Marching Into Your Divine Destiny

Journey Into The Promised Land

Acts 9:1–22 (CSB)

THE DAMASCUS ROAD

9 Now Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest 2 and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. 4 Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul said.

“I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing no one. 8 Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. 9 He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink.

SAUL’S BAPTISM

10 There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.”

“Here I am, Lord,” he replied.

11 “Get up and go to the street called Straight,” the Lord said to him, “to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, since he is praying there. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so that he may regain his sight.”

13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

17 Ananias went and entered the house. He placed his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road you were traveling, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

18 At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. 19 And after taking some food, he regained his strength.

SAUL PROCLAIMING THE MESSIAH

Saul was with the disciples in Damascus for some time. 20 Immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: “He is the Son of God.”

21 All who heard him were astounded and said, “Isn’t this the man in Jerusalem who was causing havoc for those who called on this name and came here for the purpose of taking them as prisoners to the chief priests?”

22 But Saul grew stronger and kept confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.

Have You Caught The Vision?

One day, while riding down the Damascus Road, the Apostle Paul received a vision from God that changed his entire life — his purpose, his plans, his nature, even his name. In this vision, God told Paul…

…Rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which though hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. (Acts 26:16-18)

God gave Paul a vision of the souls of multitudes of Gentile people. (The term Gentiles refers to everyone who is not a Jew, so it means Paul was called to minister to all other nations of the world.)

When God gives you a vision He also provides spiritual and practical strategies for fulfilling it. God gave Paul objectives — a step by step plan — for ministering to the Gentile nations in order to fulfill his vision. Paul was to…

…Open their spiritual eyes from darkness to light.
…Turn them from the power of Satan to God.
…Lead them to forgiveness of sins.
…Reveal their spiritual inheritance made possible by faith (Acts 26:16-18).

Paul’s vision became the central focus of his life. It was the force that compelled him to endure hardship, persecution, discouragement, shipwreck, and physical abuse. It motivated his writing. It directed his travels. It dictated his life style.

Paul always remained true to his God-given vision. Despite discouragement, rejection, and persecution, he never lost his focus. God raised him up to be one of the greatest leaders in New Testament times and his ministry is still impacting multitudes through the tremendous books he authored under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Near the end of his life, the Apostle Paul was able to reflect back over his ministry and declare, “I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19).

God is looking for men and women of vision. Joshua was able to lead Israel into the Promised Land because he had seen it 40 years earlier. He had caught the vision. Have you caught the vision of all God wants to do in and through you?

Make this declaration:

I will remain true to the vision God gives me. I will not be disobedient unto the heavenly vision.

*Adapted from MCWE email – Journey Into The Promised Land by Morris Cerullo

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