Sermon: Changed, Part 2: Some Will Not Accept The New You

Scripture (Acts 9:19b-22)

Acts 9:21 MSG

21 They were caught off guard by this and, not at all sure they could trust him, they kept saying, “Isn’t this the man who wreaked havoc in Jerusalem among the believers? And didn’t he come here to do the same thing—arrest us and drag us off to jail in Jerusalem for sentencing by the high priests?”

Acts 9:19–22 ESV

19 and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

Introduction- Why We Have Challenges  Moving Forward As New Creations In Christ?

James R. Sherman in his 1982 book titled Rejection: How To Survive Rejection & Promote Acceptance states

“You can't go back and change the beginning but you can start where you are and change the ending.”

But what about people who do not accept you have changed?…

On her website Narmada Rao writes in a blogpost titled “How to deal with people who do not accept when you change”

Sometimes, even after you changed for the better, people will try to remind you about your past and will hold on to their image of you from the past. They find it difficult to let go of it and identify you with your new changes. That’s because they find comfort in representing you that way in their life. They have you represented as something, and themselves as something in relation to you.

Now because you changed, they can’t simply change their impression because it involves changing the entire equation itself – which means – changing themselves too. Because in your old ways, they would’ve interacted or responded to you in a certain way. Now that you have changed, they have to change not just their mental map of you, but also their way of responding to you and representing you. That’s a lot of work on their end – and unless they are truly willing and flexible to make the shifts, it just feels more convenient for the moment to hold on to the old belief about you. 

Transition To Body- The Changed Saul’s Public Witness Of Proclaiming Jesus…

Acts 9:19–20 ESV

19 and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”

Proclaimed

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 33.256 κηρύσσω

to publicly announce religious truths and principles while urging acceptance and compliance—‘to preach.’

Body

People Will Skeptically Consider The Changed You (Acts 9:21)

Acts 9:21 ESV

21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?”

Amazed- Is not this the man who…

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 25.220 ἐξίστημι ἐξιστάνω

cause someone to be so astounded as to be practically overwhelmed—‘to astonish greatly, to greatly astound, to astound completely.’

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. ἐξίστημι

be amazed, be astonished, of the feeling of astonishment mingled w. fear, caused by events which are miraculous, extraordinary, or difficult to understand

Unknown Saul With A Past…

Galatians 1:21–24 ESV

21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me.

Galatians 1:13–16 ESV

13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;

Philippians 3:5–7 ESV

5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

Paul Understood His Sinful Past

1 Timothy 1:12–16 ESV

12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.

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People Will Skeptically Consider The Changed You (Acts 9:21)

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Deal With People From Your Past Missionally (Acts 9:22)

Acts 9:22 ESV

22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

According to GotQuestions.org

“Missional” or “missional living” is a Christian term that in essence describes a missionary lifestyle. Being missional includes embracing the posture, the thinking, behaviors, and practices of a missionary in order to reach others with the message of the gospel. The term “missional” gained its popularity towards the end of the 20th century with the influence of Timothy Keller, Alan Hirsch, and others, as well as the Gospel and Our Culture Network. Their basic premise is that all Christians should be involved in the Great Commission of Jesus (Matthew 28:19-20).

People From Saul’s Past Could Not Believe His Change

Acts The Former Persecutor’s Witness to Christ (9:19b–22)

The astonishment of his Jewish listeners in the synagogue furnishes a sort of “choral response” to the completeness of Paul’s conversion. As Ananias before them (vv. 13–14), they simply could not believe that the former persecutor had made such a radical about-face. Paul simply preached all the more forcefully. One could even say that his zeal as a Christian was even stronger than his former zeal as persecutor.

Are People Of Your Past Confounded By Your Change In Christ?

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 25.221 συγχέω

to cause such astonishment as to bewilder and dismay—‘to cause consternation, to confound.

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People Will Skeptically Consider The Changed You (Acts 9:21)

Deal With People From Your Past Missionally (Acts 9:22)

}

Move Forward Empowered Through The Holy Spirit (Acts 9:22)

Acts 9:22 ESV

22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

Power Received From The Holy Spirit

Acts 1:8 ESV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Strengthened With Power Through The Holy Spirit

Ephesians 3:16 ESV

16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

Holy Spirit Strengthens Us In Our Weakness

Romans 8:26 ESV

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

God Gave Us A Spirit Of Power…

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV

7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

In the greek, the beginning Acts 9:22 reads as follows:

But Saul became capable all the more in capability…

Over time Saul “grew stronger” (v. 22). This seems to reference spiritual strength. God continued to empower Saul to testify to the good news of the gospel. Soon the man’s ministry began to frustrate the Jews in Damascus because they couldn’t counter his claims about Jesus as the Christ.

Increased Through The Power Of the Holy Spirit

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 74.7 ἐνδυναμόομαι

to become able to do something—‘to become able, to become capable.’

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. ἐνδυναμόω

to cause one to be able to function or do someth., strengthen τινά someone or τὶ someth.

Confounded

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 25.221 συγχέω

to cause such astonishment as to bewilder and dismay—‘to cause consternation, to confound.

Philippians 4:13 ESV

13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

2 Timothy 4:17 ESV

17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.

Saul Grows More Powerful Spiritually

Acts Witness in Damascus (9:19–25)

As Saul grows more and more powerful spiritually (Williams 1985:160; Longenecker 1981:376 thinks this also includes his apologetic skills), his apologetic for Jesus as the Messiah produces bafflement among non-Christian Jews (

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People Will Skeptically Consider The Changed You (Acts 9:21)

Deal With People From Your Past Missionally (Acts 9:22)

Move Forward Empowered Through The Holy Spirit (Acts 9:22)

}

Transition To Close- Forgetting What Lies Behind…

‘Level Up’

Artist: Ciara

Released: 2019

Album: Beauty Marks

Them old mistakes are gone, I won't do them no more That's old news, there's new news, I done did that before I turned nothing to something, my comeback on one hunnid' Less talking, more action, you just gon' see Ci coming I just keep elevating, no losses, just upgrading My lessons, made blessings, I turned that into money Thank God I never settled, this view is so much better I'm chilling, I'm winning, like on another level

Saul Became Paul & Kept Elevating

Philippians 3:12–16 ESV

12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

Close- If Any Is In Christ…

2 Corinthians 5:11–21 ESV

11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.