Your Past Defines You

But Your Limitations Don’t Limit God

Acts 7:54–60 KJV 1900

When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Acts 8:1 KJV 1900

And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Acts 9:1–2 KJV 1900

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

Saul was a violent angry devout Jew. He approved of stoning Stephen, He asked for letters to be allowed to hunt the early church bind them up and bring them before the heads of the synagogues which would have ended in their executions. He thought he was in the right. Yet Jesus saw something in him and said I can use this vessel.

Acts 9:3–6 KJV 1900

And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

This was the beginning of Saul’s conversion from a murderer to an apostle. I find it interesting that God blinded him. You see oftentimes we as humans are driven by what we see. We allow what we can see in our situations drive our decisions and desires. Yet God sees beyond. God sees the past, present, and our future. I believe God knew exactly what it would take for Paul’s conversion he had to take away his sight so he had to rely on what he heard Gods voice first directly from the heavens then followed by Gods guidance through his disciple named Ananias. There are times in our lives when we have to just find a quiet dark space, close our eyes and wait on Gods voice to guide us out of our situation.

I want to look now at just two of the many things attributed to Saul.

Acts 20:9–12 KJV 1900

And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed. And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.

God used Saul a former murderer to bring this young man back from the dead. I think its only fitting as he was preaching so long the man fell asleep. In fact the funny thing about this is when you keep reading Saul continued till midnight after the man was brought back to life.

Acts 19:11–12 KJV 1900

And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

This is where we get the basis for prayer cloths. Gods power was so strong in Paul formerly known as Saul that even the presence of his garments were enough to make evil spirits run. You see Paul’s past did define him but not in a negative way. It defined his determination to do whatever he could to spread the Word of God across the land desiring that people who were dying in their sins to be freed just like him and move forward in Christ.

Saul to Paul

One more thing Id like to mention is Saul’s name change. Saul was his Hebrew name and Paul was his Roman name. Why would he change from using one to the other. I believe it is for two reasons that we can find in the scriptures.

1 Corinthians 9:19–23 KJV 1900

For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

When Saul began his missionary work he was going unto the gentiles who spoke Greek. Using his Greek name around them would be more likely to put them at ease so his mission would be more successful. The other reason I believe can be found in his names meanings. The name Saul was considered to be a regal name meaning “Prayed for or Asked For” like someone who is desired. The NAME Paul in the Greek means “Little or Small”. I believe he desired to take the emphasis off of who he was and instead promote the greatness of Christ in all he did going forward. When we go down in the lovely name of Jesus through baptism we undergo a name change. We are no longer our own we are Christs. We accept him as our heavenly father and accept his will for our lives.

Through the Life of Saul turned Paul we see the power of his testimony where his past defined his testimony that drove him to conquer the then known world with the Gospel.

Moses

Exodus 2:11–12 KJV 1900

And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren. And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.

Moses was also a murderer. Its funny when you think about how two of the most prolific men used by God in the bible were both murderers. Now I’m not suggesting you go murder someone to grow your ministry but even that won’t stop what God has for you.

I don’t want to focus on Moses murderous past though I’d like to look at his limitations that he almost allowed to stop him from following Gods will.

Exodus 4:10–12 KJV 1900

And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

Moses didn’t believe in his own abilities. He felt like his limitation could limit how God could use him. Honestly that is a self centered way to think. The beginning of our downfall often comes when we start relying on our own power and abilities. Any abilities we have are there because God made us that way. He can give gifts and he can take them. My ministry doesn’t belong to me it is Gods to do with as he wills. The very moment I try to take ahold of my ministry and guide it where I want it to go is the very moment I begin to walk away from Gods will. I could study all I want and build flowery sermons with great stories but without Gods anointing it would mean nothing.

Matthew 16:26 KJV 1900

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

CLOSE

Today as we stand here in this sanctuary God is in our midst. He desires to take our lives and lead and guide us into the ministries that he has laid out before us. Today you can allow your past to define you but not in the way of the world but in the way God designed it. Sharing through your past how far God has brought you. When you look back at where God brought you from it should always inspire you knowing God has been leading and guiding you. When we look in the mirror we need to make sure we are looking at ourselves through Gods eyes.

Acts 17:28 KJV 1900

For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

Ephesians 2:10 KJV 1900

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Your limitations mean nothing to God because when you walk into whatever ministry he has for you its not your abilities that he’s going to use. All he needs is a willing vessel. Lets all come down to the front and make sure we are right with God. If you’ve been leaning on your own abilities ask God to take control and lead and guide you where he wants you. If you’ve let your past weigh heavy on you and stop what God has for you let your past define you in a positive way. Look back and say God you are mighty youve brought me from where I was to where Im at today. Open yourself up and let God fill in whats lacking so he can get the Glory in your life.