Author: evangelist_breland

Luke 3:2b-6, NLT

The word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness of Judaea (v.2b). He went throughout the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins (v.3). When John was just an infant, Zacharias prophesied: “for you will go before the face of the Lord, to prepare his ways (1:76b), To give knowledge of salvation to His people 
By the forgiveness of their sins (1:77).” 

 Luke 3:2b-6 prophesied of the promise of a voice crying out in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. His message was that repentance had to come before their sins would be forgiven. The Greek word for repentance, metanoia, involves a change of mind, turning from sin to God. The baptism of repentance John preached called for a spiritual change of mind for the forgiveness of sins with the purpose of living a life of faith – a life committed to God. And water baptism would symbolize outwardly that you have changed inwardly, accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Luke spoke figuratively of making preparation for the coming of Christ in verses 4-6. “’Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him (v.4)! The valleys will be filled, and the mountains and hills made level. The curves will be straightened, and the rough places made smooth (v.5). And then all people will see the salvation sent from God (v.6).’”

Give God glory for His salvation!

Acts 9:19-22, NKJV

Saul, now being spiritually transformed, trusted, and obeyed the Lord. After fasting and praying three days and the return of his sight, Saul got up and was baptized. 

He ate some food and was strengthened. Then he spent some days with the disciples at Damascus (v.19). He openly proclaimed first to those at Damascus, then at Jerusalem and throughout the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing deeds and living lives which are consistent with repentance (Acts 26:20, AMP). Saul immediately went to the synagogues and preached “Jesus is the Son of God” (v.20). 

All who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests (v.21)?” They had heard of Saul’s history of wreaking havoc on Christians in Jerusalem – how he tried to destroy the church of God. “But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ” (v.22). Recall that when Ananias laid hands on Saul, the Lord Jesus restored his sight and filled him with the Holy Spirit” (v.17). No longer would he zealously persecute Christians; God converted him for His purpose – a voice to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to set sinners free.

No matter what your history is, today God is waiting on you to accept His call to repent and turn to Him. Clap your hands and shout, “Glory!”

Acts 9:15-18

After Saul’s life-changing meeting with Jesus, the Lord told a certain disciple named Ananias in a vision to arise and go lay his hand on Saul so that he might receive his sight. Ananias protested this frightening assignment; he had heard of the havoc this man caused in the lives of Christians in Jerusalem. However, God is sovereign; His purpose for Ananias would prevail. In v.15 God told him to go because He had chosen this Jesus persecutor as a vessel of His to carry His name and proclaim Christ to both Jews and Gentiles. Also, in v.16, He said that He will show Saul how many things he must suffer for His name’s sake. Romans 8 says that theSpirit assured believers that they are children of God (Rom. 8:16). We are His heirs and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His spiritual blessing and inheritance], if indeed we share in His suffering so that we may also share in His glory (Rom. 8:17).

Ananias obeyed the Lord. He went to Judas’ house on the street called straight. He went in and laying his hands on Saul: “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit” (v.17). “Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes; he received his sight; and he arose and was baptized” (v.18). Ananias hesitated to meet Saul, but he obeyed God and fulfilled his mission. Thank God for his obedience.

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

Acts 9:10-16

God is purposeful and leaves no stones unturned. In a vision at Damascus, He spoke to a certain disciple named Ananias (v.10) and told him to get up and go to the street called Straight. There, at the house of Judas, ask for Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying (v.11). I imagine he was thanking God for breaking the shackles of bondage to Satan and turning him to The Way of God by believing in the same Jesus he had been persecuting. At the same time God prepared Saul for Ananias’s visit, showing him in a vision that Ananias was coming in and putting his hand on him so that he might receive his sight (v.12). 

Ananias did not want this mission; he was frightened by it. He told the Lord that he had heard from many about this man and how much evil he had committed against saints of God at Jerusalem (v.13). Here he is in Damascus with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who “confess You as Savior” (v.14). However, the Lord told Ananias to go, saying that He had purposely chosen Saul as His vessel to bear His name before Gentiles, kings, and the sons of Israel (v.15). The Lord declared that He would show Saul how many things he must suffer for His name’s sake (v.16).

Like Ananias, you may have been given a mission and are afraid. Today, put your trust in God; He’ll give you what you need to fulfill His purpose. 

Clap your hands and shout, “Glory!”

Acts 9:1-9, NKJV

Saul was “still breathing threats and murder” against those who walked in the Way of the Lord. He was so driven to persecute the church that he asked the high priest for letters to the synagogues of Damascus. He intended to arrest and bound Christians in chains and bring them to Jerusalem for punishment. 

As Saul traveled, coming near to Damascus, he had a blinding encounter with Jesus, whose light shone around him from heaven (v.3). He fell to the ground and heard the voice of the Lord ask him why he was persecuting 

Him (v.4). Saul pursued and harassed Christians probably never thinking he actually persecuted Christ until he heard the voice of Jesus. When we’ve been lied on, abused, criticized, and etc.: “Happy is the man who doesn’t give in and do wrong when he is tempted, for afterwards he will get as his reward – the crown of life that God has promised those who love him” (James 1:12).   

Saul, trembling and astonished, asked the Lord what He wanted him to do. The Lord told him to arise and go into the city, where he would be told what he must do (v.6). The men with him stood speechless; they heard a voice but did not see anyone (v.7). Saul arose as commanded; he opened his eyes but was blind and did not see any man. So, they led him by the hand into Damascus (v.8). He experienced three days of blindness, and a three-day fast (v.9).

Decide today to get off the road to Damascus; stop persecuting Christ! Clap your hands and shout, “Glory!”