Renewal of Purpose

The theme “Building up the Inside and Increasing on the Outside” is a corporate theme that originates first individualistically with each and every member of Jehovah Christian Ministries.  The church cannot succeed without it members succeeding.

The crux of this theme found in 1 John 1:6-7 is that we need fellowship with God on an individualistic bases in order to walk in the light, as Christ is in the light, thus then we have fellowship with one another.  This fellowship ignited through the blood of Jesus Christ that cleanses us from all sin.

Likewise, as a corporate entity and as a community of believers we also fellowship with God, walk in the light and our sins are cleansed through the blood of Christ and as we fellowship with others, we as a church walk in the light and have fellowship with other entities whether it be other churches, religious organizations, schools, or businesses that cross our path.

As we look at our text, we find that purpose is a major component of reaching our theme individualistically and corporately.

Paul who at this point is named Saul is a very influential person.  During this area, religious leaders were as important and maybe more important than secular leaders.  The Jews leaned heavily on the Pharisees and Sadducees as leaders because they understood the Torah or what we call the Pentateuch.

The difference being that the Torah is the Hebrew first five books of what we now call the Bible, and the Pentateuch is the Greek first five books of the Bible.  We as Christians use the Pentateuch.

• The religious leaders set the tone for the order of that day. So, Saul a Pharisee of the Pharisees was a very influential man.
• His influence and power increased as he stood in affirmation of the death of Stephen
• Soon after he obtained papers to go outside Jerusalem to bring back men and women that served Jesus
• In the first century, Jesus followers or Saints were considered a cult and the term Christian was not used until after Barnabas brought Paul to Antioch as they taught there for over a year.

Point 1 – The Understanding Of God

God led Saul in the pathway he followed.

1. Educated in the religious way of the Jews
2. Saul ratcheting up the hatred of believers in Christ
3. Watched Saul take the hatred of believers to a new level
4. Right in the midst of this atmosphere met Saul on the Damascus road.
5. God’s timing is perfect.

• God has likewise met us on our Damascus Road.
• Right in the midst of our hey day or preparing to take things to a new level, God showed up.
• Not a dramatic as Saul but dramatic for us. Stopped us in our tracks.

Point 2 – A Great Decision

1. Saul had a decision to make. Continue and face consequence. Or Change and start a new path.
2. When opened his eyes, he could not see, nor did he have any vision for his life. Aman with vision for his future had no vision.  A man who could see no longer could see. No sight or vision.  The worse being the latter/
3. Led off the physical road but not away from his Damascus Road experience, he awaited for what was next.

• Can you remember your experience during the period of making a decision to follow Christ and actually following Christ?
• Do you remember the anguish, the thoughts running through your mind, the what next, the people I will have to face? What would I say?

Point 3 – A Renewed Purpose

1. Saul received three things that were needed for his new purpose: His sight, His vision, and most important the Holy Ghost.
2. Understanding the letter of the religious law was fantastic, but understanding the impact of Jesus on the law was phenomenal.
3. WE hear Paul saying in Philippians 3:7-10, the impact of Jesus on the law he learned.

Philippians 3:7-11 King James Version (KJV)

⁷ But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. ⁸ Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, ⁹ And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: ¹⁰ That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; ¹¹ If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

• We too need to stop by the filling station. We need to hear from God our vision, regain our sight, and be refilled with the Holy Ghost
• We have great purpose, but we need new life, new energy, rest from being tired.
• Let’s move to a higher road, slow down, and hear from God for renewed strength, to get back to the basics.

Our purpose is to win souls, reach the lost, strengthen the brethren and sisterern, educate, and operate in the Holy Ghost