Forgiveness is hard to do sometimes, isn’t it?  Or am I the only one that feels this way?  You may say but Pastor you don’t understand how much they or that hurt me! I did not say that it would be easy. God did not say it was easy. Is everything easy in this world?  Remember last week’s message “work out” we just need to find a way to work it out! No matter how much it hurts you. Have you heard the saying “I don’t get mad I get even!” You know that it’s not your position to get even with anyone. Though some may have this concept in mind. That is not good.  Do you want God to get even with you? God’s word says, “Vengeance is mine saith the Lord” It is not for you to do. God has forgiven you of all your faults and sins should we not forgive others? Yes!

Saul of Tarshish, went with authority and commission from the chief priests to Damascus to seek and to arrest Christian believers. God had other plans for him. If we remember the story he was on his way to Damascus when the Lord caused him to lose his sight…..we pick up the story in verse Acts 26:14

Acts 26:14 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.

Pricks =ken’-tron,  kentron in Greek= to sting or prod, or to poke. A stick with a metal tipped end that the farmer would poke into the side of the ox if when the ox was not going in the right direction the ox would kick at it and it would drive further into his side causing him to suffer more than just the initial poke. Why do we do this? Hurting ourselves because we are unwilling to allow God to lead us in his direction.

If we take out Saul’s name and put our name in its place it ends up making it personal to us and we must do something about this problem. God should not have to poke or prod us to do any think for Him.

Why persecutest thou me?- Saul’s action here was he was fighting against the Lords will. Why do we sometimes fight against our Lord?  Fighting against the Lords will. God wants all to be saved not just the elected Jewish people that were in charge.  Why do we find ourselves saying this or that person does not deserve my Lord’s salvation. It’s not for us to pick and choose, God will, we are to follow in obedience. Jonah tried to do that by getting on a ship to Tarshish instead of going to preach to the people of Nineveh. Not those wicked and ungodly people! Its not our place to choose who God will bless with salvation. We follow in obedience. God will do the rest. Some of us saw the performance of Daniel this week. Ask some one who went it was a very powerful message that was expressed in the performance; obedience, God’s Power on display, God is where you are, and no matter your circumstances. God is with you.  when we realize that we can overcome any thing.

 Acts 26:15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

 Saul knew it was the Lord right away!

 I am Jesus whom thou persecutest- We must come to the realization that when we do not do the will of God and follow him in obedience.  We are fighting with God not any physical man, but God the creator the one who gives you life and breath. *This is not a position we want to ever be in fighting and rebelling against our creator we could lose our life and breath. *

God is about to teach Saul of Tarshish a very valuable lesson that will ultimately change his mind and way of thinking and make him into the image of his son Jesus. Amen!

Saul also just saw the most powerful light that knocked him off his horse, It had to be an all-powerful, all-knowing God. By answering Him this way, he allows God to be Lord over the rest of his life.  Lord over = rule over you / leader over you.

Acts 26:16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

 Rise, and stand upon thy feet- sometimes we must rise and stand upon thy feet no one else can do it for you.

I have appeared unto thee for this purpose-you all have a purpose, and we must be doing it until His return, or your called home. 

To make thee a minister and a witness both of these things- we as Christian believers are to Minister and witness to others about Jesus. 

Things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee- the things which you have seen Jesus do in your life and those things which Jesus will show you. Past and present and future things.

Acts 26:17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

God will deliver you from the people and things that have control over you. And those things that take time away for your God. He will bring you through it all and only Jesus can. No one else.

Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

To open their eyes, = We all need our eyes open to the truth of God’s word. Show me a man that doesn’t and I will show you a man that is a sinner.

God’s opportunities are limited God will only tolerate so much of our unbelief.

And to turn them from darkness to light- we where all in darkness of sin and were doing as we pleased until the Lord found us and changed us into the image of his son Jesus.

From the power of Satan unto power of God- changing us from being under the power of Satan and into the power of God. Satan Has to ask permission form God to do anything.

They may receive forgiveness- We have been found worthy of his forgiveness which is everlasting. Cannot be take away.

That they may receive an inheritance- worthy of the receipt of His inheritance The King’s inheritance that means we are heirs to the King.

Among them which are sanctified-to be sanctified separated set apart to be Holy do is to be justified (just- if -I ’ed never sinned) to be Holy

By their faith that is in me- by our faith in Jesus

We need to ask Jesus to open our hearts open our minds and lead us and guide us thorough his word so we may gain strength. The some of the Jewish people wanted to get rid of Saul of Tarshish, (later Paul the rock God would build his church upon) God had other plans for him. To graphed in the gentile people into the Jewish belief of the messiah Jesus Christ.

Are you not glad that God forgive us of our rebellious nature?

Are you not glad that God has forgiven us of our sins?

Are you not glad that God has given us a way back to himself?

I am!

That is ultimate forgiveness!

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.