Occasionally in life, someone will come along who makes an impression on everyone they come in contact with. The dynamite man I am talking about is the Apostle Paul. Paul was his Roman name, but Saul was his Hebrew name. Everywhere he went, he left an impression so much that he was never forgotten.
Our first account of Paul, then called Saul, was in Acts 7:58, where he was standing holding the coats of those stoning Stephen. Stephen was a preacher and a deacon who preached the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Jews were so angry at the thought of Jesus being the Messiah that they stoned Stephen for preaching what they thought was heresy. Paul was in agreement with those who murdered Stephen. In verse 58, the angry mob stoned Stephen and threw him out of the city.
Act 7:58 “And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.”
Paul was zealous for the Jewish religion. He was convinced they were right and the Christians were wrong. They were a threat to life for the Jewish people as they had known it. In Acts 8-3, we see Paul (Saul) consenting to the death of Stephen and instigating great persecution against the church. In verse 3 it says he made havoc of the church going into the homes and arresting men and women and putting them in prison.
Act 8:1-3 “And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time, there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.”
Paul was the type who, whatever he believed was right, he was going to do it. After the death of Stephen, he left for Damascus to find others who were part of the new Christian movement so that he could bind them and bring them back to Jerusalem.
Act 9:1-2 “And Saul, yet breathing out threatening’s and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.”
Paul was on a mission to stop the growing Christian congregation, but God had another plan. While on his journey to Damascus, Jesus struck him with blindness and spoke to him. When Jesus spoke, Paul responded with Lord, what will you have me do. He received a message to go to Damascus and wait on a servant of God called Ananias. Ananias was fearful because he knew the reputation of Paul. Jesus convinced him to obey and go see Paul, touch him, and restore his sight. Paul was never the same. When his vision was restored, he went to the synagogue to preach Jesus to the Jews.
Act 9:3-6 “And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.”
Act 9:15-18 “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 shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. 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.”
When Paul accepted Christ as his personal Savior, he was just as aggressive in working for Jesus as he had been in working for Jewish beliefs. He never backed down, even though now he was the hunted. In Acts 9:23-25, we see that Paul must have been a dynamite witness from the beginning of his conversion. He had preached the gospel so strongly that the Jews plotted to kill him. They were lying in wait day and night. After hearing they were seeking to kill Paul, Jesus’ disciples made a plan of escape for Paul. They took him and put him in a basket and let him down on the outside of the wall.
Act 9:23-25” And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.”
This was the beginning of a dynamic ministry by a dynamite man. He never got over the love that Jesus had for him. We, too, should be dynamite for Jesus. We should never grow weary of serving the one who gave His life for us. We must keep our focus on the big picture. Those without Christ will die and spend eternity in Hell, while those who have accepted Him as their Lord and Savior will spend eternity in Heaven. Where is your focus? Do you seek to see opportunities to witness for Him in every situation of life? Do you care that multitudes are dropping into hell every day? We are all to share God’s word with others, to seek to please Him in all we do. Our main purpose once we are saved is to present Jesus to others. Are you a dynamite Christian?
