The Ministry of the Spirit of God with the Word of God Pt. 12

Good day, everyone!

Yesterday in the morning I spent time putting some organic fertilizer around our Little Moses burning bushes. I also put some around our new roses. Since it is almost June, I also spread some Weed and Feed on our lawn to keep it healthy before the summer heat sets in. 

Changing the landscape of our mind.

In some ways, caring for your landscaping and garden is like the ministry of the Spirit of God with the Word of God in the heart of man. Notice the teaching of Jesus Christ in Luke's gospel. It is a brief example of gardening that helps us understand this wonderful ministry of God's Spirit with the Divine Word in our hearts. 

The certain man who owns the vineyard is God. The Father is inspecting the plants and is seeking fruit. He found no fruit and instructed the dresser of the vineyard to cut down the fig tree. 

The fertilizer represents the Word of God. The dresser asked for additional time to dig around it and fertilize the plant, hoping that it would bear fruit. If it still did not produce fruit, then he agreed to cut it down. 

The dresser of the vineyard is the Spirit of God. The fig tree represents individual men and women. The dresser of the vineyard wants more time to work the soil and to feed the plant. This is a picture of the Spirit of God taking the Word of God and working it into our hearts, so that we produce fruit for Christ. 

He will not always strive with man. We see this in the fact that the dresser of the vineyard agreed to cut down this tree if it bore no fruit, after his most recent efforts to help it grow. The Spirit of God may stop calling on the hearts of those who refuse to listen and yield.

Luke 13:6-9 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. 
Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? 
And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: 
And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

The last time together, we read about the powerful, life changing conversion to Jesus Christ, of a wicked but religious man named Saul. We will pick up the narrative to see what happened to Saul after his conversion. 

The powerful aftermath of Saul's conversion to Christ. 

Saul was blinded by the light. The men traveling with Saul were equally astounded at what had happened. Saul was blinded by the sight of God's glory. They had to lead Saul by the hand. Saul did not see for 3 days and nights and he fasted during this time.

Try closing your own eyes for 1 hour and walking in your yard, to see the difficulty of being blinded and navigating through the desert or in the city of Damascus. 

Acts 9:7-9 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 

And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 
And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

The next thing that occurs is that a senior saint named Ananias, was spoken to in a vision by the Lord. Jesus told him to go find Saul and lay his hands upon him so that Saul could receive his sight. Ananias expressed grave misgivings to the Lord because he heard of the intentions of Saul in coming to Damascus. Jesus reassured Ananias that it was safe to do as he was commanded.

Jesus will make Saul a preacher of the gospel to all people. 

Christ explained some of the plans He had in store for Saul. Jesus said Saul was chosen to carry the name of Christ to the Gentiles, to kings and to Israel. Notice, Jesus said Saul would suffer many things for His name's sake. Saul the persecutor would become Paul the persecuted. 

Acts 9:15-16 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 

For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

Ananias immediately obeyed his Lord and sought out Saul. He entered the house where Saul was, laid his hand on Saul and spoke the word of truth to Saul. It was as if scales fell off of Saul's eyes and he could see again. Ananias prayed that Saul would be filled with the Holy Ghost. 

Saul was a new man with new priorities!

What was Saul's response to all of this? He quickly got up and was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, the very name that he used to hate. Only our wonderful God could work such a radical change upon a man as this. 

Acts 9:17-18 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 

And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

Saul needed some food and after he ate, he regained strength. What he did next is shocking and amazing! He went to the synagogue of the Jews and preached that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Saul already had a thorough knowledge of the scriptures and since the Lord opened his eyes, he could convincingly show how the Old Testament pointed to the work and person of Jesus Christ. 

The Jews were confounded by this turn of events. They were not the only ones. No doubt Satan was raging that a hate filled man who used to be a special instrument of vengeance upon Christians, was now a potent preacher of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ!

Acts 9:19-22 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. 

And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. 
But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? 
But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

Points to Ponder.....

• Saul was blinded and needed help from other people. 

• The Lord restored Saul's sight.

• Saul showed that he was a new man with a new purpose in life. 

• The first thing Saul did was to be a powerful witness for Jesus Christ. 

This part of the conversion of Saul is over. It is a lovely picture of the teaching of Christ that started this post. You can see the evidence of the Spirit of God loosening the hard soil of Saul's heart so that the Word would bring much needed light into his soul. 

Saul was a new man through the new birth. He had a new purpose for his life which Jesus Christ gave him. He had a new zeal for the truth and the things of God. He had a new passion for preaching the gospel. He never looked back. The old ways were gone. The old habits were shattered by the power of the gospel.

This is what God wants for us today. To radically transform our soul into instruments that He can use for His glory.