The Bible Speaks - Transformed

[00:00:00] Welcome to The Bible Speaks with your host Elgin Carelock. The Bible Speaks is a daily podcast dedicated to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, rightly dividing the word of truth and learning how to apply it to our daily lives.

[00:00:55] You may contact Elgin at the address given at the end of the broadcast. And now here's Elgin. Brothers and sisters, I welcome you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit to another edition of The Bible Speaks.

[00:01:15] Today we're going to explore one of the most dramatic and powerful stories of transformation in the New Testament, the journey of Paul. From a fierce persecutor of Christians to one of the most dedicated apostles of Jesus Christ, bringing the good news to the Gentiles.

[00:01:35] Paul's story is not just a tale of personal change, but a profound demonstration of God's grace, redemption and purpose. It is a reminder that no one is beyond the reach of God's transformative power. So let's take a closer look at how this incredible journey unfolded.

[00:01:58] Our spiritual reference comes from Galatians chapter 1 verses 13 through 16. And reading from the New International Version, it reads, For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, How intensely I persecuted the Church of God and tried to destroy it.

[00:02:25] I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when God, who set me apart from my mother's womb and called me by His grace,

[00:02:41] was pleased, He revealed His Son in me so that I may preach Him among the Gentiles. My immediate response was not to consult any human being. Before Paul became the apostle we know today, he was known as Saul of Tarsus.

[00:03:03] Saul was a devout Jew, a Pharisee and a man deeply committed to the law of Moses. His zeal for his faith led him to become one of the fiercest persecutors of the early Christian Church.

[00:03:18] He saw the followers of Jesus as a threat to the Jewish faith and sought to eradicate this growing movement. Acts chapter 8 verse 3 gives us a glimpse into Saul's early actions. It reads, But Saul began to destroy the Church, going from house to house.

[00:03:40] He dragged off both men and women and put them in prison. Saul's persecution was driven by a belief that he was doing God's will by defending the purity of the Jewish faith. He was present at the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, and approved of his execution.

[00:04:03] Saul was determined to stop the spread of the gospel and he wasn't just focused on Jerusalem. He sought to chase down Christians wherever they fled. Acts 9 verses 1-2 tells us, Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples.

[00:04:25] He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogue in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. But God had different plans for Saul.

[00:04:45] Saul's journey to Damascus, armed with authority to arrest Christians, became the setting for one of the most profound encounters in the Bible. Acts 9 verses 3-6 recounts the events. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.

[00:05:06] He fell on the ground and heard a voice say to him, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? Who are you, Lord? Saul asked. I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, he replied. Now get up and go into the city and you will be healed.

[00:05:24] Be told what you must do. This moment was life-changing. Saul, blinded by the intense light, was led by his companions into Damascus. For three days he was without sight, and he neither ate nor drank. During this time, Saul was in a state of deep reflection and repentance,

[00:05:47] wrestling with the reality that the very Jesus he had been persecuting was indeed the risen Lord. God then sent a disciple named Ananias to Saul. Ananias was understandably hesitant, knowing Saul's reputation, but God reassured him. In Acts 9 verses 15-16,

[00:06:12] But the Lord said to Ananias, Go, this man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.

[00:06:28] Ananias obeyed, and when he laid his hand on Saul, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he regained his sight. Saul was baptized, received the Holy Spirit, and began to eat and regain his strength. This encounter marked Saul's transformation into Paul, the apostle of Jesus Christ.

[00:06:52] From this point forward, Paul's life took a complete turn. He moved from being a persecutor of the church to one of his most fervent advocates. So what this tells us is that no matter what you've done, no matter where you've been, that God can use you.

[00:07:16] You could live in a life of sin and outside of God's will for decades. But when it is the appointed time, he will reach out to you. If you heed his calling, you then set on your journey to become a great apostle for Christ.

[00:07:36] Not in the same way as those who literally saw Jesus, but those of us who have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior and received the Holy Spirit as our onboard guidance system. After his conversion, Paul didn't immediately start in his public ministry.

[00:07:56] Instead, he spent time in Arabia and later returned to Damascus, where he began preaching that Jesus is the Son of God. This was a shocking transformation for those who knew him as a persecutor.

[00:08:11] Paul's ministry was unique in that he was specifically called to be an apostle to the Gentiles. This was a radical shift because the early church was primarily Jewish, and the idea of extending the gospel to the Gentiles was groundbreaking.

[00:08:29] Paul's first missionary journey recorded in Acts 13-14 marked the beginning of his efforts to spread the gospel across the Roman Empire. He traveled extensively, planning churches, preaching the gospel, and facing significant opposition and persecution himself. Acts 13 verse 47 highlights Paul's mission,

[00:08:56] For this is what the Lord had commanded us. I have made you a light for the Gentiles that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth. Paul's dedication to his mission was unwavering. He faced numerous hardships, including imprisonment, beatings, stoning, shipwrecks,

[00:09:19] and constant threats against his life. Yet he remained steadfast, driven by the calling he received from Christ. At the heart of Paul's ministry was the message of the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ. Paul's writing in the New Testament, especially in letters

[00:09:40] like Romans, Galatians, and Ephesians, articulate the core of this message. Paul emphasized that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by works or adherence to the law. This was particularly important in his ministry to the Gentiles

[00:10:01] who were not bound by Jewish custom and laws. Ephesians 2 verse 8-9 encapsulates this message. For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from ourselves. It is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.

[00:10:25] Paul also stressed the unity of Jews and Gentiles in Christ. In Christ a dividing wall of hostility was broken down, and both groups were made one in him. Galatians 3 verse 28 says, There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free,

[00:10:46] nor is there male and female, for you all are one in Christ Jesus. Paul's message was transformative not only for individuals but for the early church as a whole. He helped to shape the understanding that the gospel was for all people,

[00:11:07] regardless of their background, and that in Christ all are equal. Paul's journey from persecutor to proclaimer of the gospel is a powerful testimony to the grace and power of God. His life teaches us several important lessons. First, no one is

[00:11:28] beyond the reach of God's grace. Paul's dramatic conversion shows that God can take even the most unlikely individuals and use them for his purposes. It reminds us that God's plans are far greater than our past mistakes or failures. Second, Paul's unwavering commitment

[00:11:50] to his calling teaches us the importance of perseverance in our faith. Despite facing immense challenges, Paul never wavered in his mission to spread the gospel. His life encouraged us to remain steadfast in our own calling, trusting that God will equip us for the tasks he has

[00:12:10] set before us. Finally, Paul's message of grace and unity in Christ is as relevant today as it was in the first century. In a world that often divides and separates, the gospel

[00:12:27] calls us to embrace our unity in Christ and to extend grace to others as we have received it. Brothers and sisters, as we reflect on Paul's journey, let's be inspired to follow his example

[00:12:43] of faith, dedication, and love for the gospel. Let's allow God to use our lives just as he did Paul's to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to those around us. I thank you for spending time

[00:12:59] with me on today and I look forward to our conversation on tomorrow. Until then, God bless. The Bible Speaks is sponsored by C Squared Realty and New Gen Construction Group to help spread the gospel to the corners of the earth. If anything you've heard poured into your life,

[00:13:28] please share it with someone. You can find The Bible Speaks on Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer, and many more. Follow us on YouTube at The Bible Speaks online. You may contact Elgin at P.O. Box 5582, Ocala, Florida 34478 or by email at thebiblespeaksonlineatgmail.com.