Spirit Wars 8, A New Threat

A New Threat

{Dark March Music Plays, the camera pans down to see Saul and the Dark Lord together. Saul turns and leaves to go on his Mission.}

{Beautiful Music Plays and the Camera pans to a Handsome Young Man named Stephen who was very powerful and strong in Faith. He was healing the Sick, teaching the Truth. He was converting many to Jesus by teaching the Gospel.

The Religious Leaders arrested him. {Dark Heavy March Music plays} We see Saul arrive at the Stoning Pit. Saul was a Pharisee of the strictest Sect.

"And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he 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." {Acts 7:59-60}

"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." {Acts 8:1}

The Saints continued to teach, yet now mostly in secret. Fear spread throughout the land of Saul "The Butcher." Saul received great Praise, Power, and Position in the Jew's Religion. He was more Zealous than most. {Acts 22} During this time, simply accepting the name Jesus and accepting the Truth of the Gospel, could and would, get you thrown in Jail. Teaching "The Way" could and would get you Killed. Saul was one of the most Feared of all the Pharisees because of his Zeal. He actually took great pleasure in attacking "Christians" which was a derogatory name at the time.

However, Jesus had other plans for Saul.

"And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 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." {Acts 9:1-2}

{Heavy Dark Music Plays as the camera pans down to see Saul and his Crew Marching toward Damascus}

"And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?"

We see the silhouette, taking a glowing form of Jesus Himself shining before Saul and His Company.

"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. 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. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 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. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink."

{Beautiful Music Plays} After this meeting, we see that Jesus appears to a Saint named Ananias in Damascus and tells him to go to a man's house named Judas to seek out Saul, and heal his Blindness. But Ananias was full of fear.

"Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

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: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake." {Acts 9:13-16}

So because of his Faith, he went and healed Saul, and Baptized him. Saul became Paul and started to boldly teach Jesus is Lord and the Way of Salvation in the streets and Synagogues. The Jews that heard it was confounded and confused. The "Christians" that heard it was as well.

{Dark March Music Plays} The Dark Lord Cried Out "Nnnooo!" He sets the Hatred in the hearts of Jews against Paul at nearly the same level as Jesus Himself. His Hatred of Paul was unmatched for turning against him.

The Jews set a trap for him, but the Saints came and whisked him away in the night. When they heard the Truth and saw he had changed, they set him on his way back towards his homeland of Tarsus. Paul did not go to meet with the other Saints, namely Peter. Instead, he went to Arabia and learned directly from God and was appointed to teach the Gentiles.{Galatians 1:11-24}

{Beautiful Music Plays} A bit later we see that he does go to meet with Peter. When they met, Paul told Peter and the Saints all that he had been through from his Conversion to all things. Peter said this.

"It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Peter saw Paul as an equal. A man who is ordained by Jesus Himself, to be the outreach, if you will, of the Gospel to the Gentiles.

"For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well."

That's it. Believe, and grow in Faith. Live as God tells you to live. Do not be conformed to the world. Be above it. Sin no more. This is Peter's message to the Jewish Church and now Paul's message to the Church of the Gentiles, now called "Christians."

Paul most definitely paid for his Faith. Paul was put in prison over and over. Faced death over and over. Received 39 lashes from the Jews 5 times. Beaten with rods 3 times. Stoned one time. Shipwrecked 3 times. Spent a day and night in the Sea. Often hungry and thirsty, cold and naked. You can find Paul explaining this in {2 Corinthians 11.}

Now to this day, all you have to do to defeat the Dark Lord is accept the Sacrifice of Jesus. God made it simple. He made is all-inclusive. He made is open to all. Just like when Jesus walked the Earth, the World will hate you for it. The Dark Lord may even attack you. As the time grows closer to the Final Battle, we will come back to a time where it may very well cost you your very Life to accept Jesus.

{Dark March Music Plays. The camera pans over to see The Dark Lord contemplating his only option.} Since Jesus came and paid the Price for all, he will have to come in the Flesh also. As the Antichrist, he feels he may win complete control over again. He feels that he can actually defeat God once and for all. {Camera fades to black}.

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A new Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen. {2 Corinthians 13}

Until next time, be Blessed, be a Blessing, and Jesus IS Lord!