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[Everyone has a story. What’s your story? cont.]

The risen Lord spoke to Ananias a disciple of Jesus in Damascus. Ananias was instructed to go to Saul and pray for him. Ananias argued with the Lord because he had heard of Saul’s reputation and acts of terrorism against the church. Finally Ananias took courage, went to Saul, and his first words were, “Brother Saul.” He placed his hands on him and 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.”

Paul told about His Life after Meeting Jesus

After his conversion experience Paul tells us that he went immediately to Arabia for three years. Then returned to Damascus and on to Jerusalem. We can only guess that Paul spent much time in prayer and fasting and listening to the Lord. He probably searched the Scriptures with new insight and an open mind. Galatians 1:17-18 While in Damascus he began to teach and preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.

When Saul met Jesus he became a new man in Christ. He took the new name of Paul signifying the beginning of a new life, a life of victory through the name of Jesus. Paul believed what he experienced could happen to anyone who became a Christ follower. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” II Corinthians 5:17 Paul preached that anyone who came to Jesus could be made into a new person.

The theme of Paul’s life after his conversion experience was “The Resurrection of Jesus Christ.” Paul summed up his gospel message in I Corinthians 15:3-9 NLT “I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me – that Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the twelve apostles. After that he was seen by more than five hundred of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died by now. Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all, I saw him, too, long after the others, as though I had been born at the wrong time. For I am the least of all the apostles, and I am not worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted the church of God.”

Paul could preach and teach from his heart that Jesus is alive because he had seen him. When Paul met Jesus the risen Christ it changed his views of the Cross. No true prophet or Rabbi would ever dare to envision a Messiah suffering death on a cruel cross. The law declared, “He that is hanged is accursed of God.”

From his experience Paul could say with assurance that the cross to the Jews is a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness. (I Corinthians 1:23) After meeting Jesus Paul saw the cross of Christ in a new light. Paul believed the Cross was the wisdom and glory of God.

Paul said that his calling was not to preach with lofty words and brilliant ideas to tell God’s message. Paul declared: “For I decided to concentrate only on Jesus Christ and his death on the cross.” I Corinthians 2:2 As a new man in Christ Paul realized that both Jews and Gentiles were perishing and need a savior.

Paul could say “Since I met Jesus my life has taken a 180 degree turn. Jesus is alive just as the prophets foretold.”

Countless others have said the same thing in different ways. Listen to the man born blind, “Since I met Jesus I once was blind, but now I see.”

Listen to Lazarus: “I was dead in the grave for four days, but because Jesus called my name I’m now alive.”

Listen to Zachaeus, “Before I met Jesus I gained my riches through dishonest taxes. I soon learned that money isn’t everything. When I met Jesus I was glad to repay all I cheated with interest. All the money in the world can’t bring peace of mind and heart, but Jesus gave me peace.”

You Can Help People Meet Jesus

The question that every person must answer: “Have you met Jesus?”

The Scriptures teach that the Cross of Jesus is our bridge to God and eternal life.

The Bridge illustration is a simple way for you to tell others about the importance of the Cross of Jesus as their bridge to God. You can use the bridge illustration to help people come to Jesus.

(Flip chart – Bridge Illustration)
Look at two sides of a river without a bridge. The left side represents people and the other side represents God. The Bible says that without God people are lost. Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”, Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.”

The right side represents God. People try all kinds of ways to reach God – Good Works, Attend Church, Read the Bible, Be a Good Person. All fall short – Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace that you are saved through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not of works, so that no one can boast.”

Where would you say you are on the bridge illustration, on the left side or right side? If you put an X that marks the spot where you are, where would you put the X?

Jesus bridges the gap – Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” I Peter 3:18 “For Christ died for our sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.” John 5:24 “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.”
Revelation 3:20 Jesus gives the invitation to cross over: “Here I am. I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”

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