Saul used Scripture and his experience of Jesus meeting him on the road to Damascus to prove that Jesus “fit” all the prophecies of Messiah. Saul had the personal experience of meeting the risen Savior, Jesus. (Acts 9:1-6)
What is your personal experience of knowing that Jesus is the Son of God? Have you received Him by faith as your Savior? There is no other name under heaven by which you will enter God’s presence in eternity.
Acts 4:12
Dynamic Leader
Saul was a dynamic leader. After his conversion (knowing the risen Jesus was indeed the Messiah), Saul taught in the synagogues in Damascus for many days, convincing people that Jesus was the Messiah (the Christ), the Son of God.
Acts 9:19-22, 23a
Target
The Jewish religious leaders did not like that…they plotted against Saul, to do away with him. (Acts 9:23)
The followers of Christ should not be surprised when they, too, become targets.
There are people today who want to do away with Jesus by “doing away” with His followers. Jesus warned that this would happen.
(NASB) Matthew 5:10-12 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 ‘Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
12 ‘Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Pray for those under persecution today…followers of Christ, pray for your brothers and sisters who are being maligned, mistreated and imprisoned, and persecuted. We may not know them, but one day we will meet them in heaven.
If you were being persecuted, wouldn’t you want others to pray for you?
Dynamic followers of Christ are targets…pray for them to put on God’s armor…so they can resist the forces of darkness…so they can stand firm in their faith in the risen, living Lord Jesus Christ.
(NIV) Ephesians 6:13-18 “…put on the full armor of God…the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place…feet fitted with…the gospel of peace…the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God…pray in the Spirit…with all kinds of prayers and requests…be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
~ Take it to heart ~
Pray for Christians around the world who are enduring persecution and
are targets of the enemies of God.