The Apostle of Reconciliation

 The Conversion of Saul to become Paul, your Apostle

Part 2

PAUL'S MINISTRY

by: Kitty Wells

1. The Lord said, "Stand up, Paul, and dry up your tears,

You must preach my Gospel for many long years.

Go to Damascus, the street that's called Straight.

You'll meet Ananias, and there you must wait.

CHORUS 1:

I counted on Jonah, I counted on Cain,

I counted on Adam, but he was the same.

I counted on Judas, but he proved untrue.

So go tell the world, Paul, I'm counting on you."

2. Three days have gone by, Lord, and yet I don't see,

But here stands my brother talking with me.

He said, "Brother Paul, the Lord in the sky

Has sent me to heal you and open your eyes.

CHORUS:

3. "I'll send you to the Gentiles, I'll send you to Rome,

But Paul, you must suffer till I call you home.

You'll sleep in the desert, you'll be shipwrecked at sea,

But keep right on preaching my Gospel for Me."

Dear Gentle reader,

What was the reason that God chose Saul? Read the following verses and then we’ll talk :

"And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:" Acts 9:9-15

First of all note the order in which Paul was to go sent by God: the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:" and as you read the Book of Acts you will find that there is a problem for Paul first went to the Children of Israel, then to the kings and then finely to the Gentiles (non Jewish people) just the opposite of what we just read together! Why? Because I believe that the Holy Spirit of God wanted us to sit up and take notice of the commission that Paul was to receive. Called by God to a High calling To go to the world (the world outside the little country of Israel). Remember what Jesus told the 12? These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, GO NOT into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: (Matthew 10:5)

Each step and stop that we take is ordered by the Lord Christ Jesus. It was necessary that the "Lost Sheep of the house of Israel" be given the chance first to receive their Messiah [their anointed one-sent by God to rescue the 12 tribes as was promised in the Hebrew scriptures]. So the 12, Peter, James, John and the others were sent out with the Gospel of the Kingdom. Even as John the baptizer proclaimed in the wilderness " In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 3:1-2) And after John was thrown into prison Christ came on the scene and began to preach Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;

And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;

The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matthew 4:12-17)

What was this Kingdom that John and Jesus were preaching about?

The Kingdom (or Sovereignty) of HEAVEN

Has Messiah for its King;

It is from heaven; and under the heavens upon the earth;

It is limited in its scope;

It is political in its sphere;

It is Jewish and exclusive in its character;

It is national in its aspect;

It is the special subject of Old Testament prophecy;

And it is dispensational in its duration.

Preaching {THE KINGDOM} This was the message given by the Messiah and by the 12 apostles and by John the Baptist to the nation of Israel. And what about Paul....?

But that is enough for you to think about for now...

Till next time....

Love, Denis