The Apostle Paul was once Saul of Tarsus. The transition from one man to the other wasn't an easy or immediate process. However, like all new believers, he did what we should always be doing. He pursued a personal relationship with Jesus. He received comfort from the Holy Spirit. And He then sought being built up in the knowledge of God.

1. Share Jesus with people like you would any other good thing in your life.

2. Without a personal relationship with Jesus, Christian education is only useful for trivia.

3. A growing church starts rooted in God's Word, comforted by the Spirit, and living in the fear of the Lord.

Jesus' post-resurrection appearances to the Apostles were as deliberate as they were effective. He answers their despair, their doubts, and restores them from their departures from Him. Through the Holy Spirit, He offers the same to us all today.

1. Jesus answers our despair with His presence.

2. Jesus answers our doubts with His Word.

3. Jesus answers our sin with His Restoration.

The celebration of Good Friday is one of fulfilled prophecy. With an understanding of the Passover in ancient Israel, the significance of everything Jesus accomplished is brought to light.

1. God's Word has left nothing to guesswork regarding who He is and what He has done to prove it.

2. God has personally seen through your redemption.

3. God loves you.

As Saul the Pharisee becomes Paul the Apostle, a man named Ananias serves God's purposes in meeting him at the point of conversion. We aren't told much about Ananias in scripture. However, his example and attitude is the same demonstrated by everyone who was used by God in powerful ways. He wasn't qualified, He wasn't even reputable. He was simply available.

1. God uses the available more often than the qualified.

2. God blesses a life that walks with Him one day at a time.

3. God enables us to live the way He wants us to.

The conversion of Saul of Tarsus was a very dramatic event, but also more common than we give it credit for. Saul needed exactly what the Lord provided him in order to understand who Jesus was. We can know and expect the same treatment when it comes to God's dealings with us. It's not intended to entertain us, but assure us of the work He first did in our hearts that we call salvation.

1. If it is possible for us to be saved, God will meet us exactly where we are at to provide that gift to us.

2. Salvation comes through recognizing who Jesus is and how He proved it in history.

3. Every Christian should make a habit of reminding themselves of who Jesus is and how He proved it to them personally.