Paul Email -6Oct2013- Acts 9 (Encountering Jesus)

How you doin? I hope everyone enjoyed their day off from the email yesterday. We had a wonder-full time in NYC at Hillsong Conference. It was very refreshing and encouraging. Stacey and I receive so much confirmation at these conferences that what we do in our devotional time is anointed and led by the Holy Ghost. Our time in the morning is by far the most connected I get to Jesus and to Stacey. The worship and praise at the conference was incredible. We were able to hear a different set of words and analogies about familiar subjects and Biblical truths. COME ON!!!!!!! I love Truth. Right back to it today. Acts 9.

Saul is transformed through an encounter with Jesus. Saul was feared by the disciples because he "was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples." I like in verse 2 how Saul is looking for anyone who "belonged to the Way". That's a good word. I want to belong to the Way.

So Saul's on his way to Damascus to arrest disciples, when "light from heaven flashed around him". Jesus asked him "... why do you persecute me?" I love the language here. Jesus doesn't ask "why do you persecute them?". SAY WORD!!!!!!! The next part is most interesting. Saul's just been knocked down to the ground by the Presence of Jesus and spoken to by Jesus and he asked "Who are you Lord?" The way Saul asked this question makes me think that he already knew who He was. It seems to me that if Saul didn't know who He was he would have asked "who are you?". Jesus' response verifies my thought, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting". Then Jesus says, "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." WOW!!!!!!! What authority. Here Jesus makes Himself known to the most feared persecutor of disciples and anoints him and appoints him just like that. POWERFUL!!!!!!!

There is so much in Acts 9. In the interest of time and my rest, I'll cut it short. The chapter goes on to tell the story of Ananias which is the greatest treasure hunt in the Bible. COME ON!!!!!!! Saul receives his anointing, "At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. AWESOME!!!!!!! Saul went on to preach and "grew more and more powerful". He "preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus." He also spoke "boldly in the name of the Lord". It's so awesome seeing this example of what an encounter with Jesus can do. It's also an example of walking in your identity and destiny. COME ON!!!!!!!

One more thing. Verse 31, "Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord." COME ON!!!!!!! I love this verse. This is my prayer for our body of Christ. It just sounds... AWESOME!!!!!!! Encounter Jesus today.           

PS    I will leak out the things I learned at the conference. If you want to hear about it, please feel free to call me.