Acts 9:1-19 - The Power of the Spirit and the Conversion of Saul

Who is the least likely person you know to come to faith in Christ? In this portion of Scripture we are encouraged by the conversion of Saul [aka the Apostle Paul]. How can you be led by the Spirt to yield to Jesus and share the gospel?

[@user-xp7sp2yr4w]

I love Jesus so i love you

[@marylegge444]

awesome teaching!!!

[@Norman.Labelle]

The _Age of Grace_ *began* with a spectacular “event” in Damascus (Acts 9: 1-18). Doesn’t it stand to reason that the _Age of Grace_ will also *end* with an equally spectacular “event” in Damascus, from where it all started, just prior to its destruction (Isaiah 17:1)? On the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-18), Paul saw a light and was struck blind for 3 days. He was taken to Damascus where the veil was lifted from his eyes, and the age of grace began. When Damascus will be totally destroyed and cease to be a city (Isaiah 17:1), the road leading to and out of Damascus will also be destroyed and cease to exist. This will leave us no exit road out - our only exit will be up. This very road which led to *GRACE, WILL ALSO CEASE.* Paul knew of a time when this Age of Grace would be "complete" and "come to an end" when he stated *_“until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in”_* (Romans 11:25). This reference means that when the last member of the Body of Christ will be accounted for, this scripture will be fulfilled. Similarly to Paul, will not the veil over our carnal eyes be lifted, when Damascus is destroyed. Will we not meet and see our Messiah spiritually in all His light and glory in the clouds? At the end of this age of grace, it's the rapture of the Body of Christ. Is this event, (the destruction of Damascus), the trigger signaling our departure? and is this event the very first domino to fall which will topple the rest of the dominos already set in place, to usher in the tribulation and the Anti-Christ? We, the Body, are children of the Light (Eph.5:8, Philp.2:15, 1Thess.5:5). We are the only light that is left to illuminate the world. We will be taken out of harm’s way, snatched away, caught up, to be with our Messiah. The world will no longer have light - Darkness will reign. The Anti-Christ will be introduced and Jacob’s trouble (the 7-year tribulation) will begin. Look up, our redemption is at hand. Our Blessed Hope is about to become reality! LET THE ABOVE SINK IN FOR A MOMENT This is a maranatha “come soon” moment. Rejoice! ---------------------------------------------------------------- *Also to consider* - God insisted that the story about Paul's "road-to-Damascus" experience be recounted 3 times, (in the same book no less). See Acts 9:1-18, then in Acts 22:1-18 and then again in Acts 26:1-18. THREE (3) is a very significant number to God. To my knowledge, Acts is the only book in the Bible that has the SAME STORY recounted 3 times within it. Why would the limited pages of the Bible use up so much precious real-estate in just one book? This is not happenstance. It was intentioned by God Himself, for a specific reason. Concerning the number 3, E.W. Bullinger so aptly notes that, ”three marks Divine completeness and perfection of testimony” And to reaffirm how significant the number 3 truly is, also consider the story of Peter and his 3-fold vision of unclean meats, wherein God tells him to eat thereof and his 3-fold refusal to eat as God had commanded. Remember, this whole story revolves around the “unclean gentiles, made clean”. (Acts 10 & 11). SPECIAL NOTE: We are told that after Peter’s refusal to eat of the “unclean” food (representing God cleansing the Gentiles, rendering them clean and acceptable), that this “unclean” food (Gentiles), laying upon *the 4 corners of the sheet* were all immediately *_taken away_* to heaven. This is reminiscent of the “Gentile” BODY of Christ being *_taken away_* (raptured) from *the 4 corners of the earth.* (Acts 10: 11 & 16) ---------------------------------------------------------------- *Also to consider* - Methuselah was the oldest recorded person in the whole Bible. His name in Hebrew/Aramaic prophetically means _”destruction will come”_ or _”his death shall bring”_ or something to that effect. Damascus happens to be the oldest known inhabited city in the world. Is it possible that just as Methuselah's death was foretelling the destruction of the world in Noah’s day, that the destruction of Damascus might also be foretelling the coming destruction that God is about to bring on this present world? AS A SIDE NOTE: The only other cities to be completely destroyed like Damascus is Sodom & Gomorrah. They became a ruinous heap (of ashes), by fire and brimstone, just like the fire and brimstone that God will rain down in (Ezk.38:22). When the alliance of armies coming from the north, marching towards the south, for the spoils in the Golan Heights (oil & gas), they must geographically go through Damascus. God can fulfill 2 prophecies at the same time, both the destruction of Damascus (in less than 12 hours), by fire and brimstone AND the destruction of the attacking enemy armies of Gog (in less than 12 hours), also by fire and brimstone. Scripture/God claims that “they” (and the whole world) will know that I Am God. If fire & brimstone fall from the sky, everyone will see the hand of God. If Damascus and the attacking armies (Russia, Turkey, Iran) are destroyed by a nuclear bomb (as some have suggested), then the world would not have a reason to believe God Himself intervened. Think about this! ONLY GOD KNOWS THE END FROM THE BEGINNING. The start of the _Age of Grace_ *began* with a spectacular "event" in Damascus. Doesn't it stand to reason that the _Age of Grace_ will *end* with an equally spectacular "event" also in Damascus, from where it all began?
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[@marsonofjo344]

Notice certain facts. Acts 9:1-2 The earliest disciples were called "the Way". They congregated in synagogues. They were subject to the authority of the High Priest. Therefore, they were NOT Christians but Jews. Acts 24:5&14 confirms that the Way or the Natsarim Sect of 1st Century Judaism is the true identity of the earliest followers. The name "Christians" was coined in Antioch under Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch. This group believed in another gospel. Read the theology of Ignatius. Always speak the truth.

[@gqministries3894]

Be humble