Conversion of the Righteous

Saul’s Conversion

Acts 9:1–19 NIV84

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?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 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. 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.” 13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” 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.

How many think this is a one of story…?

do you think God can do this again (maybe even in me)

Blind Saul was walking the streets of the nations killing the children of God… the people of “The Way”… in the name of God

do you think

he had always been blind and very sincerely, he killed the people of God

But God encountered Saul who was later called Paul the Apostle

bright light showed up but not just any light, it was the light that gives light to all mankind, it was a light that pierces darkness and even blind eyes see

not only that but blind eyes see and seeing eyes are made blind

the spiritual eyes are opened and the corrupt eyes of fallen humanity are closed

talk about a conversion !!! WOW!

3 days without seeing in the natural, three days of fasting, three days of “what the world is going on?!!”

but he was having visions of a man coming to heal him

and when the man comes, he is a man of “The Way” and he prays for Saul and His eyes are opened, the scales of the earthy life fall off and Paul begins to see physically and spiritually

the blindness is a prophetic sign of the way its always been and the revelation of Jesus is the prophetic sign of the way it will be from now on...

now Paul’s natural eyes are no longer in the lead but he sees spiritually and the “things of this earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace”

Saul who used to murder Christians, now lives in danger of the Jews everyday. Saul who used to be blind to the truth now gives his life for the truth. Saul who used to be a legal expert is now a Jesus expert

Saul who used to get his righteousness from the law now receives the grace of the Kingdom

There is such a difference...

There is such a difference between the unredeemed and the redeemed.

Paul now preaches the Word with Power

miracles and signs and wonders are happening all over the known world through this man

more revelation of the kingdom comes from Paul than any other single person except the Lord Himself

John 16:16 NIV84

16 “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”

John 16:23–28 NIV84

23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. 25 “Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”

you will no longer see me… I will die! But you will see me again. I will rise from the grave having conquered it.

you will access to the Father because of my righteousness, I am the door into the throne room,

then you will ask the Father in my name and He, Himself will answer… He will give you whatever you ask because of love!

Hebrews 4:16 NIV84

16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

The New International Version (1984) Jesus the Great High Priest

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

as the children of God you have access and hope of glory

all have sinned and fallen short of the glory but Jesus is my glory and the lifter of my head...

Psalm 3:1–3 NIV84

1 O Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! 2 Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.” Selah 3 But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.

When I come in the name of Jesus, that means when i believe in the glory of the son I have access to the Father and all that I need

Does the Church need 3 Days of Blindness?

What is sad is when the church returns to the earthy sight and loses the grasp of the spiritual Kingdom that has invaded them...

does the Christian church in NA need a new encounter with the Lord

we have had an encounter with Father who loves us, it began in 1994 and continues to this day

So beginning tom

the hearts of the Fathers are turning to the children and the children are beginning to understand but there is a great need for the truth of Father God to invade again on a global scale

when Paul was converted it was a dramatic change in his life and it was the door to a breakthrough of extraordinary proportions

but the breakthrough was not just miracle for the things he needed, it was the power of a changed life!!!

Acts 24:25 NIV84

25 As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.”

I’m impressed by the fact that Paul could teach a powerful political leader of the region and the message was, righteousness, self-control and discernment.

We know that Paul had no love for the law but for grace and the powerful gospel of it. Why then did he choose this subject. Why did Holy SPirit impress upon Paul and literally Felix is convicted and become afraid because like the rich young ruler he was not willing to sell all to have the pearl of greatest price.

Paul writes to Titus...

Titus 2:11–15 NIV84

11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. 15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.

To learn to say no is of greatest importance in the Kingdom.

but have we produced a gospel or doctrine as to why we needn’t say no? Grace, grace is not a reason to say yes to the world!

so is God pleased by our suffering? If we do nothing of this world does that please God? If we out-law pleasure does that please Him?

No!!!! Pleasure is His idea but within the boundaries of truth.

And, He is pleased with our saying no to many things so we can say a resounding yes to one thing!

so how do we simply get down to one thing? That is the million dollar question!

Is it time for sacrifice for the Kingdom?

I thought sacrifice and offering did not please Him… nor is it required!

that is sacrifice for sin! But sacrifice for love gives Him great pleasure. Sacrifice for sin has been dealt with but now the Kingdom of love is freely given and you have free power to love like God loves and that love looks like sacrifice.

Everything Kingdom looks like something… Kingdom!

Just because righteousness is a gift does not mean it does not show up in your life.

this gift has a look… it is not positional only it is power!

2 Corinthians 6:3–11 NIV84

3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. 11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you.

did you notice in verse 7 that righteousness is a weapon and Paul tells us that our enemy is principalities and powers, rulers of darkness… spiritual powers

and in great suffering Paul went through the known world destroying the powers of darkness, in great sacrifice

James 5:16 NIV84

16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

did you notice that power in prayer is released to the righteous?

WOW!!! Righteousness is power. We want to be careful that the righteousness that we are under is not without faith. Faith in Jesus. It is the righteousness of Him and we need to trust in His cloak of righteousness but that cloak will reveal Jesus to the world. Is your testimony broken? Is the cloak you are wearing filthy rags.

His grace is incredible and His righteousness is free but the life that is not changed is still a sinner.

True righteousness, the clothes of a King have a revelation of that King.

Adam

naked and unashamed, created without sin, needed no covering to be righteous

Fall of Adam and Eve

now naked and ashamed- tried to coverup in the skill of a man… “filthy rags”

Jesus

one mans righteousness changes everything, Jesus came to forever give us back righteousness to all who believe

the Last Adam, the new leader of a new breed of new creations… so that we may eat of the tree of life… Jesus. Except you drink my blood and eat my flesh.

And His righteousness, His robe, is not a cover up but a glorious exchange… that why we are so different.

darkness for light, deception for truth, fear for love, No Way to Jesus the Way!!!

Matthew 5:20 NIV84

20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.