Lost

True North

Find your True North

Intro video

Saul of Tarsus

Born to Jewish parents and was an official Roman citizen..

Saul Studied Hebrew scripture under Rabbi Gamaliel who in Acts 5 was bringing Peter and John to trial for preaching Jesus

Gamaliel new the Old Testament very well and taught it to Saul in depth. Modern seminary.. Billy Graham…joe where did you study..

No matter how lost you get God can find you

Acts 9:1-2 (ESV)

9 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

What we know about Saul, he hated Christians, he believed they were going against God and wanted them all tried and even gone.

The scripture said Still!!!

Saul held the coats of those who killed Stephen Acts 7

Saul entered homes of believers in Acts 8 and sent them to prison both men and woman..

He was a Pharisee.. legalistic and full of hate and zeal for the law but not God

Galatians 1:13-14 (ESV)

13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers.

Saul was breathing threats and murder

Others in scripture

Moses committed murder

Sarah laughed at God

Rahab the prostitute who lied and God still used her

Woman at the well

The demon

Mark 5:18-20 (ESV)

18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.

What about living a life in which you think your right

“motivated reasoning,” when our unconscious motivations, desires, and fears shape the way we interpret information. Some ideas and information seem like our allies, while others can seem like our enemy and we want to shoot them down.

Ace1 2 3 Referee.. We have to first admit we are lost..

When lost Always head towards the light (that is your true north)

Acts 9:3-5(ESV)

3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

We are afraid to head to the light often because of what it might reveal in us.. when we find the truth ..we begin to find out who we are…

Insta 1, 2 , 3

First saw falls to the ground out of fear

Then the Lord calls out his sin

Paul that he was good enough..he kept the Law

He was convinced that he was doing the right thing by God

No way God would die on a cross..

Then saw asks one of the most important questions we should all ask.. Who is our Lord?

Paul would spend the rest of his life wanting to know Jesus more and more he wanted to follow his True North

Philippians 3:10 (ESV)

that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

once we know Jesus we want to become like Jesus

He is our light

John 1:5 (ESV)

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

you must Follow the True North

Acts 9:6-9 (ESV)

6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Jesus is the only one who can change you

Vs 6 what you are to do.. other versions what you must do

Even though he could not see he followed the Lord’s directions

Saul had all the knowledge of God but it was worthless without meeting Jesus.. the question would be once he met Jesus what would he do.

What Saul thought was south is now North he has to rethink his whole way of life.

Three days of contemplation of killing Stephen..

Putting believers in jail.. hate in his heart.

Truth is we all need to take more time to contemplate our path.. seriously what if you take three days with just you and God.. only thinking of him.. your past and your future. How might your True North change? What about your life would you seek forgiveness for? In what direction would you go from there?

A new trail to travel

Obey every word from God

Acts 9:10-15(ESV)

10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.”And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.”

Annanias wa a respected jew who was highly respected. God is asking him to put his life on the line and to trust God and his ways and not mans

Good samaritin

Good might put people in our life that may be our enemies we are called to love them on the road.

John 14:23-24 (ESV)

23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.

Following God is hard but trustworthy

Acts 9:15-17 (ESV)

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.

16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Who shared the Gospel with Billy Graham? Francis chan? Charles Spurgeon?

God might use you to minister to a chosen instrument

Do you think lost people matter to God?

Serioulsy people who are walking away from them, do you think Jesus died for them?

That person that hurt you .. do they matter to Jesus?

Luke 19:10 (ESV)

10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

What are you waiting for?

Acts 9:18 (ESV)

18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized;19 and taking food, he was strengthened.

Since paul became a believer ..other than Jesus he is probably the most influential person to the church!

Philippians 3:12 (ESV)

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

A. Sin equals lost and until you see light you will always be in the dark.. Jesus reveals our sin

1) Like Paul, we need to see that we are wrong in our actions.

2) More than just imperfect, we are cut off from God.   Col 1:21

3) We live by the worlds standards and you will stay lost..

Earl Weaver, of course, was the irresistible challenge. As Pat Kelly recalls it, he did not attempt to bring the Word to the heavy smoking and swearing manager until 1979. Kelly played in 68 games that year and hit .288, his best batting average as an Oriole. "I said, 'Earl, it's great to walk with the Lord, it's great to walk with Jesus.' " Weaver looked at Kelly, a man called by high authority, and revealed that he had other priorities: "Pat," said Weaver, "I'd rather have you walk with the bases loaded."

B. Jesus is our True north..he is the only guide to freedom

1) Jesus takes the initiative and seeks us, even while we are

sinners.                              Rom 5:8, 1 Tim 1:15

2) As Paul found in his vision, Jesus is God, and has the power

to change us.

C. We must trust that he knows the way.

1) We must be willing to accept and seek him.

2) Once we are saved, we must follow

D. Moral change keeps us on the path.

1) For some, this is instantaneous.

2) For others, it is slow.

3) For everyone, it is imperfect.

1 John 5:5

English Standard Version

5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Acts 9:1-19 (ESV)

9 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.”And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized;19 and taking food, he was strengthened.