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Peersecuting Preacher Prosecuted

by Jerry Ousley  
10/21/2011 / Christian Living


Now just what do I mean by that? Shouldn't I have said "Persecuted preacher prosecuted?" Well, no. There's only one person I can think of who fits this bill and that's none other than the Apostle Paul. Originally his name was Saul. Here was a man full of zeal. He was very educated and had become a Pharisee. In his heart he really did want to serve God. He had studied under one of the greatest minds in Jewish history during his time, none other than Gamaliel. He had learned the law inside and out and was very dedicated to what he had been taught.

Then came along this Christian sect and their teaching was tearing up everything. His superiors were out to get them and being an obedient and faithful Pharisee he was completely with the program. He knew just what to do too; he began a campaign to annihilate this thorn in the flesh of his religious party. His persecution of Christians began right there in Jerusalem and he succeeded in his efforts to the point that they scattered all over Israel and even spread into neighboring countries. But that didn't stop Saul; he started organizing trips to other cities continuing his reign of terror on Christians. He would raid their meeting places, take them captive and even have them tried and executed. His name was dreaded in the Christian community. There's no doubt that he was the persecutor.

The day came when he was on his way, along with a small posse, to Damascus intending to stamp out a group of Christians who had taken refuge there. But just outside the city a strange thing happened. A bright light appeared out of nowhere and he was stricken blind. Then a voice began to speak to him telling him that He was Jesus the One Saul had really been persecuting. The men with him saw the light but didn't hear the voice and they led him into the city. After three days God spoke to one of the Christians, Ananias by name, telling him what had happened to Saul and further instructing him to pay this man a visit and pray for him. Of course Ananias knew who Saul was and was a bit concerned about making himself known to this guy. He was reluctant but then I would be too, knowing his reputation. To make a long story short, Ananias was obedient to God, prayed for Saul and scales fell from his eyes returning his sight.

From that day forth Saul became a preacher. We read in Acts 9:22, "But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt at Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ." In fact he now became the persecuted and the only way he could leave Damascus was to have the Christians lower him over the wall of the city in a basket. He became Paul, the great Apostle to the Gentiles. Eventually he was captured and in the process appealed to Caesar. The day came, according to tradition, that he was beheaded by the Roman Empire because of his faith, his preaching and his dedication to the Church of Jesus Christ.

There's a great example for all of us in the life of this man. Many may believe that they are dedicated to God. I've talked to a lot people who believe that their good morals qualify them as candidates of Heaven. Thank God for good moral people especially these days; they're getting kind of hard to find. But folks, our morals can be put in the same category as Paul's. He too was a good moral person by Jewish standards. The only way we can become candidates for Heaven is by doing just what Paul did; come to Jesus, stop persecuting Him and become a defender of the faith.

But there are consequences. Just as Paul moved from the persecutor to the persecuted we too might have to deal with not being liked very well because we've become a Christian. We might be labeled as a "radical." We may be falsely accused just as Paul was in Jerusalem leading to his imprisonment and eventually his death. We might not be put in prison and die for our faith (and in some countries this very well could happen), but it's possible that we could be looked down upon and considered less of a citizen.

Of course in the end Paul wound up with Jesus, the One he had persecuted but then had fallen in love with. Regardless what may happen to us, our faith in Christ will ultimately make us the victor. So what about it; can you be placed in this category too? Would the headlines read "Persecuting Preacher Prosecuted?"

Jerry D. Ousley is the author of ?Soul Challenge?, ?Soul Journey?, ?Ordeal?, ?The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional and his first novel ?The Shoe Tree.? Visit our website at spiritbread.com to download these and more completely free of charge.

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