The Transformation From Saul to Paul

What happens when we see life through the lens of *separation instead of connection?* In this message, we explore two radically different ways of seeing ourselves, God, other people, and the world around us—and how encountering the living God can transform the lens through which we see everything. Moses tells the creation story to a people who had known bondage and now found themselves in the wilderness surrounded by what appeared to be scarcity: not enough food, resources, time, or provision. From that place, a *separation worldview* can take root—the belief that there isn't enough to go around, that we must protect what we have, that we need certainty, that someone must be right and someone else wrong, and that anything less than perfection means failure. Scarcity leads to self-protection. Certainty creates enemies. Perfectionism leaves no room for failure. Fear drives isolation and self-promotion. But the creation story reveals another way. Humanity was created for *connection—with God, with one another, and with creation.* In the beginning there was provision, relationship, wholeness, and harmony. Instead of scarcity, there was enough. Instead of fear-driven certainty, there was mystery and discovery. Instead of perfectionism, there was room to grow, learn, create, and participate with God. *Failure doesn't make you a failure.* There is freedom to fall down, get back up, learn, and keep moving forward. Moses himself experienced this transformation. After killing the Egyptian taskmaster, guilt and shame drove him into the wilderness. His desire to protect and deliver was real, but he attempted to accomplish in his own strength what God ultimately intended to accomplish through relationship with Him. Then Moses encountered God at the burning bush. That encounter began to reveal who Moses truly was. Instead of allowing fear, shame, his past, or what others thought of him to define his identity, Moses began walking in the identity and purpose God had for him. He could step into the unknown with courage because he was no longer walking alone. We also see this transformation in **Paul's story in Acts 26**. Paul once operated from a worldview that divided people into categories of who was right and who was wrong—so convinced of his position that he persecuted those he believed were opposed to God. But an encounter with the risen Jesus radically changed the direction of his life. The man who once persecuted followers of Jesus became someone sent to bring the message of Jesus to others. Both stories reveal the transforming power of **encounter and identity**. God leads us out of a worldview shaped by *separation, scarcity, fear, certainty, perfectionism, and self-protection* and into a life of *connection, abundance, discovery, courage, growth, and love for others.* This is bigger than simply changing our behavior. It's about changing the lens through which we see reality. Every day, we have opportunities to view the world through separation or connection—to live from a false identity formed by fear, guilt, shame, performance, and the opinions of others, or to allow an encounter with God and His truth to establish us in who we really are. Like Moses and Paul, *when we discover who we are through relationship with God, the way we see everything else begins to change.* We can move from scarcity to **enough**. From certainty to **mystery and discovery**. From perfectionism to **the freedom to grow and fail**. From self-protection to **being others-focused**. From separation to **connection**. From false identity to **true identity**. This is an invitation to see ourselves, one another, and the world through a different lens—and to experience the freedom of becoming who God intended us to be. *Please note:* Due to technical issues, this recording does not begin at the very start of the sermon. We apologize for the missing portion and appreciate your understanding. 📍 Location Water & Wine Assembly of Christians 95 Massey Ave, Moncton, NB E1A 3E3, Canada 🕑 Sunday Service Every Sunday at 2:00 PM 🎙️ Pastor Travis Tait 📖 Bible References • Genesis 1–3 • Exodus 2–3 • Acts 26