Acts 9- The Enocunter that matter

Revelation is what changes our lives

Who is Christ?

This is the question we all must answer, and the answer determines how we we live our life

Everyone lives in response to this question

The issues is you can lives in the truth, which is living with Jesus as being Lord

Or Live in the darkness as if Christ isn’t king and therefore you are blinded to the truth

the problem with this response if that is comes with a consequence when the truth is fully revealed

Philippians 2:10–11 ESV

so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Even Satan himself will confees the truth!

But We all must answer the question who is Jesus?

Matthew 16:13–20 ESV

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

Blessed as the ones who see Jesus as the Christ (the Messiah)

this revelation only comes by the Spirit-

And Everyone who has this revelation lives as if Jesus is the King and the prize

The Way Revealed

Acts 9:1–3 ESV

But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 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. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.

The unity of Christ and His Church

Acts 9:4 ESV

And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

See how closely Jesus relates Himself to the church-

Saul thought He was going against people but found himself standing apposed to the Lord

Acts 5:37–39 ESV

After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice,

These words rang true for Saul- “Why are you persecuting me?”

Acts 5:38 ESV

So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail;

There is no separation of Christ and the Church-

The Church is the Body and Jesus is the Head

This same Paul would write on the unity of Believers-

Ephesians 4:6 ESV

one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Just as God is one the church is one with Christ

Ephesians 1:20–23 ESV

that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Christ is the Head of this body- in Him - Act 17:28

Acts 17:28 ESV

for “ ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “ ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’

And Again-

Nothing can separate us

Romans 8:38–39 ESV

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Eyes opened to the truth-

Paul has this revelation of Jesus and now like Peter, His confession is

“You are the Messiah- the Son of God” and His life would be the testimony of this confession

Acts 9:8–9 ESV

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. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

It is because He has this divine encounter Saul would be transformed into Paul

And would god around and rather then destroy the body of Jesus Christ- He would give His life

Even bearing on His body the marks of His confession

God is divinely orchestrating events

Acts 9:10–19 ESV

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.” 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, 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.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 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. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 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.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.

God was looking for a man to go and lay hands on Paul and He found Ananias-

This isn’t some super apostle, He is simply a disciple-

Acts 9:10 ESV

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.”

but He knows the voice of God, and His desire is to do the will of God-

He knew the story, but he also knew His God

His response “Here I Am, Lord”

And then acts on the word of God given to Him-

There is power in acting on the word of God