Welcome, readers to another Sunday here at Jaquelle's Rose Garden. Today Halifax is experiencing a visit from dear old Mr. Hurricane Bill. It's only a Category 1, so pretty much it's just rain and wind. There was only about 30 people at church this morning. Several people phoned to see if church was canceled. My dad, the pastor, responded with "One Category 1 hurricane is not going to take me away from the pulpit." So, on this rainy,windy morning we learned about Saul...sorry, I mean Paul.Our text was found in Acts 9:1-22. We learned of Saul's conversion. After his conversion, Saul's name was changed to Paul. Paul was Public Enemy #1 of the new Christian church. He was a Jew of Jews and strongly disliked Christians. He disliked them so much that he would kill and imprison them. But then, Jesus met him on the road to Damascus. 2 things happened that changed Paul to a follower of Jesus.
- God chose Paul. Once God chose Paul there was no way that Paul could inch away slowly. Paul was God's child now.
- Paul responded. Paul had to respond. Jesus wanted him and he knew that there was no way to get around it.
- Paul persecutes Jesus. Did you here that? Paul persecuted Jesus, not the Christians. Sure, in a physical way he did persecute the Christians, but when he sinned he persecuted Jesus. Just like us. Every time we sin we are persecuting Jesus.
- Paul prays to Jesus. Paul recognized his mistakes and asked Jesus to forgive him. Jesus does, of course, but the story does not end there.
- Paul proclaims Jesus. Paul was so happy about knowing the Sovereign Lord that Paul went and preached Jesus. He told the people in the synagogues (Jewish churches) and tried to lead as many people to Christ as possible.