Acts 9:19-31 – Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem
- “Peace always follows War”.
- Saul [Paul] becomes a follower of Jesus and immediately begins to share his new faith.
- Wherever Paul goes there seems to be trouble and conflict and here again the same thing erupts. The Jews plot against him.
- He escapes and arrives in Jerusalem.
- Here he faces another conflict but this time with the disciples who simply cannot believe he is the real deal.
- It is Barnabas who recognizes what God has done in him and that he is being used by God to help advance the Kingdom. He convinces the disciples to accept Paul.
- Then another conflict with the Grecian Jews who again try to kill him.
- The disciples take Paul as one of their own, and send him to Tarsus for a while.
- Then the whole of Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoy peace and grow.
- Peace always follows war!
- When God moves in a very real and radical way it always first creates conflict.
- It is hard to build anything in a time of war as all our efforts are spent on the battle. But after the war and because of the battle; peace is won.
- In times of peace that we can on concentrate and put our resources into growth.
- Here are things I need to learn from this principle:
- Be like Barnabas; embrace trouble if God is in it.
- Don’t reject the one who brings conflict because they may be God’s catalyst in my life.
- Handle trouble wisely. Think how to use it.
- Commit to win the battle trusting in the peace it will eventually bring.
- A complete rejection of Paul would have meant the church may have lost much of the New Testament’s wisdom, insight and ideas.
- I don’t want to lose out on any of these things.
- Praying today for peace but embracing conflict.
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