The Sack-Cloth Weaver- Part 1
Gal 1:17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
Damascus means silent is the sack cloth weaver. Hidden on the road to Damascus was the Lord Jesus, waiting for the footsteps of Paul as he approached. “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.” This was the beginning of the humility Paul received from the Spirit. And after this encounter he hid himself for several years, giving himself to the Lord who weaved into his inner most being the perfect will of God... like the garment Jesus wore; a seamless woven garment depicting the complete uninterrupted work of the Spirit. It was setting at the foot of the cross where Roman soldiers rolled diced to decide its fate. This is a garment resevered for only a few.
Yet, it is the garment we all wear whether we realize it or not. Heb. 12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
This was the time of Paul’s preparation where God weaved silently into his very spirit the humility he would need to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He would learn that whatever state he was in he must be content. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ, Phil 3:6.
This is not a gospel preached in America. For who would bear the suffering and humility in the wearing of the sack cloth? No man can teach or lead you into his righteousness which is generated by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot generate, adopt or produce one iota of his divine nature, his greatness and his righteousness in our lives. We will be ever learning but never coming to the knowledge of the Truth and only pretending to be holy before the Holy One. For truth is the divine nature of God that is woven into our inner most being by the power of the Holy Spirit. No man can do this.
For it is God that weaves in you his desire to do his will according to his own pleasure. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Ps. 51 :6
Listen to Paul’s own words:
2 Cor 11:23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren, 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? 30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. Who glories in their humility? Who glories in infirmities? Give me prosperity or give me death. I speak as one who has lost his mind.
Remember it was on the road to Damascus that Paul was met by the Lord. For in Damascus the Lord had already weaved in silent the garment he would put on Paul’s life. Acts 26:12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, to persecute Jesus.
Acts 9:10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight /13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. Can you see Ananias' concern that maybe the Lord didn’t know about Paul? Comical for the Lord knew him as one born out of due season. 1 Cor 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
Now sack cloth is like gunnysack. It normally is not very appealing and you would not compare it with your Sunday best clothes. A bum or a hobo might be clad with such dirty threads. But in the scripture God is the weaver of such garments. He chooses Paul to wear this garment suffering for the furtherance of the Kingdom of God. Imagine suffering for the Kingdom of God and not the kingdom of man? Christendom is full of programs, temples made by hands and plans made to divert us from putting on the sackcloth of the Spirit.
Acts 9: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. He was a chosen vessel prepared to suffer for the name of God. I am holding back tears with this statement. How unlike many of believers today? They think they are saved to go through life in a state of ecstasy, prosperity and never suffer.
Matt 16:21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
Few can wear this garment. For who wants to suffer? Acts 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
return
SILENT IS: