Terry Storch

Writing about life, leadership, faith, and anything else I find interesting.

Acts 9 - All around us

 

Acts 9 - All around us

Yesterday we briefly discussed Saul and how he reminded me of a mob boss in the movies. This young, fearless, and brutal individual opened chapter 9, and today we see quite possibly the most radical conversion ever. Continuing the persecution, Saul had just received special permission from the rulers of the land.

“Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.” - ‭‭Acts‬ ‭9:1-2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Basically, we read that Saul received a warrant for the arrest of any Christian in the land. This zealous and deranged young mercenary headed out to start the roundup, and he met Jesus. 

“As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.” - ‭‭Acts‬ ‭9:3-9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Every time I read this, I am first struck by the interaction, and try and imagine what Saul experienced...but as I read on I am most fascinated by Sauls cronies. The men traveling with this mercenary experienced this as well, but their experience wasn’t personal, and it lacked clarity. What I mean is they did not hear the voice of God.

“The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone.” - ‭‭Acts‬ ‭9:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Saul shares his testimony multiple times in Acts, here in chapter 22 he recalls it this way;

“My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me.” - ‭‭Acts‬ ‭22:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I am going to continue into chapter 9 tomorrow so I can camp out here for a little bit. Here is a thought I am pondering. Sauls men around him were not believers, but lets put ourselves into this story and this picture. All around us, God is moving and transforming lives. Maybe not a radical conversion or intense situation like this, but God is moving in our midst, often. My question is this, can we find ourselves like Sauls cronies? Is God moving, speaking, and transforming lives all around us, and we just do not hear his voice, or understand the situations all around us? You see, if our perspective is off, if we are not looking for, anticipating in, or have the faith to believe, then we can find ourselves missing the move of God all around us. 

We read in the scriptures above that the men saw the light, heard a sound, but didn’t see or hear anything. They responded to their friends' situation and took him to town, but then we don't hear about them again. The Scripture is silent about them, so we do not know if they left unchanged or if they converted, we don’t know. But here is what I know, if God is moving around me, converting, transforming, speaking, and leading, I do not want my life to be silent about it. I want to have the eyes to see and the ears to hear God’s voice that is followed by the posture to move as He is asking. 

The book of Acts is about Action! We as a part of The Way, the Jesus movement, Christ-followers must live a life of action. Look at Saul.

“Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once, he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.” - ‭‭Acts‬ ‭9:17-20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Instantaneously Saul got up and acted. He was baptized, he ate, he studied under other disciples, and then he began to preach. That my friend is action. 

Lord, you are moving all around us! Father, I pray that we have the eyes to see and the ears to hear your voice, to see your movement and God I pray we have the faith to take a step, to move and act according to your will. 

After I wrote and published this, I was reminded of this powerful worship song from Life.Church. Yes!!! Come and move how you want to, Jesus.

other writing
John 20 - The Gospel

John 20 - The Gospel

The Gospel, the Good News! Jesus, Son of God, was born of Mary, lived as the Son of Man, died, and rose to life to rescue the world and bring about a new life. The central message of the gospel. Jesus, the centerpiece! John 19 & 20 cover the brutal death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

In this scene, I can not imagine how the disciples felt. John describes them as overjoyed...but those words just fall short of what I can imagine this moment was like.

John 19 - The Magnitude of the Cross

John 19 - The Magnitude of the Cross

The day of Jesus' crucifixion fulfilled 28 Old Testament prophecies. Scripture was fulfilled! Beyond that, trying to wrap my mind around what happened this day, on the cross, and fully grabbing the magnitude of the cross is mind-boggling.

Sure, we can dumb this down or simplify it to a place where I just don’t believe it is anywhere near accurate. We can get into penal substitution and argue over was God full of love or was God full of wrath and hate that he killed his son. To me, John 3:16 is pretty clear on the love part.

John 18 - Jesus levels an army

John 18 - Jesus levels an army

In John 18, we come to the great betrayal. Judas came with the soldiers, officials, and chief priest and Pharisees. We know the scene. But this morning, I saw something I don’t remember reading and surly don’t remember learning about.

“So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭18:3-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 17 - The Lords Prayer

John 17 - The Lords Prayer

John 17 is Jesus looking heavenward and praying to God the Father. So much beauty and mystery in this prayer. One thing that jumps out to me is that Jesus, fully God, and fully man prayed. Jesus is God fully. Why did he need to pray, He was One with the Father, He was God...and yet he prayed. This is so powerful;

“And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭17:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 16 - What does it take to believe?

John 16 - What does it take to believe?

By the end of John 16, Jesus had done countless miracles, preached some amazing sermons, transformed so many lives, and developed a close and personal relationship with his disciples. So, when reading these verses, I am just utterly confused on so many levels.

“I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.” Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.” “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭16:28-31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 16 - Undervaluing God in Spirit

John 16 - Undervaluing God in Spirit

Jesus’ time on earth is quickly coming to a close, and he finishes up his last sermon or teaching to his disciples as they walk to Gethsemane. This final teaching was a heavy one that no doubt left his disciples with a heavy heart. Jesus said it this way;

“...None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭16:5-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus goes on to say;

John 15 - Constant Growth

John 15 - Constant Growth

We were built for growth, constant growth. From birth, all the way until our death, we were designed by God for constant growth. The problem is, we often can find ourselves stuck in a belief, a phase, or a part of life where we stop growing.

One of the most brilliant investors embodies this understanding. Charlie Munger, at 96 years old, is still learning and growing as a person. I love this quote:

“Knowing what you don’t know is more useful than being brilliant.”
- Charlie Munger

John 14 - The Gift of Peace

John 14 - The Gift of Peace

John 14 opens with Jesus, saying, Don’t let your hearts be troubled. And the chapter closed down with Jesus saying Don’t be troubled or afraid.

A message that needs to resonate with our spirit and our inner self. This was such a good reminder, reading through John 14 over and over. This passage lifted off the screen.

“But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart…

John 14 - Troubled Hearts

John 14 - Troubled Hearts

The world today seems so volatile and chaotic. Everywhere you look, whatever we read and see on TV just seems to be troubling. Last night, I noticed my lovely wife Tweeted this;

“I can’t be the only one who watches the news and is simply embarrassed right now, right? (Dear Jesus, we tap out. Come on back.)”

I find this first humorous, but then I also find it sad. It’s true, watching the news as a Christ-follower is pretty embarrassing. In John 14, we see Jesus…

John 13 - Unselfish Concern

John 13 - Unselfish Concern

Summarizing John, chapter 13, looks like this. The Lords Supper takes place. Jesus washes the disciple's feet. Jesus calls out Judas, and Satan enters him. Night comes, Judas leaves, and Jesus says he must go, and where I am going, you can not come. To cap it all off, Jesus also calls out Simon Peter and tells him that he will deny and completely disown Jesus three times. Whoa, a really full chapter, and historical day.

Nestled in the wrap up of the day is the parting message Jesus leaves his disciples, a message Jesus is sharing with us right now.

 
thoughtsTerry Storch