DIFFERENT GATES
"And it came about that as he journeyed, he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, ’Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ And he said, ’Who art Thou, Lord?’ And He said, I am Jesus whom you are persecuting." Acts 9:3-5.
God moves in the hearts of men is many different ways. Consider some "gates" to Christian experience.
I. THE DRAMATIC GATE:
No greater example than Paul on the road to Damascus.
The Philippian jailer’s conversion described in Acts 16:26-33.
"Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, ’Sirs, what must I do to be saved." (verses 29-30).
"And when the centurion who was standing in front of Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said: ’Truly this Man was the Son of God!"
Mark 15:39.
II. THE INTELLECTUAL GATE:
"There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: the same came to Jesus by night and said to Him: ’Rabbi, we know that Thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do the miracles that Thou doest except God be with him." John 3:1-2.
"And a certain woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul." Acts 16:14.
III. THE MEDITATIVE OR REFLECTIVE GATE:
"When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; What is man, that Thou dost take thought of him? And the son of man, that Thou dost care for him.?" Psalm 8:3-4.
IV. THE SORROWING GATE:
"Therefore, when Jesus say Mary weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled…."Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him." John 11:33, 45.
V. DIFFERENT "GATES" BUT ONLY ONE WAY!
"Jesus said to him, ’I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6.
