Throwing Momma from The Train

“The grace of God is sufficient for the vilest, and He can take the most wicked men (person)and make them monuments of His grace.” -Smith Wigglesworth

In the Acts of the Apostles in the Bible, chapter nine, we read about God’s ability and power to change a life going one direction and place it on a completely different trajectory.

Saul was a young Pharisee who was on a mission to rid the world of all who claimed that Jesus was the Messiah. He was on a road to Damascus with legal papers in his hands that gave him permission to arrest ANYONE who said that they were followers of Jesus and bring them back to Jerusalem.

Acts 9:1 said that Saul was “breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord”. 

“MURDERER”, was the cry of everyone who saw him coming as they ran for shelter.

In verses 3-5, Saul, instead, had a personal encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ who told Saul that he was actually working against the Lord by arresting and killing people.

In verse 6 Saul started trembling and was astonished, and said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

Somehow in this encounter, Saul became blind and fell to the floor. Verse 9 says that Saul was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Verse 10 tells us that there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”

“So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. And in a vision, he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.” (V. 11-12)

“He’s a MURDERER”, was the cry of Ananias to the Lord when he was told to go to Saul and pray for him.

 “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” (V.13-14)

But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” (V.15-16)

Ananias said; ‘OK, I’ll do it…’ to the Lord and went to the appointed place and laid hands on Saul and prayed for him for healing.

“And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” (V.17) 

Notice when Ananias came into that house, he called Saul; “Brother”. Ananias’s response was loving, affectionate, kind, and welcoming to this man who stood before him.

I am so glad that Saul didn’t run into Owen’s momma; from the movie; “Throw Momma from The Train”.

 

Her response would have been to call out; “Murderer! He’s a murderer! He’s trying to kill me! He’s a murderer!” everywhere Saul went.

Then something very cool happened; Saul was healed!

“Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. So, when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.” (V.18-19)

Saul was baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit and the Bible records the results of that filling.

My friend, that same grace that was given to Saul (who later called “Paul”) is available to you; TODAY! That same filling of the Holy Spirit that Saul received is available for you TODAY!

As I stated earlier; “The grace of God is sufficient for the vilest, and He can take the most wicked men (person)and make them monuments of His grace.”

You simply need to ask.

“For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:10-13)

All Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.