Reflecting God - The Nazarene Publishing House [The Foundry Publishing House] in Kansas City, Missouri, United States - The Global Church of the Nazarene for Tuesday, 18 July 2018 - "A Damascus Moment" by Cynthia Stiverson - Acts 9:18-31

Reflecting God - The Nazarene Publishing House [The Foundry Publishing House] in Kansas City, Missouri, United States - The Global Church of the Nazarene for Tuesday, 18 July 2018 - "A Damascus Moment" by Cynthia Stiverson - Acts 9:18-31

Acts 9:18 In that moment, something like scales fell away from Sha’ul’s eyes; and he could see again. He got up and was immersed; 19 then he ate some food and regained his strength.

Sha’ul spent some days with the talmidim in Dammesek, 20 and immediately he began proclaiming in the synagogues that Yeshua is the Son of God. 21 All who heard him were amazed. They asked, “Isn’t he the man who in Yerushalayim was trying to destroy the people who call on this name? In fact, isn’t that why he came here, to arrest them and bring them back to the head cohanim?” 22 But Sha’ul was being filled with more and more power and was creating an uproar among the Jews living in Dammesek with his proofs that Yeshua is the Messiah.

23 Quite some time later, the non-believing Jews gathered together and made plans to kill him; 24 but their plot became known to Sha’ul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to do away with him; 25 but under cover of night, his talmidim took him and let him down over the city wall, lowering him in a large basket.

26 On reaching Yerushalayim, he tried to join the talmidim; but they were all afraid of him — they didn’t believe he was a talmid. 27 However, Bar-Nabba got hold of him and took him to the emissaries. He told them how Sha’ul had seen the Lord while traveling, that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Dammesek Sha’ul had spoken out boldly in the name of Yeshua. 28 So he remained with them and went all over Yerushalayim continuing to speak out boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debated with the Greek-speaking Jews, but they began making attempts to kill him. 30 When the brothers learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.

31 Then the Messianic community throughout Y’hudah, the Galil and Shomron enjoyed peace and was built up. They lived in the fear of the Lord, with the counsel of the Ruach HaKodesh; and their numbers kept multiplying.

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If anyone experienced full acceptance, it was Saul. His transformation was so profound that having “a Damascus moment” has become code for our about-face moments in life. Saul, a persecutor of Christians became Paul, an apostle of Christ. On the road to Damascus, God dramatically called Saul to extend Christianity beyond the Jewish community.
The disciples were understandably skeptical. How could this man have a dramatic shift of values–overnight? Was this just a scheme to undermine their mission? They were justifiably frightened. Would he gain their trust only to turn them over to the authorities?
Preaching the message of Christ with power and persuasion, the results were undeniable. Like the disciples, Paul was a witness of the risen Christ. Saul was a man to be feared. Paul was a man to be revered.

How do we respond to the Saul’s in our circles? Do we feel powerless, coil back in fear of being persecuted? Jesus responds, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 6:44). Imagine tapping into the power of God to bring a Saul-becomes-Paul experience among ISIS fighters, human traffickers, or political leaders. Let’s pray for a Damascus moment in our church, community, country, and world.
"A Charge to Keep I Have" by Charles Wesley

1. A charge to keep I have, 

a God to glorify, 

a never-dying soul to save, 

and fit it for the sky. 

2. To serve the present age, 

my calling to fulfill; 

O may it all my powers engage 

to do my Master's will! 

3. Arm me with jealous care, 

as in thy sight to live, 

and oh, thy servant, Lord, 

prepare a strict account to give! 

4. Help me to watch and pray, 

and on thyself rely, 

assured, if I my trust betray, 

I shall forever die. 

Thought for Today:

Then Kefa addressed them: “I now understand that God does not play favorites, but that whoever fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him, no matter what people he belongs to.[Peter in Acts 10:34-35].

Please pray.

That many people in Namibia will come to know Yeshua the Messiah and receive the fullness of the Ruach HaKodesh.
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