Saul’s Hope

00:00:00 Speaker 1: Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new Second Corinthians five seventeen. Dear hevenly Father, in the gentle embrace of your presence, we find comfort and joy in the truth of this promise. It is a sweet balm to our souls, reminding us that in You we are reborn, renewed, and restored with tender hearts. We thank you for the gift of new beginnings. The past, with its failures and pains, no longer wholes sway over us. In Christ, we are set free. Our lives are a testament to your boundless grace and love. Help us to walk in this newness of life, embracing the beauty of the transformation you have wrought in us. May the reality of our identity in Christ soothe our spirits, filling us with peace and assurance. Let us live each day in the fullness of your joy, knowing that we are dearly loved, completely forgiven, and forever changed. In the precious name of Jesus, we pray, Amen, Thank you for praying. 00:01:35 Speaker 2: With me to day. 00:01:37 Speaker 1: You are listening to the Jesus Podcast gospel stories retold to capture your imagination and invigorate your faith. To day, we dive into the story of Paul the Apostle. Before his encounter with Christ, he was the grim reaper and harbinger of persecution for the church. Now listen for part two of his dramatic conversion story. Follow this podcast on whatever platform you're listening to. Doing so will keep you updated, but also help us get discovered by more people. We want the story of Jesus to be known throughout the world. Thanks for making that possible. Winter gave way to spring. The frost melted slowly off the mountain range and trickled down stream into the valley of Samaria. Saul left at first light to Damascus. The sun's warmth chased away the fog, revealing the newly budded wildflowers carpeting the valley floor. The road to Damascus chased after the shadow of Mount Herman, and Saul could still see the white caps as he rode atop his horse. A band of temple servants and guards followed behind him. They considered themselves inquisitors for a holy cause, righteous warriors for the armies of the Lord. Saul rode at the front to top his noble steed. He was their fearless leader, mighty and filled with religious zeal. He had accepted his new role with excitement. He could be renowned forever as the man who thwarted the uprising of the Nazarenes. Historians would remember him forever as the leader who ended the name of Jesus. The thought of such accolades gave him a smile. Like the river picking up speed from the mountains, Saul continued his momentum to Damascus. On the fourth day, Saul and his companions passed the Sea of Galilee. Saul looked at the hills scaling upwards away from the shore. Fishermen ducked their boats and unloaded their fish onto the beach. The shore of Galilee was where Jesus often walked. It was where he taught and gathered people to himself. For a moment, Paul stopped and gazed at the vast body of water. He could see Jesus in his mind's eye, spreading his shameful eyes and drawing people away with false promises of eternal life. He often fantasized about interrupting. 00:04:31 Speaker 2: Jesus and rebuking him. 00:04:34 Speaker 1: Yet there was a small prodding on his heart that kept emerging when he thought of Jesus, like a loose needle, occasionally pricking his spirit. He kicked against any feeling of conviction and marched onward. Despite Saul's efforts, the impact of Jesus was inescapable. Every inn, marketplace, and well they stopped at was filled with people talking about him the Messiah. They told tales of his return from the grave. They spoke freely about his miracles and teachings. They did not know Saul was on his mission, or else they would have spoken with fear. Nevertheless, Saul was compelled not because of jesus words or miracles, but because of how people talked about him. This man, who was only a few years older than him, had managed to grip the hearts of thousands, perhaps even millions. He had done what Saul had only dreamed of, and he did it with only a few fishermen by his side. It enraged Saul even more. Now he was not just fueled by piety but jealousy. Saul left Galilee and crossed the road Jordan by the Roman Bridge. The significance of the Jordan River moved Saul his ancestors had crossed the Jordan with Joshua centuries earlier. He saw himself, like Joshua, leading people out of slavery to this Jesus of Nazareth. They are all on servants to this Jesus, he murmured. He hated that this blasphemous impostor had taken so many hearts and minds away from God. I will liberate our nation, Saul thought to himself. I will save them and set them free, no matter the costs. 00:06:43 Speaker 3: At some point, everyone faces a fork in the road of life. Decisions we must make that will dictate our future. But there is one decision that holds the greatest weight when it comes to our fate, the decision to follow Jesus. Christ's sacrifice has made salvation available to any one, but only those who answer his call to follow him experience his blessed promise for new life. This is the Jesus Podcast, Your Stories, showcasing the depth of Christ's love through storytelling and the glory of God's truth through honest reflection. I'm Zach your host from pray dot Com, and I'm happy you're here with us today. As we dig into part of the story of Paul the Apostle. We're going to learn how he embraces transformation in Jesus, with letters in hand giving him permission to persecute the followers of Jesus. Outside Jerusalem, Saul sets out with his men down the road to Damascus. In his mind, this was the moment that could lead to his glory. If all went according to plan, he would return a hero and become renowned among the Jews as the one who stopped the Jesus movement. But as Saul's mind is filled with his conquest, his eyes become filled with blinding light from heaven. In our story, we'll feel the tremendous power that flows from encountering Jesus. We'll see Saul's heart at the words of the Lord as his life hits a proverbial fork in the road. While he may not know what lies ahead, the choice is clear to continue to follow in his flesh, or to make the change and follow Jesus. Immerse yourself now in Saul's conversion story, as the Lord moves not only in his heart, but ours as well. 00:08:22 Speaker 1: The final days of Saul's journey were spent under the shadow of Mount Herman, wildflowers scaled up the snowy mountaintops. Besides the few clouds covering the peak, the skies were clear and calm. Everything was quiet beneath the mountain. As Saul and his companions rode along the dirt path, the only sounds for miles were that of horses, hoofs, and the occasional bird. There was a stillness in the air that caused Saul to stir in place. It was uncomfortable silence compared to his disquieted and chaotic mind. While everything on the outside was calm and serene. Inwardly, Saul continued to reel and rage like a storm. Then, out of the still and silent sky, a light burst forth. It was as if reality itself had been cut open with a blade, and light came rushing out like a surging waterfall. The rays of light cascaded over Saul and his companions. The horses were terrified and threw the men off their backs. The men behind Saul cowered together at a distance and watched the light move like a living thing. It swirled in a brilliant and terrifying dance, directing its power straight at Saul. Suddenly he was rounded by a whirlwind of living colors. Flashes of bright orange and hues of pink showered every inch of Saul's body, as if washing him clean. Saul couldn't stand for the sheer power he was surrounded by kept him on his knees. The light didn't just envelop him, but it shone within him. At that moment, Saul felt completely and utterly exposed. Whatever strength he had previously felt seemed like weakness. Whatever boldness Saul thought he had seemed like cowardice. Whatever knowledge he had seemed like foolishness. Kneeling under the weight of a brilliant light, Saul was terrifyingly aware of his fragility for the first time. Saul gripped the dirt in his fists and looked toward the light source. 00:11:00 Speaker 2: It was more than might. 00:11:03 Speaker 1: Something was there with him, or some one. Out of the radiant whirlwind of flashing colors, a figure shone brighter than all the other bursts of light. A man walked towards him. But he wasn't just a man, Saul, he said. Paul's heart ceased its beating for a moment. He recognized the voice, like it had been calling out to him for a long time. His voice was familiar, like an old friend, but terrifying, like a feared enemy. 00:11:43 Speaker 2: Saul, the voice cried out. 00:11:44 Speaker 4: Again, why are you persecuting me? 00:11:47 Speaker 1: Saul's jaw quivered and his eyes watered. He felt himself succumbing to the weight of this being's glory. Something heavenly was taking place, that much Saul could surmise. He managed to speak, with labored. 00:12:05 Speaker 2: Breath, woo oo, Who are you? Lord? 00:12:09 Speaker 1: Saul looked as the figure drew closer, His face became more evident, and his presence even more palpable. He was more than a man, He was God. The heavenly figure knelt down and met Saul face to face. He touched Saul's shoulder and replied, I. 00:12:31 Speaker 4: Am Jesus, the one you have been fighting against this entire time. 00:12:36 Speaker 1: Jesus's voice spoke to him and within him. At that moment, time itself seemed utterly meaningless. Saul was caught up in Christ's gaze and heard his voice again, saying. 00:12:52 Speaker 4: It has been hard for you, hasn't it. Saul kicking against the goats With. 00:12:57 Speaker 1: A gentle touch of jesus hand, Saul's entire being felt weightless. The burdens he had held on to were lifted, and the chaos of his soul was quieted. Like the storm Jesus spoke to years before. The god who had said, let there be light spoke light into Saul's heart. 00:13:22 Speaker 2: What am I supposed to do? 00:13:24 Speaker 1: Saul said, with tears falling from his eyes. 00:13:26 Speaker 4: Oh, Saul, always looking for something. 00:13:29 Speaker 1: To do, Jesus replied softly. 00:13:32 Speaker 4: For now I need you to rise, Go into the city and remain there. You will be told all you need to know. 00:13:40 Speaker 1: Jesus stood to his feet and backed away. The light that enveloped Saul pulled back towards Jesus. The light coiled around Jesus, and suddenly he was gone. As soon as he vanished, Saul's eyes grew dim and the light that was once in his eyes eyes faded into nothingness. The image of Christ's face was seared into Saul's mind, and now it was all he could see. Saul had been made entirely blind. He stumbled to his feet as Jesus commanded and searched for his companions. The other men had watched Saul at a distance, enveloped in light and speaking to it, but they did not see Jesus when it was all over. They ran to their master and surrounded him with questions, but Saul said nothing. 00:14:38 Speaker 2: Rabby, What did you see? 00:14:41 Speaker 4: What happened? 00:14:42 Speaker 2: They asked. 00:14:44 Speaker 1: Saul was not fully prepared to answer. Something had changed in him that he could not describe, at least not yet. He was blind, but it was as if he could see clearly for the first time. He could not see the dirt road leading to Damascus, but the path before him was as clear as day. Jesus had not said much. He had not divulged the secrets of the universe to him, nor had he spoken about the mission for the future. Jesus had given one command, rise and go, so Saul would do as he was told. 00:15:30 Speaker 2: We will continue to Damascus, Saul said, with a whisper. 00:15:34 Speaker 4: We will go there and wait wait for what? 00:15:38 Speaker 2: Ah, I'm not sure. 00:15:41 Speaker 1: Saul's words trailed off as he recounted what had happened. 00:15:45 Speaker 2: I will know it when I see it. 00:15:47 Speaker 1: The others looked at each other with worried faces. Saul could not see anything, so what could he possibly be looking for? 00:15:58 Speaker 4: I am Jesus, the one you have been fighting against this entire time. 00:16:03 Speaker 1: The words still echoed within Saul's mind. He was blind, but the image of the risen Jesus could not be wiped from his sight. For three days, Saul was haunted by the recent memories of his brutality against God's people. He felt cut to the soul for what he had been doing. However, he was not hopeless in his regret. With a new found conviction also came a sense of freedom. He was not chained down by the sins he had committed. He was forgiven. He was more than forgiven. In fact, he was a new person. He did not look new, though he hadn't eaten anything for three days, and the complexion of a pampered pharisee had been removed from his face. He sat upright in the room the window, without seeing the light. Every few hours, his companions would knock on the door to offer him food, but he refused. Every time, Saul felt the compulsion to rid himself of what made him him. Fasting was a necessary act of stripping himself of everything that made him who he used to be. However, time was not on Saul sighed he had to eat or drink sooner or later, or else he might wither away into nothing. So Saul continued to pray, waiting for the voice. 00:17:37 Speaker 2: Of Jesus to speak again. 00:17:41 Speaker 1: The night before, he had had a vision of a man visiting him and restoring his sight. He trusted that this vision would come to pass. He just didn't know when or how. The day rolled along and Saul remained at the window sill, turning his face toward the sunlight. The door knocked, but Saul remained silent. The door opened without Saul's permission. He turned his ear toward the back of the room. Who's there, Saul asked. Whoever was in the room walked lightly. Their footsteps were timid and cautious. 00:18:23 Speaker 2: I would like to be left alone. 00:18:25 Speaker 1: Saul said, into the darkness. The stranger stopped right in front of him and knelt down beside him. Without a word, he placed a hand on Saul's head. His touch was gentle yet firm. A tender power emanated from this stranger. The power felt familiar. His presence was similar to Jesus. Saul's heart began to beat heavily, and his palms began to sweat. Who are you? Saul's entire body began to tremble. The presence of God was palpable and brought him to his knees. Saul knelt on the ground, shaking and his darkened eyes dripping with tears, and Anenaias knelt beside him and embraced him like a brother. He held the weeping Saul tightly in his arms. He placed one hand on Saul's head and another on his face. In that instant, Saul felt his eyes change. It was as if a thick layer of snake scales were peeling off of his eyes. It was painful and refreshing, all at the same time. Slowly, the darkness began to leave him, and slivers of light peeked through the windows of his mind. Saul rubbed his eyes and blinked a few times. Standing before him was Anonius, wearing the gentle smile of Christ. Saul knew at that moment that he would never forget that smile. I I can see, Saul sighed. Saul could see more than just what was in front of him. The Holy Spirit had come upon him like a torrent of rushing water. The eyes of Saul. Saul were opened as well. He was beginning to see the purpose set before him, like a dark road illuminated by flickering torchlight. Anonius looked down at Saul and reached out a hand to help him. Saul placed his hands on his knees and struggled to stand. He was malnourished and trembling, but determined to walk the road to the river. They moved slowly past the garden courtyard and down the steps leading to the road. Saul was taking in every vivid color as if he had been blind his entire life. Now that he thought about it, he had always been blind. His ambition blinded him to everything and every one around him. All he could see was the object of his selfish desires. But now that Christ had redeemed him, he had new eyes. He captured every image around him and appreciated it for its pure beauty. The cream colored stone of the city walls shone under the brilliance of the sun, and the road leading down to the river was arrayed with freshly bloomed apron god trees. Saul's heart was filling up with deep and unquenchable joy. Saul could not help but think of the Psalmist's words, the sun is like a strong man who runs his course with joy. The two of them made it to the Abana River. The water glistened in the sunlight and invited them in with enthusiasm. Saul felt the coolness of the river carawl of his spine. 00:22:33 Speaker 2: And wake him up. 00:22:35 Speaker 1: He breathed in deeply and held Anniaus hand. Anonius looked at Saul and smiled. Saul accepted anonius words like they were from Jesus himself. Anonias grasped Saul's hand with his left hand and placed his right hand upon his back. He dipped him back into the water, then lifted him out. The cascading sunlight split into a million directions as Saul emerged from the water. Saul emerged under the radiance of Christ's unending love. Saul could not see it, but every angel in heaven was rejoicing over him with a cacophony of praise. The water represented a tomb for Saul, the persecutor, bad man, was buried and would never return. Emerging from the water was a new man. Just as Christ rose from the grave, Saul was resurrected from the water. 00:23:56 Speaker 3: The Gospel message promises transformation, the promise of change and hope for a better future. Oftentimes, the thing that hinders us the most from finding transformation is ourselves, whether this is physical transformation as we search for the discipline to be healthier, emotional transformation as we seek the guidance of professionals, or spiritual transformation as our souls longed to be made whole by Jesus. Saul wasn't just an enemy of the church. In many ways, he was his own worst enemy. He was blind to the Gospel, and the physical blindness in this episode is merely a condition that reflected his spiritual blindness. But although his past was brutal and dark, it wasn't too thick for the light of Jesus to pierce through. Saul experienced a radical transformation on the road to Damascus that led to one of the most well known testimonials of God's faith under the New Covenant. He had spent years investing in himself and his religiosity, and it paid off. He rose the ranks of the Pharisees and became a member of the Singanhedron. It was a coveted title only given to a few. Nobody could compete with saulm when it came to living by the Lae Law, being righteous and respected in the Jewish community. But through his encounter with Jesus. He learned that he was missing out on the most important part of his faith, a relationship with the Savior. His moment with the resurrected Lord that interrupts his determined drive is exactly what he needed to experience transformation. Oftentimes, the way Jesus gets to us is by interrupting the flow of our lives. He wants to disrupt our comfortability. He wants to interrupt our trajectory. He wants to shake us to our core and make us question what we've been doing all this time. As Saul is shaken up, there's three lessons that show us and help us experience transformation as well. The first lesson is this, Saul teaches us that we need to learn to recognize when God is speaking. You see, before his encounter with Jesus, Saul would have said that he was listening to the voice of God. He would have declared that he knew God's heart. He would have considered himself as someone who was smack dab in the middle of the perfect will of God. Living on this side of his testimony, we know that he actually didn't see things quite clearly. Saul's problem may not be as different from our own as we might think. We often hear voices, whether it's our own internal dialogue or the words of others in our lives that we believe are giving us a word from the Lord. Whether it's a gut feeling or affirmations from a friend, we take it as a sign that we're aligned with God's will. But unfortunately that's not always the case. There will be times where God is speaking to us, and it's dangerous when we don't know when those times are. Part of the transformative process is learning to hear God's voice as something distinct from our own. When I was a high school and college pastor, I often heard this statement, well, I think God has told me that I'm supposed to marry this person. As a college pastor or a high school pastor, I often rolled my eyes and said, well, how do you know that exactly? These students would often say that it's just a feeling that they have, but feelings can be deceiving. We have to understand that God's voice is separate from our own. When around each and every corner you find confirmations of your desires, that's probably a sure tell sign that you're not actually listening to God's will. Because God's will will often compete against our base desires. God's will will often be counterintuitive to what we would have chosen. If we're keen to God's word and we're heeding the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, it's often going to be uncomfortable. It's not going to confirm all of our beliefs, and it's not going to confirm all of what we feel to be true. God declares that his thoughts are higher than our thoughts. That means that just because we think something is right, it does not mean that it's going to automatically be aligned with God's will. Whenever you feel like you might be sensing a word from the Lord or looking for him to speak, make sure that what you also ask him is to specifically discern what is really from him and what isn't. We can only follow God when we know when he is speaking, and luckily for us, we have the Word to confirm. In John ten, Jesus and his disciples are in Jerusalem for the Festival of Dedication what we know as While there, some of the Jews ask him to tell them plainly if he is the Messiah, and part of his response, Jesus says this, My sheep listened to my voice. I know them, and they follow me. For those who have place their faith in Jesus, they will know the sound of the good shepherd's voice. As you spend time with Jesus in reading the Bible and immersing yourself in the Word, you'll learn to hear it more clearly with each and every day. Saul's conversion also teaches us to learn to be obedient to Jesus's commands. Saul recognized that the voice he was hearing was from heaven, a message from God. Confused and afraid, he asks a very important question, who are you? After a lifetime devoted to God, Saul was realizing he didn't actually know who he was at heart. In some translations, Saul ask a second question, what do you want me to do? Jesus simply tells him to arise, go to Damascus and trust that Jesus would guide him from there. Blinded on the road to Damascus, Saul was given a choice. Was he going to continue to live in spiritual blindness to who God was? Or was he going to open eyes of his heart to see Jesus clearly for the first time and obey him the choice was completely his. Would he stay the same or would he choose to change and be transformed. Lastly, Saul's conversion teaches us that we must embrace our new identity in Christ. We are a new creation. If we identify with Christ, the old person was buried in the grave and the new person has began a life with Jesus. Even if we have a dark and weighty past, like Saul, we don't have to let it hold us back from being the person God wants us to be. Right now, the light of Christ makes our futures bright. Likewise, for those of us who are followers of Jesus, when someone else comes to a saving faith, it benefits no one to judge them for their past. We all come to Jesus with a past riddled with sin. We have the privilege of seeing others come to Jesus and enter into his transformative presence. Just like Anonius welcomes Saul into the family of God, we should have the same heart of forgiveness, compassion and joy, and seeing previously wicked people come to repentance. Wilsaul's conversion story may seem radical, it's not too dissimilar from what happens in every heart when one receives Jesus. Without the revelation of Jesus, we're spiritually blind. We're stumbling in darkness. But when we see Jesus in his glorious light, hear his voice, and obey his commands, nothing stops his spirit from transforming the lives of men and women around the world. That concludes our little mini series, Jesus and the Outcasts. Next up, we're going to start a series on Jesus's miracles. Now, we have already showcased some of his miracles in this past series, but this is going to take a specific deep dive into people's personal lives that were transformed when Jesus noticed them, considered them, and healed them radically. Make sure to follow and subscribe so you don't have to miss any of these episodes. And once again, thanks from the bottom of our hearts for being devoted to this podcast. We believe that we're starting a movement of beautiful storytelling coupled with honest and humble reflection. We believe we're just getting started, so thanks for making it all possible.