Jesus, lover of my soul, Jesus I will never let you go…
“And I said, 'Lord, they themselves understand that in one synagogue after another I used to imprison andbeat those who believed in You. And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing by approving, and watching out for the coats of those who were slaying him.' And He said to me, 'Go! For I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'"(Acts 22:19-21)
In Chapter 22 Paul gives his testimony. Paul tells how he came face to face with Jesus and heard his condemnation, ““I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” (v 9:5) He also heard Jesus' calling upon his life, to get up and go where I tell you. He then he went to Annais, and he was baptized and confirmed the calling on his life. (9:18) Later he went to church (the Temple) and he was praying to Jesus, and Jesus again called to him. And what was Paul’s response to Jesus’ call? He looked back into his past, and focused on his past, the things he had done in his past, and tried to back out of his calling. Jesus however, looked forward to his future and the things he would do. Paul saw his past. Jesus saw his future. Paul lived into his past failed, and misguided plans. Jesus lives into his future great plans for him. Paul remembered and retained. Jesus forgot and forgave. Paul saw himself through eyes of condemnation. Jesus saw Paul through the eyes of grace.
When Paul accepted Jesus' grace and forgiveness. When he surrendered his past to Christ, Jesus anointed his past, covered it with his blood, broke any chains it held on Paul, and sanctified his past as an instrument to be used to His glory and the spreading of the Gospel of grace and forgiveness. Paul accepted Jesus as his Lord and surrendered everything to Christ including his past, and the result was these amazing stories and testimonies of his we are now reading about now in Acts.
Insert your name into these three versus and read them slowly out loud to yourself for a few minutes. And embrace the truth Jesus is speaking over you.
2 Corinthians 5:17-18
17Therefore if _________ is in Christ, he/she is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
Revelation 21:5
5And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making _________ new "
Romans 8:1-2
Therefore there is now no condemnation for ________ who is in Christ Jesus.
You accepted Jesus as you Lord, and you need to surrendered everything to Christ including your past. The result of your surrender will be an amazing testimony of how Christ used you to spread his gospel of free grace and forgiveness. We are in a time of praying together and reading through The Book Of The Acts Of The Apostlest as a church to be guided by the Holy Spirit into new areas of ministry for us. This is only possible if we step out of the old areas.
Next, insert the names of at least one friend, co worker, family member, or someone you know who needs to hear these words into the verses above and pray these versus out loud over them. If so led call/text and share these versus with them.
We are nearing the end of Acts Please remember to.
Spend time daily reading and reflecting on our chapter each day.
Fast one day a week in prayer over The church.
Spend at least one solid hour a week in prayer, you can use the prayer wheel.