Acts 9 - 08.06.26
SCRIPTURE
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”” Acts 9:1-6 NIV
OBSERVATION
Paul was on his way to Damascus with murderous intentions for every Christ Follower he could locate. Though he lived in Jerusalem, and though he was a Pharisee who had a keen understanding of Old Testament scripture that prophesied about the Messiah, and had a zeal for Mosaic Law and Ancestral Tradition that had pushed him out ahead of his peers—Paul missed God’s epic entry into this world—The Messiah had Come.
Paul would have to have been aware of Jesus’ countless miracles even if he had not seen them. We know he witnessed Stephen’s stunning and detailed testimony account of Christ as he was stoned in martyrdom. Yet all Paul held toward Christ and His followers was a blasphemous disregard.
Paul was intent on his course. Not looking for a Christ encounter. Yet, that is what Paul got. A knock you to your knees—on the ground—I once was blind and NOW I SEE—Christ Encounter.
“Paul fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
APPLICATION
Paul’s Story is My Story, Our Story
And Every Other Story—Yet to Come!
Paul’s Testimony:
I was the worst of sinners—THEN—Christ Came—
and HE—Poured Out His abundant Grace on me.
“I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor, a violent man, and the worst of sinners” Then—One Day…”The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 1:13,14).
My Testimony:
I Thought I was saved because I attended church on special occasions and knew my Lutheran Catechism. Pride—Strike One
I saw myself as Holy. But when faced with a genuine born again believer at work one day, who shared the gospel with me, I ridiculed her and called her a Jesus Freak. Blasphemer—Strike Two
I relied on my own goodness to earn myself a way into Heaven, though I had no actual concept of what Heaven was. I didn’t read the Bible. And, Jesus was added into my “mix of beliefs” along with many others possibilities—including reincarnation. Worshipped Other gods-Not Jesus—Strike 3
Like Paul I was a blasphemous, prideful, persecutor who had no issue standing with the unbelievers to make fun of Christ’s sweet representative that day at work.
I was headed for wrath. And definitely NOT looking to have a Christ Encounter. THEN—Christ pursuing me brought me to a Pentecostal church service through someone I barely knew. After an hour of worship, prayer circles, and a Bible teaching out of Nehemiah, The Pastor shared the Full Gospel—and God Spoke to me so clearly “This is for you, raise your Hand”. My life was forever changed that day. “God poured out His Amazing Grace on me”
Before Christ I lived for selfish ambition and outward worldly desires. I had no identity. I lived with crippling fear and anxiety. I would break out in deep red rashes all over my chest and face whenever I needed to speak with people. I couldn’t look people in the eyes. I was desperate for approval.
After Christ my identity was rooted in Jesus. I lived for HIM and godly desires. Worldly desires didn’t have the same power. My crippling fears and anxieties vanished. A quiet confidence filled my mind and heart anytime I needed to speak with people. Christ’s voice was my anchor. I read my Bible and followed Jesus. And I brought my family and friends to “Come and See Jesus”.
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance:
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display ‘HIS immense patience’ as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.” (1 Timothy 1:12-16 NIV)
PRAYER
LORD Jesus,
Thank YOU for Pouring out Your Abundant Grace on me. I was headed for destruction and had no idea. But out of YOUR infinite mercy YOU saved me.
You gave me an identity as Your daughter. AND, You have continued to Pour out Your Grace and Mercy on me! Your Love is so extravagant. Thank You for coming after me Again and again whenever I have derailed!
I can never look at the Israelites and say “What were they thinking”. I have been a stiff necked, stubborn sinner—wanting to do things my way.
BUT GOD! Thank You for Your forgiveness. Thank You for Your enduring love. Thank You for teaching me.
Thank YOU that You have allowed me to suffer. You Cleanse me and Purify me. You redeem me and restore me and bring me glory to glory—SO that I can be an encouragement to others! Help us one and all to be spurring each other on.
What a God, What a God!Come and have Your Way in me.
Teach me to trust more fully, teach me to surrender more completely in this new season.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
Tina L Kudelka
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)
“Oh give THANKS to the Lord, for He IS GOOD,
for HIS steadfast love—ENDURES—forever!” (Psalms 107:1)
“For by grace—you have been saved through faith.
And this is NOT your own doing; it is the gift of God,
not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
(Except we may Boast in Our God)
Psalm 145 - 8.5.26
Scripture
“You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.” (Ps 145:16)
Observation
This Psalm is written by David. The entire Psalm praises God and focuses on God’s character. David starts by praising God and honoring his name (v 1-3). Each generation will speak about God's wonderful works to the next generation (v 4). He continues about God's marvelous glory, mighty miracles and fearsome deeds (v 5-7). God is merciful, kind and patient (v 8). He is good to everyone and takes care of all creation (v 8-11). God is the provider for all creation. He opens his hand and provides (v 16).
He opens his hand and satisfies the desires of all who live (Ps 145:16, CEV). A parallel verse in Ps 104:28 says, “What You give them they gather in; You open Your hand, they are filled with good.”
I love the imagery of God opening his hand in response to my prayer, and I receive what he gives me. As we read in Ps 104:28, we only “gather in what he gives”. God is our source. Everything we have comes from him. We have only because he opens his hand and allows us to gather in.
Application
God is our provider. He is Jehovah Jireh (God our provider). He is our source of provision, health, life and eveything we need in our life. We have nothing apart from what we have received from him. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17)
Do you need healing? Ask him. Do you need a job? Ask him. Do you need deliverance? Do you need a miracle in the lives of your children? Ask him. Whatever you need is, He is the source. He is the source of all good things.
Prayer
Dear Father, I thank you for making me your child. Thank you because I am the child of the most high God. You are my source. You are my help. You are my strength. I have nothing apart from you. I rely on you. I rest in you. I look at your face. As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so my eyes look to the LORD our God (Ps 123:2). Thank you because I can come into your presence with confidence and call you Abba Father (Gal 4:6), and receive grace in time of need (Heb 4:16). Thank you for your grace (undeserved favor) and for your mercy (not letting me have the judgement I deserve). I look at your face for all my needs. I know that when you open your hand, my needs will be fulfilled. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.
- Asha Chacko George
Psalm 144 - 8.4.26
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 144:9
“I will sing a new song to You, my God; on the ten-stringed lyre I will make music to You, to the One who gives victory to kings, who delivers His servant David.”
OBSERVATION: David took up his harp and sang a new song of praise to God, being assured that the Lord would give him victory over his enemies.
APPLICATION: When we worship God we can thank Him for being the Deliverer over our enemies. He sent His Son Jesus to be our Savior, and we are secure in Him. David exemplified how all believers should worship God for being our Deliverer.
God is worthy of praise for identifying with lost humanity by “taking on the likeness of men” by providing eternal salvation for all who believe and receive the gift of eternal life. Knowing Jesus and all that He has done for us should impact our worship experience.
We have every reason to worship the Lord Jesus and praise His holy name because He was willing to leave heaven and come to the earth as a human being to live among us. He sacrificed His life for our sins, and offered an intimate relationship with God to any who would receive Him. THIS IS THE GOOD NEWS! THE GOSPEL, and those who are born again, born of God through Jesus, become children of God and inherit eternal life, along with immeasurable spiritual riches. Once we understand this gospel, the only reasonable response is to accept this amazing gift and gratefully offer our praise and worship to God.
PRAYER: Thank You Lord for Who You are, and for what You have done for us through Your death, resurrection and ascension. I praise You and worship You for being our Deliverer. Thank You for the security we have in You.
Thank You God for choosing us, for redeeming us, for adopting us into Your forever family, and for sealing us with the promised Holy Spirit. We are truly blessed, and we have every reason to worship and praise You because of the way You have enlightened us to know You, and for the immeasurable greatness of Your power to us who believe. I pray I will not hold back the praises You deserve after experiencing the countless ways You have delivered me.
- Robin Orefice