The Church Becoming The Church A Jewish Zealot Finds His Faith in Jesus The Story of The Book of Acts
Who is this Guy? Born in Tarsus, Cilicia (Acts 22:3) Hebrew of the Hebrews (2 Corinthians 11:22) The son of a Pharisee (Acts 23:6) A Roman Citizen (Acts 16:37) Educated in Jerusalem Seminary (Acts 22:3) Became a Pharisee and a very influential one (Acts 26:4-5) According to the Law blameless (Philippians 3:6) A leader in the Jewish faith (Galatians 1:14)
Who is this Guy? A Killer or had people do it for him (Galatians 1:13 / Philippians 3:6) A Jewish Terrorist (Galatians 1:13-14 / Philippians 3:6 / Acts 26:11) A True Believer (2 Timothy 1:3) A Beast (Acts 9:8 KJV) The Worst (1 Timothy 1:15) An Obsessed Zealot a mad man (KJV)
Made in the Image of God Genesis 1:26-27 26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
John 8:42-45 A Jewish Zealot Finds His Faith in Jesus The Enemy of God & God s People 42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me!
The Enemy of God & God s People 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
Romans 1:18-21 A Jewish Zealot Finds His Faith in Jesus And How It Plays Out 18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Romans 1:28-32 A Jewish Zealot Finds His Faith in Jesus And How It Plays Out 28 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
What Keeps Us Balanced & Grounded? 2 Timothy 3:13-17 (NLT) 13 But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived. 14 But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. 15 You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
What Keeps Us Balanced & Grounded? Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any doubleedged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Action Step Be Committed to the Word of God Psalm 119:89, 105, 112 Read it! Obey it! Live it! Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end.
Jesus Has the Final Word John 17:17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.