 He said, ‘The God of our fathers[a] determined in advance that you should know his will, see the Tzaddik and hear his voice; 15 because you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. 16 So now, what are you waiting for? Get up, immerse yourself and have your sins washed away as you call on his name.’

17 “After I had returned to Yerushalayim, it happened that as I was praying in the Temple, I went into a trance, 18 and I saw Yeshua. ‘Hurry!’ he said to me, ‘Get out of Yerushalayim immediately, because they will not accept what you have to say about me.’ 19 I said, ‘Lord, they know themselves that in every synagogue I used to imprison and flog those who trusted in you; 20 also that when the blood of your witness Stephen was being shed, I was standing there too, in full agreement; I was even looking after the clothes of the ones who were killing him!’ 21 But he said, ‘Get going! For I am going to send you far away — to the Goyim!’”[Footnotes:

Acts 22:14 Exodus 3:15]

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"Called By God As Witnesses" by Author: Kelsey BeckIn the last few days, we have been examining the nature of discipleship—the call, the cost, and the decision it involves. Today, we come to the ultimate goal of discipleship—becoming Christ’s witnesses to the world. All external circumstances indicated that Saul should have been an enemy of Christ. And he was—until an encounter with the risen Son of God turned His understanding of faithfulness upside-down. Then Saul asked two questions of Jesus—first, who are you? And second, what shall I do? The answers indicate what happens when we accept the call to discipleship. We must come to an understanding of who Christ is and what He has done. Then, if we truly believe that revelation, we must respond without delay by sharing His gospel with others. Our testimonies are probably not as sensational as Paul’s, but from a spiritual perspective, our conversions are just as miraculous—we have been transformed from Christ’s enemies into His witnesses. God has chosen us to have an intimate relationship with the Righteous One and spread His message of hope until we finally meet Him face-to-face. This is the greatest news humanity has ever received—let us answer the call with joy!
Hymn for today: “Jesus Saves!” by Priscilla J. Owens

1. We have heard the joyful sound:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Spread the tidings all around:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Bear the news to every land,
Climb the mountains, cross the waves;
Onward! ’tis our Lord’s command;
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
2. Waft it on the rolling tide:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Tell to sinners far and wide:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Sing, you islands of the sea;
Echo back, you ocean caves;
Earth shall keep her jubilee:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
3. Sing above the battle strife:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
By His death and endless life
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Shout it brightly through the gloom,
When the heart for mercy craves;
Sing in triumph o’er the tomb:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
4. Give the winds a mighty voice:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Let the nations now rejoice:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Shout salvation full and free;
Highest hills and deepest caves;
This our song of victory:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

Thought for Today:

Too many Christians are no longer fishers of men but keepers of the aquarium (Paul Harvey).
Please pray: That many people in Burkina Faso will come to know Christ and receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
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