******He changed me acts 9:20-22

(Acts 9:20–22)

This world is in desperate need of seeing changed lives! The world needs to see from Christians lives that line up with our profession of faith. The world needs to see practicing Christians not just professing Christians. When we have been saved by Jesus Christ we will be changed by Jesus Christ. He makes all the difference. Sadly, much of the professing church lives so much like the world that you cannot tell the two apart. George Barna perceptively said, “American Christianity has largely failed since the middle of the twentieth century because Jesus’ modern-day disciples do not act like Jesus. They fail to represent Him well not because they are incapable of Christlike behavior or out of an absence of good intentions, but because they do not think like Him. You and I may profess to be followers, but remember, the most significant evidence of our loyalty is not what we say but what we do.”

We need to be reminded if we have not been changed by Jesus we have not been saved by Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” Have you been saved by the Lord? Have you been changed by the Lord? Are you a different person since Jesus saved you? Are you giving evidence that you are a Christians by what you say, what you do, where you go?

Luke declared the power of Saul’s testimony, the boldness of Saul’s preaching, the effectiveness of his words, and the increase in his spiritual strength. Christians are those who have been saved by the grace of God, changed by the power of God, live out their new life in God, and those who reveal the truth of God in this world. I want to challenge the church to live by the power of the Spirit of God, faithfully proclaim the word of God, and continue to grow in the likeness of the Lord Jesus. This passage reveals some evidences of the power of God on the life of Saul.

I. The immediate preaching of Saul (20)

After Saul had received his sight he was filled with the Spirit of God and then he received food. He was filled spiritually and he was filled physically. He spent some time in fellowship with the Christians in Damascus. It was during those days that he began testifying of the grace of God and the message that Jesus is the Son of God. Saul began at once telling others about the Lord Jesus. God had saved his soul and changed his life. All he wanted to do was talk about Jesus! Before all he wanted to do was talk against Jesus! Saul had a new tongue and a new testimony!

Vance Havner said, “I still believe we ought to talk about Jesus. The old country doctor of my boyhood days always began his examination by saying, “Let me see your tongue.” That is a good way to check a Christian, the tongue test and what he is talking about. Too much Christian experience today is secondhand. After reading impressive church statistics, who can help asking, “With this much salt, why is the country so corrupt? With this much light, why is America in such darkness?” We ought to make a difference. It is dangerous to grow up next door to Jesus. It is a blessed thing to be reared in a Christian land, in a Christian home, in church and Sunday school, acquainted with the language of the Bible, no stranger to the story of Jesus. But it has its perils. One can live so close to it that the very familiarity breeds an unbelief. Sometimes the most privileged never really know the Savior, whereas others gladly receive Him upon hearing the gospel for the first time.”

Saul had heard the gospel of Jesus Christ from Jesus Christ and he heeded the message. We learn that he not only heeded the message, but he became a herald of the message. Saul didn’t wait around or fool around, but he immediately began to preach. Warren Wiersbe wrote, “Every new convert’s witness for Christ ought to begin right where he is, so Saul began his ministry first in Damascus.”

• He didn’t wait to get the approval of the church because he had the anointing of Christ.

• He didn’t wait to be commissioned by the church because he had been called by Christ.

Immediately: (KJV: Straightway) eutheos, yoo-theh’-oce; directly, i.e. at once or soon, anon, as soon as, forthwith, immediately, shortly, straightway. This word tells us that Saul didn’t wait around. He began at once to preach the word of God. David Jeremiah said it well, “Saul not only had a new friend, new family, and new fellowship, he also wasted no time expressing his new faith.” Do you find it easy to talk about Jesus? Have you began to express your new faith in Christ? Preached: kerusso, kay-roos’-so; to herald (as a public crier), especially divine truth (the gospel):—preach (-er), proclaim, publish. This word is in the imperfect tense in the Greek language which denotes a continuous action. This tells us that Saul’s preaching was an ongoing thing. He was not ashamed of his Lord and he consistently gave a witness for Jesus.

A. The place he preached (20a)

“Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues,”

Saul had originally went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus. (Acts 9:2) He had authority and the backing of Jerusalem to come to the synagogues in Damascus to receive a platform and power to arrest the Christians. He would have the cooperation of all the Jews in the synagogue in his mission of apprehending and persecuting the Christians.

Saul was headed to Damascus for the synagogues and when he got there he went there. Here we learn though that he went there with a different agenda and a different message. Joseph Parker said, “He went, as was Christ’s custom also, into the synagogues as the most likely places where to find an audience who would listen to his proclamation. His letters to the synagogues were not delivered, but he came as the herald of one of higher authority than the chief priests.” Saul went to the synagogue to proclaim the word of God! This was a regular habit latter on for Paul the Apostle as he came to new cities and planted new churches. We learn of the place he preached, we also see in verse 20:

B. The principles he preached (20b)

“he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.”

Saul came to the synagogue armed with the gospel. He came and preached Christ to them. This is not the message that the Jews were expecting from the most fierce and zealous of its proponents. He preached Christ in the synagogues. He preached the Lord Jesus that He is the Son of God. This title “Son of God” is the only time it is used in the Book of Acts, but it is used 15 times in Paul’s epistles. Paul was right in his doctrine. He preached the principles that he was sought to deny and destroy. Johnny Hunt said, “The first words of Paul’s message in Damascus made it clear that there had been a major transformation. He is definitely not the man he used to be. He is now preaching the One he used to persecute. He is now blessing the One he used to blaspheme.” Thank God for men of God who will stand up in the power of the Spirit of God and preach Christ! It’s all about Him. We ought to magnify the Lord Jesus in our preaching!

Many churches would do well to close their doors and shut up preacher because they have long since stop preaching Christ. John G. Butler said, “If we are not going to preach Christ, we need to shut up and sit down; for we have no message of worth for the souls of men. Many churches, therefore, ought to close their doors and stop masquerading as churches; for they do not preach Christ. Rather, they discredit Him and deny Him.” Saul went to the synagogues and preached Christ. We’ve learned of the immediate preaching of Saul. We also note:

II. The impact on the people by Saul (21)

A. Their reaction to his message (21a)

“Then all who heard were amazed,”

The synagogues were filled with amazed people. They were flabbergasted. *They were stunned not only at what they heard, but of who they heard it from.* His message had an impact on all who heard! Not just a few or even a majority was stirred by his message. Every person in the synagogue was amazed at the message and the messenger. The Saul who came to Damascus was a different Saul that left from Jerusalem. The Lord had made a change in Saul! He was changed from the inside out. Can you imagine the looks on the faces of those who sat in the synagogue that day?

• I’m sure their eyes opened,

• their jaws dropped,

• their dandruff stirred up,

• their feet stomped,

• and their mind froze up.

They really didn’t know what to do or what to say. Amazed: existemi, ex-is’-tay-mee; to put (stand) out of wits, i.e. astound, or (reflexive) become astounded, insane:—amaze, be (make) astonished, be beside self (selves), bewitch, wonder. William Barclay said, “It is also a witness of the effectiveness of Paul’s preaching. He was so un-answerable that the Jews, helpless in debate, resorted to violence. No one persecutes a man who is ineffective.” It may surprise you but not everyone in Baptist churches has been excited and grateful for the message that I’ve preached. I have sought to honor Jesus and lift Him up and preach His truth.

To my surprise some people have gotten mad about it, pouted about it, lashed out at the preacher! They have turned a deaf ear and a hardened heart toward the message and the messenger. One of the hardest lessons I’ve had to learn in ministry is not being attacked for being a Christian and preaching the gospel, but being attacked by those within the church. We’ve learned of their reaction to his message. We also see:

B. Their remembrance of his mission (21b)

“and said, ‘Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?”

All who heard Saul’s message couldn’t believe the words that were coming out of his mouth. They were stunned. They questioned if this was the same man.

May they thought, “Let’s check this guy’s identification.” “He may be an imposter!” “Surely this is not the hit-man from hell!”

Saul had a reputation of destroying those who called on the name of Jesus. Destroyed: portheo, por-theh’-o, (to sack); to ravage (figurative)—destroy, waste. This is a picturesque word that describes Saul’s motive, manner, and mission against Christ and His church. The people at the synagogue all remember who Saul was and what Saul had done! They remember that he persecuted all those who called on the name of Jesus. Even in Damascus the Jewish people did not even like to mention the name of Jesus. They just referred to Saul persecuting all those who called on “this name.”

People in the world and against the Lord still do not like to use His name. When they use His name they usually abuse His name. We need to always use His name in reverence and respect. The people remembered Saul’s mission. Surely they were confused as to why Saul was now preaching Christ, that He is the Son of God. People that know us before we were saved will not a marked difference in us. Our language will clean up! We’ll start magnifying the Lord Jesus with our words. Our attitudes will clean up! We will treat others the way we want to be treated. Our actions will clean up! We will have different desires, a different outlook, and different responses.

People may even ask us “what has happened to you?” or “You are not the same person you use to be?” There is power in a changed life! Saul went from bad to good, from death to life, from blindness to sight, from darkness to light. It is sad when people are noted for their change to the worse. It happens often as men and women fall back into sin and live for themselves. Be careful what you are remembered for! AMEN! We’ve learned about the immediate preaching of Saul, the impact on the people by Saul, and lastly we note:

III. The increase in power by Saul (22)

A. The declaration of his strength (22a)

“But Saul increased all the more in strength,”

Despite the opposition and the pressure brought to bear on him, he increased in spiritual strength. Instead of wilting he weathered the storm! Instead of folding he flourished. Instead of caving in he was courageous. Increased: endunamoo, en-doo-nam-o’-o; to empower:—enable, (increase in) strength (-en), be (make) strong. It was during his time with the Lord Jesus that he increased in strength. The only way to be spiritually strong is to be totally submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. We have to spend time in the presence of the Lord Jesus.

Saul was strengthened with strength from the Lord Jesus. He was clothed with strength. This word is closely kin to the word used by the Lord Jesus in Luke 24:49, “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” Many scholars believe that it was during this time that Saul went off to Arabia. There in Arabia Saul was in the Lord’s Seminary training for ministry. Paul testified of his journey in Galatians.

Galatians 1:13–17 the Bible says, “For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. 14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.”

Saul had been in preparation for the ministry that the Lord had called him to. The Lord prepared Saul for what He had prepared for Saul. In verse 22 we’ve learned about the declaration of his strength. In the last part of this verse we learn:

B. The display of his strength (22b)

What did Saul do with his new found faith and new found strength in the Lord? Did he take it easy? Did he try to appease people? Did he try to avoid people? “and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.” Saul displayed his strength in the Lord by rightly declaring the word of the Lord. Confounded: sugcheo, soong-kheh’-o; (to pour) (figurative) to throw (an assembly) into disorder, to perplex (the mind):—confound, confuse, stir up, be in an uproar. He confounded all the Jews who dwelt in Damascus. He took what he knew of the Lord of the Old Testament and applied it to the Lord of the New Testament. The scriptures came alive to Paul and came alive through Paul. The Jews were confounded and confused. They were stirred up and shaken down in their belief system. John MacArthur said, “That Saul was confounding the Jews in this dialogue should surprise no one. He had the finest education first century Judaism could offer, and they could not hope to match his knowledge of Scripture. Once he understood who Jesus was, he had the key that unlocked the whole Old Testament. He was then able to use his vast knowledge of those scriptures and his Spirit-controlled brilliance, as well as the truth of Jesus’ miracles, words, death, and resurrection to prove that this Jesus was indeed the long awaited Messiah.” When we are filled with the Spirit of God and the word of God He will use us to confound those who are in opposition to Him and His word.

The Jews were stirred up at Saul’s new message! They hated Jesus and they would soon hate Saul. Saul didn’t preach some feel good, I’m okay your okay message. His message was brought by the power of God and used by the Spirit of God to stir up those who would not believe. John Phillips wrote, “When we preach, what happens? Little or nothing, all too often. What does the city know of our coming or going? Nothing! What difference does it make to the tavern keepers, to the dens of vice, to places where vileness parades itself brazenly and unashamed? What difference does it make to corruption and graft in City Hall? What difference does it make to the propagators of false religion? What stir do we cause in the halls of learning where godless humanism is taught with arrogance and pride? Too often it makes no difference.” What difference are we making in this world for the kingdom of God? Do we display the power of a changed life? There is power in a life changed by God.

• Power in our witness;

• power in our work;

• power in our loving;

• power in our living;

• power in our sharing;

• power in our caring;

• power in our preaching;

• power in our praying!

Let us impact this world with the gospel of Jesus Christ and with godly lives that have been changed by God!