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You are

welcome

Stone

Creek

www.rossvillechurch.com

781 Salem Road, Rossville, GA 30741

2-20-2013

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The Apostle Paul is testifying

before Governor Festus, King

Agrippa, and Agrippa’s wife

and sister -- Bernice.

He is speaking directly to

King Agrippa.

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He has told of his youth in Jerusalem, learning to

live according to the strictest interpretation of the

Jewish law and customs.

And, he tells them that the real reason these Jews

hate him is his belief and message that Jesus is

Messiah and that God raised Him from the dead.

But -- he says, “I did not always believe.”

“I once fought hard against Christians.”

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Acts 26:12 Whereupon as I went

to Damascus with authority

and commission from the

chief priests (to round up

Christians for persecution), 13 At midday, O king, I saw

in the way a Light from

Heaven, above the brightness

of the sun, shining round

about me and them which

journeyed with me.

The Lord is

the Light.

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1 John 1 (TLB) 5 This is the message God has

given us to pass on to you: that God is Light and in

Him is no darkness at all. 6 So if we say we are His

friends but go on living in spiritual darkness and

sin, we are lying. 7 But if we are living in the Light

of God’s Presence, just as Christ does, then we

have wonderful fellowship and joy with each other,

and the Blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from

every sin.

Paul saw the Lord as he went to Damascus.

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14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard

a Voice speaking unto me, and saying in the

Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou

Me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 15 And I said, Who art Thou, Lord? And he said, I

am Jesus Whom thou persecutest.

“Why persecutest thou Me?”

“I am Jesus Whom thou persecutest.”

Anyone who persecutes believers in Christ,

persecutes Jesus, the Christ.

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John 15 18-21 If the world hate you, ye know that it

hated Me before it hated you. If ye were of the

world, the world would love his own: but because

ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out

of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Re-

member the Word that I said unto you, The servant

is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted

Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept

My Saying, they will keep yours also. But all these

things will they do unto you for My Name's sake,

because they know not Him that sent Me.

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Persecution for Christians is inevitable.

Don’t fear persecution; embrace it.

1 Peter 3 (NIV) 13 Who is going to harm you if you

are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should

suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not

fear what they fear; do not be frightened." 15 But in

your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be

prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks

you to give the reason for the hope that you have.

Why am I confident that I am going to Heaven?

I am washed in the Blood of Jesus.

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1 Peter 3 15 continued But do this with gentleness and

respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those

who speak maliciously against your good behavior

in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 It is

better, if it is God's Will, to suffer for doing good

than for doing evil.

To be harsh and hateful is to do evil.

Show forth the Love of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

A judgmental and criticizing Christian is

not helpful in the Kingdom of God.

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“It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.”

This may mean that Paul had been troubled by the

pricks of his conscience,

But he later testified that he did what he did in

ignorance, believing he did right.

Jesus may have been speaking of the futility of

fighting against His church,

Because the church will always stand!

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Matthew 16 16 And Simon Peter answered and said,

Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed

art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath

not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which is in

Heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art

Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church;

and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

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Let us follow Paul’s example of Christianity.

Let’s be bold and yet gentle and respectful.

Paul never stirred up trouble;

He simply told the Truth about Jesus.

Unbelievers stirred up the trouble.

Worthy Example!

Begin at home.