Plan Four: Courageous FearSample

COURAGEOUS FEAR...TRANSFORMED SAUL TO PAUL

Saul, an avowed terrorist of the early Christian church, thought he was God’s champion and called to wipe out the new Jewish cult called The Way. Saul had instigated the stoning of Stephen and other men and women, placed many others in prison and left their children orphaned and destitute.

Now he was traveling to Damascus, Syria, to capture, imprison, and possibly kill more believers of The Way. As he neared the city, a terribly bright light shown all around him, and he heard a voice from heaven saying, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” In terror, he fell to the ground. “Who are you, Lord?” he asked.

Then Saul heard the words that physically jolted him, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” The first three words, “I am Jesus,” changed the course of his life. In a split second, Saul’s mind was transformed from being God’s zealous champion to the one who was inflicting pain on the Lord.

He had killed members of the Lord’s family. He had destroyed their homes, left them with nothing, imprisoned parents, leaving children without a mom or dad. Saul, now blind, was told to go to Damascus, where he spent three days in holy terror in complete darkness.

This is the point in the life of Saul (later named Paul) where he began to “work out his salvation with fear and trembling.” This was when he re-examined all of the Old Testament passages, except this time, he did so with the fear of the Lord freshly imprinted on his heart.

In three days, his entire theology was transformed, but one thing was still lacking. In a vision, God mercifully showed Saul that his blindness was only temporary and that a disciple named Ananias would come, lovingly lay his hands on him, welcome him into the family of believers, and heal him.

Empowered with courageous fear, Saul went to the Jewish synagogue and proclaimed that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, proving this with scriptural passages.