Acts 9
Notes
Transcript
Saul's Conversion
Good morning friends!
Are you excited about today? Why?
You have come into the house of the Lord, you have the opportunity to interact with other believers and to Worship the Lord our God!
Man, that is exciting! I am blessed to see you! I am blessed to worship along side of you and I am blessed to worship the Lord our God. I am excited I get to preach the Word of God.
I get to break the word of life with you! I love sharing God’s Word!
So it is a good day my friends, in fact it is the best day of the week.
This morning we get to open up the 9th chapter of the book of Acts, and there we get to see the conversion and calling of of one of the greatest servants of the Lord our God.
So this morning we will look at this event, and there we will see Saul meeting with the Lord and how God intended to change his life.
So lets begin with this thought today my friends...
1. A warrant for the Church...
Remember what has been happening my friends, the church has suffered a great deal of persecution. From just days after the ascension, until the death of Stephen,and the dispersion of the church, Christian believers were suffering.
And at the same time, in the midst of persecution, God has been at work and literally thousands of people have come to Jesus, confessing him as Savior.
And we come to the our text today, still their are some determined to undermine and stop the body of Christ, His church from succeeding.
Look with me at Acts 9:1-2
1 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.
Now remember who Saul is, he is a young Pharisee, from the tribe of Benjamin and has been there with others during some of these trials involving Christians.
Remember it was Saul, who held the coats of those who were stoning Stephen and he even gave his approval of the matter concerning this one who was considered a blasphemer.
And now, we see that Saul is a very zealous person. He was eager to keep the law and ensure that everyone else did as well. He was the number one enemy of the church, breathing the Scriptures say threats and murder against those who were disciples of Jesus.
He has already voted for the death penalty of one person and so here we see that he continues too. Listen if you are not being anything other than a good Jew, Saul is gonna find out and you could expect a visit from him and others.
And here is something else I want you to see, he is enjoying it. So much so that he goes to the High Priest asking permission to go and round up these followers of Jesus, who called themselves his disciples.
His desire to travel all the way to Damascus to visit the synagogues and find out who the betrayers where up there suggest a searing rage he held in his heart against the early church.
If you look at verse 2 we see that these early members of the church were not called Christians, but “members of the way” since Jesus said He was “the way, the truth and the life.”
Paul went seeking for a warrant, and the High Priest gave it to him, it really reveals just how bad these early believers were looked down upon and how much Saul was bent toward brings justice to the community of faith he represented.
Saul is passionate about his work and efforts my friends, and why not… He is a devout Jewish young man. He seeks to bring these “rebel scum” to justice.
One thing we have talked about is the truth that church has always faced persecution, how would you handle it if you had too?
And this brings me to a second thought for today my friends.
2. A Meeting with the Lord...
Everyone will have an opportunity to stand in front of the Lord Jesus , Saul would have his a little sooner than expected..
Lets go back to our text my friends… verses 3-5 Acts 9:3-5
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.
So imagine if you will a team of riders, on horse back, hats pulled low on the forehead, riding hard toward Damascus, they have warrants in their pockets to give to the synagogues to locate and arrest Christians…
These men with Saul have been deputized by the high priest himself.. go find them… and so they are almost at the city when suddenly a bright light shines from heaven and land on just one person.
A light so intense, so focused that it knocks Saul to the ground and while the other men see the light, they hear a voice they cannot interpret it or understand what is happening… It is for Saul and Saul alone..
And suddenly a voice calls forth…verse 4 says Saul heard a voice, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?...”
And listen my friends, Saul’s response is classic… “who are you, Lord?
Some think Paul is being polite here, that he didn’t recognize the voice of Jesus, the term Lord just being a term of respect....
But I think he did recognize the Lord Jesus when we heard the voice. He is just shocked, Who are you, Lord? Listen a light is shinning from heaven, that is not the work of man but of God. I think he has a pretty good idea who was speaking to him.
But to affirm his thought, Jesus speaks and says to him
“...I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting..”
The one you said wasn’t real, the one who you previously thought was a fake, it is I, Jesus.
Man, that will change you perspective my friends, let Jesus show up in the middle of your confusion, in the middle of your plans and see if that won’t change your whole way you think and the way you believe.
Jesus, the Son of God has revealed himself to Saul.
And after having revealed himself to Saul, look at what the Lord commands him to do next...
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.
Wow, what a day, having been knocked to his horse, having seen the risen Savior, the Lord tells him to enter Damascus and there he will be told what to do next.
And Saul rose from the ground but he had no sight even though his eyes were open and those men who were with him, who saw the light, who heard the voice from heaven are beside themselves.
Now all of this must have happened just outside the city, since verse 8 says they led a blinded Saul by the hand into the city of Damascus. (That city is still here today)
There Saul stayed for 3 days, neither eating or drinking but praying…( verse 11 tells us he was praying)
Wow, now that is a meeting!
Paul had a surprise meeting with the Lord that day, but my friends we can meet with the Lord any time of day or night, we are just a breathe away from the throne of God in prayer.
Oh but can you imagine the day we will see Jesus face to face.
Now that brings me to my next thought,
3. An Obedient Helper...
Now while Saul was waiting in the city of Damascus, while he is there praying and contemplating all that he has seen and heard during this faithful meeting. God is preparing the next step in Saul’s journey.
Look with me at Acts 9: 10-12
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.”
As Paul is praying, God is at work and preparing for his next meeting.
Now the Bible tells us that in that same city of Damascus, there was a disciple, one who followed Jesus and his name is Ananias.
And The Lord speaks to him in a vision, and the word of the Lord is so clear and so unmistakable that Ananias words are simply, Here I am, Lord.
How can he do that? Let me tell you Ananias is a man of prayer, and clearly if you spend time with God you will know his voice when He speaks..
And the Lord tells him, Ananias, get up and head over the a street called straight and find the house of Judas, on that street. (Do you realize that street still exists today in that ancient city. )
And the Lord tells Ananias in that house you will find a man named Saul of Tarsus, and he is praying , and He has seen in prayer a man named Ananias coming to lay hands on Him that his sight might be restored..
Now Ananias hears the Lord, and knows what he is supposed to do, and he is really uncertain about this command.. Why? Well lets look at verses 13-16...
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.”
Now here is what I want you to see. Ananias, didn't refuse to go, but he is uncertain about all of this, and here is why.
Lord, I have heard a lot about this man, he is a bad dude, he is done a great deal of evil against the church. And Lord we’ve heard he now as the authority to bind, literally put anyone in prison who calls upon the name of the Lord.
He has a valid objection, Lord I hear you, but are you certain? This man is a scary man who works against you..
And in the midst of that objection the Lord speaks to Ananias…
Go… ( don’t worry about your objections ) just go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine.
This phrase is one of the most beautiful phrases my friends. To be God’s chosen instrument implies a “divine call.” God was calling Paul to a life of service. God had set him apart...
Think of Paul’s words in Gal 1:15
15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace,
And that divine call was to carry the name of Jesus to the Gentile world, to kings and yes, even the people of Israel at times.
And that mission would take Paul to the ends of the earth. You know it is well established that Paul had 3 missionary journeys in his ministry, but there is a great deal of thought that he made that 4th journey, making it to Spain and beyond.
I really think Paul made it to that 4th journey, if for no other reason than his determination. But nonetheless, the Lord words to Ananias are simple, God and pray for Saul. Pray for him that the beginning of His new ministry can begin..
Now Ananias wasn’t sure about all this I think, but He did trust the Lord and was obedient to him and He sent to see this man named Saul who the Lord was calling to a new and special ministry.
Ananias went!
We should go went we are called as well, right???
Now just one last thought today my friends..
4. A New Day....
I refer to this last point as a “new day” simply because everything about the life of Saul was changing...
He has moved from a life of persecution against those who were members of the Way, Christians to this new day, His Spiritual birth day and a new life in Christ.
Lets look at the text.... Acts 9:17-19
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.
For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.
So Ananias as I said followed the Lord’s instructions and arrived at the house where Saul was staying…
And look at how he greets Saul, Ananias says to him… “Brother Saul...” He could have greeted him in a lot of ways, but here we see that Ananias greets him as his brother in Christ. He not only greeted him, but it also tells us that he accepted Saul, not a a threat, not as a stranger but a fellow disciple, follower of Jesus like he was...
How awesome is that....
Now, we see that He placed his hands on Saul and told him that the same Lord who appeared to him on the road, had sent him to pray that he might regain his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
And he prays and look at what the Scriptures tell us..
The Scriptures tell us that something like scales, or some flakes, a covering fell off his eyes....
And he could see....
And with his sight, He arose and was baptised!
Now someone will ask me, when did Saul receive the Holy Spirit. It happened at either one of two places? Either when he regained his sight or at his baptism, which seems to that the reception of the Holy Spirit seems closely rated to a person baptism in Acts.
Now don’t over think that, this is the way God the father allowed this to happen at that point in time. A little later we know the Holy Spirit infilled the believer at conversion.
What a beautiful course of events we see here in the Acts 9. The one person who was the biggest critic and persecutor of the Church is saved and will become it’s biggest champion in those days not far after the resurrection of Jesus.
It is a new day for Saul, but for all who not will come to faith in Christ
The last words we see here is the simple truth that Paul ate now, (He had been fasting and praying for 3 days) and he stayed with disciples at Damascus for a while.
Stop right there, could you imagine with me this man who becomes Paul, as he recounts the encounter with Jesus on the Damascus road...
Wow… what a testimony.
But please understand, do not look at anyones testimony as better or more glorious than yours....
Every person was lost and came to Christ and are now found!
Hallelujah!
Have you come to Christ and received him as Savior?
Have you followed him in Baptism
Are you still following the risen Savior
And is your relationship with Christ, where it needs to be today.
If you dont know or are not certain Jesus is your Savior, I would love to talk with you so that you know for certain He is your Savior
And if you walk with him isn’t what it needs to be, then I would like to help you get back on the right path..
Come and talk to me, let us pray for you, help you in your needs today.
Pray.