"FAITH has a VOICE: You HEAR It in PHASES!"

Phase I:
The Holy Spirit led me to (Acts 9:1-9) when Saul ("useless") was "converted" on the Road to Damascus.  Saul encounters the Lord God in the form of a blinding light; although blinded , Saul "sees" the Lord, recognizes Him as such and as a result receives the "gift" of faith! The Lord God actually speaks to Saul in a voice no one else can "hear" or "understand" (see Acts 22 for this revelation) .  He is then led into the City of Damascus on foot by his fellow persecutors. You see my friends, FAITH has a VOICE! (Acts 22:6:16 and Acts 26:12-18).

God will interrupt your life at the most unlikely time to get your attention; no matter how foul you might be living!

Phase II:
Once in Damascus, Saul's physical sight was restored after three days by a disciple named Ananias. He was then anointed and selected for an incredible assignment; to preach and teach the gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven.  By the way, he also authored 2/3 of the New Testament.  Saul received the "kerygmatic" declaration from Ananias and is eschewed, 'What are you waiting for?" Go ye therefore and make disciples!

Saul is transformed in his spirit man, but he still has the same physical face and notorious public reputation for killing believers! Who in the world is going to trust this dude? What needs to happen for Saul to be received in peace and not perceived as a threat any longer?  The people needed to see a "demonstration" of his new found faith. So Saul began to preach and teach the gospel to the amazement of those in the city who knew of this man as a persecutor and binder of the saints of God. What do we take away from this phase and encounter?

• What God has to say to you is NOT for public consumption initially.
• God can get your ATTENTION at any time.
• God requires your soul.
• God is obsessed with you.
• God is your reward!

Phase III:
God blots out every possible distraction with His glory when He is speaking to you.  No man can stand in the Presence of God (ALL men have to submit to His authority). Saul is an example of how God can use our lives, no matter how convoluted, to minister to the lives of others seeking truth. God promises us "revelation" ("proprietary knowledge") to guide our way. God promises us protection in the form of the Holy Spirit and angels of light. God promises each of us a territory and assignment in the marketplace to reproduce glory for Him.  God promises us great success as we evangelize the lost.

In the end, God promises us a "name change" from "Saul" (useless) to "Paul" (useful) and from "bastard" (a child who does not know who his Father is) to a "son" (one who is led by the power and grace of the Holy Spirit and has an intimate relationship with the Father!). Selah...