Discipleship Training by Heather Compton Week 19

Turn your Bibles to Acts 8:1-3 and 9

Let's take a look at the conversion of Saul to Paul. Saul was an awful human.  He didn't just hate Christians; he persecuted and killed them. We see in Acts 8:1 that Saul agreed with the stoning of Stephen. He watched it take place.  When you continue reading, it says that he created havoc in the church and went from place to place taking men and women to prison. He was an evil man. As you begin to read chapter 9, you see that he was headed to Damascus to do the same. He was tenacious in his work to stop Christians. But God! 

We see that Saul encountered God on the road to Damascus, and it altered the course of his whole life. One bright light changed everything. The light knocked him to the ground, and the voice of the Lord spoke to him. The voice said, “How long will you kick against the pricks?” In other words, how long will you fight against the call of God on your life? How long will you do things opposite of what you know you are to do? In that very moment, he had a choice (as do all of us): give my life to God and totally change or just keep doing what I'm doing. You see, the road to Damascus and the bright light and God's voice mean NOTHING, if Saul gets up and never changes. It means nothing if Saul continues to travel on the same path. The encounter with God required Saul to change course.  

Internal Reflection: What bright light has shown up in your path? We see that the light is what got his attention. The Bible says His word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. What has He spoken to you? Are you doing it?

We see in verse 6, immediately after the encounter, Saul says, “Lord, what do you want me to do?” Is that the cry of your heart today? Are you willing to abandon all and follow His plan and will for your life? Paul wasn't just saying words with empty promises; he meant it. He had decided today I will change and I will never look back.  

The minute Saul was able to see, he was baptized and then began preaching the gospel. He wasted NO time. Verse 21 tells us that people were amazed because they knew him before and couldn't believe this was the same man.  In the coming weeks, I am sure we will discuss how Saul turned to Paul and all he did to impact the world for the Lord. The same man who wouldn’t quit in the pursuit of Christians to imprison and murder, used the same energy to pursue the lost!

• What is the Lord pricking you to do?

• Why are you delaying the plan of God? Do it NOW!

• Is your action causing anyone to take notice? People should notice a difference in you.

• Is the shame of your past mistakes/decisions keeping you out of His will? We see no mention of Paul disqualifying himself because of what he had done. He qualifies you!

Memory Verse: (take time to memorize)  Psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.