DAMASCUS - THE SUFFERING AND THE GLORY A Word through Catherine Brown Catherine's email address: CBrownds1@aol.com

During a recent prophetic experience, I was permitted to witness the conversion of the great Apostle Paul, as he was struck down by the Glory of Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. ["The Son is the radiance of God's glory, and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word." Hebrews 1:3]

"As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." The men travelling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything." Acts 9:3-9

I heard the audible voice of the Lord "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me". In great fear of the Lord, I watched the Spirit impinge the Holiness of the Lord into the wretched creature of Saul, transforming him from sinner to saint. My spirit touched the agony of Saul's grieving, and at once thankful, soul as his carnal nature was revealed to him and he received the priceless gift of the Grace of Jesus Christ. I marveled at the precise cleansing of the Spirit as He separated the man unto Christ alone. This crucible of refining all but consumed him, yet I discerned the tenderness of God. [Paul had encountered the cleansing work of the Spirit, but was not 'filled' with the Spirit until Ananias laid hands on him some three days later.]

Saul was blind for three days, whilst he fasted and waited on the Lord's promised restoration. He was completely dependent on the Lord, and received a vision to comfort him during this time. The Lord chose Ananias for this commission, who was only too familiar with Saul's murderous reputation. Despite this, Ananias trusted the Word of the Lord far above the reputation of a man.

"In Damascus, there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord," he answered. The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight." "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name." But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name. Then Ananias went to the house and entered into it. Placing his hands on Saul, he 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." Acts 9:10-19

Through Ananias' courageous obedience to the Lord's instruction, Saul encountered the loving kindness of Jesus through human hands.

Paul had begun his journey to Damascus robed in worldly authority, sent as Satan's messenger to murder and imprison all those that walked in the Way, but being confronted and conformed by the Glory of Jesus Christ, he became the Lord's anointed messenger. His ministry began immediately, he preached in Damascus, and escaped death through the wall in a basket (Acts 9:19-25).

Paul desired to share in the suffering of His Master, to serve him in all humility. During the vision, the humility and meekness of Jesus began to flow over me and I sought to prostrate myself before the Lord, for I felt that even on my knees, the position was not humble enough to appear in His majestic presence. By the end of the vision, I knew a measure of both the agony and the ecstasy Paul had experienced in encountering the glory of Jesus Christ. The overflow of love in his heart (and my own) knew no bounds - love for Christ and through Christ, for all mankind.

"Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness - the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Col 1:24-27

PROPHECY "My children, pray for those who would persecute Me, for My heart aches also for those who await their Damascus road experience. My children, look again at the obedience and selflessness of Ananais, who trusted My Wisdom far above the reputation of a man.; who believed in My ability to call that which is not, as though it were. He perceived not the world's view, but believed in Me for the miracle of a man of destiny. His merciful and valiant heart released my servant Saul from blindness. Believe on Me for blind eyes to see, and love your neighbor as yourself, even those who would persecute you for My namesake, and even those who revile My name and spit upon My glory. Yes, I am calling even these, that they might be set free from the bondage of sin and filled with My Spirit and release My glory upon the earth. Place no limitations upon My compassion; abhor not the sinner, but the sin. You have a responsibility to deliver My mercy."

We must not take up a platitude of self-righteous or fraudulent piety, but intercede in the Lord's agape love for our enemies - let the radical obedience and selfless love of Ananias be an example to us all. We must contend in the heavenly places for the Saul's of this present day - those who persecute the Gospel, and its disciples. Finally, let us glorify Jesus Christ, the One who sustains all things by His powerful word, and without whom we are nothing:

"To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy - to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and for evermore. Amen" Jude 23-25

Catherine Brown 14 July 1999