Totally Detoxed [Part 1]

Pastor author and Bible teacher Alan Wright fiercely. I'm sorry I hated you when I was a young kid right now. I love you very much.

I cherish every moment with Israel.

I we Alan Wright another message of good view life in a whole new light. I'm being excited for you to hear the teaching today. In the series limited as presented at renewal, the church, North Carolina not able to stay with us throughout the entire I'll make sure you know how to get our special resource right now could be yours for your donation this month to Alan Wright strings as you listen to today's message go deeper as we send you today's special offer. Contact us at pastoralan.org Pastor Alan.org or call 877-544-4860 that's 877-544-4860. More on this later in the program right now.

Let's get started with today's teaching here is Alan Wright God can energize anyone in this exhausting season. He's the source of life and no matter how tired you feel there's energy life in Jesus Christ and in his gospel. We are in a series on acts. I called it unlimited. Because really, the book of acts is about this amazing seed. This started with a few disciples meeting and a few home that we saw in the church there was unlimited scope of influence that would soon take over the world and that the power of the gospel is unlimited through the people of God, and we last we learned about the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, who was a Pharisee. Most likely a rabbi and a persecutor hater of Christians who hated Jesus wanted to stamp out this movement that was initially called the way you want to stamp out Christianity and Saul of Tarsus, who we know better. As the apostle Paul met Jesus in a shocking way. He was on his way to Damascus to persecute and imprison Christians. There and while on the way the Shekinah glory of God came upon him in a brilliant light surrounded him and the voice of Jesus spoke to him and said, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute and in this experience. This mighty persecuting religious leader was blinded and for three days had no food and was led like a little child around Damascus. He had papers in hand, authorizing him to arrest people, but now he's too weak and blind to arrest anybody the mighty Saul of Tarsus is humbled and soon by God's direction, a Christian named Ananias with authorized to lay hands on Saul and when he did something like scales fell off Saul's eyes and he was filled with the Holy Spirit in them immediately began to preach the gospel were picking up reading in acts chapter 9 and verse 20 fax nine verse 20 and immediately. Speaking of Saul of Tarsus. He proclaims Jesus in the synagogues, saying he is the son of God and all who heard him were amazed and said, is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem. Of those who called upon this name has not come here for this purpose, to bring them down before the chief priests and Saul all the more increased in strength and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. He was so smart and he knew the Scripture so well that once he had the revelation of Jesus he saw that the whole of the Scriptures were about Jesus. So from the Scriptures and by signs and wonders. He was proving to them that Jesus was the Messiah. When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, but their plot became known to Saul.

They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill them, but his disciples took him by night, and let them down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket and when you come to Jerusalem. He attempted to join the disciples and they were all afraid of. For they do not believe that he was a disciple, but Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how long the road he'd seen the Lord spoke to him and how it Damascus.

He had preached boldly in the name of Jesus, so he went in and out among them in Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord, and he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists, but they were seeking to kill him, and when the brothers learn this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent them off to Tarsus so the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit and multiply is not for today, but I love that line. Sometime we need to talk about that and walking in the fear the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. The church of Jesus Christ in all in reference of the majesty of God and in the encouragement and comfort daily of the Holy Spirit. The church was growing like everybody seems to have this in common. During the pandemic thereby was tired it would only amass each other how you doing, anymore we desire you. Hang in there for like is the wrong question.

Say how you know what you mean. I don't care about so we do so you hang in there. I am making it through and advises yeah yeah but almost everybody says you know the entire so there's some pretty cute things I've seen online. One young person tweeted this as a grandpa said grandpa. I said I served in World War II, the Korean War and build my own house me too tired to text me back so you know some contrast there but in the overall geyser file to this one said retire.

I was tired yesterday and again today some retired men to be retired and this is cute so I said dear sleep. I'm sorry I hated you when I was a young kid right now. I love you very much. I cherish every moment with you that thought is owed to Israel. I we all know now as those I is some sleep you want.

I haven't heard anybody say Demeter and pandemic is like this global pandemic really has me energized people are stressed and isolated, and as I hope to explain stress, which is a fear and isolation be alone lonely mass are exhausting and we pick up a story today in the life of Paul that has me fascinated with the fact that this leading Hebrew religious zealot was suddenly humbled, lost all of his energy for three days doesn't even eat and then when he's filled with the Holy Spirit, he has more energy in the opposite direction. Then he had before going down the wrong path, but he had a sense of zeal and purpose in his life when he was nothing more than a legalist and a persecutor of Christians, so there is a counterfeit source of energy in a real source I want to show you today. The counterfeits I want to show you what's real and will look at the life of Saul of Tarsus.

The apostle Paul and just keep in mind this incredible transformation because all the things that he had to be used to count on for make himself feel alive, a Pharisee rabbi respected authority had power over people to persecute them and even imprison them all that's gone and now what he has. He's being persecuted has to be let down through a basket to escape with his life.

That was the auspicious beginnings of the apostle Paul's ministry. Welcome to the ministry. Saul and soon will be flogged ship wrecked and imprisoned in he's got more energy with all of that and any other things of the world's I will make you feel alive right will have more teaching moment from today's important series. Early dinner ready for a new year and this is the year you start planning I'm dreaming Fred breaking here right ministries has produced a beautiful, inspiring love calendar with each month not only depicts the Montana heart starting image that also includes a special blessing for the mind explains in his new book, the power to grant, which releases February is available from Amazon for appeal are now blessing vision then told them to be fruitful or not isn't the real word for your productivity fuel for 2021 blessing while calendar gives you space to write down all your important appointments and make plans for a wonderful and most importantly, each time your heart will be strengthened and empowering this year.

Don't just organize your life for the 2021 calendar is our gift to you. When you make a donation is not right ministries. Contact us today and start your year out right by the power of blessing we are in our final days of offering the special product 877-544-4860 877-544-4861 come to our website. Pastor Alan.like today's teaching you once again is talking about here. Saul of Tarsus was an era died Hebrew, a Roman citizen and a student of the famous Rabbi Gamaliel. He was Gamaliel's prize student. Many people would say that Saul was one of the brightest, probably the brightest students. Gamaliel ever had achieved persecutor of the Christians, a Pharisee, probably a widower and a rabbi and when it comes to the things that the world looks at and especially in his religious world of Judaism in his day.

If you look at the things that would make one seem qualified religiously is the thing that would make someone feel good about him or herself, things would make someone feel alive in the natural what Paul later said of all that was.

I had all Philippians chapter 3 verse four is a no. I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh.

Also, if anyone else thinks he is reason for confidence in the if anybody thinks that they had reason to feel good about themselves and feel confident to feel alive feel energized and just natural standing is that I had more and he lists his Jewish credentials circumcised on the eighth day of the people of Israel of the tribe of Benjamin Hebrew of Hebrews as to the law of Pharisee as to zeal persecutor of the church as to righteousness under the law, blameless as zeal persecutor of the church in the word zeal cellulose in Greek. It's not just like empty energy. It is energy that is connected to a sense of purpose. You might think of it is like great passion.

So Saul of Tarsus fell purposeful and was energized by his hate of Christians and energized by his smug prideful Pharisee is and yet it was a pathway to death so Melissa say this upfront zeal can feel as if it is real but be misdirected and derived from unhealthy sources, so I may listen to Christian music and I can be accused of being unaware of cultural thing at times, but I relevant sometimes and my kids have acquainted me with.

There is music of the Christian music.

One of the bands that I actually interested in is: one Republic and actually Ryan tender the lead singer is a Christian let people know that I went to Christian hospital with Oral Roberts University and this is a strong believer and instead talk about it very much, but it shows up in some of their songs only show you one of one Republic hit songs from some years ago. It reached number one in a number of nations I know was number two here for a period of time and was a top down for a long time counting stars as leader seek it out and you shall find that inclusion right that is Christian right there. We know already. He's the head except some seek it out and you shall find old but I'm not that old, young, but I'm not that bold and I don't think the world is sold on just doing what we are told old but I'm not that old, young, but I think what you said to me, sort of guessing, but there's in between place where it's like okay I got some years but I don't really have all the wisdom I know that I need and I might be young enough that I still have the sense of vitality, but I'm not really that bold the conflict of the soul were in between and I don't think the world is sold on just doing what were told that the world itself is confused and continues to see the I feel something so right doing the wrong thing. The refrain says I feel something so wrong with doing the right thing I can.

Lack of like a lie and look at his line.

Everything that kills me, makes me feel alive.

He is talking about the human temptation he is talking about something that every human being has felt there's some weird temptation even non-Christians could find that there's something that seems the right way, that doesn't feel like life and something that the wrong way that feels like life I can lie about and say it's not that way. But the truth he saying is the conflict in my soul is everything that kills me, makes me feel alive. The next layer. Lately I have been either losing sleep, so it's an anxious feeling dreaming about the things we could be baby and I've been praying hard said no more count dollars will be count stars instead of being lost in the angst of the materialistic world I'd like to have my heart set on bigger dreams go back to the refrain again.

I feel like something so right doing the wrong thing, something so wrong with doing the right thing. Everything that kills me, makes me feel alive. You remind me of Romans chapter 7 in which theologians debate with this before Paul was a Christian, or is this him reflecting about the struggle that even Christians feel were not sure but he says in Romans seven, verse 18. I know that nothing good dwells in me that is in my flesh and my natural being.

We are were fallen creatures he saying and and and where were bent toward sin, for I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out for I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing is describing the confusion of the soul over the question, what leads to life, what energizes us to show you today. We can go down to diametrically opposed paths, both of which are counterfeit and lead to death. And honestly, Harold doesn't care which way you are most easily tempted but this is the battle to tempt you in one of these directions and especially during an exhausting season like were in talk to people who by a set of different circumstances could be the same, and yet end up their lives look so totally different. Think of two guys this week couldn't be more different way they look their lives look first guy. I'll call him Johnny. I met him years ago at an outreach day on a Saturday we went down to one of the local shelters and spent the day there. We cooked up some food.

We had clothes to give away. We had free medical screening and we had a temple we pray with people and I went down for a portion of the Saturday and when the prayer and a man came over. I called Johnny, and pretty soon he opened up about his life is trying to get back on his feet and I realize he wanted to talk, and I was all years. Here's what happened. He was an auto mechanic and he was a good mechanic and he had a good job and his father was distant and un-affirming and his father would Lord over him. The fact that the father made more money than the sun, while father wants to set up a competition with the sun. I don't understand. I would be so delighted for my son to make more money than I to take care of him old age. You know the they got into this ridiculous competition and so Johnny said I started trying to make more money than my father. He didn't articulated, but he is like every sign, desperate for his dad to be proud of.

He actually took on a second job working after hours fixing cars and for a while with making more money than his day. He said, but then my dad got a promotion and he was making more than me and he started hold that over my head all the time and he sighed, reached my limit is that I couldn't. I couldn't do anymore. And one day the wrong kind of friend offered him the opportunity to get involved in something illegal and he started selling drugs to make money. And oh yeah, he was making a good bit more money than his father. But soon he was arrested and imprisoned. He been out for about six months and was homeless and that was a story so I path of looking for significance that led him into the rebellion against authority into illegal activity that took away what life he did have Alan Wright. Today's teaching totally how God makes you place a bookmark here for the conclusion of this teaching next time.

Pastor Alan is back with us here in just a few moments with our parting good news thought the day stick around and ready for a new year and this is the year you start planning on dreaming friend breaking here right ministries has for just a beautiful, inspiring love calendar with pics in my heart stirring image also includes especially blessing for the mind explains in his new book, the power to grant, which releases February 9 appeal are now blessing faith vision. The last blessing isn't the real word for your productivity fuel for 2021 blessing while calendar gives you space to write down all your important appointments and make plans for a wonderful and most importantly, each time your heart will be strengthened empowering this year. Don't just organize your life for the 2021 calendar I give to you when you make a donation is not right ministries. Contact us today and start your year out right by the power of blessing we are in our final days of offering to special product, seven 877-544-4860 877-544-4861 come to our website Pastor at work here with past real in our series unlimited in the book of acts going through an unblinking series and were almost to the end will place a bookmark here. What's our parting good news thought here well I think that most Christians misunderstand holiness.

We tend to think that holiness is about our behaviors, but holiness is not so much about your behavior as it is about your identity. So God makes holy whatever's whole. Because holy means to be set apart unto God, so if there's a vessel that was called a holy vessel admit it was set apart to be used in the temple and only in the temples always, but you forgot when you begin to see. Wait a minute what makes me holy is not that I went out and I was able to somehow live a righteous life but instead it's something that is happened for me and in me then you start realizing that I could be understanding my life in the wrong way that maybe instead of thinking of myself primarily as unclean. I need to start thinking of myself as having been cleansed by the gospel by the blood of Jesus. So I will leave this with the listeners.

The voice that came to Peter what God has made clean. Do not call, and we ought to say that of ourselves as well. Thanks for listening today. Visit us online@pastor.org or call 877-544-4860 that's 877-544-4860 if you only caught part of today's teaching. Not only can you listen again online but also get a daily email devotional that matches today's teaching right to your email inbox free. Find out more about these and other resources@pastor.org that's pastoralan.org. Today's good news message is a listener supported production Alan Wright Ministries