Sometimes a message is so important we need to get right into it. For example, if I see the car you are in has flames spewing from underneath, am I going to come up to you and speak about the weather or am I going to tell you, "You need to get out of the car RIGHT NOW" !!!! Today's message is one of the most important messages we will ever hear or read and I say that especially to myself!
And so we are today. We as human beings don't need to be taught to be bad. A little child knows how to lie, demand full attention, be jealous and of course be covetous. (And to my brethren in the pulpit, the word is "COV-ET-TUSS" and not "COV-ET-TISH".) My question to you this morning is one many people will think is outlandish because we live in America, most of us are not terrorists and we would never do such a "thing". The "THING" I am referring to is how many times have YOU persecuted Jesus Christ of Nazareth???
Lets turn to the Book of Acts, Chapter 9. This is one of the accounts of the Apostle Paul's conversion given by him with other renditions in Acts 22 and 26. At the time, Paul is still known as Saul and his main goal in life is to either kill or make life miserable for Christians .In other words, "persecute" them. (This Saul should not be confused with the Old Testament Saul.) The coverage of his conversion is easy to read, even in the KJV version so I ask you to take the time this week to read those conversion stories in Acts 9, 22 and 26. In Acts Chapter 9, Saul is on the way to Damascus to "get" Christians when the trip comes to an abrupt stop because of what may appear to be the scene from a 1950's science fiction movie....the bright light of the sun and a second bright light of the SON!" Two bright lights when you look up! Understand, Saul has only heard about Jesus. There is no account in the Bible of Saul meeting or seeing Jesus in person. In fact, historians believe Saul was born just after the events at the cross.
Lets look at Acts Chapter 9 verse 3...Out of the bright light of the Son, Saul hears Jesus speaking directly to him: "Saul, Saul why are you persecuting me?" and in verse 5, Jesus again says: "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting....!" (More modern English added by me.) What have we here???? Saul NEVER saw Jesus before this! Saul NEVER spoke to Jesus directly before this! Saul NEVER laid hands on Jesus in his life! How can Saul be persecuting Jesus?
Do you see the incredibly important connection here? To persecute or mistreat believers is equivalent to PERSECUTING JESUS! Let me say that again....TO PERSECUTE OR MISTREAT A BELIEVER IS EQUIVALENT TO PERSECUTING JESUS!!!! What a MONUMENTAL doctrine! Let me make it even plainer. Jesus was in Heaven next to The Father while Saul was on his anti-Christian rampage! One believer touched on Earth is felt in Heaven! Being one with Christ (Romans 6:5) means He bears our grief and sorrows.
So then, I ask, have you ever, ever, ever persecuted Jesus and if I may, I would suspect the answer is a resounding YES! I know I have!
What are we to do? How do we know who is or isn't a believer unless, in some way they tell us? The answer is WE DON'T KNOW and as such, you and I need to treat everyone we meet as if they are and isn't this a mark of living a Godly life anyway?
Where do we start? the last five of the Ten Commandments deal with our human relationships which say we should not kill, commit adultery, steal, lie or covet. You will find the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5 with a VERY IMPORTANT explanation given in the Beattitudes, Matthew 5. Not only those guidelines but don't forget YOUR MOUTH. You do more damage with your mouth than you can ever imagine and the book of Proverbs is rich with how you should use it. Check out Proverbs 10:18 and 15:4 as examples. Other important verses include Romans 12:18 getting along with others; Eph. 4:32 kindness; Proverbs 17:17 love and Col. 3:13 forgiveness.
Our next steps...find a private place and talk to God. If you're a new Christian, you talk to Him just as you would talk to anyone. If you and I were speaking, you wouldn't be using King James language, would you? You don't need to do that in prayer, either. In that fictitious conversation between us, you wouldn't mention my first name every other sentence, would you? You don't need to do that when praying to The Father, either as that "vain repetition" as described in Matthew 6:7. First praise God for the blessings he's given you and those blessings may not be a winning lottery ticket but most certainly are the ability to read His Word, hear His Word, His divine protection and providing for your needs. Ask The Father to forgive you for persecuting His son, Jesus Christ of Nazareth and ask Him to help you with this in the future.
Yes, we are to treat all with a Godly example even if they treat us like garbage. Its one of the most difficult things we can do but God will help you. Just ask Him. As has been said many times over by many others, "Obey God, and leave the rest up to Him!"
And so we are today. We as human beings don't need to be taught to be bad. A little child knows how to lie, demand full attention, be jealous and of course be covetous. (And to my brethren in the pulpit, the word is "COV-ET-TUSS" and not "COV-ET-TISH".) My question to you this morning is one many people will think is outlandish because we live in America, most of us are not terrorists and we would never do such a "thing". The "THING" I am referring to is how many times have YOU persecuted Jesus Christ of Nazareth???
Lets turn to the Book of Acts, Chapter 9. This is one of the accounts of the Apostle Paul's conversion given by him with other renditions in Acts 22 and 26. At the time, Paul is still known as Saul and his main goal in life is to either kill or make life miserable for Christians .In other words, "persecute" them. (This Saul should not be confused with the Old Testament Saul.) The coverage of his conversion is easy to read, even in the KJV version so I ask you to take the time this week to read those conversion stories in Acts 9, 22 and 26. In Acts Chapter 9, Saul is on the way to Damascus to "get" Christians when the trip comes to an abrupt stop because of what may appear to be the scene from a 1950's science fiction movie....the bright light of the sun and a second bright light of the SON!" Two bright lights when you look up! Understand, Saul has only heard about Jesus. There is no account in the Bible of Saul meeting or seeing Jesus in person. In fact, historians believe Saul was born just after the events at the cross.
Lets look at Acts Chapter 9 verse 3...Out of the bright light of the Son, Saul hears Jesus speaking directly to him: "Saul, Saul why are you persecuting me?" and in verse 5, Jesus again says: "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting....!" (More modern English added by me.) What have we here???? Saul NEVER saw Jesus before this! Saul NEVER spoke to Jesus directly before this! Saul NEVER laid hands on Jesus in his life! How can Saul be persecuting Jesus?
Do you see the incredibly important connection here? To persecute or mistreat believers is equivalent to PERSECUTING JESUS! Let me say that again....TO PERSECUTE OR MISTREAT A BELIEVER IS EQUIVALENT TO PERSECUTING JESUS!!!! What a MONUMENTAL doctrine! Let me make it even plainer. Jesus was in Heaven next to The Father while Saul was on his anti-Christian rampage! One believer touched on Earth is felt in Heaven! Being one with Christ (Romans 6:5) means He bears our grief and sorrows.
So then, I ask, have you ever, ever, ever persecuted Jesus and if I may, I would suspect the answer is a resounding YES! I know I have!
What are we to do? How do we know who is or isn't a believer unless, in some way they tell us? The answer is WE DON'T KNOW and as such, you and I need to treat everyone we meet as if they are and isn't this a mark of living a Godly life anyway?
Where do we start? the last five of the Ten Commandments deal with our human relationships which say we should not kill, commit adultery, steal, lie or covet. You will find the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5 with a VERY IMPORTANT explanation given in the Beattitudes, Matthew 5. Not only those guidelines but don't forget YOUR MOUTH. You do more damage with your mouth than you can ever imagine and the book of Proverbs is rich with how you should use it. Check out Proverbs 10:18 and 15:4 as examples. Other important verses include Romans 12:18 getting along with others; Eph. 4:32 kindness; Proverbs 17:17 love and Col. 3:13 forgiveness.
Our next steps...find a private place and talk to God. If you're a new Christian, you talk to Him just as you would talk to anyone. If you and I were speaking, you wouldn't be using King James language, would you? You don't need to do that in prayer, either. In that fictitious conversation between us, you wouldn't mention my first name every other sentence, would you? You don't need to do that when praying to The Father, either as that "vain repetition" as described in Matthew 6:7. First praise God for the blessings he's given you and those blessings may not be a winning lottery ticket but most certainly are the ability to read His Word, hear His Word, His divine protection and providing for your needs. Ask The Father to forgive you for persecuting His son, Jesus Christ of Nazareth and ask Him to help you with this in the future.
Yes, we are to treat all with a Godly example even if they treat us like garbage. Its one of the most difficult things we can do but God will help you. Just ask Him. As has been said many times over by many others, "Obey God, and leave the rest up to Him!"
