Who Is Jesus For?

A teacher asks her students, “Who do you think God is?”

One kid says, “God is a super old man with a big beard who sits on a cloud!”

Another pipes up, “No, God is like a superhero—faster than light, stronger than anything, and invisible!”

A third kid smirks and says, “Nah, God’s definitely my mom. She knows everything, hears everything, and has eyes in the back of her head!”

But then a quiet kid in the back raises his hand and says, “I think God’s like Wi-Fi.”

Everyone stares. The teacher asks, “Wi-Fi? Why?”

He replies, “Because you can’t see Him, but you know He’s there. And when the connection’s strong, everything works perfectly. But when it’s weak… well, good luck!”

Historical/Cultural Context -

Luke was a physician and a travel companion of the apostle Paul. He wrote the book of Acts. The earliest possible date of Acts is immediately after the events that Luke recorded in, which would have been c. A.D. 62. Acts is addressed to “Theophilus,” about whom nothing more is known. Luke’s broader audience consisted primarily of Gentile Christians like Theophilus who had already “been taught” about Jesus.

Biblical Text -

Acts 9:20–31 NKJV

Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. Then all who heard were amazed, 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?” But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ. Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him. But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket. And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out. And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him. When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus. Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.

-[Prayer]-

Life Principle - Jesus Is For Us, Our Growth & To Be Shared With Everyone.

Life Point- Jesus Is For You

Exegetical -

Acts 9:20–22 NLT

And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!” All who heard him were amazed. “Isn’t this the same man who caused such devastation among Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem?” they asked. “And didn’t he come here to arrest them and take them in chains to the leading priests?” Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn’t refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.

Homiletical -

Notice that once Saul got the vision of Jesus he immediately went and began preaching about Jesus to the Jews. Why? Because Jesus is the Messiah to the Jews first and then the Gentiles or anyone who is not a Jew.

Romans 1:16–17 NLT

For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

Let us never forget that Jesus came through the Jewish lineage. When He came though, He tore down the wall of separation between the two. That all people from all nations would come to Him.

Ephesians 2:14–18 NLT

For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

Because of this, there is no one that should be left out of the Gospel presentation. I don’t care what they look like. They need Jesus and you are supposed to give Jesus to them.

But Pastor you don’t know what they look like? Doesn’t matter, preach and teach Jesus anyway.

So Saul is a christian and immediately he goes to the synagogue (kinda like a Jewish church) and begins to teach them about Jesus and that He is the promised Messiah. His preaching became more and more powerful and they couldn’t refute his proofs that Jesus is the Messiah.

What was he preaching from? He was preaching from what we call the Old Testament. He was already finding the prophecies and scriptures that pertain to Jesus.

All who heard him were amazed because this man was radically changed, in an instant. He was zealously against Christians and then he is zealously for Jesus.

You know I run into people who will tell you that people never really change. You know what, that is a true statement. You can’t changed but Jesus can change you. Jesus can make you knew and make you whole before a Holy God.

Will you continue to trust in His work at the cross for not just conversion but for sanctification? Will you continue to surrender every day to Him on a continual basis?

Illustration -

Imagine a joyful gathering in a park where all kinds of families and friends come together for a potluck. People bring their favorite dishes, and no one is turned away. This is a picture of Jesus’ invitation to the banquet of life—He welcomes everyone with their unique stories and backgrounds, creating a tapestry of His love and acceptance. Where Every kind of person belongs!

Life Point - Jesus Is For Sharing With Everyone

Exegetical -

Acts 9:23–25 NLT

After a while some of the Jews plotted together to kill him. They were watching for him day and night at the city gate so they could murder him, but Saul was told about their plot. So during the night, some of the other believers lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the city wall.

Homiletical -

Saul reminds me of Stephen here. No one could stand up against their wisdom when it came to Christ. So what do they do? They conspire to kill him.

Could you imagine annoying someone so much with the Gospel day-in and day-out that people want to actually murder you?

That is some sharing of the Gospel. To share so much that people actually watch for you at the city gates to murder you.

So how does God get him out of this? Does he send an angel to smite them? Does he cause some other supernatural means?

Nope he used human beings in a practical way to meet his need.

Humans told Saul about the plot and humans lowered him through an opening in the wall to get him outside the city safely so he could go back to Jerusalem.

Listen to me here. Nine times out of ten God will use other believers to meet your needs. It His way of involving His church in showing His love to others. Needs don’t get met if we don’t meet them out of the love that God has shed abroad in our hearts.

Romans 5:2–5 NLT

Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Illustration -

Picture yourself at a family gathering where the dinner just isn’t enough. Suddenly, your uncle pulls out a giant lasagna from the trunk of his car—a true surprise feast! This reflects how God often has people ready to meet needs in unpredictable ways. We must remain open to being that 'lasagna' for someone else.

Life Point - Jesus Is For Your Growth

Exegetical -

Acts 9:26–31 NLT

When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he had truly become a believer! Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them that Saul had preached boldly in the name of Jesus in Damascus. So Saul stayed with the apostles and went all around Jerusalem with them, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. He debated with some Greek-speaking Jews, but they tried to murder him. When the believers heard about this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus, his hometown. The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers.

Homiletical -

Now Saul goes back to Jerusalem. You know the place where he was locking up Christians and persecuting the church pretty badly. He attempts to meet with other believers but they don’t believe that he is now a Christian. So they stay away from him.

Yeah that just seems like wisdom on their parts, but that also means that they lacked spiritual discernment about Saul’s situation.

Now there is one man, who brings him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen Jesus on the road and how he preached so boldly in Damascus that they wanted to kill him. This man is Barnabas. Now keep him in mind because we will see him again in scripture. He and Paul will go on a missionary journey together later on.

So Saul stays with the Apostles and they all go around preaching boldly in the name of Jesus.

I imagine Saul is the kind of guy who puts it out there and then vehemently argues his point ad-nauseam.

So one day he is doing his thing, you know preaching the Word and he starts to debate with Greek-speaking Jews, however, the debate kind of goes down hill and they try to murder him.

So the believer at this point believe he is whom he says he is and they hear about what has happened and they take him down to Caesarea and send him to his hometown of Tarsus.

Without so much community pressure and peace, both inside and outside of the church, in Jerusalem the church started growing in power and in Numbers.

I am about to hit you with something. You ready?

Jesus is for your growth. Both personally and corporately.

Personal spiritual growth and growing the church in numbers.

People talk about church growth principles all the time. Here are some things that we can find in this passage that brings growth.

1) Peace - When your life or your church is in chaos you aren’t worried about growing, your worried about surviving. You need to pray for the author of Peace to bring you peace. But not worldly peace, the kind that only comes from God.

John 14:26–27 NLT

But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

2) Live in Fear of The Lord - Remember that the God of the New Testament is still the same God found in the Old Testament. We are to live in a Holy awe of who He is and His power. I think sometimes today we get so familiar with God that we tend to lose that Holy awe of God. God is not someone to jerk around. You don’t just follow Him when it is convenient for you. You follow Him no matter what. Why? Because He is God. That’s Why.

Acts 2:42–44 NLT

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.

If you want to grow, then live in His peace and fear Him. That is, have a holy awe in your mindset toward Him.

Proverbs 9:10 NKJV

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Life Principle– Jesus Is For Us, Our Growth & To Be Shared With Everyone.

Call to Action – altar call….