My aim and goal in writing from Acts Chapter 9 in the New Testament is to seek to show, amongst other things, how vitally important friends are. Some friends are named and others remain unnamed, but each played his part.

This man who had been so very violent against disciples of Jesus Christ finally joins The Christian Fellowship. This is an important principle. From the very beginning Saul is committed to The Church of Jesus Christ. He was a physical visible member. Wherever he goes over the next 30 years, Paul (as he was later called) is committed to The Church, which is The Body of Christ. No matter what city or community he goes to, we see this vital principle. Now this is not widely taught.

From the first outpouring of The Holy Spirit in Acts Chapter 2, this becomes axiomatic. We have seen how we so need Christian friends and that is why Jesus places us in fellowships - “all the fellows in the one ship” - with all their weaknesses and strengths.

If satan can divide The Church he has dealt a blow to the greatest evangelistic tool the Church has. This lies at the heart of The Lord’s Prayer in John Chapter 17 verses 20 to 23.

When we come to Jesus, we are designed to be part of a fellowship. We are a new creation and intended to find our place as members of The Body.

When we are designed to be part of a group, and we are not a belonging member of that group, that is ultimate loneliness.

It is not a matter of, “Will I go or, do I have to go?” No! When you are committed to Jesus Christ, you cannot stay away. You belong, and you do not want to miss what Jesus might say, or in case you miss the opportunity to serve and contribute. There are some things we don’t need to wonder about or consider. They are already determined.

Saul was not only committed to Jesus Christ, but he was also committed to all the others who belonged to Jesus Christ. This is the pattern which God sets before us. Never did The Church ever suggest otherwise, and this remains unchanged.

Make sure you are a reliable, dependable, physical, visible member of the Church, the Body of Christ, in your community and be known for loving all the others with the love of Christ, and shining for Jesus.

There is much to learn and I pray that you are studying these principles revealed to us by God in His Holy Word. The born again Saul of Tarsus is preaching again, speaking boldly about Jesus Christ, and SOON there is yet another plot and conspiracy to kill him.

Again, the man who hunted Christians is himself being hunted. But, give up or give in or be put off? That does not enter his thinking! The brothers in the local Jerusalem Fellowship hear of these threats on Saul’s life, and they send Saul off home to Tarsus for his own safety.

And now, this bright young boy who had left his home town and ‘done well’, with a highly promising religious career looming ahead of him, returns to Tarsus, a committed disciple of Jesus Christ. Again, he has to do something which is not easy to do.

Do you find that God asks you to do things time and time again, which are not easy?

We are told that for a period the church of Jesus Christ enjoyed a time of peace, when it wasn’t being harassed by people like Saul. As these disciples preached and ministered, they were strengthened, edified, and encouraged by The Holy Spirit.

This period of peace was NOT a time for relaxing, resting and sitting back, but for consolidation. This was an opportunity for faith to be deepened and developed - a time for disciples to grow and mature.

If God is giving you a period of comparative peace just now, use the opportunity positively for study and prayer, in preparation for the next step forward.

Sandy Shaw is Pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship, Chaplain at Inverness Prison, and Nairn Academy, and serves on The Children’s Panel in Scotland, and has travelled extensively over these past years teaching, speaking, in America, Canada, South Africa, Australia, making 12 visits to Israel conducting Tours and Pilgrimages, and most recently in Uganda and Kenya, ministering at Pastors and Leaders Seminars, in the poor areas surrounding Kampala, Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.

He broadcasts regularly on WSHO radio out of New Orleans, and writes a weekly commentary at http://www.studylight.org entitled “Word from Scotland” on various biblical themes, as well as a weekly newspaper column.

His M.A. and B.D. degrees are from The University of Edinburgh, and he continues to run and exercise regularly to maintain a level of physical fitness.

Sandy Shaw
sandyshaw63@yahoo.com

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