PAUL RECEIVES (Speaking in Tongues Part IV)

The early Christian Church was persecuted so that Christians fled their homes to save themselves from prison and death. One of the most zealous people persecuting the Church was Saul. Saul was the epitome of one following the Law of Moses. Saul kept the whole law, a task that was and is nearly impossible. I can see how his zealousness could have overlapped into persecution of the Church. All he knew at the time was the Law and anything contrary to it, to him, couldn’t be right. So, here he was dragging men and women from their homes and throwing them in prison. He approved of stoning Stephen, a disciple of Jesus Christ and he continued to destroy the Church.


PAUL RECEIVES (Speaking in Tongues Part IV)
The early Christian Church was persecuted so that Christians fled their homes to save themselves from prison and death. One of the most zealous people persecuting the Church was Saul. Saul was the epitome of one following the Law of Moses. Saul kept the whole law, a task that was and is nearly impossible. I can see how his zealousness could have overlapped into persecution of the Church. All he knew at the time was the Law and anything contrary to it, to him, couldn’t be right. So, here he was dragging men and women from their homes and throwing them in prison. He approved of stoning Stephen, a disciple of Jesus Christ and he continued to destroy the Church.
Acts 8: 59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60 And he (Stephen) kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
Along lifes road things sometimes change. That was the case for Saul. But, it wasn’t circumstances that changed Saul’s life, it was the Lord!
9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
To kick against the pricks comes from the agrarian society of biblical times. When a person plowed with a yoke of oxen and one or both of the oxen would like to kick, the man would hold a pointed stick, called a “prick”, behind the kicking leg so that when the animal did kick it would be hurt by the “prick”. Thus, the term “kicking against the pricks.”
6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
Isn’t this something? Most people would be in awe to hear God once in their lives, but this man, Ananias, not only knew God’s voice but argued with God. Well, I don’t blame him. How would you like to go to someone that is likely to throw you in prison?
15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
16 For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
You know what Ananias does after God told him the second time to go? He went. We need to be like that. Not only in the understanding of God’s voice but in the understanding of His Word, the Bible. Why can’t we just get to the place that we say yes Lord and do what it tells us? When God’s word says don’t lie – don’t lie! When His word says that He wants us to Speak in Tongues and to operate the eight other manifestations of holy spirit we shouldn’t argue we should do it or get the training to do it.
17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
When a man in biblical times called another man brother, he meant it. The term was not used lightly as it is today. The only time they would use that term was when they had a connection with that other man. In this case Ananias knew that Saul had been born again.
The two Greek words for fill are Pletho and Plero-o. Plero-o is filled to capacity. Pletho is filled to overflowing. The word “filled” in verse seventeen is the Greek word Pletho. There are only nine ways to “pletho”, to overflow, and those are speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues, prophesy, word of knowledge, word of wisdom, discerning of spirits, faith, miracles and gifts of healing. The one “overflowing” that is common to all accounts of people being born again of God’s spirit is speaking in tongues. God wanted Saul to manifest holy spirit. God wanted him to speak in tongues.
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
Paul (Saul) later wrote that he spoke in (with) tongues more than all of the Corinthian Church. This was and is God’s desire for Christians then and now.
I Corinthians 14: 18 I (Paul) thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
Saul later changed his name to Paul. He was an apostle of Jesus Christ and received the revelation of the mystery that had been hidden from the foundations of the World. He walked for and talked for God. His life truly was change that day on the road to Damascus.