No One is Beyond Reach

Take a moment, turn to your neighbor and share something you’re passionate about.

Acts 9:1 NIV

1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest

Who is Saul?

Saul was a passionate dude, but passionate about the wrong things.

Acts 8:1 NIV

1 And Saul approved of their killing him. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.

Pharisee - who approved of stephen’s execution

Saul was a passionate dude, but passionate about the wrong things.

Acts 9:1–2 NIV

1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

He was against the church

What are you passionate about, could it be that your passions are aligned with God’s desire for your life?

Acts 9:1–4 NIV

1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

“belonged to THE WAY” - The Avenue is not just a path it’s a person that we belong to

John 14:6 NIV

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Turn to your neighbor and say, Jesus is The Avenue

Acts 9:4 NIV

4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

“persecute me”

to persecute a believer is to oppose God because believers have been identified with Christ

Acts 9:5 NIV

5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.

It’s Jesus that we need to believe in, not just the existence of “god”

Jesus is the way - of life! Sometimes He needs to stop us in our tracks, so we can be rerouted.

DYKH Spoken Word

Acts 9:7–9 NIV

7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

Saul is blinded by His encounter - and yet for the first time beginning to see Jesus

Not only was Saul involved in this conversion, but also another man, named Ananias

Acts 9:10–12 NIV

10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. 11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

God is always at work in the lives of those who don’t know Jesus

God is at work in our lives

God asks Ananias to go and minister to Saul, but he’s scared

Acts 9:13–14 NIV

13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

So God responds

Acts 9:15–16 NIV

15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

God has a purpose and a plan for a former murderer! If that’s true for Saul it’s true for you- God has a profound plan for you! God has to stop you before He can send you.

Acts 9:17–19 NIV

17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.

So Ananias goes and heals saul.

Saul receives the Holy Spirit and is baptized.

BAPTISM - IDENTITY CHANGE DYING OBJECT LESSON

Death

Burial

Resurrection

Application: maybe God’s calling you to be a ananias, - share with someone who doesn’t know and is far off

maybe he’s calling you to be a saul - turn from your sin and turn to God b/c He has a great plan for you