Marked By God: Part 4

Nov 17, 2022    Pastor Jason Branson

Marked By God: Part 4 || Day 4


Acts 9:1-19 NKJV

Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.” Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.


Church, what some of you need today is a fresh encounter with God. What some of you need today is to call on God and watch as He pours fresh fire on your life. What some of you need today is not a memory of what God did ten years ago. What some of you need today is not a memory of you being baptized when you were five and it meant nothing. No!


What some of you need today is some new skin and some new wine. Some of you want to carry the mark of God on your life, but you are not willing to allow Him to change the old wine skin. And He’s not going to pour new wine into old wine skins. He pours new wine into new wine skins.


We must ask Jesus to give us new skin. This skin won’t be a white skin, a black skin, a brown skin, or any other color of skin. No, this skin will be from the Holy Spirit. This skin will be able to hold the life, power, and fire that you have always wanted in your life.


When you ask for this, something supernatural is going to happen. You are going to come to life and awaken the person God wants you to be. You are going be able to dream again and the weight that has been so heavy upon you is going to lift off of you just like it did with Paul.


Now you will no longer listen to the excuses of why you can’t. You will no longer lean on past accomplishments. You will no longer trust in the arm of the flesh. Now you will hear the voice of God speaking over your future and what is to come.