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Rev. Dr. Delesslyn A. Kennebrew, J.D., M.Div.

Visionary Strategist Faithful Innovator Inspirational Essayist

Salvation and Stilettos Blog

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Keep Proving JESUS!!! Acts 9:20-22

Posted on October 24, 2013 at 11:08 AM
KEEP PROVING JESUS!!!
ACTS 9:20-22

At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
 

Greetings!
BlogFam, have you ever interacted with someone whose conversation with you reflected that they were stuck in the past and had limited their perception of you to the “old” you, how you used to be, what you used to do?  I have.  And I admit that it is quite frustrating to be in conversations with people who think that they know you when who you are has changed so much from who they used to know.  How do you tend to handle those conversations short of going off on folks and reminding them of your old self and thereby confirming their inaccurate idea of who you really are?
 

I think we all handle our past in different ways and when our past confronts our present reality, we are forced to make a choice that confirms the transformation that has taken place in our lives or we cowardly revert back to the version of ourselves that we have worked so hard to change.  And then there are others in our BlogFam who will do their best to ignore these types of interactions altogether because while some may see it as an opportunity to show people a new and improved version of yourself, others will avoid it for all kinds of reasons, not the least of which is that you have tried to share your new self but have over and over been rejected, dismissed, criticized and confined to the box of who you once were.
 

This is what we see in Acts 9.  The chapter opens with “Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples;” but somewhere in the middle of this same chapter he became one of the Lord’s disciples who “at once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.” 
 

This was a radical shift in the life of Saul and the truth is that when YOU make such shifts in your own life, everyone around you has to deal with it because they have to deal with this “new” you.  Saul was different.  He was not persecuting those who followed The Way, but he was now preaching that Jesus IS The Way and people were confused about his sincerity, his motivations, his ministry.  And they were not shy about raising questions or having suspicions about this “new” Saul.
 

All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 
 

They could NOT believe that this was the same Saul.  He sounded different.  He probably looked different.  He treated them differently.  How in the world could this be the same man who just a few days ago was on the complete opposite end of the Jesus spectrum?  The text goes on to say that there was a conspiracy amongst the Jews to kill him and that the disciples in Jerusalem were afraid of him, “Not believing that he really was a disciple.”
 

And in spite of their conspiracies, plots, plans, fear, and doubts… [And I love this part]… Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
 

My Friends, when you are faced with the demons of your past to the point where people question whether or not you have really changed, I want you to just follow Saul’s example and KEEP PROVING JESUS! 


In other words, because of the power of God that is inside of you, you can prove that Jesus has changed your life.  KEEP PROVING JESUS in your conversations, through your prayers, by the compassion you show, through the patience you possess, taking advantage of open doors to witness about the changes Jesus has made in your life.  KEEP PROVING JESUS  in spite of the threats, the insults, the doubt, the critiques that only come to discourage you and shake your faith in the one who has made this transformation possible in your life.  KEEP PROVING JESUS and you will grow into a wiser, stronger, powerful vessel that can be used by God!
 

So, the next time anyone interacts with you in a way that reveals that they think you have not changed, think of it as a great time to KEEP PROVING JESUS and offer them the proof in your life that Jesus IS the way! 


God Loves You and I Do Too!
Delesslyn

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Categories: HOPE & HEALING

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