If You Were On Trial For Your Faith As Saul Was - Would There Be Sufficient Evidence To Convict You?
“I am prepared to go and arrest all these Christians up in Damascus. Every believer in Jesus Christ I find I will bring him back to Jerusalem in chains and we will deal with them here officially. We must rid of ourselves of this horrid and horrendous sect. Those who say the Jesus we crucified was and IS the Messiah must be dealt with once and for all and the nation must be rid of this infestation. Give me authority to ride north to Damascus to carry out this glorious work.”
And then it all happened. the Jesus in whom Saul did not believe met him and transformed him. He was blinded and led by the hand into the city of Damascus where Ananias befriended him and saw that he was healed, baptised in the Holy Spirit and baptised in water.
Saul was so transformed that he could not get out preaching fast enough and that landed him in trouble. Yes, soon, the hunter was hunted and friends had to help him escape from Damascus at night over the city wall in a basket.
We read of all this in the New Testament book of Acts and in Chapter 9 at 26, we read of how Saul made his way back to Jerusalem, from Damascus. He would not have one single friend in the whole world at this point in his life. Returning to Jerusalem was not going to be any easier to begin with. He tried to join the Christian fellowship there.
Not only was this a hard test for Saul, it was also going to be a hard test for them. To begin with they would NOT accept him. Well, would you have accepted and received him with open arms?
And - how would you react if you had tried to get into the Jerusalem Fellowship and someone had said - “No - No - we are not allowing you in here. We don’t trust you. You are just a wolf in sheep’s clothing - off you go - scarper!” Would that put you off the Church of Jesus Christ for good? Might you decide never to have anything further to do with the Church - ever?
These disciples in Jerusalem, including the leadership, were suspicious. Was Saul a planted spy professing conversion? They were afraid, and fear can make a man do funny things.
Remember, some of their relatives were in jail because of Saul’s violent behaviour.
Hundreds had to flee from the city because of Saul’s hatred of Christians. They had lost their homes, their jobs, their livelihood. One beloved brother was dead because Saul had issued the final command to stone Stephen to death. They had every cause to be cautious.
Here he is, saying that he is a Christian - a believer - a disciple - that he has met Jesus Christ - and that Jesus has changed him totally. Hard to believe?
Do you remember Barnabas, the man who was always going around encouraging everyone - the man who was so generous in his giving? Do you know about Barnabas? He is one of life’s most wonderful characters.
Barnabas goes up to Saul, takes him aside, hears his testimony, and realises that what he is professing and claiming is for real. The evidence is there. Yes, Saul has been transformed, and this new friend, Barnabas, introduces him to The Christian Church in Jerusalem, and Saul finally joins the disciples there. Here is another instance of how important a friend can be.
Do you need a special friend today to help you? Or, are you needed to befriend someone who is desperately looking for a friend who will listen and understand?
Sandy Shaw
Sandy Shaw is Pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship, Chaplain at Inverness Prison, and Nairn Academy, and serves on The Children’s Panel in Scotland, and has travelled extensively over these past years teaching, speaking, in America, Canada, South Africa, Australia, making 12 visits to Israel conducting Tours and Pilgrimages, and most recently in Uganda and Kenya, ministering at Pastors and Leaders Seminars, in the poor areas surrounding Kampala, Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.
He broadcasts regularly on WSHO radio out of New Orleans, and writes a weekly commentary at http://www.studylight.org entitled “Word from Scotland” on various biblical themes, as well as a weekly newspaper column.
His M.A. and B.D. degrees are from The University of Edinburgh, and he continues to run and exercise regularly to maintain a level of physical fitness.
Sandy Shaw
sandyshaw63@yahoo.com
Tags: Arrest, Fact, Faith, Inspiration, Kill, Leadership, motivation, spiritual, Story, Trial, true
Discussion Area - Leave a Comment