BE FIRM IN YOUR

DECISION
POST-ENCOUNTER
LESSON 1

2
 SAUL TO PAUL
SAUL PAUL
 Jew “Asked of God”
 Roman The Damascus Road
 Best student of Gamaliel experience (Acts 9:3)
 Persecutor of Christians
One of the most
(Acts 9:1)
important figures of
 Involved in the martyrdom
Christianity
of Stephen (Acts 8:1)

3
 THE DAMASCUS ROAD
EXPERIENCE.
• Saul was confronted by his past
“Why do you persecute me?”
• For the first time, he felt unable to hold on to that which had
been his hope in the past
• He received a revelation of his own nature
• Acts 9:6 (NIV)
“Now get up and go into the city, and you
will be told what you must do.”
• He had his first encounter
• A prophet prayed for him
 He received his vision and the infilling of the
Holy Spirit in this encounter
• He spent time being disciple
 Acts 9:19b (NIV)
Saul spent several days with the disciples in
Damascus.
• He preached diligently about JESUS CHRIST
 Acts 9:20 (NIV)
At once he began to preach in the synagogues
that Jesus is the Son of God.
• Saul made a real effort
 Now that you have
attended the encounter, it
is important that you
make it evident to others?

6
• He believed JESUS was the
Christ
 Although Saul knew the
biblical prophecies regarding
the Messiah, this were not
revealed to him until he had
his encounter with JESUS.
BE FIRM IN
YOUR
DECISION.
8
 DECISION: “The act of
deciding or making up one’s
mind; the result or conclusion
arrived at by deciding; quality of
being positive and firm;
determination”

9
FIRM
not yielding readily to touch or
pressure;

solidly composed;

enduring; steadfast; constant;

having or showing strength;

not fluctuating;

immovable;

solid.

10
Why is it important to be
firm in the decisions
you make?

11
AFTER THE ENCOUNTER…
• The devil plans a heavy and immediate
attack on you after you have had a deep
and intimate experience with God
• He wants to rob you of everything
you’ve received from God

12
HE WILL USE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE
DESIRED IN THE PAST BUT WERE NOT
ABLE TO ATTAIN.
• Rewarding but dishonest business deals.
• A sudden meeting with a man or woman who
was previously uninterested in you
• A raise in salary at work which demands more
of the time that you were dedicating to serving
God.

13
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU
SEE THE ENEMY TRYING TO
DESTROY YOU?

Go forward!
14
 Exodus 14:13-15
And Moses said to the people, "Do not be
afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of
the Lord, which He will accomplish for you
today. For the Egyptians whom you see
today, you shall see again no more forever.
The Lord will fight for you, and you shall
hold your peace." And the Lord said to
Moses, "Why do you cry to Me? Tell the
children of Israel to go forward.

15
HOW DO I GO FORWARD?
• Do not get involved with the past again.
• Understand that within you exists a nature
that tries to rebel against God in order to
make you a slave to our own desires and
passion.
• We must have firm determination when we
make our decisions

16
8 PRACTICAL THINGS YOU
CAN DO TO LIVE IN TOTAL
VICTORY

EPHESIANS 4:22-32

17
 1. PUT OFF YOUR OLD SELF
AND PUT ON THE NEW SELF
You were taught, with regard to your former way
of life, to put off your old self, which is being
corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made
new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on
the new self, created to be like God in true
righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 4:22-24
18
 2. SPEAK
TRUTHFULLY

Therefore each of you

must put off falsehood
and speak truthfully to his
neighbor...
Ephesians 4:25 19
3. MANAGE YOUR ANGER
"In your anger do not
sin": Do not let the sun
go down while you are
still angry...”
Ephesians 4:26
20
4. DO NOT GIVE THE DEVIL
A FOOTHOLD

and do not give

the devil a
foothold.
Ephesians 4:27 21
5. THOU SHALL NOT STEAL
He who has been stealing must steal
no longer, but must work, doing
something useful with his own
hands, that he may have something
to share with those in need.
Ephesians 4:28
22
 6. GUARD YOUR TONGUE
Do not let any unwholesome talk
come out of your mouths, but only
what is helpful for building others
up according to their needs, that it
may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 4:29
23
 7. BE SENSITIVE TO THE
HOLY SPIRIT
And do not grieve the Holy
Spirit of God, with whom
you were sealed for the day
of redemption.
Ephesians 4:30
24
 8. BE KIND AND COMPASSIONATE
TO OTHERS

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger,

brawling and slander, along with every
form of malice. Be kind and
compassionate to one another,
forgiving each other, just as in Christ
God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:31-32 25
 8 PRACTICAL THINGS YOU CAN DO TO
LIVE IN TOTAL VICTORY
1. PUT OFF YOUR OLD SELF AND PUT ON THE
NEW SELF.
2. SPEAK TRUTHFULLY.
3. MANAGE YOUR ANGER.
4. DO NOT GIVE THE DEVIL A FOOTHOLD.
5, THOU SHALL NOT STEAL.
6. GUARD YOUR TONGUE.
7. BE SENSITIVE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT.
8. BE KIND AND COMPASSIONATE TO OTHERS 26
 BE FIRM IN YOUR DECISION.
• What is the best decision you’ve ever
made? Why?
• What is something that you have
finished in your life?
(School, Jobs, Sports, etc.)
• Why is it important to finish what you
start?
27
BE FIRM IN YOUR
DECISION.
POST-ENCOUNTER
LESSON 1

28