Sunday School 8-4-2024

Calling

This morning we are looking at Saul - Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus.

The title of this mornings lesson is Calling.

Many people think of God’s calling as a person being called into vocational ministry, such as being a pastor or missionary.

But all believers have a calling on their life, as believers God had to call us to salvation.

John 6:44 NASB95

44 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.

Many people say, well I am to far gone for God to save me, or I have done so many evil things that God wont save me.

But this morning as we look at our lesson, of Saul/Paul’s calling to salvation, we must realize that anyone can be saved.

With that, all believers have a testimony that they can share.

Now mine may not be as dramatic as yours, or the other way around.

But if God saved us from our sins and we have that personal relationship with Jesus, then we have a testimony, or a Jesus story.

The story of Saul begins in Acts chapter 7, and we see that he was at the stoning of Stephen.

Acts 7:38 NASB95

38 “This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness together with the angel who was speaking to him on Mount Sinai, and who was with our fathers; and he received living oracles to pass on to you.

We are told in chapter 8 verse 1 that Saul was in agreement with the stoning of Stephen.

The first two verses of Acts 9 we are told that Saul went and got letters from the high priest, so that he could go and arrest any Christians in Damascus.

This brings us to our first set of Scripture.

Saul Confronted

Acts 9:3–4 NASB95

3 As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; 4 and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

Damascus was the capital city of Syria.

Looking at verse two, we are told letters to the synagogues of Damascus, the word synagogues being plural lets us know there was more than one in the city.

As Saul is approaching the city of Damascus a light from heaven flashed around him.

As this light hit Saul, his life changed forever.

Now Saul’s conversion and ministry are not primarily about Saul, it was about God’s plan to redeem a lost world, through Saul becoming Paul and being a great missionary and church planter.

As the light hit Saul, he fell to the ground.

We see people fall to the ground throughout the Bible as they encounter God.

As Saul hits the ground a voice says to him, Saul, Saul why are you persecuting Me?

Saul’s persecution was directed towards God the Son, that is Jesus Christ.

Jesus takes persecution against His people seriously and personally.

Jesus Identified

Acts 9:5–9 NASB95

5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, 6 but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.” 7 The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Saul hears the voice and then asks who are You, Lord?

The use of Lord here has been debated, as in Biblical times the term Lord was used to mean something like “sir.”

But Saul had been educated very well in the Old Testament, he was a Pharisee, and therefore, he may have said Lord as he recognized the voice being that of God.

Jesus then identifies Himself, as the one you have been persecuting.

Saul is then told to rise and go into the city and you will be told what to do next.

Saul is given little detail of what he is to do next, but simply go into the city.

Many of us today would be like, I got to wait on God’s full instructions.

But God gave Abraham similar instructions in Genesis 12 when Abram was told to leave the country that his father lived in.

See God is wanting to see if you will walk in faith.

Jesus told Saul to get up, this gives a picture of spiritual resurrection.

Saul’s old life of persecuting Christians had passed, and his new life as a church-planting missionary, theologian, writer, and pastor was now beginning.

Those that were with Saul, could hear the voice but did not see anyone there speaking, all they could see is the light.

This left the people speechless, they had heard to voice of Jesus, and could not speak about it.

These men were scared into silence.

As the light came it went away, Saul standing to his feet and opening his eyes realized he could not see anything, he was blind.

Therefore, the men with him lead him into the city, and he remained blind for three days.

Three days is significant in Scripture, we know that Jonah spent three days in the belly of the whale.

Jesus was risen on the third day, and now Saul is blind for three days.

We might look at Saul’s blindness as hitting rock bottom.

While he was blind he did not eat or drink.

Purpose Given

Acts 9:10–16 NASB95

10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for 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 harm he did 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 bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 16 for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

Here we see that there is a specific disciple.

The Greek word for disciples describes a student who is under the authority of a teacher.

This disciple was Ananias, he had a strong relationship and faith in Jesus.

Now Ananias had a vision, the purpose of this vision was to give instructions.

This vision was not for Ananias benefit, but for the benefit of the entire community and eventually the known world.

Ananias responds to the Lord by saying here I am, Lord.

Ananias is told to go to the house that Saul is currently in and Saul is praying.

Ananias is told that Saul has seen a vision that Ananias was coming to pray and lay hands on him, so that he might be healed.

What an awesome task Ananias has been given, but Ananias has heard of this man named Saul and how he has been persecuting the believers.

Ananias responds to the instructions of the Lord, with concern for his own well being.

Jesus explains that Saul has been chosen, and restates His command.

God is patient, but His commands are not suggestions or negotiations open to debate.

Jesus explains that Saul is a chosen vessel to share the gospel to the Gentiles and kings.

Jesus ends this section, stating that Saul will suffer for Jesus.

Saul late Paul gives a list of persecution that he had been through.

2 Corinthians 11:24–30 NASB95

24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. 26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; 27 I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern? 30 If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness.