So you believe in miracles? I do! There is something called prayer that can change things and people. Sometimes we pray half heartedly, not believing that what we prayed for would actually turn out. But God surprises us and shows off (in a good way). I am not sure if and how the early church prayed for Paul when he was persecuting the church. But, I believe someone prayed for something to happen. God answered in a way that they least expected.
Paul greets the churches in Galatia and preambles his introduction with a statement about them following a different gospel. There was going to be some tough correction to be presented. But what caught my attention is the miracle that happened in Paul's life. He went from killing followers of Jesus Christ to promoting Jesus.
But they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God in me.
Paul had his Damascus road experience and was interestingly commissioned to preach the gospel to the Gentiles by God himself. He was excellent in the matters of the Jewish scriptures and was probably one of the best suited to take on this task of bringing the gospel far and wide and give it a strong scriptural understanding. It is recorded that he spent much time in solitude and possibly reexamining the Holy Scriptures (of the Jewish people) from a perspective that he never saw before. This is why he could say this in Galatians.
By the time he went to Jerusalem all the Apostles except for Peter and James had left to spread the gospel. He spent a short time there and left for the work given to him. What a life and a revelation? God prepared him directly. He did not journey with Jesus like the other apostles, but he received direct heavenly revelation as he reviewed the manuscripts that he well knew from his years of study before. The following exchange with King Agrippa while with Governor Festus illustrates how Paul was able to discover God's salvation plan from the beginning.
Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!” But he said, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason. For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.” Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”
I am believing for a great move of God on strategically positioned leaders to turn the world upside down for Jesus. Father, help me join you in this work.
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