Ecclesiastes 11:4-6 - Whoever watches the wind will not plant;
whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening
let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will
succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.
Solomon leaves us a reminder that faith and total trust in
God is an important part of a focused relationship with him. God created the world in such a complex manner…we
will never understand many of the ways it works. Just as life is breathed into
a baby from inside her body… God breathes understanding into our soul best when
we walk by faith.
It is a great reminder to me that if I wait for everything
to be in place that I think should be there….I might miss one of the greatest blessings
God has prepared for me. If I wait for perfect conditions…I might leave quite a
bit undone. Paul agreed with Solomon. He
told us in 2 Corinthians 5:7 to walk by faith…not sight.
Perhaps part of the reason we need to walk more by faith is
to show our commitment to God. We must be prepared to do what God says…no
matter what we think. Abraham must have
been completely confused inside….making the trek to the mountains to sacrifice the
one son God had promised for so long. He must have worshiped like never before
when that angel stopped his hand…and they saw the lamb stuck in the brush close
by.
I sure needed the reminder today…to be ready to walk more by
faith….and just roll with the flow of life…whatever it brings. Romans 8:28 says…. “ And we
know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have
been called according to his purpose.”
That means if I keep my eyes …and my heart….and my ears….focused on God…..my
feet and hands will quickly respond to his voice when he speaks.
Father…thank you for the reminder that I need to walk more by
faith. Forgive me for the time that I
have let my flesh guide my feet and hands.
Put some blinders on my eyes…so I will see you only. Put a filter on my ears…so I will hear your
voice more clearly. Put a new passion in
my heart to be what you want me to me…so the world can’t trick me so
easily. Amen.
THE APOSTLE PAUL'S CONVERSION BY STEVE FINNELL
ReplyDeleteBefore discussing Saul's conversion we need to establish a point of fact. You cannot become a Christian and have unforgiven sins. If your sins have been forgiven you are a Christian. If you are a Christian then your sins have been forgiven. It is impossible to separate forgiveness, from being in Christ. How could you say I became a Christian last night but my sins were not forgiven? By the same reasoning you could not assert that I had my sins forgiven last night but I am not a Christian.
What is true for us, was true for the apostle Paul.
Acts 9:3-6 As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; 4 and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" 5 And he said, "Who are You Lord?" And He said, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, 6 but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what to do."
Saul obviously believed in Jesus at this point, yet he was still not forgiven of his sins; therefore he was not a Christian. Paul was not saved by "FAITH ONLY."
Acts 9:9-11 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. 10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am Lord." 11 And the Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying,
Saul believed that Jesus was Lord.
Saul repented.
Saul fasted and prayed for three days.
After three days on the road to Damascus Saul was still not forgiven of his sins. Saul was not saved by faith alone, Saul was not saved by repenting alone. Saul was not saved by praying and fasting. SAUL WAS NOT SAVED ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS.
Acts 22:12-16 "A certain Ananias....13 came to me....16 Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.'
Saul's sins were forgiven after he was baptized in water, not before.
Galatians 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
Saul was not a Christian until he was baptized into Christ.
Mark 16:16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved......
Saul was not saved until he was immersed in water.
Acts 2:38...and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of you sins....
Saul sins were not forgiven until he was baptized in water.
Paul was saved the way all men are saved. FAITH John 3:16---REPENTANCE Acts 3:19---CONFESSION Romans 10:9-19---WATER BAPTISM Acts 2:38
YOU CANNOT SEPARATE BECOMING A CHRISTIAN AND FORGIVENESS OF SINS!
PAUL WAS NOT SAVED ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS----PAUL WAS SAVED IN DAMASCUS.
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