Wrecked to be Reborn: Acts 9:1-19

A little girl, dressed in her Sunday best, was running as fast as she could, trying not to be late for Sunday School. As she ran she prayed, ‘Dear Lord, please don’t let me be late! Dear Lord, please don’t let me be late!’

While she was running and praying, she tripped on a curb and fell, getting her clothes dirty and tearing her dress. She got up, brushed herself off, and started running again!

As she ran she once again began to pray, ‘Dear Lord, please don’t let me be late…But this time, please don’t push me!’

We so seem to blame God for things that are not His fault. But there are things that God allows or does that brings us into His perfect will.

The book of Acts is a roadmap of how God intends for the church to operate. We have examples of how the Spirit of God has moved in the past. If we study this we can build a community empowered by the Spirit of God to change our world.

Scripture: Acts 9:1-19

Theme: No one is beyond the reach of God’s grace; Obedience to His call changes lives .

Aim: Let us live, preach, and build the church according to grace and let us be obedient participants in carrying God’s message to those He is calling.

"Ever had someone you knew was beyond saving?"

Maybe it was the bully from school, a co-worker who curses God, or someone who persecutes everything you stand for. It could be someone so lost in the disease of addiction you might not think it possible for them to recover.

Saul was someone who fit the category of “beyond saving”. He was an enemy to the early church. He was a man who was NOT searching for Jesus, he was HUNTING people who claimed Jesus as God’s Son.

But GOD SAVED HIM. He reached the unreachable.

In this moment, God not only saved a man, but set the course for a new phase in His plan to save the world. The conversion of Paul is not just a dramatic story, it is a divine pivot point in the movement from Israel-centered ministry to the global outreach of the Church.

It’s where WE come into the story. God’s GRACE is revealed to Saul, but also to the entire human race.

Today we are going to see that NO PERSON is beyond the reach of God’s grace - when we respond to that grace with obedience then our lives are changed. I want you to live, preach, and build your live according to that grace in such a way that it changes the world.

Let’s read the scripture for today:

Acts 9:1–19 CEV

1 Saul kept on threatening to kill the Lord’s followers. He even went to the high priest 2 and asked for letters to their leaders in Damascus. He did this because he wanted to arrest and take to Jerusalem any man or woman who had accepted the Lord’s Way. 3 When Saul had almost reached Damascus, a bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice that said, “Saul! Saul! Why are you so cruel to me?” 5 “Who are you?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus,” the Lord answered. “I am the one you are so cruel to. 6 Now get up and go into the city, where you will be told what to do.” 7 The men with Saul stood there speechless. They had heard the voice, but they had not seen anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, and when he opened his eyes, he could not see a thing. Someone then led him by the hand to Damascus, 9 and for three days he was blind and did not eat or drink. 10 A follower named Ananias lived in Damascus, and the Lord spoke to him in a vision. Ananias answered, “Lord, here I am.” 11 The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the house of Judas on Straight Street. When you get there, you will find a man named Saul from the city of Tarsus. Saul is praying, 12 and he has seen a vision. He saw a man named Ananias coming to him and putting his hands on him, so that he could see again.” 13 Ananias replied, “Lord, a lot of people have told me about the terrible things this man has done to your followers in Jerusalem. 14 Now the chief priests have given him the power to come here and arrest anyone who worships in your name.” 15 The Lord said to Ananias, “Go! I have chosen him to tell foreigners, kings, and the people of Israel about me. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for worshiping in my name.” 17 Ananias left and went into the house where Saul was staying. Ananias placed his hands on him and said, “Saul, the Lord Jesus has sent me. He is the same one who appeared to you along the road. He wants you to be able to see and to be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Suddenly something like fish scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see. He got up and was baptized. 19 Then he ate and felt much better. For several days Saul stayed with the Lord’s followers in Damascus.

God can save anyone - No matter their past

When Saul got saved - when he believed that Jesus was the Lord - it was all because of grace.

Saul was on a mission of violence, yet God met him in mercy.

His transformation began with three experiences:

He saw a light, heard a voice, and obeyed a call.

He saw a light – The glory of Christ overwhelmed his path. This is grace - seeing the truth.

He heard a voice – Jesus asked, “Why are you persecuting Me?” This is mercy - Jesus could have judged Saul right then and there. He could have punished him for his sin, but he didn’t! He just asked him the question - why are you doing what you’re doing. It was a wake up call. Grace is always followed with mercy.

He obeyed a call – Paul, humbled and blinded, submitted to God’s instruction

Saul thought he was doing God’s will.

Thank God that grace doesn’t wait for you to behave, it crashes in. He was spiritually blind and full of pride, but he saw the truth. That truth made him obey and turn in a new direction.

Application: Salvation always begins with God’s initiative. Like Paul, we are spiritually blind until the light of the Gospel breaks through. Have you heard His voice? Have you responded in obedience? This is a daily calling.

Ordinary People = Extraordinary Faith

In the story, I don’t want to overlook the man Ananias. Saul gets the head line portion of the story, but the subplot belongs to Ananias. And to me…he’s probably more like us. Unless you are plotting to kill believers…you might be more in the Ananias side of the story today.

Here’s what I want you to hear and know:

God works through regular people to do amazing things.

God spoke to Ananias. How does God speak to us?

God still speaks to people, but the ways He does so may not be as dramatic or direct as the vision Ananias received in Acts 9.

God speaks:

Through the Bible

The primary and most reliable way God speaks today is through Scripture.

Hebrews 1:1–2 says that while God spoke in many ways in the past, He has now spoken through His Son—recorded in the Bible.

2 Timothy 3:16 says all Scripture is "God-breathed" and useful for teaching and guidance.

If you want to hear God speak, start with reading the Bible consistently. That’s where His will is clearly revealed.

2. Through the Holy Spirit

Just as God guided Ananias, the Holy Spirit guides believers internally—prompting our hearts, bringing Scripture to mind, convicting us of sin, and confirming truth.

John 16:13 says the Spirit will “guide you into all truth.”

You may feel the need to call someone, give, encourage, or go somewhere only to find out later that was the Holy Spirit guiding you to a divine appointment.

3. Through Believers

God often uses other believers—pastors, teachers, friends—to speak encouragement, wisdom, or even correction.

Proverbs 11:14 says there’s safety in a multitude of counselors.

In Acts 9, God used Ananias to bring confirmation and healing to Saul.

A trusted Christian mentor or friend may say exactly what you need to hear, confirming what God has already been showing you.

4. Through Open Doors

Sometimes God directs us by opening or closing doors (opportunities), later we will see this in Act 16 when God stopped Paul from entering certain regions through different circumstances.

We need to be cautious about basing all our choices on circumstances alone, but they can confirm what God is already speaking through Scripture and prayer.

God is speaking today and to you! His voice will ALWAYS agree with the Bible. Unlike the days of Ananias when direct visions were more common, we now have the full revelation of Scripture and the indwelling Holy Spirit. The key is being sensitive, obedient, and discerning

Ananias heard from the Lord, but he was afraid - and he should have been afraid! Saul had a reputation.

Here’s the thing about following Jesus. He is going to take you out of your comfort zone.

But God reassured Ananias.

Acts 9:15 CEV

15 The Lord said to Ananias, “Go! I have chosen him to tell foreigners, kings, and the people of Israel about me.

He told him, don’t worry - I have chosen him. This is important for us to see because God was working on both ends of the situation. Ananias didn’t know that Paul had this experience with Jesus.

Listen:

When God is moving, HE prepares the way

Ananias obeyed, a miracle happened - Saul could now see, and then he was Baptized.

We sometimes get the idea that our obedience to Christ is for our OWN benefit, but that’s not always the only result. Our obedience often results in other people being saved.

On Friday night, Kristen I were talking about VBS.

Many People here have a childhood VBS memory - people served you.

Some Kids were presented the Gospel for the first time

Some gave their life to the Lord

It was work

Our people served well

I was watching the video of Jonah running through the building and I had few thoughts:

We are blessed with great facilities

We have to pay to keep them going

Thank God for the people who give to support this work

Paul’s story is dramatic, but the same grace that changed him is still at work today. Christ still shines His light, still speaks through His Word, and still calls people from darkness into light.

Three takeaways:

God can save anyone, no matter their past.

God can use anyone, no matter their fears.

God has a plan, and you are part of His plan!

Let us live, preach, and build the church according to grace and let us be obedient participants in carrying God’s message to those He is calling.