The Changing Power Of Christ In Our Lives
I ran across an interesting article the other day…
(November 26, 2008)--The head of the history department at Virginia Military Institute is suggesting that the Apostle Paul may have been spying for the Romans.
Rose Mary Sheldon, the co-author of "Operation Messiah: St. Paul, Roman Intelligence and the Birth of Christianity," presented her thesis last week at the International Spy Museum in Washington.
She suggests that Paul may have faked his conversion on the road to Damascus so he could infiltrate Christian congregations and report to Rome on suspicious elements in synagogues across the empire.
Sheldon said Paul's interaction with Roman officials seems to have been remarkably friendly, and she notes that in his letter to the Romans, he urges Christians to obey them.
Many people have trouble seeing anything from a different viewpoint other than their own. They can imagine no other motives but those that their own actions would be. They see thieves because they are full of thievery. They are suspicious because they are devious themselves. They see hypocrisy because they are false in their own actions. While not knowing Rose Mary Sheldon personally, I do know many that have not experienced the saving power of Jesus and see their skepticism of salvation. I understand here that Ms. Sheldon may well see a spy under every rock, but that view must totally discount the changing power of Jesus Christ.
It is my contention that Jesus does make and is the difference. Paul himself penned for us in 2 Cor. 5:17…
2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
We can see in Paul’s life a marked change. Here is a man that is spending his time persecuting Christians. Not for any political advantage for the Roman empire, but for his zeal as a religious Jew. Paul was convinced of his stand towards the Christians as evidenced in his testimony in Acts 26.
Acts
26:9-12 KJV 9I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many
things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I
shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when
they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.
11And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them
to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them
even unto strange cities.
12Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from
the chief priests,
So most of us have heard what happened to Paul, as we continue in Acts…
Acts
26:13-28 KJV 13At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from
heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which
journeyed with me.
14And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking
unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it
is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
15And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou
persecutest.
16But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee
for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things
which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
17Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles,
unto whom now I send thee,
18To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness
to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive
forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith
that is in me.
19Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly
vision:
20But showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and
throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they
should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
21For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about
to kill me.
22Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day,
witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which
the prophets and Moses did say should come:
23That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first
that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to
the Gentiles.
24And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice,
Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
25But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the
words of truth and soberness.
26For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak
freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for
this thing was not done in a corner.
27King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou
believest.
28Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a
Christian.
Spy or not? I contend that Paul was different after his Damascan trip. He himself explained it in verse 20, “…that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.”
Has your life been changed?
Are you different than you used to be?
Have you been saved?
Let’s look at some things this morning that deal with our thought, The Changing Power Of Christ In Our Lives.
Paul went from respectful leader to a despised outcast.
Acts
9:1-2 KJV 1And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter
against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if
he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them
bound unto Jerusalem.
Man in exile – Acts 9:23-25
Acts
9:23-25 KJV 23And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took
counsel to kill him:
24But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the
gates day and night to kill him.
25Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by
the wall in a basket.
Galatians 6:15 KJV For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
Not our rule-keeping
Not our connections in this world
Not ourselves at all, but Jesus Christ
Titus 3:5 KJV Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
As we read in Paul’s account in Acts 26:
16But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared
unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these
things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear
unto thee;
17Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles,
unto whom now I send thee,
18To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness
to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive
forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith
that is in me.
19Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly
vision:
Our sinning should stop
Our master should change
Our friends should notice
Our destination should differ
Our stories should not only be different, our listeners should be different
Etc.
Acts 21:13 KJV Then Paul
answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to
be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
Acts
28:30-31 KJV 30And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house,
and received all that came in unto him,
31Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which
concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
The Lord explained it:
John
15:11 KJV These things have I spoken
unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be
full.
Gary Marcum – New Beginnings Church – 120708am