A Pastor’s Heart

Romans 2:1-4 “1: Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 2: But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to TRUTH against them which commit such things. 3: And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God. 4: Or despisest thou the RICHES of his GOODNESS and FORBERANCE and LONGSUFFERING: not knowing that the GOODNESS of God leadeth thee to repentance?

DESPISEST: The Greek transliteration is (cat’-aft-row-neigh’-o) {from (kata) and (phroneo); to think against, i.e. disesteem :- despise. Interject this thought against, or to dis-esteem, or maybe to de-emphasize. “To reduce the importance or prominence given to (something stated) like an IDEA or an ORDINANCE!” Remember what GOD revealed to PETER in ACTS 11:9 “But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.”

Colossians 3:12-13 “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye” 

   I want us to center our attention on the word FORGIVENESS here that the Apostle Paul uses as he is attempting to teach those CHRISTIANS at the ancient city of COLOSSAE.

Forgiveness is the cornerstone of our religeous belief, Without forgiveness we cannot even begin our CHRISTIAN JOURNEY. We cannot become “BORN AGAIN” until GOD forgives us through JESUS CHRIST and washes our sins away. Then when we are “BORN AGAIN” or “BORN ANEW” we must then FORGIVE as CHRIST FORGAVE us. When someone does something to you that offends you or they do you wrong, you, WE, must forgive them. But to do this we must know what FORGIVENESS means, we must know the definition of it. Listen please as read these difinitions and synonymns of the word FORGIVENESS taken out of some Bible dictionaries and then to some scriptures that show what JESUS and some of the APOSTLES thought about this subject. First the definitions:

To grant as a favor, that is gratuitously, in kindness, to pardon or to rescue or to deliver, or to (frankly) forgive, to (freely) give, or to grant in any sense.

To send forth, in all instances, to forsake, to lay aside, to NOT demand but leave alone, to graceously let alone, to let be, to let go, to let someone have their freedom or not demand their payment of whatever they may owe you, to leave out or to omit a person’s debt, to put away or to send away, to remit, NOT as you remit a payment of money that you owe, but to cancel or refrain from exacting or inflicting a debt or punishment., to yield up.

The apostle Paul wrote to the Christians at Corinth and gave these instructions. Turn with me or listen attentatively as I read in the book of 2nd Corinthians:

2 Corinthians 2:10-11 “To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should het an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

Walking the CHRISTIAN walk or attempting to live a CHRISTIAN life is at it’s best “HARD”. It is not easy, especially in this world or at this time that WE now live in. Also as WE attempt this awesome task we have an enemy that we must contend with, and of course that is satan, and we must contend with him every day of our lives. Before we were saved or “BORN AGAIN” he didn’t bother us much because we were not in his or his angels way while they were trying to destroy the CHURCH, and never think that he is NOT your enemy, because when you become part of the BODY OF CHRIST you enter into a SPIRITUAL battle that is RAGING and has been since time began, since GOD spoke this world and yes this whole universe into existance. Satan will take every ADVANTAGE you give him, and holding grudges and not forgiving others leaves a CHINK in your armour that he can really hurt you and make you struggle along on your JOURNEY. Listen to what the Apostle Paul told those at Rome: Turn with me please to the book of Romans:

Romans 13:10-14 “Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer that when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.                 

So!!!! FORGIVE, so you don’t give the devil the advantage in this war we are waging. UNFORGIVEN sin is a BURDEN, is a HEAVY WEIGHT upon you. This NARROW road, this NARROW pathway that we must walk is hard enough to travel without carrying about all that extra weight that UNFORGIVENESS adds to us.

Now what does JESUS say about us forgiving others.

Matthew 6:14-15 “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”  

Mark 11:24-26 “therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”   

You can’t even get your PRAYERS ANSWERED unless you forgive others. Can you imagine going through your life without being able to pray or to have your prayers answered. Can you imagine trying to live in this day or time without having direction and forgiveness to help you along the way.

As the APOSTLE PAUL preached at ANTIOCH he said: please listen as I READ from the book of ACTS. 

Acts 13:38 “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:” 

You have to begin your journey by being “BORN AGAIN” maybe you are thinking, how do I get that way, how do I become “BORN AGAIN” well don’t worry because listen to what JESUS explained to Nicodemus in the 3rd Chapter of John 3:14-16 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up . That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he have his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Place your heart felt belief in JESUS’s atonement through HIS death upon the cross and you can be saved.

The GOD will give you the strength to forgive others as “CHRIST FORGAVE YOU”! 

Romans 1:18-21 “For the wrath of GOD is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of GOD is manifest in them; for GOD hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even HIS eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as GOD, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. “

Revealed: This word actually means “to take the cover off or even to take the lid off of the pot”, that’s a word that I really like, and one that I can really relate to, it reminds of the times of coming in the house and smelling something that really smells delicious, but you can’t really figure out what it is so you walk over to the pot that is sitting on the stove, or now-a-days, the crock pot and lift the lid up to see what is in there. Listen please to what JESUS said in Luke 8:14-17 as HE was teaching his disciples about how that all things would not be as they were in there day, how that the dark things that seem to be hidden from the masses but that everything would be made clear. Remember now this is the CHRIST speaking, and we are going to jump in kind of in the middle of it, but soon enough to get the real meaning of what JESUS THE CHRIST wants us to know “And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light. For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest, neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.” The word “choke” that Jesus just used, was (som-pee’-go) which, in this context that Jesus used it, meant to “STRANGLE COMPLETELY”, or to “DROWN OUT” or, listen please, to “CROWD OUT“. If we are not very careful, the things of this world will crowd us and push the lesson’s of GOD out of our life, so much so that we will not allow the “good things” of this world that GOD HIMSELF has given us to enjoy and use as GOD would have us to use. GOD has given us the ability to WORSHIP HIM in truth and spirit, but when we allow those other things of the world to CROWD IN we forget and don’t allow that to happen in our lives! GOD has given us the ability to PRAISE HIM, and think back at times when you were praising GOD, how HAPPY it made you, how you reveled in the JOY and splendor of it! Listen please as I remind us of what Paul said in Ephesians 2:6-9   “…hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through CHRIST JESUS. For by GRACE are ye saved through FAITH; and that not of yourselves: it is the GIFT of GOD: Not of of works, lest any man should boast.” Think back to the day that you trusted Christ as your SAVIOR and was “BORN AGAIN” how light you felt, how unburdened you felt, when your sins were washed away. Please don’t let the things of the world CROWD in and push the good things that GOD has given youso far away from you that you no longer have the JOY and HAPPINESS in your life that you once had. Now, quickly lets look at the phrase CLEARLY SEEN: 

Clearly seen: which means “to behold fully”, that is to distinctly apprehend. 1 Corinthians 13:12 told us “For now we see through a glass, Darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” we now mostly see in (2D reflection) but let our minds and hearts reflect in (3D reflection, I vividly remember the first time I saw a 3D movie, about 1956 at the Paramount Theater in Atlanta, GA, I don’t remember who all was with me, but we walked up to the trolly stop at East Point and rode into Atlanta, excited and a little bit afraid. I don’t remember the name of the movie, but I do remember a couple of the action scenes and having to put on the 3D glasses and kind of wondering, WOW! This is amazing, then, in the movie, there was a big explosion on a mountain side and big and small rocks were being blown out from the mountain side and I remember squriming around and dodging those rocks and debree because it looked like they were being hurled right at me as I sat there! Now as I think back, I don’t have on any 3D glasses but life is coming at me and you as if it was back in those 50’s but it is REAL, but then it seems as if JESUS, THE VERY SON OF GOD, is there saying “PEACE BE STILL”, and you know, HE IS THERE because one day about 50 years ago, You and I answered the “WOOING” of the HOLY SPIRIT and cried out; “COME INTO MY HEART AND SAVE ME” and HE did! HE did! The HOLY GHOST of GOD “CLEANED us up and CAME into our HEART’s and “ZIPPED” it shut and HE has been with you and I every since that DAY!!! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! And listen please, HE will do that for you if you will only let HIM, repent of your sins and BELIEVE in the LORD JESUS CHRIST and HE will SAVE YOU, HE WILL MAKE YOU A NEW CREATURE IN CHRIST and SEAL you until the DAY OF REDEMPTION, when HE, comes again, HE will then take you home to GLORY to be there for EVERMORE!! We, you and I, don’t have to see through that glass DARKLY now, but through the HOLY GHOST of GOD we can see as if FACE TO FACE!

Listen closely please as I close with the words of ISAIAH that was considered prophesy about GOD making a way for all mankind to have their sins cleansed by the PERFECT SACRIFICIAL BLOOD, SHED BY JESUS UPON THE CROSS!  

Though your sins be as CRIMSON they shall be as “WHITE AS SNOW” Isaiah 1:16-18 records these words “Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

Philippians 1:9-11 “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.”

What does this word ABOUND mean? It comes from, or it’s base word is (per-is-sauce); to superabound (in quantity or quality), be in excess, be superfluous; also (transposed) to cause to superabound or excel : (make more) to abound, (to have, to have more) abundance, (be more) abundant, be the better, not just barely enough, but, enough and more to spare, exceed maybe of what the world might expect, to excel, or increase, be left, redound, remain (over and above). Not just enough to get by but with all the strength and directions that GOD can give you.

Sometimes we Christians just end up doing only what is necessary to get by. So the Apostle Paul is saying to be and to do above whatever is expected of you. In other words; “LOVE” more, “FORGIVE” more, WORK more, “HELP” more, and “GIVE” more, if you need an example look towards the Samaritan that Jesus talked about in the 10th chapter of Luke, which we looked at a little while back, the Samaritan took care of all of the necessities of the man who was robbed and left for dead and then went above and beyond that, then at the end of the story JESUS said “Go, and do thou likewise.” You will never go wrong by following JESUS’s instructions or commandments. The world is looking upon us, the world is watching us, so be “SUPER ABOUNDING” in your life so that the lost world might see something in your life that will make them think, “I believe I won’t to be like them, I believe I want to have what they have got”, and you “CAN DO IT” because CHRIST has given you the strength, HE has put the “HOLY GHOST” within you to “LEAD GUIDE AND STRENGTHEN”, all you have to do is draw from the well of “LIVING WATER” that HE has supplied for you, for each one of us, for everyone who has been “BORN AGAIN”. Now, there will always be naysayers and those who are led by SATAN that will try to be “nit pickers” so that they can accuse you and all CHRISTIANS so that they themselves do not look so bad, but don’t worry about them just “OBEY” CHRIST and HIS WORDS and you’ll be fine, because JESUS is sitting at the right hand of the FATHER making intercession for all of us. Let’s look at a few more words to help clarify the meaning that the APOSTLE PAUL is trying to get across to the Philippians and to us today; lets look now at the word “KNOWLEDGE”:

KNOWLEDGE: the GREEK word is, (e-pig-nuh-sis) meaning CLEAR and EXACT knowedge, not just “well I think I know”; it is more emphatic than that of the other GREEK words that are translated in the KJV as KNOWLEDGE, because it expresses a more thorough participation on the part of the knower, with the object of knowledge; a knowledge that has a powerful influence on the knower. Are we a participator in our Christian life, are we participating as we JOURNEY, or are we part of the audience, just sitting back watching. We should be actively involved in our Christian JOURNEY, making a difference in this world. You might say, well I live here in this small corner of the world, what can I do, it is these small corners that, when added together make this world we live in, so we each need to do our part, to participate in our corner of the world so that the propagation of the GOSPEL occurs. We need to share our KNOWLEDGE, so the sum of all efforts are greater.

JUDGEMENT: Simply means “perception” or how you perceive things as you continue on your journey in this world, it means discernment. It doesn’t mean, judging someone else’s efforts or someone else’s life but to try MY efforts, to judge the effects of MY efforts in the results of the “WORK OF THE CHURCH” the “WORK OF THE LOCAL BODY OF CHRIST” and if we find it lacking, then make moves that will REMEDY that.

APPROVE: It’s not like you might first think, like looking over things or works of someone else or some other entity and checking a box saying I approve or I disapprove, but it means examining or trying my efforts, to put my works on trial, not others but my works to the test. The GREEK word here is (doc-im-ad’-zo) the same word Paul used in his instructions to a young preacher, a young pastor at EPHESUS where he had been left to attempt to lead that young church to grow and advance the GOSPEL OF CHRIST and as always when the church is advancing and lifting up CHRIST, no matter how old or large the church is, satan will unleash all of his power and opposition against it to impede the spread of the GOSPEL and to stop the training of GOD’s people to grow that BODY OF CHRIST, when he said:

Well, let me read it out of GOD’s HOLY, INFALIBLE, INERRENT, GOD-BREATHED WORD so I will get it right, please turn with me and follow along or listen attentively to this final scripture of today’s message: 

2 Timothy 2:15,16 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.”   

We should always let GOD’s WORD trump other words of instruction and be SUPER/ABOUNDING in our LOVE for CHRIST and HIS CHURCH.

Romans 1:9 “For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;”

Paul testifies here in this verse, that he serves GOD with his SPIRIT in the GOSPEL of HIS SON. What does that really mean, when you read Paul’s epistles, you will get the meaning of what he is saying. Like, a little further along in the book of Romans, in Romans 12:1  “Where Paul says “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Then please listen to the Apostle Paul when he was writing to the young preacher Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:12  where he was explaining to this young preacher how he was supposed to be that example; “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers… Then he gives Timothy 6 areas to be an example in:

(1)in word,(that is the way you talk or speak), in Colossians 4:6 the Apostle Paul said “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” Please note what the Lord’s brother James says in his epistle in the 3rd chapter and the 11th verse:  “Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

(2)in conversation,(The word CONVERSATION is the way that you conduct your total lifestyle),Paul says in his letter to those Christians at Philippi in Philippians 1:27 “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;” Our lifestyles within the Church should be to promote HARMONY and TOGETHERNESS, the body of the Church should show to the outside world that we are 1 body with the same Head.

(3)in charity,(that is the way that you show your “AGAPE” love for others),When Paul wrote to those at Galatia he said in: Galatians 5:14 “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

(4)in spirit,(That is how you follow the leadership of the HOLY SPIRIT to conduct all phases of your life),Again it the book of Galatians the Apostle Paul said in Galatians 5:25 “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Each one of us ought to show the same “AGAPE LOVE” that Jesus showed.

(5)in faith,(That is when you placed your faith in JESUS, did your lifestyle change and you walked differently than you did before, did it show that you were really “BORN ANEW”!) Then Paul wrote in Romans 1:17 which, by the way, we will look at in a couple of weeks “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” When you don’t have FAITH you are really calling GOD a LIAR!

(6)in purity.(That you, after you were saved, didn’t, and still don’t, like to be involved in the FILTHY things of the flesh, but you try to “BE HOLY AS HE IS HOLY” as the Bible says, even though you still fail and get off of the “RIGHT PATH” every now and then.) Listen to what Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:24 “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

Would you like to posess or have the Spiritual power that the Apostle Paul had during his time here on this earth? Would you like to be able to live a life that exemplifies JESUS OF NAZARETH? The word that paul uses here in the Greek means to be an “EXAMPLE” or a pattern(when I read that word example it immediately made be think of the DRESS patterns that my mom, my sister and my wife used to buy so that they could make a dress or outfit for themselves or their children instead of spending a high, exhorbant price for a new one), the Greek word here could have been translated also as “EXEMPLIFY”, which actually 
means to be a “TYPICAL EXAMPLE OF”. Now going back to the 12th chapter of Romans and the 1st verse, where we were at, and were to present our lifes to GOD and be an “EXAMPLE”, and the APOSTLE PAUL says that is just your “REASONABLE SERVICE”. It’s not a STERLING EXAMPLE, it’s not an “EXQUISIT EXAMPLE”, nor is it a “STELLAR EXAMPLE” like some people say of the ACTORS and ACTRESSES when they WIN an OSCAR or an EMMY AWARD, but it is simply our “REASONABLE SERVICE” that which is expected of us by GOD! THEY, those in atheletic games, perform for a “CORRUPTIBLE CROWN”, but we, the children of GOD, perform for an “INCORRUPTIBLE CROWN”! Do we remember what Jesus said that was recorded in the book of

Matthew 6:19,20 “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:”

1 Corinthians 9:25 says: “And every man that striveth(thegreek word that was used here was a very intense verb, it means to really labor strenuously, even to the point of sweating and getting very fatigued)for the mastery(which means to feverently contend with an adversary, and of course we know, very well, who our adversary is because the Apostle Peter told us very plainly and clearly in his first epistle in verse 8 of chapter 5, 1 Peter 5:8 please listen very closely as I read it for you {“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”} and he will devour you if you don’t prepare your self through prayer and the continual study of the WORD of GOD!) is temperate(the GREEK word is {in-cry-too’-uh-my}which means to EXERCISE SELF-RESTRAINT, and I know you guys know what that means. There were atheletic events back in that day, just as there are in our day but they were a lot more lethal most of the time, so those involved in those had to train and workout. Then the Apostle Paul had to clarify that he was not just talking about a few things because he said:) in all things(You are aware, I am very sure, that atheletes have different REPS for different muscles and joints, and so do we, we have the “WORD OF GOD”, we have the “HOLY GHOST”, we have different jobs in the “CHURCH”, we have different jobs in our “Family”, and we have different jobs in the “WORLD” so we must “EXERCISE” for each of those jobs. The Greek word for “in all things” is “pas” and to be such a small word it has a very large meaning. It means “EVERYTHING” “EVERYWHERE” and at “ALL TIMES” so whatever GOD has called you to do, “DO IT CONTINUOUSLY”. I have spoke to this before, but maybe you were not here when I did, so I am going to explain again why I try to use the word instead of “CONTINUALLY”. The most important difference between the two words, I have outlined this way:

Continuously:Means something happens without a productive period within a specified time. For example, you might say “My old tractor has been continuously out of  commission for over the last two years and the tires are almost dry rotted and my corn has actually went to seed.”

AND THEN

Continually: Means something happens without a productive period for a certain time. For example, you might say “My old tractor has been continually out of commission for over the last two years except every “now and then” I can get her crunked up and get a little bit of bush hogging done.” 

We as CHRISTIANS, of course are are always, “CONTINUOUSLY” a CHRISTIAN but sometimes our Labor for the Lord is not. We sometimes perform, only  “CONTINUALLY” as part of the “BODY OF CHRIST”. But, of course, should always be performing our part as an effective and an available member of the “LOCAL BODY of BELIEVERS”. May I ask all of us this question, Am I where GOD wants me, or do I maybe need to be “RECRUNKED” like that old tractor I was talking about? GOD is always able to do whatever you need to get you where you need to be. Now, let me regress back to where we started. That is Romans the 1st chapter and the 9th verse, please listen again as I read:

Romans 1:9 “For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;” The Apostle Paul was sometimes not able to be at his post or specific place of service or worship but Paul was always “SERVING and always WORSHIPING” where ever he was and that is the way we should be. Where ever Paul was at he was always in PRAYER and that is one thing that we all can do. Is to always be in PRAYER, in fact Paul said to “PRAY WITHOUT CEASING”.

1. This is what I want us to learn and remember about the Book of Romans.

     A. The KEY point of Romans is that EVERYONE, regardless of RACE, CREED, or COLOR have access to the RICHES OF GOD’s GRACE! Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

1: The Gospel is a free gift from GOD! Romans 5:15 “But not as the offence, so also is the FREE GIFT by Grace, , which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.”

2: Salvation is a gift we receive BY GRACE ALONE, THROUGH FAITH ALONE, IN CHRIST ALONE! Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”

3: The Gospel free’s us from the shackles of sin, strengthens us and allows us to walk in newness of life. Romans 7:6 “But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.”

We should also see, God’s gift of rescuing humanity through Jesus of Nazereth. God maintaining HIS promise to Israel and God’s love unifying the diversity of the Church.

Paul was a JEW but Paul was also a Roman, so a letter to Rome was very close to Paul’s heart and soul.

Luke 24:13-35 (KJV) “And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs, And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned. Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. And he said unto them. What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? And he said unto them.

Jesus said: “What things?”

And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, today is the third day since these things were done. Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre: And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. Then he said unto them,

Jesus said: “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?“

And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out or their sight. And they said one to another. Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them. Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeard to Simon. And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.”

I not only chose this scripture because it talks about Jesus BLESSING the meal before they ate but because it shows the “VERY HEART OF JESUS”! This scripture shows us that the VERY SON OF GOD is just like HIS FATHER. HE seeks to commune with people, with those that HE has created, HE seeks to “DRAW NEAR” to HIS creation, to “DRAW NEAR” to HIS PEOPLE! Please listen to this SCRIPTURE closely, listen to how DR. LUKE describes his SAVIOR, but as you listen, PLEASE, PLEASE always remember that this is YOUR SAVIOR also, IF you have been “BORN AGAIN” but only if you have experienced that saving event: the bible says in our text: “And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them” Please!! Think on this, that just a few hours before this, these two men’s heart’s had been crushed, when they had seen their friend, who was “GOD IN THE FLESH”, die a horrible death upon the “CROSS” that stood on a hill called “GOLGATHA”. They had witnessed what they thought was the end of a DREAM, the very end of all that they had poured their belief’s, their hopes, and also their efforts into for, about 3 and half years. I am sure they were feeling beaten, dejected and without “HOPE” but as JESUS expounded the SCRIPTURES to them, listen to what they said: “…Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he OPENED to us the scriptures? And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, Saying, The Lord is RISEN INDEED, and hath appeared to Simon. And TOLD what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.” Now, please let me describe to you what the word “TOLD” means in the GREEK. The Greek word here (ex-a-gay’-oh-my), which in the colloquial Greek language of that day meant to “UNFOLD”. Look at it this way, imagine you received a personal note from a loved one, that you thought you had lost forever, and it had been handed to you folded up. Would you just wad it up and throw it away? NO! Would you just stick it in your pocket. Where you may or may not read it, or where it might get destroyed or lost. PROBABLY NOT! But, you would more than likely, first “UNFOLD IT” and read every precious word in it, receiving it into your heart, to be stored with all of the other memories that you had of this loved one. “BY THE WAY” that is the way we should always read and receive the “WORD OF GOD”.

So, please turn with me to, and read earnestly of this EVENT that the BOOK of MARK records: in Mark 6:46-48 the bible records “And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.” I have been in this area when I wore a younger man’s clothes, and the storms there can be some of the most violent storms and churns the water like a huge washing machine, and if you are in the middle of it , you find yourself very frightened!

How many times, in our lives, have we let JESUS just pass on by us, because we don’t “CALL OUT TO HIM” when HE is PASSING BY? Let your mind drift back to the beginning of CREATION, to the Book of Genesis and the first account of GOD’s effort to be near HIS PEOPLE, do, we act like Adam and EVE, and attempt to cleanse ourselves by trying to HIDE our sins from GOD?  Do we come to GOD’s house with our FIG LEAVES on, or do we come to GOD’s house but are still trying to hide in the trees? These are the types of our feeble efforts to hide our sins from GOD, but always remember, “without the sheding of blood there is no remission of SIN, have we forgotten that JESUS has shed HIS PRECIOUS, HIS INNOCENT, “BLOOD” upon the cross of CALVARY to not only “HIDE” our sins but to “WASH” away our sins, and HE casts our sins into the SEA OF FORGETFULNESS. Man, people, are continually trying to attone for our own SINS! Trying to hide from our sins, but we must do as the Apostle John said, “CONFESS” our sins, so may I quote 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Just as GOD knew where Adam and Eve were and what THEY had done, HE wanted to hear it from Adam’s own mouth. HE is the same way this all of the time, HE is always the same, and HE still calls out now, ADAM! ADAM! WHERE ART THOU, WHAT HAST THOU DONE? and Paul wrote in the book of ROMANS, WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED! We need to stop trying to hide ourselves in the trees and stop trying to sew fig leaves to put on US in an effort to HIDE OUR SINS, but to call upon the name of the LORD! Because he is still there for us “READY TO FORGIVE US” read with me please in the 1st book of Corinthians, in 1 Corinthians 15:57 “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” and then in 2 Corinthians 9:15 “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” Even though, because we are in the flesh, we still sin daily, GOD is still there to “FORGIVE AND CLEANSE” us if we will just call out to him while HE is near as it says in ISAIAH 55:6! “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:” YES, YES, YES, it is true that GOD seeks to be near you and I but it is our SINS that keep that from happening. 

JESUS CARES WHAT HAPPENS TO HIS DISCIPLES AND WANTS TO BE WITH YOU WHILE YOU ARE GOING THROUGH TROUBLES AND TRIALS.

JESUS SEEKS to be near HIS people, those whom HE LOVE’S, HE wants HIS people to want to be NEAR HIM, HE wants “YOU” to WANT, to DESIRE to be NEAR HIM, to seek HIS presence in YOUR LIFE. May I ask all of US, right now, IS THIS WHAT WE WANT, WHAT I WANT, WHAT YOU WANT? DO WE WANT JESUS FULLY IN OUR LIFE, IN OUR CHURCH’S LIFE? HE IS AVAILABLE TO ALL OF HIS DISCIPLES,  SO THAT THEY MAY HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE. IT’S UP TO YOU!

CALL OUT UNTO GOD TODAY and get just as close to GOD as you can! 

Paul’s trip to Arabia. Galatians 1:1-24 “1. Paul, an apostle, (By the way what is an APOSTLE? The Greek word for apostle is (uh-pos’-tool-loss), if you think on it a while you can readily see that each one of us are apostles, because each one of us are sent out into the world to be an ambassador for JESUS CHRIST, after we are saved, when people encounter us, it should be like encountering JESUS THE CHRIST, in our country when a president is elected, he appoints, as part of his staff, ambassadors to other countries to represent the USA to that country, and when people see them they are to represent the USA. now do I represent CHRIST or the CHURCH, what should I be like to make sure that I am an ambassador of Christ, an ambassador of the “BODY OF CHRIST?

#1. MAKE SURE I LOVE AS CHRIST LOVES’? #2. THAT I HAVE THE COMPASSION ON THOSE THAT ARE SUFFERING, AS OUR LORD JESUS HAD COMPASSION ON THOSE THAT WERE HURTING, WHILE HE WAS HERE ON EARTH? #3. MAKE SURE THAT I FORGIVE THE SAME WAY JESUS FORGAVE OTHERS. WHAT WAS IT THAT JESUS SAID JUST BEFORE HE DIED FOR US? FATHER FORGIVE THEM, FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO! 

Now, all of your answers and my answers to those questions that I just asked, should have been, and should always be, a resounding YES!!! If they were not then we all have some work to be done on our AMBASSADORSHIP.  Now we should also be able to say right along with the apostle PAUL that our CHRISTIAN experience or CALLING was: (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) 2. And all the the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia.

Now Paul founded seven churches in Galatia: #1. Rome, which we are now beginning to study, #2. Corinth, which we will study and preach next,  #3. Galatia, which we have already studied, #4. Ephesus, which we have already studied, #5. Philippi, which we have already studied, #6. Colossae, which we have already studied, and #7. Thessalonica. which we have already studied. Now let’s continue with our text scripture beginning with verse 3 of Chapter 1 of Galatians: 3. Grace be to you and peace from GOD the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, If you were to read this verse in the GREEK, it would go something like this “Pleasure and Prosperity from GOD the FATHER and from our LORD JESUS CHRIST!” GOD wants the best for HIS people, for HIS “BODY OF CHRIST”, it is our willing “SINFULNESS” that keeps us from walking CLOSE to GOD, not our SAVIOR! Now look at verse 4 of our text: 4. Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present (which actually means the time at hand, the era of time that we live or exist in that is an) evil world, according to the will of GOD and our Father: 5. To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (That is why GOD placed HIS HOLY SPIRIT in us after HE cleansed us, because HE knew that by our fleshly self we would not be able to LIVE as HE wanted, so HE sealed the “HOLY SPIRIT” inside of us so that HIS strength would always be present with us!) Now please listen to what the APOSTLE says next! 6. I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7. Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would PERVERT (The GREEK word is {met-as-tref’-o} which means to turn across, or to TWIST, never forget what you have always seen when SATAN use the “WORD OF GOD” he always TWISTS OR CORRUPTS it, the gospel of CHRIST never changes. (The Apostle Paul said it is not the GOSPEL OF CHRIST that has changed, IT IS STILL THE SAME, your problem is that you are just listening to the WRONG people, the GOSPEL never changes, FOLLOW IT, let me say that again FOLLOW IT! Now, please listen to how strong PAUL believes in the GOSPEL! Verse;  8. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached  unto you, let him be accursed (which means excommunicated)  9. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed (which again means excommunicated or taken out of the BODY OF CHRIST and sent straight to hell, be very careful when you teach, preach, speak, or even live the “WORD OF GOD”)

Now as we continue  to look at the rest of this scripture begining with verse 10, of chapter 1 of the book of Galatians

10. For do I now persuade (the Greek word that was translated “persuade” means to convince by arguement of something to be “true or false”.) Now let’s remember that there are Judaisers present in Galatia and are trying to convince the new Christians that they must not only trust in JESUS but also perform other rituals of the Jews, such as: 1: Circumcision, 2: Giving alms, 3: Pray daily, and other things to become a child of GOD. In other words that they must do something to help GOD save them, so Paul is going to argue that salvation will come ONLY by GRACE through FAITH, and not of any WORKS! ‘persuade’ men, or GOD? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. (Paul knows that WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED, FOR PAUL’S GOSPEL IS THE DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS OF NAZERETH.) 11. But I certify (Paul uses the Greek word here, “gno-rid’-zo” which means to “MAKE KNOWN or DECLARE UNTO”) you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. (The Apostle Paul eludes to a time when HE was instructed and taught by the MESSIAH HIMSELF) 12. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. (So Paul continues on here and gives a little bit of history, of when he was taught of MEN, in the schools of JEWISH RELIGION of that day and how it made him act and perform as an ambassador of GOD! ) 13. For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of GOD (The word persecuted in the Greek means, to follow after, ensue, or simply to continue to haunt and harm the “BODY OF CHRIST” by continually chasing the church, not relenting in troubling the advancement of the GOSPEL of CHRIST.), and wasted it: (Paul added the word wasted, (por-theh’-o) which means to “SACK”, to “RAVAGE”, to “DESTROY” or hence “WASTE” Paul really thought he was working for GOD, by the way he had been taught by Gamaliel, who was one of the best teachers of his day and turned out a lot zealots of his class, and Paul was one of the very best.) 14. And profited (or advanced, or was promoted, kind of like some of these “WHIZ-KIDS that you have heard about that a very young age had been placed even into college) in the Jew’s religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous (or “more super abundantly, earnestly practicing) of the traditions of my fathers. 15. But when it pleased GOD, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, (God has a plan, I really love this verse because it shows that GOD has knowlege of you even before you were born and has a JOB or calling already picked out for YOU. (It tells me that GOD already knew that I was going to be saved and preach and teach HIS word, so that even when I was “OVER THE HILL FROM THE NAVY” and was  out hitchhiking all over the east coast, SATAN was trying to kill me or ruin me so that I would not be able to “SERVE THE RISEN SAVIOR” so that JESUS would not be revealed in me and allow others to be saved.) 16. To reveal his SON in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; (That’s the way we reveal CHRIST, is by preaching and teaching Christ to those who are lost, but we have to prepare ourselves to be able to know how to do that and Paul accomplished that by going into ARABIA to allow JESUS HIMSELF to reveal all that Paul needed to deliver the GOSPEL; then PAUL continued to write) immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: (The reason Paul did not consult with flesh and blood, because they cannot teach you what you need to know, the teaching and the preaching must come through the SPIRIT OF GOD.) (So now listen to what Paul did to accomplish that.) verses 17 through 19) 17. Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia,  and returned again unto Damascus. 18. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. 19. But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother. (I believe it is very evident why Paul went to Arabia, he went there to be trained and taught by JESUS, that is why he stayed there a little bit over 3 years, so that he could spend about the same amount time with JESUS that the other Apostles spent, to be able to earn the title of “APOSTLE”.) 20. Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before GOD, I lie not. 21. Afterwards I came in the regions of Syria and Cilicia; 22. And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in CHRIST: 23. But they had heard only, That he which persecuated us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. 24. And they glorified GOD in me.” That is essentially why we are all left here, on earth, after that we have been “BORN AGAIN”! To bring “GLORY and HONOR” to “GOD” “The Father, the Son, and the HOLY GHOST”! If my life, my words and my actions do not GLORIFY GOD in HIS entirety, I am a failure as a WITNESS for the “BODY OF CHRIST!! 

(I am going to end right here, right now, but this is not the end of it either. I am going to start on the book of Romans, preaching and teaching through Romans and referring back to some of Paul’s missionary work.)

Romans 1:1-7 “1. Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2. (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3. Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4. And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 5. By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: 6. Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: 7.To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.” 

Last Wednesday evening we studied about the Apostle Paul and his salvation conversion. This is the most dramatic “Born Again” conversion in the Bible, it is not always that way though, sometimes it is just as simple as Jesus saying “FOLLOW ME” and the person just simply, turns from what they were doing and follows Jesus. But in every case there was a decision made and a turning away from their old way of life to a new life in Christ, and then acknowledging that change, Jesus said in the gospel of John in John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” How does Jesus make that so? Listen very closely please, because to follow Jesus is to take upon yourself a NEW WAY of living, a NEW WAY of walking, and a NEW WAY of talking! Paul said in his letter to the Colossians:

Colossians 3:10 “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:” 

Now, in the early 1960’s, there was a very popular singing group, by the name of  “THE ROOFTOP SINGERS”, that recorded a new song by the name of, “WALK RIGHT IN” , which talked about about a new way of walking and talking, and I mention that only because there was already a “NEW WAY OF WALKING” AND “A NEW WAY OF TALKING” that was made possible about 2000 years ago prior to that song being written. In fact it was those events that had been taking place all around Jerusalem that had caused warrants to be written that gave the Apostle Paul legal authority to bring those “PEOPLE OF THE WAY”(CHRISTIANS) back to Jerusalem to be tried and punished. I just got through reading you a passage of scripture where Jesus used the word “ABUNDANTLY” to describe the life that we would receive after being “BORN AGAIN”. The Greek word for abundantly is (perry-sauce’) it is a compound Greek word that is formed by using (perry) which means (above and beyond) the normal amount in quanity or superior too in quality) and when it is combined with the Greek word (ache) actually implies to have excessive; or exceedingly more than enough or beyond measuement or in other words you have so much that it is vehemently superfluous where you should have plenty enough to share with others. The Apostle Paul and the soldiers with him were on their way to serve those warrants on men and women, and some times whole families, and take them back to Jersulam to be tried. May I ask us all. Do WE here at Walnut Grove Baptist have an abundance of SALVATION to share with those who don’t? Everything that we receive from GOD, is by GRACE through FAITH, we don’t really earn anything in this world of woe, except for the rewards that we will receive or those that have taken away from us, when we stand before the JUDGEMENT SEAT OF CHRIST, by the way, that is where we will give an account of those things which we have done in this body, whether they be GOOD or BAD! The JUDGEMENT SEAT OF CHRIST has nothing whatsoever to do with whether you are “BORN AGAIN” or not, except that, you would not be standing there if you were not saved, those who are not  “BORN AGAIN” will stand before the “GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGEMENT” to see if their names have been written in the “LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE”. 

The Apostle Paul’s name is in the “LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE”. My name is written in the “LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE”. Many, many of you have your name’s written in the “LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE”. The only way to get your name in the  “LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE”, is by being “BORN AGAIN”.

Search your heart today and be sure, very sure, that you have chosen “JESUS”.

1Thessalonians 1:9 (KJV)
“For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;”

The Greek word here that is translated as “turned” is (epee-stref-o) which actually means “CONVERTED”, to turn about, to be going in one direction and abruptly turn around, 180 degrees and begin to go in another direction. There is always a proof of your “REPENTANCE” you will stop the way that you were living and begin to “live another way” it was so evident in the formation of the CHURCH that the “BORN AGAIN” believers were being called “the people of the WAY”, and Paul was a believer who had experienced it in a very dramatic way. So, do we remember the story of Paul’s own turning: Paul was an up and rising “STAR” of the Pharisee’s, Paul was first seen in the Bible as Stephen was stoned to death, and the YOUNG SAUL was present and the witnesses had laid their cloaks or coats at the feet of this young man called Saul, he was of the age of about 27 or 30 and had become a devout follower of Judaism, and was a Pharisee, and those that were witnessing the stoning or also of those that were to be taking part in the stoning. In the book of ACTS there are good accounts of the life of Paul. Paul was a very educated man, he had been born in Tarsus about 4 or 5 AD and he was a Roman, trained and taught by Gamaliel who was, well let me read it out of the scriptures as the actual words spoke by the APOSTLE Paul, in the book of Acts, as he defended himself to the Chief Captain that had just rescued him from a beating at the hands of Jews that were reacting to his preaching.

Acts 22:3 (KJV) “I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.”

We are told some of what this man Gamaliel was like, Please read in Acts 5:34-42 (KJV) Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

What ever else this man was, he was bold, he had nerve to stand in defense of Peter and his group, and you can also see his bravery and his zeal that is also reflected in his student (Saul or Paul), he was not afraid to stand up for what was right and seemed to be in touch with “ALMIGHTY GOD HIMSELF” you have got to love and respect a man like this.

Now the rest of the story that is in the book of Acts, after his declaration of who he was, and of the works and accounts of what had happened,

Paul says; in
Acts 22:4-15 (KJV)
And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished. And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me. And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do. And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus. And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.

We also need, times to look back at our conversion, and see how that GOD changed us and how that HE is always ready to empower us, to embolden us to be HIS WITNESS. We should always, our selves, be ready to respond as HE wants us to and HE will never let us down. HE will speak through any of us that will allow HIM to. This is what it means to:

“TO PRESENT YOUR BODIES A LIVING SACRIFICE UNTO GOD”. Always be available to GOD to be used of HIM.