Clash of Titans
Notes
Transcript
There are moments in life when everything changes—not gradually, not subtly—but suddenly.
A collision and A divine interruption.
Acts chapter 9 gives us one of the most dramatic turning points in all of Scripture.
It is not just the story of a man getting saved
—it is the story of God arresting a rebel and recruiting a servant…
while simultaneously calling another servant to step into fear and obey anyway.
This chapter doesn’t just show us how God saves—it shows us how God sends.
And here’s the truth we need to feel this morning:
When grace finds you, it never leaves you where it found you—it always sends you somewhere.
1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven.
Here is chapter nine, we are introduced to Saul of Tarsus
A man breathing threats and murder against the church.
—He is not confused—or curious.
He is a man with conviction and he is convinced.
He has authority
He has letters
He has a clear mission
But he is dead wrong.
And on the road to Damascus, heaven interrupted earth.
—A light shone.
—A voice spoke.
—A man fell.
4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
Church—don’t miss this—Jesus takes it personally.
Because when you touch His people, you’re touching Him.
And in one moment, Saul went from being in control… to being completely undone.
6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
The man who led others was now being led
The man who saw clearly was now blind
Because the man who spoke boldly was now silent
Listen to this church—God will stop you before He sends you.
Some of us want God to use us—but we’ve never allowed God to break us.
We want purpose—but we resist the interruption in the plans for our own lives.
We want to be in control of the what, how, where, and even why of God’s use for us.
But God says, wait a minute!
“I can’t send you anywhere until I deal with what you got going on inside of you first”
Illustration
Illustration
Think of a run away train,
You can’t redirect it while it’s moving at full speed—you have to stop it first,
Then you can put it on the right track.
Then in verse 10, of chapter 9, the spotlight shifts to a lesser-known disciple:
Ananias of Damascus
10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.” 13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”
God called his name:
“Ananias.”
“Here I am, Lord.” He said.
That sounds good…
That sounds pretty obedient and willing…
Until God tells him what He wants him to do.
The Lord says, “Go to Saul.”
This dreadful man no doubt by now, every Christian in those days had heard about.
And right there— We see a clash of the Titans
All of the sudden, Faith meets Fear.
And then come the rebuttal:
“Lord… I’ve heard about this man.”
“Lord… he’s dangerous.”
“Lord… he has authority to arrest us.”
Now lets not judge Ananias too harshly,
Because if we’re honest—that’s not rebellion here… that was his reality at that time.
But listen to this point a a little bit of good news for us.
Obedience does not require the absence of fear.
Meaning, you can still be obedient in the face fear.
You see, Ananias is not fearless—But he is faithful.
And God doesn’t rebuke him. God reassures him.
And we can take comfort in knowing
That what ever God has you confronting right now in your own lives,
Regardless of how impossible or insurmountable it may see to you through your eyes.
God’s plans are bigger than our perspective on the matter.
Here God responds to his rebuttal:
15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.
“Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine…”
The man Ananias fear—
Is the man God has chosen.
The persecutor—
Will become the preacher.
The enemy—
Will become the evangelist.
The lesson here is, God sees in you, what you can’t see.
When we see history—God sees destiny.
We see danger—God sees design.
And above all of this in the background,
Comes the tension:
God doesn’t just reveal Saul’s purpose—He reveals his pain.
16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
Let’s Pause and explore this truth a bit
God’s calling does not always equal comfort.
God’s purpose for you does not guarantee ease.’
And being chosen does not mean being spared
—Rather, it means being sent with assignment.
Scripture tells us that — Ananias goes.
No backup.
No guarantee.
Just obedience.
He walks into the house of the most feared man in the church…
And lays his hands on him— Just as the Lord commanded.
And listen to what he says:
17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
He said, “Brother Saul…”
That word—brother—is powerful.
Before Saul ever preached a sermon…
Before he ever planted a church…
Before he ever wrote what would become Scripture…
He was first received.
Let’s learn something here,
You see, Your obedience, like Ananias’ experience, may be the bridge someone else walks across into their calling.
If Ananias didn’t go…
Saul would’ve remained blind
He would’ve remained isolated
And Saul’s next step would’ve been delayed
Now watch this:
But because one man obeyed, A powerful missionary was launched.
Illustration
You know, it’s like this:
A key small safe deposit box key doesn’t look like much—
It doesnt even take alot of alloy to create,
Its pretty useless, but in the right door, it opens up to Millions of dollars.
Ananias was like that key.
Saul was the door.
And Jesus is the treasure it opens to all.
Continuing on we read in,
18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. 19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.
The scales fall.
Saul sees.
Then he is baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit
And everything changes.
His direction changes
His identity changes
His purpose changes
Remember this church,
When Jesus steps in to your life, something has to step out.
You cannot encounter the risen Christ and remain the same.
Here’s the beauty of Acts chapter 9
God is working on both sides at the same time.
He is breaking Saul
While, He is building Ananias
He is saving one man
While sending another
And when the two meet…mission happens.
Let this sink in:
The miracle wasn’t just Saul’s conversion—
The miracle was the connection.
Or rather, The meeting of the two!
Why?
Because the kingdom advances—
When saved people step into obedience.
So, let me ask you all:
Where are you all in this story?
1. Are you Saul?
Religious… but resistant?
Active… but against God?
If you are: Jesus is calling your name here today.
2. Are you Ananias?
You know what God said…
But fear is holding you back?
Please know, Your obedience matters more than your comfort.
3. Or, are you both?
Saved… but still hesitant to be sent?
Remember, The Grace of God didn’t just rescue you—it commissioned you.
Don’t miss these points.
Saul did not earn this moment.
He did not deserve this encounter.
He wasn’t even looking for Jesus.
But Jesus came looking for him.
That brothers and sisters is the gospel.
Church—hear me:
God is still knocking people off their high horses.
God is still calling reluctant servants by name.
God is still turning enemies into evangelists.
And He is still looking for someone who will say:
“Here I am, Lord… send me.”
When grace finds you, it will confront you… it will change you… and it will send you.
So again the question is not:
“Has God called?”
The question is:
Will you go?
Altar Call:
If you’ve never truly encountered Christ—today is your Damascus road.
If God has been calling you to step out—today is your Ananias moment.
Come forward.
Say yes.
And don’t let grace just find you… Let it send you!
