The Daily Devotional for Monday, 10 July 2017 through Sunday, 16 July 2017 Sermon Theme: "Leading Role" with the Text to read: Acts 9:1-9 from First United Methodist Church in San Diego, California, United States

The Daily Devotional for Monday, 10 July 2017 through Sunday, 16 July 2017 Sermon Theme: "Leading Role" with the Text to read: Acts 9:1-9 from First United Methodist Church in San Diego, California, United States

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Scripture Text: 

Acts 9:1 Meanwhile, Sha’ul, still breathing murderous threats against the Lord’s talmidim, went to the cohen hagadol 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Dammesek, authorizing him to arrest any people he might find, whether men or women, who belonged to “the Way,” and bring them back to Yerushalayim.

3 He was on the road and nearing Dammesek, when suddenly a light from heaven flashed all around him. 4 Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Sha’ul! Sha’ul! Why do you keep persecuting me?” 5 “Sir, who are you?” he asked. “I am Yeshua, and you are persecuting me. 6 But get up, and go into the city, and you will be told what you have to do.”

7 The men traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 They helped Sha’ul get up off the ground; but when he opened his eyes, he could see nothing. So, leading him by the hand, they brought him into Dammesek. 9 For three days he remained unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank.

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John Wesley's Notes-Commentary: 

Acts 9:1-9

Verse 3

[3] And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

And suddenly — When God suddenly and vehemently attacks a sinner, it is the highest act of mercy. So Saul, when his rage was come to the height, is taught not to breathe slaughter. And what was wanting in time to confirm him in his discipleship, is compensated by the inexpressible terror he sustained. By his also the suddenly constituted apostle was guarded against the grand snare into which novices are apt to fall.

Verse 4

[4] And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

He heard a voice — Severe, yet full of grace.

Verse 5

[5] 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.

To kick against the goads — is a Syriac proverb, expressing an attempt that brings nothing but pain.

Verse 6

[6] And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

It shall be told thee — So God himself sends Saul to be taught by a man, as the angel does Cornelius, Acts 10:5. Admirable condescension! that the Lord deals with us by men, like ourselves.

Verse 7

[7] And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

The men — stood - Having risen before Saul; for they also fell to the ground, Acts 26:14. It is probable they all journeyed on foot.

Hearing the noise — But not an articulate voice. And seeing the light, but not Jesus himself, Acts 26:13, etc.

Verse 9

[9] And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

And he was three days — An important season! So long he seems to have been in the pangs of the new birth.

Without sight — By scales growing over his eyes, to intimate to him the blindness of the state he had been in, to impress him with a deeper sense of the almighty power of Christ, and to turn his thoughts inward, while he was less capable of conversing with outward objects. This was likewise a manifest token to others, of what had happened to him in his journey, and ought to have humbled and convinced those bigoted Jews, to whom he had been sent from the sanhedrim.

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Daily Devotional
Sunday, July 16, 2016
Sermon Theme: "Leading Role"
Text to read: Acts 9:1-9

• Pray for those longing for a messenger of hope.

Daily Devotional
Saturday, July 15, 2017
Sermon Theme: "Leading Role"
Text to read: Acts 9:1-9

• How are you called to shine light in other’s darkness?

Daily Devotional
Friday, July 14, 2017
Sermon Theme: "Leading Role"
Text to read: Acts 9:1-9

• Which is most powerful: Teaching, Preaching, Discovering? 
• Why? 

Daily Devotional
Thursday, July 13, 2017
Sermon Theme: "Leading Role"
Text to read: Acts 9:1-9

• How are moments of discovery life-changing? 
• Why?

Daily Devotional
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Sermon Theme: "Leading Role"
Text to read: Acts 9:1-9

• When was your last “Ah-Ha!” moment? 
• What happened? 

Daily Devotional
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
Sermon Theme: "Leading Role"
Text to read: Acts 9:1-9

• How does this story from Acts 9 strike you? 
• Why? 

Daily Devotional
Monday, July 10, 2017
Sermon Theme: "Leading Role"
Text to read: Acts 9:1-9

• Read Acts 9:1-9. Is there part of this story that you identify with today?

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San Diego, California 92108, United States
(619) 297-4366
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