Acts 9:20-22

At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, "Isn't he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn't he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?" Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.

“At once…” (NIV)

“Immediately…” (NLT)

“Went right to work…” (Message)

However you want to say it…Paul couldn’t wait any longer. His heart was on fire…it had been baptized in fire…it had been birthed in fire. So he preached. He preached with all of his heart that Jesus is the Son of God. Saul is excited…it’s overflowing out from his heart and into his mouth. His words are piercing and effective…so much so, that the crowds are astonished. They literally can’t believe it. The murderer has become the preacher. The one who chased us to death, now preaches to us eternal life. All of this defied their logic…but that’s how it is isn’t it? God defies logic. He is beyond our thoughts and even our imagination…and that is when we get shook up. We don’t like to admit it but we get doubtful and, if you’re really being honest with yourself, a little afraid. Who could blame you? Saul doesn’t exactly have the greatest of background at this point. His credibility is basically zero to none, right? After all it has only been a few days since he was there to kill them…you just can’t expect them to completely trust him yet now can you?

Credibility is important in ministry…

Are you what you appear to be? I hope so…but hear me out, if you are not…it could be the reason you aren’t listened to and are not taken seriously. Saul had zero credibility. Who is going to believe him? That is what fear does…it makes us doubt and disbelieve our circumstances…and that could cost us our life…I say that because Saul was teaching the good news…not his own news…he was witnessing the Gospel of Christ and proving that Jesus is the Messiah…not railing false accusations…but his credibility and integrity was so much in question that it was hard to focus on anything else.

“Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews”

Saul grew powerful in the Lord. His testimony and his witness astonished and amazed all that heard him preach. He was bold and a tad bit reckless. As I read this I couldn’t help but think of a conversation that I had the other day about where has the Holy Ghost power of the church gone? Where are its men of power? We see it in new believers but it never last long.

You see, new believers are excited. So excited that they change things…excitement does that. Excitement doesn’t seem so revelational right now and the proof is in our life. Are we excited for Christ? Do we act like it? Why not? Why aren’t we excited anymore? Why can’t we recall what it was like when we first accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior? Some say that they can recall, but a life that has been changed is challenged to change others…