God's most unlikely choice
Notes
Transcript
Sometimes we question our personal choices.
Sometimes we can look at others and question a choice that doesn’t make sense.
Detroit Lions draft picks.
We question the strategy… the planning… the thought process… the future implications of a bad choice.
One bad or good choice can impact so many other things.
It’s human nature to make a bad choice every so often, but when we do we make excuses or we shift the blame… when we make good choices we take the credit.
We won’t know how Detroit’s draft picks will pan out but when the games are played we will.
As humans, we sometimes make bad decisions but God never makes a bad decisions.
Sometimes we question God’s choice because it may not make sense…
God’s choice may seem unlikely at the beginning but ultimately, it always works out for our good and HIS glory.
This morning we are going to see how God chose Saul to become Apostle Paul. It’s another one of those unlikely choices God makes so often because initially it doesn’t make sense.
Instead of destroying those who come against the church, Jesus changes hearts and minds to reveal HIS kingdom purpose. Jesus invites this unlikely choice to become the Apostle who made the greatest historical impact on our world today for Jesus and HIS Kingdom.
But… it all begins in Acts 9.
Acts 9:1–19 (ESV)
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. 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. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.
PRAY
We see that so often Jesus choses the most unlikely candidates.
When Samual the prophet and judge was selecting a king he reminded the Israelites that the Lord does not look at the things that man looks at… man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart.
As we are introduced to Saul, we see that he’s heart was full of passion, he was fearless, he was all in, zealously fighting against the church but thinking he was fighting for God.
Right off the bat, Saul was on a mission to wipe out the church… nothing was going to stop him… no one was going to prove him wrong. Saul was on a mission to stop this movement one Christian at a time. He committed his life to arresting more followers of Jesus and that’s why he was on his way to Damascus.
Saul was thinking he was on the Lord’s side but Jesus came to reveal to HIMSELF in a way that only Saul could receive.
Jesus had to knock him off his high horse.
Jesus had to knock him off his high horse.
So often we are set on our own way, doing our own thing and determined to do whatever it takes to accomplish our own mission.
Paul (Saul) at this point in his life had tunnel vision and he was actually fighting against the things that God was doing. Saul’s tunnel vision caused him to miss Jesus but Jesus didn’t miss him.
That’s why Jesus had to knock him off his high horse. As HE did that, Jesus asked Saul a profound question.
4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
Jesus was saying that it was not only the people who were being persecuted but it was Christ HIMSELF who was being persecuted.
When people in the church are arrested, abused or even threatened for preaching, teaching, and lifting up the name of Jesus, they are persecuting Christ HIMSELF.
So don’t stop lifting up the name of Jesus… don’t take what other’s say about Jesus personally.
When we fearlessly and passionately live for Jesus we may suffer but Jesus suffer’s as well. We don’t suffer alone.
Jesus immediately had Saul’s attention.
5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
Saul had to see Jesus for who HE really was and is so Saul had to get knocked off his high horse and change course. He knew it was the Lord who was getting his attention but he didn’t know it was Jesus.
Sometimes God uses difficulty to get our attention. God often uses doors that close, broken dreams, or even tragedy to get our attention. But, how do we respond?
We can be on our high horse for so long. We can stubbornly become so set in our own ways that only a powerful, “knock you off your horse,” revelation of Jesus can get your attention and change the direction of your life.
Jesus got Saul’s attention but Ananias had to step out and trust the Lord’s direction.
Faith always requires an element of risk
Faith always requires an element of risk
Ananias had to risk his life as he responded to Jesus’ calling. Jesus got Saul’s attention but Ananias had to give Saul some direction.
Ananias was a disciple of Jesus in Damascus and he is only mentioned here.
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.”
Saul had a reputation. Those who were disciples of Jesus knew to avoid this man… they knew Saul had orders from the high priest to arrest all those who are followers of Jesus. Apparently the Christians were warned.
But… Jesus happened to set up a meeting with Ananias in a vision but Jesus also prepared Saul for his coming.
Ananias knew that Saul was coming to arrest people like him but Jesus happened to be working things out behind the scene.
If God says go, we must know that God is working things out in the process, our job is to just obey. We often complicate it, we question it, we doubt it but Jesus is looking for our yes when HE calls.
Jesus said go to Saul, here is his address, right now he is blind so pray, lay hands on him so he might regain his sight.
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;
Saul needed direction, Jesus used Ananias to give Saul that direction that he needed.
Jesus is calling us, ordinary humans, regular people, to reach the most unlikely people for Jesus.
Jesus is already working in ways that we don’t see but our faith requires a yes and that yes will require risk.
Starting a business requires more of a risk then being an employee.
When you’re the owner, your name is on everything, you are responsible for that business’ success, as well as the livelihood of your employees.
When we say yes to Jesus, we see the risk just like Ananias did, but ultimately whatever the consequence, life or death, we win because Jesus promised eternal victory.
So, the risk isn’t on us when we say yes to the calling Jesus because Jesus already paid the bill in full.
Jesus doesn’t call us to make our life easier
Jesus doesn’t call us to make our life easier
Ananias was told what kind of new life Jesus had in store for Saul.
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.”
Jesus still choose this unlikely person to be HIS instrument to spread the Gospel to the Gentiles, kings, and to the Jews.
Saul was called to suffer in order to fulfil Jesus’ calling. Not because of his past but because Saul’s revelation of Jesus. His new revelation of Jesus changed what he was passionate about.
This was the moment that consumed his life, his ministry, his words, his actions.
Later on in Acts 9 we see that Saul’s passion for Jesus rubbed the Jews the wrong way in Damascus and then in Jerusalem.
The Jews were fired up because they rejected the Gentiles as being unclean and therefore unfit for salvation.
Paul became so passionate about Jesus that he was willing to say yes to the suffering in order to reach all people, Jews and Gentiles with the Good News about Jesus.
Take Away
Jesus is able to reach the most unlikely people in our life.
Which of your loved ones would you consider unreachable?
Faith requires risk.
What are we willing to risk in order to spread the Gospel?