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01 Acts 09 01-22 THE CONVERSION OF SAUL 01 Acts 09 01 He reaches people like Saul
📖 Acts 09:01-22
01 – 19Mar2024 – *He reaches people like Saul* - _Acts 09:01-22_ – THE CONVERSION OF SAUL – _Romans 11:33_
_Acts 9:1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest_
Saul of Tarsus became Paul the Apostle. Paul’s teaching and writing, inspired by the Holy Spirit, have been the substance on which the church is continuing to be built into Jesus Christ.
God chose one man and through him, God is still accomplishing his eternal purposes. The impact of one man on the growth of the church cannot be quantified. This is the way of God. _Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and *His ways past finding out*!_
Saul was a violent enemy of the church. There are several such men and women in each of our cultures. They are determined, persistent and forceful opponents of the church of Jesus Christ. We look at them and wonder why they are so angry against the church.
The devil hates the church and he raises such instruments to fulfil his purpose. _II Timothy 2:26 and that they may come to their senses and escape *the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will*._ Our task as the church is to pray and reach out to such people for they are tools and victims in the hands of the devil.
Saul hated the life and message of Stephen that he was determined to put an end to his life. _Acts 7:58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul._
Saul placed men and women of the church in prison. _Acts 8:3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison._ Have we not seen this happening throughout the history of the church? Has the devil been able to contain the growth of the church over the centuries?
People like Ananias were frightened of Saul and they poured out their fear to God. _Acts 9:13-14 Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. (14) And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name."_
Paul the Apostle could never forget the kind of man he was as Saul of Tarsus. _Acts 22:3-5 "I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers' law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today. (4) *I persecuted this Way to the death*, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, (5) as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished._
Saul was fully convinced that his persecution of the church was legitimate. _Acts 26:9-11 "Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. (10) This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. (11) And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities._
Saul’s anger against the church was because of his zeal for the traditions of the fathers. _Galatians 1:13-14 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and *tried to destroy it*. (14) And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, *being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers*._
Saul did his persecution against the church as a sincere way of proving his righteousness before God. _Philippians 3:4-6 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: (5) circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; (6) *concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless*._
He later realised that he did not have faith in God but only in himself. _I Timothy 1:13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and *an insolent man*; but I obtained mercy because *I did it ignorantly in unbelief*._
This tag as the persecutor of the church was always upon Saul. _I Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am *not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God*._
People such as Saul have this violence against the church deep inside of them that they breathe out violence. _Psalms 27:12 Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; For false witnesses have risen against me, And *such as breathe out violence*._ Their hatred for the church is deep. _Psalms 25:19 Consider my enemies, for they are many; And *they hate me with cruel hatred*._
```Yet, it is people. even those such as Saul, whom the Lord reaches and brings into His kingdom.```