REACH IN THE WORD

WAS BLIND BUT NOW I SEE

Acts 26:14–18 (NKJV)

Our First message was Reach in the Word, To learn how to use the bible in our everyday lives

Then the next message was Why the Bible is Reliable? The Inspiration of the Bible (History, Science, Proves it)

Then last week we saw how the Bible changes us, The Foundation of the Bible (Gives rest, life, power, hope)

Today let look at the Illumination of the Bible, How the Bible opens our eyes to see

What does Illumination mean? When the Holy Spirit reveals the meaning of God’s word and how do I apply it.

How many of you would like to learn how to Study more effectively?

Before Jesus went back to heaven he explain the H.S.’s role:

JN. 14:26 “The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

JN. 14:17 “He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.”

JN. 16:15 “the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you”

EPH. 1:17 “I ask the glorious Father and God of our Lord Jesus Christ to give you his Spirit. The Spirit will make you wise and let you understand what it means to know God.”

o Bible = only book where you can talk to the author while reading it!

What happens when God opens our eyes

WE CAN SEE THE PROBLEM

look at our text in Acts 26:14

Acts 26:14 NKJV

And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

What do you see? What happened when he heard Jesus?

His Problem was made clear to Him

You see the Role of the Holy Spirit leads us by Convicting us

John 16:8 NKJV

And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

Here we see the ministry of the Holy spirit is 3-fold in His revelation to an unsaved world.

He will show it to be Wrong—SIN

He will draw you to get right—Righteousness

He will reveal consequences —Judgment

Saul was going to be held in contempt if he had failed to be converted, WHY?

“kick against the Goads” Means to deliberately resist or disregard Gods direction, like an ox that refused to pull his plow”

WE I CAN SEE THE SOLUTION

Remember, Why did Jesus come into the World?

John 3:17 NKJV

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

God not only created you in His image to see whats wrong but to be able to respond to what is Right this morning

So look at what Saul did, He asked the question that each of us should ask

“who are you, Lord?” What a Powerful question that reveals much today

First, Saul was revealing it did not take him long to realize and call him Lord

Second, The Lord made it clear to Persecute His people is to Persecute Him. Wow, With so much persecution today never let us forget that the reason we are part of the problem of the world is because we see the Solution for it.

“What do you want me to do?” Another Powerful Question

Acts 9:6 (NKJV)

Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

I’m not sure why he left this off in Acts 26, But maybe because it goes without saying for that's why he was there.

God to him to “Arise and Go”, Church that's it,

When God speaks because of the Great Commission and Great Command He is always going to say to us.....”Arise and Go”

God’s word will always reveal a personal journey for us

THE OLD JOURNEY HAS TO END, BEFORE THE NEW ONE CAN BEGIN

WE CAN SEE THE SHELTER

(Turns our Direction to God's Protection)

Now lets take a look at what the Bible reveals to us in this text

God created Saul/Paul to be part of His plan, TO HAVE A PURPOSE IN LIFE

The Lord Jesus not only reveals our Problem and our Solution

‌ But He reveals to us that we can be used, Not just forgiven but we can be Faithful

‌ We are here today because we want to make a difference in the life we are living and

we want our children to know that they can to.

Salvation is so much more than just a decision to trust Jesus

Salvation is the Remedy to our greatest problem--(Turns our Attention to The Problem)

I once was lost but now I'm ________

I once was blind but now I'm ________

Salvation OPENS the eyes of the Blind to be able to See SALVATION

HOW MANY OF YOU CAN SEE YOUR SALVATION WORKING IN YOU?

(Rich man and Lazarus--Rich man in hell and could see where he was)

Salvation is the Solution that reveals Gods Promise--(turns our focus in God's direction)

John 14:6 I am the way, I am the Truth and I am the life, no one comes to the father except through me

Friend Jesus Declares to us a GIFT this morning.........LIFE

Salvation is the Shelter for us, our family, our church, our community, our world

WHAT IS IT THAT GOD'S WANTS US TO SEE IN HIS WORD THIS MORNING? OUR SALVATION

First you must accept Jesus as your Savior (Trust God to Save You)

Next you must ask God to open your eyes (Trust God to forgive you)

Then you must come with a Humble Attitude (Trust God to Teach you)

Then cleanse your heart of sin (Trust God to Lead you)

Now commit to say YES (Trust God to use you)

POINT: SALVATION IS ABOUT A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP

THE BIBLE IS THE PROOF OF WHAT HAS BEEN DONE FOR US AND IN OTHERS

THE PROMISE OF THE BIBLE IS THAT GOD CAN DO THE SAME THING TODAY FOR YOU

THE WORD OF GOD LEADS US TO THE MAN OF GOD--JESUS

TODAY IS THIS YOUR Damascus ROAD?