Level Up!
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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.”
Introduction:
What does it mean to Level up?
Merriam Webster defines level up to advance or improve (oneself, someone else, or something.
The NEED to understand yourself is important and plays a vital part in you moving forward.
James says it like this “Don’t just LISTEN to the word, and deceive yourself “
“BE a DOER”
Self Examination or Self- evaluation is an essential to living a Christ - Like life of abundance.
You’ve been in this place long enough…Action is required on your part to now “Become”
"Becoming" in a positive tense is indicative of something greater or better that is coming.
When you decide to BECOME more like Christ - Greater is coming!
16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
It is the Baptizing that John talks about that makes the difference.
Greater will almost always be met with opposition.
EPH 2:2-4 - You were ONCE dead in your sins (separate from God), following the adversary, walking in Disobedience.
Theme Statement:
Humanity is caught between the dichotomy of light and darkness. Right and Wrong. Do I continue to live a hopeless, Faithless, and lonely life thats unfulfilling or do you choose to Level up and BECOME what God has “predestined” for you.
God can not accept something he does not approve, and you can NOT make God Approve what he does not accept.
5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
Are you wholeheartedly a believer in Jesus?
Testing yourself -
David records in PS 139 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
The fact of the matter is many believes are stuck in a revolving door of skepticism and disbelief wondering if God really cares.
This is the dichotomy. The Dilemma. The Struggle of Mankind.
When ever the enemy can get ahold of you thinking he can influence your decisions thus planting seeds of doubt which bring about skepticism and disbelief in Gods word.
Enter in to HIS REST
Gods Word once received with an open HEART can and WILL change your life
4 But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”
Gods Spoken Rhema word - EXPLAIN
Creates FAITH
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
The Word (Rhema) Builds-up the Body of Chris
3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.
“Edification = ‘Build-up;’ – “Exhortation” = ‘Stir-up;’ - “Comfort” = ‘Bind-up.’
No Matter Where you are it is the
63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
ACTS 9 - SAUL persecutor of Christians
The Apostle witnessed (before he was converted) witnessed and consented to the Killed of Stephen, a faithful follower of christ.
Paul is well educated, from the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew and a devout Pharisee.
Justification
For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
The relationship of christ and the pharisee
Jesus has several instances where he has to rebuke the Pharisees - hypocrites
“Pharise Asked”
Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders,
8 You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”
9 And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!
Christ did not come just to die but every bit of his life was the perfect example of how God intended for humanity to dwell in the earth.
When God decides to use you, He has a way of grabbing your attention.
SAUL is converted on the road to Damascus
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.
I. THE CALL TO BECOME WILL BE CLEAR
I. THE CALL TO BECOME WILL BE CLEAR
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.
Key Points:
v6-8 A. Rise and Go to a city. Although his eyes were opened he SAW nothing
v6-8 A. Rise and Go to a city. Although his eyes were opened he SAW nothing
If God doesn’t allow you to see it - you don’t see it.
Sometimes your inability to see if Gods way of how to see.
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made them both.
We receive our most important stimuli in life through our ears and our eyes.
The author does not merely mention two important body parts, but he emphasizes the importance of them functioning properly.
I. EAR MUST HEAR
II. EYE MUST SEE - AS GOD INTENDED
For we walk by faith, not by sight [living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God’s promises
“God saw that the light was good.”
This verse speaks about more than about sound and light and our ability to observe them. I
You eyes give you the ability to distinguish between good and evil.
And it emphasizes the fact that these abilities are God-given.
II. Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone.
II. THE CALL WILL HAVE A PLAN
II. THE CALL WILL HAVE A PLAN
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.”
I. Who He is
I am the Bread of Life
I am the Light of the World
I am the Good Shepherd
I am the Vine
He’s the true vine John 15:1
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
II. Who’s his father is
I and the Father are one
Jesus is showing us apart from the Father you can do nothing.
III. His assignment in the earth
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
III. FREEDOM IS ATTACHED TO THE CALL - “YES” FOLLOW CHRIST
III. FREEDOM IS ATTACHED TO THE CALL - “YES” FOLLOW CHRIST
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.
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.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Mirror: A mirror is a reflective surface that bounces off light to produce an authentic AND unfiltered image
Philanthropy and Good deeds to help those who are less fortunate must be posted online. “If its not posted, it didn't happen.”
Matthew 6:4 your charitable acts will be done in secret; and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you
Romans 5:12–15 (ESV) Abbr.
12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—
15 Many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.
I. And so the question now is… Do you want to live a christ - like life of abundance?
Old saying: “Are you tired of being sick and Tired?”
I. The things I love about GOD - We’re all uniquely made In fact David says I am fearfully and Wonderfully Made
II. Nobody can make you walk or live - Every decisions or action you choose is that which you allow
a. Satan - the accuser/ the Father of all lies - seeks to keep you in a dark place, but a christ like of abundance has endless
spiritual benefits
b. Someone of us have gotten so use or familiar with the “life of abundance” that we have started to over look and almost disrespect the blessing of the lord.
a. Anyone or anything you become familiar with, (if not careful) you will disrespect.
b. You can not become so familiar with God that you lack reverence.
I. As you start to Level Up and or Rise to obtain ALL that God has for you - You MUST remain Humble.
II. It was God that put you there
Self Examination or Evaluation is an essential or required to live a Christ - Like life of abundance.
Gal 5:22
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Why are we to encourage one another? The preacher has already given us the answer in Chapter 3: Read Hebrews 3:12-13. We all live in a fallen world—a world ruled by the “father of lies.” We must exhort, comfort, encourage each other so as to be strong enough to, as he says in v23, “hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering.
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?”
Who is the light?
Who is the light?
Jesus
3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,