A Change That Shows God’s Sovereign Power

A Change That Shows God’s Sovereign Power

                        [“Q”] According to Philippians 3:8, Paul counted everything as loss because of knowing the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus as Lord. Paul helped in killing Stephen. He hurt and killed many other Christians. But this story shows how God’s sovereign power can easily change anyone’s perspective on Jesus.

            [2][4] During the first century AD, there was a smug man named Saul, who was an elite Jew who studied under Gamaliel. [5] Beacause of his strong, Jewish heritage, Saul hated Christians, thinking that their beliefs interfered with the Laws of Moses. [3] Savagely, Saul sabotaged Christian homes and mercilessly their residents into dank jails. He often killed Christians whom he found extra irritating. [1] Saul believed that many infesting Christians were lurking in Damascus. So, he rashly got permission to get rid of the Christians in Damascus.

            After which Saul angrily went to Damascus. [3] Suddenly, on the way, a bright light shone that threwhim of his horse. [4] Being aghast, Saul cowered in front of the light as he heard the words, [C] “Why are you persecuting me?” [2] After the incident, Saul waited for his eyes to adjust back to the hot afternoon on the road to Damascus. They never did, within a few seconds, Saul started to realize that he was blind. After reaching his destination with the help of his escort, Saul, who was changing, did not eat or drink for three days. That night, Saul had a dream, “Ananias will come lay hands on you”

            [1] Ananias had also received a dream, “Go lay hands on Saul.” [4] Thinking Saul might hurt him, Ananias carefully journeyed to Saul. After reaching his destination, Ananias reluctantly laid hands on Saul and immediately Saul received his sight! With haste Saul promptly changed his name to Paul and quickly got baptized. [2] After gaining the necessary knowledge, Paul began his journey around the globe proclaiming the words, [C] “Jesus is Lord!” Astonishingly, God used Paul, who was the most unlikely man, to devotedly tell his message. Even though Ananias’ vision was questionable, God meant it for good.

            [3] Originally, Saul hated Christians, but God changed his hatred into love and passion. [1] God can change the hardest heart. God can make the most drastic changes, which shows his sovereign power.