God’s Actions in His Believers…

Saul’s healing of heart, his change of mind with his soul emptied of all thoughts of malice for the new believers of Jesus was clearly the work of the Holy Spirit. Because the Holy Spirit of the Lord led Ananias to Saul, because of the obedient touch of the Spirit on this man called Saul, who was blind of all that is God, Saul is healed. He now sees Jesus as Savior and Lord. He sees and understands the work of the cross to redeem God’s people. He sees the new believers as they are…lovers of their Savior, Jesus, and living for Him as their Lord.

“…scales fell from Saul’s eyes–he could see again!”

“The Master sent me…so you could see again and be filled with the Holy spirit.”

The Holy Spirit changes our hearts and our perspective. We see more clearly. We love more deeply. We are more compassionate. Our motives are transformed from focus on self to seeing others, with a desire to make THEIR lives better. These miracles of transformation still occur today as easily as the hungry caterpillar, ravenous for food, eats and eats and then rests while transforming into a lovely butterfly!

Yes, God’s HOLY Spirit still makes all the difference in lives seeking abundant living. Be hungry for God’s Word, let it permeate our hearts, minds and souls, then allow God’s Spirit to transform us. Only then will we soar to greater, higher thoughts…closer to the mind of Christ.

I’m reminded of Jesus healing the blind man. Everyone, officials included drilled him with, “who did this”? Who made the difference in your life? “All I know is, once I was blind, but now I see.” Jesus made the difference, not the mud of the world placed on his eyes!

There is more than a name change (Saul, the Persecutor to Paul, the Passionate Believer) going on here…

Acts 9, The Message
17-19 So Ananias went and found the house, placed his hands on blind Saul, and said, “Brother Saul, the Master sent me, the same Jesus you saw on your way here. He sent me so you could see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” No sooner were the words out of his mouth than something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes—he could see again! He got to his feet, was baptized, and sat down with them to a hearty meal.

Plots Against Saul
19-21 Saul spent a few days getting acquainted with the Damascus disciples, but then went right to work, wasting no time, preaching in the meeting places that this Jesus was the Son of God. They were caught off guard by this and, not at all sure they could trust him, they kept saying, “Isn’t this the man who wreaked havoc in Jerusalem among the believers? And didn’t he come here to do the same thing—arrest us and drag us off to jail in Jerusalem for sentencing by the high priests?”

22 But their suspicions didn’t slow Saul down for even a minute. His momentum was up now and he plowed straight into the opposition, disarming the Damascus Jews and trying to show them that this Jesus was the Messiah.

23-25 After this had gone on quite a long time, some Jews conspired to kill him, but Saul got wind of it. They were watching the city gates around the clock so they could kill him. Then one night the disciples engineered his escape by lowering him over the wall in a basket.

26-27 Back in Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him. They didn’t trust him one bit. Then Barnabas took him under his wing. He introduced him to the apostles and stood up for him, told them how Saul had seen and spoken to the Master on the Damascus Road and how in Damascus itself he had laid his life on the line with his bold preaching in Jesus’ name.

28-30 After that he was accepted as one of them, going in and out of Jerusalem with no questions asked, uninhibited as he preached in the Master’s name. But then he ran afoul of a group called Hellenists—he had been engaged in a running argument with them—who plotted his murder. When his friends learned of the plot, they got him out of town, took him to Caesarea, and then shipped him off to Tarsus.

31 Things calmed down after that and the church had smooth sailing for a while. All over the country—Judea, Samaria, Galilee—the church grew. They were permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God. The Holy Spirit was with them, strengthening them. They prospered wonderfully.

What do we learn?
–The Church grew.
–“They were permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God.”
–The Holy Spirit was with them, strengthening them.
–The church (believers) prospered wonderfully.
–Saul, the reformed terrorist, was transformed and finally accepted as one of God’s own.
–Barnabas, a man of integrity and respect to Saul under his wing.
–The Holy Spirit in them made all the difference in and through them.
–The Holy Spirit in us still makes all the difference in our seeing well.

Reflection: Do I see things as they really are? Come, Holy Spirit. Change my perspective.

Dear Heavenly Father, You promised that Your Holy Spirit would come and never leave us. We lean heavily into this promise today. Thank you for Your Holy Spirit that cleanses, convicts, transforms and strengthens us as we do life here while waiting for life there with You. Holy Spirit, you are welcome to take over, to guide my thoughts, cleanse my soul and transform me to be all that God intended for me to be. Thank you, Lord for this precious gift of Your Spirit. In Jesus Name, Amen!