Psalm 118:15-18 New King James Version (NKJV)

Acts 13:1-12 (NKJV)

    1 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers:  

    Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been

    brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

    2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to  

    Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

    3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.

    4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there    

    they sailed to Cyprus.

    5 And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues

    of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant.

    6 Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain

    sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus,

    7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called

    for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.

    8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking

    to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

    9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him

    10 and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of

    all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?

    11 And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not  

    seeing the sun for a time.” And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went

    around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.

 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at  

 the teaching of the Lord.                

Acts 11:25-30 (NKJV)

25 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul.  

26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

27 And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch.

28 Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar.

29 Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea.

30 This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

Acts 9:20-28 (NKJV)  

20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?

22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

23 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:

24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.

25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.

   Application:

    The Holy Spirit is the Enabler to assist us in sharing our testimony and faith.

    You are authorized to speak on behalf of Jesus by the Holy Spirit’s power.

Acts 9:12-18 (NKJV)

12 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.”

13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.

14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.

16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

17 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.”

18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

Application:

With the gifts that you have been given, God will take you to places where you’ve never been, to a people you never knew.

Never forget that God is ultimately in charge and His will is to be done.

Acts 9:6-12 (NKJV)

6 So he, trembling and astonished, 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.” 

7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one.

8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

10 Now 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.”

11 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.

12 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.” 

Application:

To Fall does not mean that you are a Failure, it only proves that you are human.

The quickest way to recover from a Fall is to get up and begin moving Forward.

Acts 9:1-6 (NKJV)

Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

2  and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven.

4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”

6  So he, trembling and astonished, 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.”

Application:

Never Under Estimate What God Can Do With Your Opposition.

Only God Can Make a Wrong… Turn Out Right.

John 19:28-30 (NKJV)

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!”

29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth.

30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

  Matthew 28:1-8 (NKJV)

  Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.

2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.

3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.

4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.

5 But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.

6  He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”

8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.

Application:

There is nothing more valuable to God than you.

Your greatest fears have been vanquished by Christ’s Death, Burial and Resurrection.

Matthew 20:17-19 (NKJV)

17 Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them,
18 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death,
19 and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.”

  Luke 22:40-46 (NKJV)

40 When He came to the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
41 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed,
42 saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”
43 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.
44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
45 When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow.
46 Then He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.” 

Application:

Following Him from a distance impedes you from comprehending Him with your whole heart.

When faith is tested, failure to pray makes it easy to stray.
 

John 1:6-13 (NKJV)

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.

8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him

.11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

 Application:

We are redeemed as Children of God and witnesses of the Truth.
Your light shines even brighter as the world increases in the darkness of unbelief.