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Something Needs to be Changed
Something Needs to be Changed
Having a 2-year old granddaughter in the house is special.
These early, formative years, watching her grow has been fun.
She’s at least a head taller than when she arrived.
She’s learning sentences now, colors, and counting.
The changes are remarkable in the year and a half she’s been w/ us.
One big change is she is mostly potty trained.
But, she sleeps in a pull-up and quite often when she gets up in the morning, it’s fairly obvious something needs t/b changed.
There is a foul odor surrounding her. It’s offensive.
She’s not offensive, the odor she’s carrying around in her pull-up is.
Another change she’s going thru, is she’s 2.
As in attituuuude.
Again, it’s fairly obvious when something needs to change.
It’s offensive. She’s not offensive, her little, big attitude is offensive and needs a transformation.
Like all 2-year olds from time to time she needs an attitude adjustment that comes from a confrontation so she realizes it needs to change.
She’s a sweet girl. She’s just 2.
I’ve shared the story of my experience as a 17-year old when I came to faith.
I hated that I was so shy.
I prayed that first night of my new life. God, I know you change people and I don’t want t/b shy anymore.
There was a change inside of me. But I still had to have the courage to try where I wouldn’t before.
Maybe that was the real change.
The need for change isn’t limited to children. Let’s face it. We adults need to change from time to time.
Some changes are small. Some are big.
Whatever you think of me now, you need to know this.
About 10 years ago I was a bad preacher. I just wasn’t good.
Excuses:
As an associate pastor I hadn’t had much practice.
The church I was the pastor of had a few big problems and my attention was divided.
Elder and staff support was not good.
Sara would ask me, “What’s going on?!”
I couldn’t answer. I didn’t know.
I just knew something needed to change.
It was humbling. I had to lay it all bare before God and let Him expose what needed to change in me.
I couldn’t figure it out as hard as I tried.
Jesus was the only one who could initiate it.
It was a wrestling match. I didn’t want to give up what I needed to give up to be changed.
Finally, I had to. I was forced into it. Not really my choice.
All along I believed I was doing the right things, but it wasn’t working. I wasn’t making any sense, it wasn’t clear when I preached it.
It was humbling and hard. Noting was going to change until I was willing to lay it bare before God and let Him make the necessary changes in me.
What happened during that time was Bod showed me I wasn’t letting Him teach me before I got up to try to teach others.
Once I realized God wanted to change me and the change would make me better. Letting go wasn’t as hard has I thought it would be.
I was preaching at people. I was not sharing my experience.
Until I got to a point where I could apply what I was about to preach, I wasn’t ready to preach. Even though I tried anyway.
Not only to me, but to the people who were listening to me.
When we come to faith we are immediately given a new life. And with this new life comes a new purpose.
So, now we’re alive and have a reason to do what we do.
But, the way we do things takes time to change.
Until each one of us is ready to lay it bare before God, to let Him strip away the old way and show a new way, nothing significant is going to change.
Courage. Oh, we can find courage. But what good does it do us to courageously do stupid things?
“Hey Bubba! Watch this!”
So, if you’re struggling w/ something you know needs to change. It may be offensive to the people around you. You may not be making any sense.
Language? Do you constantly say the wrong thing?
Do you fail to speak when you really want to?
Afraid of growing old? Afraid of looking old?
What fear keeps you awake at night?
Afraid of losing your mind?
An attitude need adjusting? Something isn’t going the way you think it should and you can’t get on board w/ it?
Do you trust Jesus to take care of you?
What do you know about you that needs to change?
Whatever it is, lay it bare before Jesus.Expose it to Jesus, in all of its ugliness. Don’t shy from it. He will expose all of His glory to you and you will be changed and have the courage to act on the change.
You don’t hold anything back and Jesus won’t either.
This is the story of . Saul’s conversion.
We were first introduced to Saul when Stephen was stoned. The Hellenistic Jews were so offended by Stephen they laid their coats at Saul’s feet so they could get a full wind-up with the rock they threw to kill him.
And, now, Saul continues on his mission to destroy the church on believer at a time.
Fully Exposed, Completely Changed
Fully Exposed, Completely Changed
Nothing changed, yet
Nothing changed, yet
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 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.
Still, a very Jewish organization.
And, strong ties between the temple in Jerusalem and outlying synagogues.
Like Rome and the catholic churches around the world.
They look to the Pope and Cardinals for authority and direction.
Saul gets permission to extradite Christians from the synagogue in Damascus back to Jerusalem for punishment.
Damascus was outside Judea and Samaria. So, the new movement was continuing to spread farther away from Jerusalem.
Defections were increasing. More men and women believed Jesus is alive and the Messiah, the Son of God, even though the religious authorities had executed Him.
Saul’s purpose in life was to squish this new movement like a bug, one person at a time.
On his way, Jesus confronted him and exposed him to something he’d never imagined possible.
Exposed
Exposed
As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
Acts 9:
Jesus showed up and exposed Saul to all of His glory.
God’s glory.
So bright, all Saul could do is fall to the ground.
He knew something significant was happening here.
Jesus lit him up. Literally. And, everything around him.
Like a parent confronting a child, in love, but sternly.
This was a rescue, not a judgment. An intervention.
Saul sincerely believed he was doing right, but he was wrong.
“Saul, what are you doing?”
While Saul knew he was being confronted by someone significant, he didn’t know who it was, yet.
Respect but no recognition
Respect but no recognition
“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
Acts 9:
Who are you?
The idea that this was Jesus was not even close to his first choice.
He knew Jesus died. He had heard He was still alive. But, he didn’t believe it, yet.
But, anyone who could show up and light things up like this has remarkable authority and ability.
He addresses Him as Lord. Not Messiah Lord. But governmental authority Lord.
Then, Jesus confirms what Stephen had said before he was stoned and what Saul had heard others say before they were arrested.
Jesus is alive. And He was standing right in front of him on the road that day. In all of His glory.
This blew up so many paradigms in his mind. For the last 3 years or so his life had been devoted to destroying the movement and denying Jesus was alive and Messiah.
Now what? Now what does he do?
Jesus tells him. Head to Damascus and I’ll be in touch.
Imagine that moment of realization and clarity for Saul.
He had killed people for believing Jesus is alive. And, now he believes it.
Embarrassing. Humiliating. Guilt!
Here he was, laid bare, nowhere to hide.
His huge mistakes would now benout there for the world to see. He’d killed people for this. He was famous for it.
And, now his former life was exposed for all to see.
Would he have the courage to admit it and act on any change?
Or, just deny this ever happened and stay the course?
But, not everyone could see everything about him at this point.
There he was, lying on the ground, in an emotional and spiritual puddle.
As laid bare as he felt, it was still a private moment for him as he considered what Jesus just revealed to him.
No one else knew what what happening to him and inside, yet.
But, on some level, he knew they would eventually.
Laid bare
Laid bare
The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 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. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
This was a private calling for Saul. His companions didn’t see anything. They didn’t see Jesus or His glory. And since they didn’t, they weren’t changed. They heard something, but couldn’t distinguish it.
What they did see was Saul, now blind. Reduced to powerlessness.
This previously capable, powerful, authoritative, independent thinker now needed to be led where he wanted to go and his mind had to have been confused.
His emotions were swirling.
Humility, embarrassment, guilt.
But, there would have been an underlying joy.
New life.
This is what would have been so confusing.
Naturally he’d feel guilt,
But, he would have had a strong sense of forgiveness, too.
Humiliation. He spoken w/ such authority denying Jesus.
His mind was scrambled. All that he thought he knew.
While he sits in Damascus waiting for further instructions he is blind and has little to distract him.
He fasts. Fasting is related to repentance. Denying yourself what you want b/c you didn’t deny yourself what you should have.
He was dealing w/ his past the only way he could.
The miracle here get’s little mention. He was miraculously blinded. And, about to receive his sight when another believer prays for him.
Hardly even addressed.
The point isn’t the miracle. But, the miracle points to the point. Now he is physically blind like he had been spiritually blind before.
God is going to give him sight so that not only can he see to walk around but he can see the truth of Jesus and lead others to Him as he travels.
He’s waiting for Jesus to tell him what to do. As he’s praying the name Ananias comes to him b/c that’s who Jesus is sending to clear things up for him.
Who he was is no more. And, what he was doing will become a distant memory.
Saul had been made new and was about to be given a new purpose for his life.
New Life, New Purpose
New Life, New Purpose
The messenger and the message
The messenger and the message
In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
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. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
Acts 9:
In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
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. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
A different Ananias than the husband of Sapphira who lied about what they received for selling their land and died.
Several ppl share the same names.
2 Jesuses
3 Jameses
2 Johns
This Ananias was Jewish believer in Damascus. The church had already spread to Damascus. He, likely, would have been one of the first Saul would have arrested to extradite back to Jerusalem.
You’ll find Saul on Straight Street. A main road thru town. But also w/ figurative significance.
Direction. Ananias is called by God to go and straighten Saul out. Show him the way to go. Jesus is working behind the scenes and Ananias is his instrument to re-direct Saul.
From now on, Saul will be on the straight path.
You can imagine that Ananias balks a little at this.
He knows Saul’s reputation and what he had come to do. Likely, was considering hiding as long as Saul was in town.
And Jesus wants him to voluntarily go to him.
Really? Would God ever direct his servant into trouble?
Yes, He does that from time to time.
But, doesn’t just direct us in, but all the way thru.
Anyway, as hard as this is to believe, Jesus assured Ananias that He had changed Saul. Not only had he changed him on the inside, he changed the course of his life and Ananias was to one to go and tell him.
New life, new experiences
New life, new experiences
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. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
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.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.
Saul is a new man. Go and see.
He is going t/b God’s servant to Gentiles, their kings and Israel.
He’ll start in the synagogues w/ the Jews.
He’ll be imprisoned in Rome and gain and audience w/ Caesar.
It will all happen.
Previously, he has caused great suffering. Now, he is about to experience it himself.
And he will lead ppl to Jesus all along the way.
Ananias obeyed, called him brother. Fellow believer. Relational, personal.
As he prayed, he regained his sight. He could see so much more, now. The truth.
He immediately wanted to be baptized.
He ate, breaking his fast. His repentance was complete. He turned away from his old life, was restored to God and took his first steps as a baby believer.
And, like all babies, the changes didn’t stop at new birth.
The Changes Continue
The Changes Continue
and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
We know that sometime early on he spent 3 years in Arabia studying the OT and Jesus met him there and showed him what he missed before. ()
So, after Arabia, he arrives in Damascus begins his public ministry by telling his story. Witness. Tell your own story.
And, he had a story to tell.
The people were perplexed, baffled, confused.
Saul knew he had changed, but it took time to convince everyone who knew him that the changes were real and permanent.
We have friends who, years ago, the husband had an affair.
It took 4 years for him to regain his wife’s trust.
He did eventually. And it probably took longer for some of her family and friends to believe his changes were genuine and permanent.
It helped that she spoke on his behalf.
Saul grew stronger, matured in his faith and in the performance of his ministry.
He grew stronger, matured in his faith and in the performance of his ministry.
He was old by now.
We aren’t dogs, and these aren’t trick.
Saul grew stronger in his preaching skills at his age which encouraged me to grow stronger at my age.
Saul can grow in
Not that I claim to be in the same class as Saul.
The point, we are never too old to change and grow stronger, more mature.
Fear less. Trust more. Better attitude.
More self control, language. patience.
Then, the courage to act on the change as if we really have changed, and, in fact we have.
You might even baffle some people like Saul did.
Aren’t you the one who used to complain about everything? You seem so content now.
What happened?
Well, Jesus called me out, showed me what need to change and how to change it.
By the way, he’ll change you, too. If you want Him to.
People were not only believing Saul’s changes were real, they were believing his preaching and experiencing the same changes themselves.
There were still plenty of skeptics. And, it helped when someone they trusted spoke up for him.
A Gracious Advocate
A Gracious Advocate
Acts 9:26
When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.
Barnabas was not only generous w/ his money as one who sold a field and donated the proceeds. But also generous w/ the grace that God had shown him.
Saul needed someone to run interference for him.
The Christians had been hurt deeply by him. Their friend Stephen, and others had suffered at his command.
Now, he claims to have changed sides.
Or, is he just a worm, undercover, gaining their trust to turn on them later.
Barnabas, well aware of the grace with which God treated him, extended it to Saul.
Not only lending credibility to his changes and providing a strong reference for him, but introducing him to the way of walking w/ Jesus and public ministry.
Mentoring him and helping him continue his growth.
And, the church grows.
Growth
Growth
Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
The interesting thing here is, the word “church”, or ekklesia, is singular even though there are numerous gathering places for the believers.
There is one church and it is strong, at peace, and growing.
Saul changed sides and the opposition took a strong hit.
It will take some time for them to recover.
The changes in Saul were real, and permanent. He was anew man w/ a new purpose for his life.
It caught everybody by surprise.
So much changed in the aftermath.
Saul, renamed Paul, wrote much of our NT, planted many churches, and has influences countless believers for 2 centuries.
All b/c he was confronted by Jesus, saw Him in all his glory, didn’t hold back anything, he laid it all on the line.
Jesus gave him and new life and new purpose.
He had the courage to act on the changes.
Applications
Applications
Change?
Change?
Grace
Grace
Unity
Unity