www.rossvillechurch.com

781 Salem Road, Rossville, GA 307411

Stone

Creek

11-30-11

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Christmas program

December 18

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Paul has been saved, healed, broken his fast,

been filled with God's Holy Spirit,

And is preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ

to the Jews in Damascus.

Review of Acts 9:1-21

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22 But Saul increased the more in strength

(power), and confounded the Jews which dwelt at

Damascus, proving that this is very Christ

(Messiah). The Jews believed in the God of the Bible;

They believed in a coming Messiah.

They just needed to believe that Messiah

had already come, and it was the JesusWhom they had crucified.

They did not want to believe that.

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23 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews

took counsel to kill him:

They really didn't want to believe that Jesus

was Messiah, and they had murdered Him.

But it was the Truth!

Saving Truth

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24 But their laying await was

known of Saul. And they

watched the gates day and

night to kill him.

The Jews had a 24 hour guard on the gates of

the city to kill Saul if he tried to leave.

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25 Then the disciples took

him by night, and let him

down by the wall in a basket.

The proud Pharisee

is humbled.

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26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he

assayed (attempted) to join himself to the disciples:

but they were all afraid of him, and believed not

that he was a disciple.

There is a space of time between verses 25

and 26 which Luke didn't tell us in Acts.

Saul spent three years in Arabia before he went to

Jerusalem and began his other missionary trips.

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Galatians 1 15-18 But when it pleased God, Who

separated me from my mother's womb, and called

me by His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I

might preach Him among the heathen; immediately

I conferred not with flesh and blood: neither went I

up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before

me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto

Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to

Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen

days.

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No one knows for

certain what Paul did

in Arabia;

Some believe he went

there to study and

pray, preparing for his

lifetime of ministry.

Others believe he went

there to evangelize.

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One thing we do know: Paul had met the Lord

Jesus Christ , and was filled with the Holy Ghost.

He was doing the Will of God.

After some time in Arabia, Paul returned to

Damascus, and from there went to Jerusalem.

The apostles and other disciples there were

still afraid of him, save one.

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It takes patience to overcome a bad

past and reputation.

And we may need some help from someone

who believes in us.

In Damascus Paul had Ananias;

In Jerusalem he will have Barnabas,

The son of Consolation. 4:36