Acts 9:20-43
Notes
Transcript
God Uses Those He Called
God Uses Those He Called
Good morning my friends!
I hope you’ve had a good week, I just want to say thank you for praying for for many this week.
There were a lot of needs this week, and I am just thankful for a praying church as our brothers and sisters were in need over the last few days.
God is good, He has done good to so many and we are so grateful my friends.
I also want to remind you to come out tonight, we have a great evening of fellowship planned with Jarret and April and the kids…
It will be good to visit and fellowship with them, as summer comes upon us they are going to be busy getting ready for a move, a move we hate to see come but we know God is at work in their life and has plans for them in this new place.
And there is a truth my friends; God uses those He has called ...
And rightly so, we are the hands and feet of Jesus! And when we come to faith in Christ, we begin to learn more and more of what He desires.
As knew Christians, man we are excited, we want to serve, New believers would charge hell with a squirt gun for the glory of God.
We need to remember that enthusiasm! We cannot allow our fire, our excitement, our desire to serve God wain… Saul got saved and he was fired up to tell the world what happened to him.
And sadly some were not very excited about it. And they hated Saul for his efforts ...
Please hear this: When you live for Jesus, not everyone will be happy about it, and the devil sure isn’t. Dont worry about anyone friends, God’s got your back!
So as we finish chapter nine this week, lets consider these thoughts today..
The first one is this today:
1. Saul Gets to Work...
Once Saul found Jesus and his sight was restored, he knew what he was supposed to do, He was supposed to preach Jesus.
I would remind you what repentance is, it means you were headed and one direction and you realize your error and turn and go the opposite way.
Saul is demonstrating repentance in His life....
And he didn’t waste any time getting to work. Look at verses 20-22
20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
Do you see it, the word say that Immediately He proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues.
Listen, I don’t care who you are, when you get saved, you are so excited and you want to share that news with others. We want to tell others about Jesus.
Man, I was lost and now I am found....
Sadly, you know what happens… we get over it. Am I telling the truth or not?
We get over it, we are not excited about Jesus any more and we struggle with obedience.
God saved us, we need to be about the Father’s business. Saul got saved and immediately… he went.
And listen to what it says, they were amazed when they heard him… They are like…isn’t this the man who persecuted the church in Jerusalem, who came after the followers of Jesus, who traveled here to arrest those who loved Jesus???
Man, they are like … what happened to Him…???
It’s simple, He found Jesus.
When a person finds Jesus,the Scriptures declare that the old man is dead and the new man has been brought fourth, set free from the curse of the law.....
6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin.
And being set free from the sin, we have been made new.
Now listen to 2 Cor 5:17
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Would you agree with me that the old man that was Saul is no more. He has been changed and made knew?
Yes, we would.
We have the joy of looking across the scope of the New Testament and we know Saul, who became Paul, And Paul never looked back, he was changed and he made it his aim to serve the one who saved and changed him.
And look again at verse 22, there you can see a progression of growth in Paul’s life.
22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
Saul increased, He grew in the grace and knowledge of Jesus and being filled with the Holy Spirit he was able to not only to preach and share what Christ had done in his life. He also was able to share why Jesus was the Christ to all who inquired of him.
He was able to give an answer for the reason of the hope that was within Him.
So when you look at Saul’s life we see His conversion and the spiritual growth that was happening inside of Him. There is lots of fruit growing on His tree my friends.
Now we know that as Saul live and served the Savior, those he once served with, the Jewish religious leaders sought to do him harm.
Look with me at verses 23-25 Acts 9:23-25
23 When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.
Now the Scriptures say that after many days have passed, Saul is still in Damascus, but its hard.
Wow, those Jewish leaders were so embarrassed by His conversion and despised His wisdom, so they plot to kill him.
And listen, it is so bad, Saul is such a threat to them, they will not be satisfied with anything less than Saul’s head on a platter.
Now Saul cannot just leave the city, day and night, they were watching the gates of the city.
Finally, the disciples there in Damascus, They get Saul to a house that is built there in the walls of the city, and lower him out a window so that He can flee to safety.
Saul leaves Damascus, and eventually he will make his way back to Jerusalem, but it is not immediate.
Saul isn’t giving up, he is moving forward to press on for the Lord.
Now this brings us to our second thought...
2. Saul received in Jerusalem...
Now Saul knows the next place he needs to go is Jerusalem, there he needs to meet with the Apostles of the Lord. He needs to be received by them so that they know He has changed...
Lets look at out text…Acts 9:26-28
26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.
Now we know from the text of Galatians 1:17-19 these events took place 3 years after his conversion. Look at the text...
17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother.
So he comes up to see Peter and the others present there in Jerusalem, James is there the brother of Jesus and the person who is head of the church there in Jerusalem.
But there is a problem, they are still skeptical of Saul, remember in the past he has done a great deal of harm to the church and its members.
He has persecuted so many.... and Peter and the others are not so sure about him.
But there is one, good ole Barnabas, the Son of Encouragement.
(Keep an eye out for him, you will see him with Paul later)
He addressed them on Paul’s behalf telling them of his salvation and the call God had placed on His life.
Now from the testimony of Scripture, we know Paul will come and go with them, interacting with them, getting to know them and he them...
But again, the Jewish men sought to kill Paul, remember to them he is a traitor.
And again the brethren get him out of the city, getting him to Caesarea, and send him back to his city of Tarsus.
Now remember this, Tarsus is an important city, Roman city in Asia minor, and because of that, those who were members of that city by birth were Roman citizens, it didn’t matter if you were pagan, Jewish or Christian. You were a Roman citizen. This will aid Paul in the days to come...
And before moving on, I want you to see verse 31.
31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
There was peace for a season for the church and this enabled them to grow and be strengthened. We are not told exactly why, but we do know one of it’s bigger enemies was now a servant of the Lord Jesus.
But Paul and the other men of God were now working in harmony and the church was blessed by God.
Now just one last thought as we close chapter 9, and it helps sets the stage for chapter 10..
3. Peter continues to Serve the Lord...
We’ve talked a lot about Paul, and it has been important to know his past and share in the blessing of his present.
But the Lord wants us to turn back to Peter for a bit and rightly so, some extra important things are happening in chapter 10.
Now lets look at this passage from chapter 9, Acts 9:32-35
32 Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. 34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. 35 And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
So as the Scripture opens, it tells us as Peter went here and there, he was ministering in different places. Peter is called by God to minister mainly among the Jews. But here he is, on a preaching tour if you will. Peter is obeying the great commission of Jesus.
And he has come to Lydia. Lydia lay 23 miles north west of Jerusalem on the road to Joppa, this was on an important trade route.
And in Lydia, Peter finds a man Aeneas, who was paralyzed for 8 years, and was completely bed ridden. Here is a man who was once active, working, supporting of His family but something happened and now he is someone who is completely dependent on others.
And Peter seeing him, “...said to Him Jesus Christ heals you, rise and make your bed...” and he rose up immediately… He was healed but many others believed because of that miracle.
Remember, we have talked about this, the miraculous, the healing of the man authenticates the message about Jesus.
They saw the man, they knew he was the one who was paralyzed and now he is whole and well.. How.. it is Jesus.
People want to know more and hearing more, they believe in Jesus… Its wonderful to see the church growing and growing as the Lord’s servants faithful serve and share the gospel message.
Now lets move on...
Looking at this last portion of the chapter, Peter then travels to Joppa at the urging of other believers, Now Joppa is outside of Judea and Samaria so the gospel is being carried in a great commission fashion, right? Yes!
Look at verses Acts 9:36-38
36 Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. 37 In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.”
So Dorcas, a godly woman (She was full of good works and words), she has fell ill and died and hearing Peter is close by, those believers have not given up hope.
Does that tell you something about the early church? She died and they believed Peter through the power of God could make a difference in their midst...
She died but they know God can still intervene, so they call for Peter.
39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.
Imagine the scene my friends, Peters travels with these men to Joppa and upon entering the house, the scene is sad, those who loved her, the other widows of the church were there mourning.
They ladies had benefited because of her, she was loved and appreciated
Stop right here, there is a lesson to be learned here.
Live you life in a way that others benefit from it and Christ is exalted!
I am not saying give away all the you have to those around you, but be the servant who gives, who helps, who serves in such away that you bless your brothers and sisters and others as you can and in all of this God is glorified.
Powerful way to live my friends, powerful
Now back to the story, Peter put them all out of the room. He was there privately, he knelt down and he prayed and she awoke.
And it says seeing Peter, she sat up and Peter gave her back to her family and friends… How amazing...
And verses 42-43 reveals the real part of the blessing....
42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.
It says that many believed on account of this… Listen when you see the lame healed and the dead raised people start looking within themselves. and they did...
Many realized they were without Jesus, without Salvation and these miracles brought people to Jesus.
That is the way it should be… God answering prayer should cause people to stop and take account of their lives…
And while we are not raising the dead, We have seen God do great things, we have seen God answer prayer and as we communicate those things to the others, it should point them to Jesus.
Live you life in a way that you led others to Jesus..
For Paul, and for Peter, their life has one purpose, everything about them was to reflect the Son of God for all to see.
In that God is glorified..
Let me ask you a question...
Are you living in a way that your life points to Jesus.... so that many might believe?
It’s possible, do not tell me its not...
And every day we are to live close to the cross, and if you find we have allowed sin into our life, the solution is to repent of it, turn from it and head the other direction..
If you need someone to pray with you as you seek the Lord, I will be happy too, there are others who will pray for you and with you as well.
Live for him
1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
