damascus road

Ever wondered why Saul, after his dramatic conversion, disappeared into Arabia for three years? Join us as we debunk misconceptions surrounding Saul's transformation, highlighting the significance of his solitude in gaining deep understanding of the gospel. Using Paul's account from Galatians 1 as a reference, we draw attention to the importance of being well-versed in the gospel before stepping up to preach it. We caution against rushing young believers onto the platform, emphasizing the need for proper understanding and training before they are handed the baton.

Fasten your seatbelts for a journey through the remarkable stories of Saul's conversion and Peter's vision. We unfold Saul's encounter with the divine on his way to Damascus, bringing to light the crucial role played by Ananias in Saul's spiritual journey. Marvel at how Saul masterfully dodged the Jews plotting his murder and how he found his way to Jerusalem. We also dive into the groundbreaking conversion of Cornelius in Acts 10. Discover how one man's prayers not only reached the ears of God but also significantly impacted the early church. All these and more in this riveting episode of God's Plan, Your Part.

Acts 9 narrates Saul's conversion on the road to Damascus. Struck by a blinding light, Saul encounters Jesus, leading to his transformation and subsequent baptism by Ananias. His conversion astonishes many, and Saul boldly preaches about Jesus, facing initial suspicion but eventually gaining trust and support, notably from Barnabas.

In Acts 10, Peter receives a vision instructing him not to consider any person unclean or impure. Concurrently, Cornelius, a devout God-fearing Gentile, receives a vision to summon Peter. Through divine orchestration, Peter visits Cornelius and discovers God's intention to include Gentiles in His kingdom. The Holy Spirit falls upon Cornelius' household, confirming God's acceptance of Gentile believers. This pivotal moment challenges the traditional Jewish-Christian boundaries, revealing God's inclusivity and setting the stage for the expansion of the Gospel to the Gentiles.

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Thanks so much for listening to the show. We'll See you tomorrow.
-Ryan and Jenny

Meeting people who leave important footprints in our lives affect us and others as well. I have met a lot of well-known people in this world, but they were not the ones who impacted me the most. Some impacted me with a sentence, or a particular teaching, or their lifestyle.  Over the course of my life, there have been many mentors who have profoundly influenced me. Some don’t know me or how their connection to me affected my life. Still, I am exceedingly grateful. As is the fellow in the text today:

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Committed to God and defending his honor, following his understanding of the scriptures Saul is going to stamp out this new movement of Messiah followers.  He is going to keep the traditions handed down through his forefathers.  He is waiting for a real deliverer who will establish the Kingdom of David again and return all to the glory days of old. His zeal has blinded him. This Jesus they are talking about is dead and cannot fulfill the goals expected by the real Messiah.  These rebels are deceived.  Jesus was cursed by dying on a tree.  Saul’s zeal for God drives him to rid the world of this menace.  Notice that the church is already expanding beyond what was already noted!

Saul was not prepared for the Damascus Road encounter:  

1. He knew he was not up to the task of combating this powerful one, and calls him Lord, acknowledging his superiority
2. He questions him, as to who he is, wondering what he wants, and why this has happened to him.
3. He is shocked to discover that it is the very one against whom he has been railing. The proof of the resurrection had just encountered him in a real and powerful way.
4. He then tells him the next step to take without revealing why, what, where or when. The only thing he has answered is the question: Who?

Life Changing Encounters

            Sins, transgressions, iniquity: gross injustice or wickedness 

3 Dark Days – and a radical transformation 

            What goes on in his head during this time? Seeing his iniquity Isaiah 53:6

            The resurrection is not just an historical event, it is a personal experience for all who meet him

            Chuck Colson the former White House advisor knows the reality of the Resurrection from the lying perspective! Now we don’t just look back we look at our need now for the activity of God in our lives. He can change everything!  The gross transformation he needed; is what we all need. From a self based perspective on life to a God based perspective on life! Relying on the activity of Jesus to do what he promises in his way and time. This includes many surprising activities when we expect him to show up!

A calling and a promise

            At his conversion, Saul receives his life’s calling

            The means involvement of the community and action of the Holy Spirit who is obviously in charge of building trust, relationships, obedience in the face of danger.

            God’s perspective is greater than ours! From individualistic to building a Kingdom that cannot be defeated and covers the earth over all time!

What God does with broken vessels

            Here is an example of what God does with those who trust him:

            Takes our misconceptions and our own abilities to change and he carries them on our behalf- and then gives us the power to conquer the devil’s activity in our lives. He delivers us from great and small things! From sin, transgression, and iniquity!

Who is this Lord? He is the Lord of all! He breaks down the racial divides, the cultural divides, as well as the sin, transgression, and iniquity divides! He unites his followers with His Father!

 With the New Year upon us, there are many opportunities we could take in service to Christ.  However, have we ever thought that perhaps the thing we think we are doing to serve Christ is actually hindering His cause?  In this crucial message, you'll follow the life of Saul of Tarsus to discover that the greatest question any faithful Christian should ask is, "What shall I do, Lord?" 

Would you help someone who hated you?
In this message, Pastor Jamie shares the story of Ananias and Saul found in Acts 9:1-22. Let this story encourage you to walk in obedience, courage, honor, and power. There is more for you in Him!
 
Four things we can learn from Ananias: 
1. Obedience. 
Ananias said "Yes, Lord" before he even knew what God was asking him to do.
1 John 5:3 “Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome.” NLT
Obedience is hearing, then doing – skip one of these steps and you’re not obeying. 
 
2. Courage. 1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.” NASB
Once you grasp how much God loves you, you can freely love others without fear. 
 
3. Honor.
“Brother Saul.” Ananias didn't address Saul’s based on what he had done but what he was going to do.
2 Cor. 5:16 “So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now!” NLT
We can’t look down on others when we’re looking up at Jesus. 
 
4. Power.
1 Cor. 4:20 “For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.”
Mark 16:17-18 
 
Believers don’t follow signs, signs follow believers. 
 
Will you be like Ananias?

I have been asked if I preach about Christian Nonduality from the pulpit in church as part of a traditional worship service. The short answer is “yes” but it is somewhat different than I speak on my podcast and videos. I expound a scripture passage, as is typical in a sermon. This episode today is an example. It is a sermon that I recorded at the end of March 2021 in NH and was shown during live in person worship at a church in NH on April 11, 2021. In this message I relate unitive awareness to the earliest and only first person account of the resurrection of Jesus in the Bible, as told by the apostle Paul. It is entitled “The First Easter.”