Paul's Conversion-Your Conversion

Sometimes I get so caught up in reading and sharing that it comes across as though I am all over the place. And though I am, I don't want to be.  I never want God's Word to be confusing, or seem as though it all runs together, thus leaving everyone walking away going, "What in the world did she just say."

 As always, the Lord has told me to slow it down and take it one chapter at a time. I know we are studying Romans and Galatians and we will continue to do so, but from this point on we will focus on one whole chapter at a time.  We have to stay in context!!

So, today, we will finish up all of chapter 1 in Galatians. Then tomorrow we will jump back over to Romans chapter 1. Some chapters are longer therefore they will take us longer to get through, but as long as we are staying the course and soaking up all that God is teaching us, we will come out even more blessed and transformed. And that is my deepest prayer.

Also as a reminder I use what is called S.S.A.L.S (Study, Store, Apply, Learn, and Share)

S-Galatians 1:17-24

S-"So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law." Galatians 5:1

A-In Christ we have freedom

L-Paul's Message from Christ

       *Verse 16-18 (latter part of 16) "When all this happened to me, I did not rush out to consult with anyone else; nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. No, I went away into Arabia and later returned to the city of Damascus. It was not until three years later that I finally went to Jerusalem for a visit with Peter and stayed there with him for fifteen days."

        -I find it so interesting that Paul didn't tell anyone. That would be so hard, but then again the more I think about it and re-read this verse, the more I realize how big Paul's conversion was.

        -Think about it. Paul was on his way to persecute Christians and then all of a sudden he changed, he himself converted. What in the world, how could this be. His people probably would have tried to kill him and they probably would have mocked him.

       -God had a different plan, a plan to send Paul off for THREE years. For three years Paul spent time with the Lord, learning, listening, changing, and coming to know Christ in the most personal way possible.

   -If something like that happened to us we would immediately feel the need to consult with someone. When you have a big decision to make or something life changing happens don't you usually tell someone? I know I do.

   -Well Paul didn't, he spent his time with the Lord first. Goodness I wish I knew what those three years were like for him. What all did the Lord say to him, what was it like, how were those first few days? Oh the questions that I would love to ask in Heaven, but probably won't because at that point all I will be doing is praising and God on my face!!

  -Finally after 3 years Paul leaves and goes to Jerusalem to visit with Peter. How did the Lord set up that meeting? What was it like? What all did Paul tell Peter?

       *Verse 19-24-"And the only other apostle I met at that time was James, our Lord's brother. You must believe what I am saying, for I declare before God that I am not lying. Then after this visit, I went north into the provinces of Syria and Cilicia. And still the Christians in the churches in Judea didn't know me personally. All they knew was that people were saying, 'The one who used to persecute us now preaches the very faith he tried to destroy! And they gave glory to God because of me." 

   -Paul wanted it to be known that all of his wisdom and knowledge came directly from the Lord himself.  In verse 19 Paul says, "You must believe what I am saying for I declare before God I am not lying." There is no other way Paul could have done a complete 180 on his own. It was all God and that was what needed to be known and said.

   -This is the part I love-how God brought glory to Himself.

                -verse 22-23-"And still the Christians in the churches in Judea didn't know me personally. All they knew was that people were saying, 'The one who used to persecute us now preaches the very faith he tried to destroy! And they gave glory to God because of me." 

                       -When God gets a hold of us and we put Christ in us, our lives take on a completely different appearance, so much so, everyone notices. Believers and non-believers.

Do our lives show the changes Christ has made in us? Do they see Him at work within us?

Has our appearance changed to be that of Christ's? Paul's did.

"Since you have heard all about him and have learned the truth that is in Jesus, throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten through and through full of lust and deception. Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God's likeness-righteous, holy and true." Ephesians 4:21-24

    This my brethren is conversion!

S-Share your conversion with someone today. You never know the impact it can make, nor the opportunity you could have to lead someone to Christ.