Acts 9:19-31

Introduction

Image

“Pain is weakness leaving the body.” or “No pain, no gain.”

Need

We need to recognize God’s purpose for the pain in our lives. He is preparing us for greater faithfulness and greater ministry.

Referent

Acts 9:19-31

Organization

Paul’s Preparation (vs. 19, 23, & 30)

Paul’s Pain (vs. 23-25 & 26-29)

Sermon in a sentence:

Preparation and pain often look the same.

Paul’s Preparation (vs. 19, 23, & 30)

If you remember, Paul was going to Damascus on behalf of the chief priest in Jerusalem.

Paul was not just any normal Jew. He was a Jew of the Jews. He was educated and prominent.

God prepared him even in his years of study and advancing in Judaism to prepare Paul for his evangelistic ministry.

(v. 19) Paul was with the disciples. God used his church to help build up Paul.

(v. 23) Luke tells us many days, but this was 14 years.

Galatians 1:15–18 “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; 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days.”

(v. 30) Paul is sent back to Tarsus.

Galatians 1:19–2:1 “19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother. 20 (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) 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. 1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me.”

Paul left Jerusalem and went to Damascus to persecute the Christians. He stays in Damascus for 3 years and ends his ministry there not by killing anyone, but by almost being killed himself. He then makes it back to Jerusalem (where he started) and everyone there is doubtful of him or wants to kill him. He then is sent back all the way to his hometown. Can you imagine how defeated in some ways Paul felt. Not only did his journey cause him to start right back where he started from, but even worse. He did go back to the starting line, he went back into the parking lot.

Saints, this is often what the Lord does to prepare those that he uses. Moses lives in the kings palace for the first 40 years of his life. The next forty years of his life are lived in the fields with the animals of Jethro. The last forty years are lived in the wilderness with grumbling Israelites.

David is annointed king just to be sent back to the fields to take care of sheep. It is in those fields that he will learn to fight lions and bears. It is in those fields that he will learn how to live of the land and survive. After defeating Goliath, David is faced with over a decade of death threats and persecution from his own father-in-law.

Saints, God wants to use us. His preparation is often one of pain.

Paul’s Pain (vs. 23-25 & 26-29)

Paul is faced with threats by the Jews twice.

It is often the Jewish people that are the not violent to God’s messengers in the Bible.

The foreign nations hate the nation of Israel, but it is the Israelites that often hate God’s messengers.

Paul is also faced with the fear from the brethren.

Its amazing how important it is to have proven character and good friends.

The brothers that were once afraid of Paul are now helping him.

I can only imagine the sadness Paul felt when he left his brothers and sisters in Jerusalem. (Acts 20)

It is amazing that Paul is left with so much pain and persecution in this text but the church is left thriving. It makes sense that Paul would be in a difficult place. I mean, the last time he saw some of these people in Jerusalem could have been when he was taking the jackets of everyone stoning Stephen. It is understandable that Paul’s past would cause him some pain. However, the crazy thing is that in the midst of all this pain, the Lord grew his church and brought them peace.

Conclusion

John Calvin was a one in a generation kind of guy. He wrote more than some people can say. He was used by God mightily to advance the Reformation in the 1600s. Yet, this man also was well acquainted with pain. He lost at least one son shortly after his birth. He also would see his wife pass before she reached the age of fifty. Calvin suffered numerous physical pains such as gout, migraines, numerous intestinal issues, and infected teeth. His gout was so bad that members of his congregation would carry him into the pulpit to preach where he would sit down.

This man, greatly used of God, was a man well acquainted with pain. Even more so, as we sang this morning, our own dear savior was a man of sorrows. This is often the path the Lord uses to mold us, shape us, and use us in his ministry. Do not loose heart. Be of good courage. Our elder brother, our dear Saviour, empowers us by the Holy Spirit to be made into his image. Let us bear one another’s burdens and encourage one another as we reminder ourselves of the fact that “preparation often looks like pain.”

Application

Repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ

“Preparation often looks like pain.”