THIS IS MY STORY… Whether you like it or not.
Notes
Transcript
Everyone loves a good story…
My wife loves to read fictional stories. Some of the books she reads start off slow and take a while to develop but she will finish reading the book and enjoy it.
We are all living out a story and God is the author of each one of our stories.
All of our stories are different. Some stories are simple, some are full of drama, come are complex, some are short, some are long.
Some of our stories are similar but nobody has the same story.
All stories are intended to be shared.
Not everyone will like your story.
This is my story, whether you like it or not. It may not be pretty, it may not be something you can relate to or connect with. But, whether you like it or not, this is my story.
The Book of Acts has a lot of Paul’s story. Paul was living it out and God was writing it. Paul was unashamed sharing his story because Jesus was the main character in his story.
Last week we talked about how the believers were discouraging Paul from going to Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit was revealing to the believers the danger that Paul would encounter in Jerusalem. He didn’t doubt that those things would happen, he just didn’t care that bad things were going to happen because this was a part of his story. Throughout his ministry he encountered resistance and persecution from the Jews.
When he got to Jerusalem all these bad things that were prophesied about Paul happened. But this became an opportunity to share the Good News about Jesus.
Paul saw this as an opportunity to share his story because Jesus was the center of his story. His story centered around how Jesus rescued him from his old self and gave him a resurrected life.
Before Paul and an opportunity to share his story, he was leaving the temple in Jerusalem. That’s when some Jews from Asia noticed him, fired up the crowd, formed a mob with the intention of killing Paul. The Roman soldiers had to intervene to protect Paul so they brought him into the barracks and chained him with 2 chains.
Acts 21:37–40 (ESV)
37 As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? 38 Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?” 39 Paul replied, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.” 40 And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language:
Remember Paul was addressing an angry mob that was out to kill him. This angry crowd immediately turned silent when Paul motioned his hand to address the people.
When has an angry mob became a captive audience. Only God could make that possible. Paul had a captive audience to share his story with no microphone… no sound system… no catchy media presentation…
It was the Lord who silenced the crowd so Paul could share his story about Jesus.
We are going to read his entire story vs. 1-21 and then we will break it down and bring it home.
Acts 22:1–21 (ESV)
1 “Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.” 2 And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said:
3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. 4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, 5 as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.
6 “As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8 And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ 9 Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me. 10 And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’ 11 And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.
12 “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13 came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. 14 And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; 15 for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’
17 “When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ 19 And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. 20 And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’ 21 And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”
PRAY
Paul was brief and to the point, engaging his audience in a way that they could connect with Paul’s story.
1. Paul addressed his audience in their own native language.
1. Paul addressed his audience in their own native language.
We must communicate out story so that your audience can understand.
Take an interest in leaning a different language.
When I was in Germany, most German’s knew English and could understand you if you spoke English but if you wanted to build a connection with the people you had to speak German.
Know the language of your audience: men, women, children, students, married, young, single, retired.
It’s easier to connect with people who are like us because we can relate easier with those people.
If we want to reach outside of the people who are like us we must learn to connect with those who aren’t like us.
Learn to speak their language.
2. Paul gave the audience his back story.
2. Paul gave the audience his back story.
Paul thought it was important to build a connection with his audience for the purpose of establishing some context before his encounter with Jesus.
However, we must be careful not to glorify our past.
Our past isn’t the center of our story because our past is dead with Christ.
Let the resurrection power of Jesus be intentionally placed at the center of our story.
3. Paul highlighted his initial encounter with Jesus.
3. Paul highlighted his initial encounter with Jesus.
When Paul was on his way to Damascus he fell off his horse. He saw a bright light and heard the voice of Jesus.
7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8 And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’
When Paul heard the voice he asked who he was.
Jesus introduced himself to Paul and told him to stop persecuting HIM.
Paul was blinded by the Lord. Jesus had to do something drastic to get Paul’s attention.
10 And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’
Paul then asked the Lord, what shall I do?
Rise and go to Damascus and when you get there, I’ll tell you what you are appointed to do.
Paul obediently went to Ananias to receive his sight physically but also spiritually.
Paul surrendered his life to Jesus. At that point hew as baptized and then received God’s new mission for his life.
Ananias gave Paul the next steps after he received his sight:
14 And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; 15 for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard.
Paul had a revelation from the Lord Jesus, Jesus spoke to him, his eyes were opened, he was saved and baptized. Then, God spoke through Ananias what the next steps would be for Paul.
Know God’s will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear God’s voice.
God called Paul to be a witness to everyone of what you have seen and heard.
4. Paul embraced his calling to be a witness by sharing his story with everyone.
4. Paul embraced his calling to be a witness by sharing his story with everyone.
A good witness will remember and share what they have seen and heard.
He headed back to Jerusalem but the Lord told him to leave because they will not accept Paul’s testimony about Jesus.
Paul said to Jesus, these people know what I used to be like so they will accept my testimony.
19 And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. 20 And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’
Paul was saying that these people know me, they know my past, they know what I did for the cause against the believers but now Paul is a believer. Paul encountered Jesus and his life is
He thought they will accept my testimony… they would like my story. This was an audience that I could relate to but Jesus said no.
21 And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”
This was the wrong thing to say. No he didn’t… he said that God called Paul to go to the Gentiles. The Jews thought the Gentiles were unworthy to hear the gospel and Paul should know this!
Whether they liked it or not, this was Paul’s story and yes, they did not like it!
22 Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.” 23 And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air,
These people had listened intently to Paul, but the word “Gentiles” brought out all their anger and exposed their pride. They were supposed to be a light to the Gentiles, telling them about the one true God, but they had renounced that mission by becoming separatist and exclusive.
Paul was suggesting that the Gentiles could be saved and made right with God without first subscribing to the law and submitting to Jewish circumcision.
Paul was claiming divine approval for the idea that Jews and Gentiles could have equal standing before God. This message collided head-on with the blindness, pride, and prejudice of the Jews and the results were explosive.
But no matter how furious the mob or intense their opposition, God’s plan could not be stopped. The Gentiles were hearing the gospel through many Jewish Christians.
When we surrender our life to Jesus, follow Jesus and let Jesus write our story, not everyone will like it… not everyone will appreciate or approve what God is doing in your life. Not everyone will like how HE is changing you, expanding your love for others, breaking down prejudice and racism, giving you boldness to speak the truth of the Gospel. Not everyone will like how honest you are about sin, about free you are from your past, and how hopeful you are about your future.
Paul didn’t used his platform to express how he was a victim of injustice. He used his platform to share his story that Jesus is still writing.
Paul accepted his calling became a witness for Jesus to everyone.
Take Away:
What is your story?
How has Jesus changed your life?
Are you a witness to what you have seen and heard from Jesus?
Are you using your platform to share your story about Jesus whether it’s liked or not?