What a perfect choice for one to teach the Gentiles about the Kingdom to Come. What a perfect example of sin, forgiveness, repentance and faith for us all. Paul's life and times reflect in our lives to one degree or another. He was 'blinded' and had to rely on faith to find his way back. Paul was directly convicted by Y'shua on that road to Damascus. Afterwards, he delayed in approaching the established Apostles for three years and even then they were afraid and suspicious of him - they all remembered who he was and what he was capable of. If we don't see our own sinful past in his story then we've misunderstood Paul just as he was misunderstood in his own time. I believe this is why so many 'believers' cast a scornful eye upon the writings of Paul.... he hits too close to home.
Acts Chapter 8
Paul was a participant in the murder of Stephen as well as part of the great persecution going on towards the congregation of the followers of Y'shua in Jerusalem. He was part of those who persecuted the congregation of Yahweh. He entered homes and dragged out the men and women and took them to prison. Chapter 9 - Paul was full of intimidation and the fury of murder towards the disciples of our Master Y'shua. Paul asked for letters from the chief priests to take to the assemblies in Damascus giving him permission to arrest any followers he may find there and bring them to Jerusalem. On the road to Damascus a light from heaven suddenly shone upon him, and he was thrown to the ground. He heard a voice saying to him, "Shaul! Shaul! Why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick the stakes."
Paul asks, Who are you my Master? I am Y'shua the Nasraya, he whom you persecute! But rise up and enter into the city, and there you will be told what you should do.
The men who were travelling with Paul were amazed because they heard only a sound but no man was visible to them. Paul got up from the ground and was no longer able to see, even though his eyes were open. The men guided him as they continued to Damascus. Paul was unable to see for three days and neither did he eat or drink during this time. (a very humbling experience)
In Damascus was a disciple named Khanan-Yah whom had a vision wherein Yahweh told him to go to Straight Street and ask at the house of Judah for Paul from Tarsus. While this Paul was praying he had a vision of you coming to him, placing your hand upon him so that his eyes would be opened." Khanan-Yah is afraid of Paul because they all know about him and how much evil he had inflicted on Yah's Set Apart believers in Jerusalem. Yahweh tells him to get up and go because Paul is a vessel chosen by Him to carry His Name among the Gentiles and kings and among the sons of Israel. "For I will reveal to him how much he will suffer because of My Name." Khanan-Yah went.
He went to the house and placed a hand upon him saying, Paul, my brother, our Master Y'shua has sent me. He who appeared to you on the road while you were coming here, that your eyes might be opened and that you might be filled with the Set Apart Spirit of Yahweh. At once something like scales fell from Paul's eyes and his eyes were opened. Paul got up and went to be immersed. He ate and was strengthened and gathered with the disciples that were there in Damascus. Immediately he began preaching about Y'shua that he was the Son of Elohim. Everyone who heard him were amazed because they knew he was the one persecuting those in Jerusalem and knew he had come to Damascus for the same reason. After many days the Jews there wanted to kill him. The plot was shown to Paul that they were keeping watch of the gates of the city day and night to kill him. The disciples ended up placing him in a basket and lowered him down from the wall during the night. Paul went to Jerusalem desiring to join the disciples there but all of them were afraid of him. They did not believe that he had become one of them. Bar-Naba ended up taking him to the Schlichim and explained to them what had happened. They let him in with them and they went out into Jerusalem. Paul was boldly speaking in the name of Y'shua and disputing with those Jews who spoke Greek and they desired to kill him. When the brothers knew this they brought Paul to Caesarea by night and sent him to Tarsus... nevertheless, the assembly that was in all Judah and Galilee and Shamrin now had peace in them. The assembly grew, built up and instructed in the fear of Yahweh and in the comfort of the Ruach haKodesh.
(Moses was also placed in a basket and saved from death)
Paul describes himself in Philippeans 3:5- "Circumcised when eight days old; of the stock of Israel; of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew, descendant of Hebrews; in regards to Torah, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the assembly of Messianic believers; and as to the righteousness of the oral Torah, I was without fault." (Oral Law is rabbinic tradition). Paul's attitude about himself and all he had mastered dramatically changed after he saw the superior knowledge of Y'shua and learned that his own righteousness came from Faith in the Messiah and the righteousness which is from Yahweh, and not of himself. Paul was not a 'Jew' pretending to be a Greek, but was well aware of his heritage as a descendant of Abraham. His Hebrew name, Saul, was taken from the first king of Israel, who was from the tribe of Benjamin, and Paul's teacher, Gamaliel, was also from the tribe of Benjamin. They were Jews by location, not by birth or religious affiliation, although Paul was under the influence of religion before Y'shua called him out. What a wonderful example for all of us!
Paul describes himself in Philippeans 3:5- "Circumcised when eight days old; of the stock of Israel; of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew, descendant of Hebrews; in regards to Torah, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the assembly of Messianic believers; and as to the righteousness of the oral Torah, I was without fault." (Oral Law is rabbinic tradition). Paul's attitude about himself and all he had mastered dramatically changed after he saw the superior knowledge of Y'shua and learned that his own righteousness came from Faith in the Messiah and the righteousness which is from Yahweh, and not of himself. Paul was not a 'Jew' pretending to be a Greek, but was well aware of his heritage as a descendant of Abraham. His Hebrew name, Saul, was taken from the first king of Israel, who was from the tribe of Benjamin, and Paul's teacher, Gamaliel, was also from the tribe of Benjamin. They were Jews by location, not by birth or religious affiliation, although Paul was under the influence of religion before Y'shua called him out. What a wonderful example for all of us!
Once he was called out of Judaism and Roman law Paul did not hesitate nor make the excuse that 'we're all on different parts of the path' .
This statement always tugs on my very soul whenever I read it. It was said by the Apostle Paul and I offer it as a prayer for all who are ready to come into covenant with our Creator today. I pray for all fellow Set Apart believers that we may become one people with one understanding, and of one faith under one Elohim. By this we will come to know the unsearchable riches of Y'shua the Anointed One. It is through us that the manifold wisdom of our Creator becomes known. Lets take that seriously and act accordingly.
Ephesians 3 ~ To me, Paul, who am the least of all the Set Apart believers, has this grace been given that I should announce among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of the Mashiyach, and should show to all men what is the architecture of the mystery which for ages was hid in Elohim the Creator of all things, so that by means of the assembly (of Set Apart believers) the manifold wisdom of Elohim might become known - which He arranged ages before and worked it through Y'shua our Master.
Therefore I pray - and I bow my knees to the Father of our Master Y'shua from whom the whole family in heaven and on earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit; that in your inner man the Anointed One may dwell by faith, and in your hearts by love while your root and foundation increases greatly in strength; and that you may be able to explore, with all the Set Apart believers, what is the height and depth and length and breadth, and may know the greatness of Y'shua's love and that you may be filled with all the fullness of Yahweh.
Apostle Peter pointed out that Paul's letters were not easy to understand, but were “twisted” by those who were untaught (2 Peter 3:15,16). Peter warned us to watch, lest we be led away to destruction by the delusion of the lawless. He didn’t include Paul as a lawless one, but stated that his letters were being twisted, as were “the other Writings”. For those who have interpreted that Paul wrote of an “end to the law”, Peter’s warning was written directly to those who live without the Torah.
We were once carnal unbelievers raised up in false religions enjoying the imaginations of other men.
