He Met Jesus
Six long days and nights from Jerusalem to Damascus. Estimated travel time
He Met Jesus Christ (Acts 9:1–31)
ILLUSTRATION: “Osama bin Laden was discovered in a hospital in Northern Pakistan, suffering from multiple fractures, lacerations, and contusions. He had been whipped, and beaten with clubs and stones and left for dead outside a mosque in Islamabad.
“According to local sources, bin Laden had been invited to the mosque where he began preaching about Jesus being the Savior and Lord of all nations. Bin Laden claimed that a visiting missionary from Voice of the Martyrs had met with him a few weeks before, and had later baptized him as a Christian.
“The Koran and Sha’ria law call for the death of anyone converting from Islam. Despite the obvious danger in publicly disclosing his conversion, bin Laden had been traveling throughout the region the past week, visiting other Christians in underground churches, until yesterday’s incident….”
That news report has not really happened, as the date I gave you was in the future. However, it could happen, and the fact that we thought about whether it was a true story or not, even for a moment, is the point of Paul’s conversion. Anyone can be brought to Jesus; it is not too late for any of us.
Paul was the bin Laden of his time,
GOD KNOWS HOW TO GET YOUR ATTENTION
Paul now hears a different voice – a voice with power and authority that shook him to the core of his soul.
This same voice had spoken the world into existence.
This same voice had called to Adam in the Garden
This same voice had spoken judgment upon Satan, the serpent and all of creation because of sin.
This same voice had spoken to Moses on Mt. Sinai and given the Law
This same voice had spoken to Lazarus and raised him from the dead.
This same voice had raised the Window’s son at Nain.
This same voice had caused the Soldiers to fall backward in the Garden of Gethsemane
This same voice had cried out, “it is finished” as He paid the price of redemption on the cross
This same voice cries out to us today – follow me, and I will make you fishers of men
This same voice speaks to each of you – this is My will for your life, now do it
This same voice will someday say to us “Well done my good and faithful servant”
When that voice came from Heaven, Saul knew this was no ordinary voice.
(Acts 9:6) But stand up and enter the city and you will be told what you must do.”
Is our question to God, “Lord, what would God have us do?”
Paul’s past
Don’t let your past stop you from serving God, We can all find an excuse to use from our past, “I was too bad..” “I was a drunk..” “I was a thief..”
Look at who God used,
Abraham was a liar, yet became the father of a great nation
Moses was a murderer, yet he led the children of Israel out of Egypt
David was a sinner, yet he shows us how to truly repent (Psalm 51)
Peter was a denier, yet preaches an awesome message and sees 3000 saved.
Paul was a persecutor, yet wrote 13 books of the NT
Their past did not stop God from using these men; God used them in a mighty way.
Paul is a prime example. He goes from persecuting the church to preaching to the church. God would use him to take the Gospel to the Gentiles.
It does not matter what we have done in our past – God has forgiven us – Through Christ – and He will use us.
Are you available? - Are you willing to hear God’s call?
Are you Teachable? – Do you think you know it all already?
Are you receptive? – Spend the time with Him, in study / prayer. Pray for God’s guidance. Often times God is speaking but no one is listening.
Are you yielded? – Are you willing to do His will no matter what the cost? If God calls you to do something, do not delay – do it!
Obeying God’s call opens our life to unlimited possibilities
Ac 9:15-18 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me,
He Met Ananias (Acts 9:10–19)
Notice how Ananias is described: as “a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias.”
We hear of him this once, and we know nothing more about him. He comes forward at a critical point in Paul’s life; and then disappears.
He is not described as pastor, or evangelist, or even as deacon or elder of a church: yet this unknown person, obscure in life, and without special distinction in the church, was the channel for communicating the Gospel to the great apostle of the Gentiles. For the time being, he became one of the most important persons in sacred history.
I see, therefore, that we do not need special qualifications, even be a church officer or a preacher or have a glittering talent to share the gospel. All we know is that he is a certain disciple.
a disciple. Dwell on that title. He was a learner, A true disciple is also a follower.
Paul tells us, in Acts 22:12, that Ananias was “a devout man.”
Paul also tells us that Ananias had “a good report of all the Jews which dwell in Damascus.”
See, then, the man Ananias: there is nothing brilliant about him, he by no means claims distinguished rank; but he is, what I pray we may all be, a vessel fit for the Master’s use, cleansed, prepared, consecrated, set apart unto God. Hence, he was used of the Lord.
Ananias was responsive to the God’s voice. Notice that when God spoke, Ananias said, “Here am I.” Do you not think that God speaks to others at times and gets no answer?
remembered how the young child, Samuel, when the Lord said to him, “Samuel, Samuel,” answered, “Here am I.” Remember how the prophet Isaiah, when he saw the glory of the Lord, and heard a voice saying, “Who will go for us?” responded, “Here am I, send me!”
Ananias was also ready. “Here am I,” said he. He did not ask, “What for?” but “Here am I,” ready for anything.
His directions further related to the person to whom he was to go.
Ananias was also told when to go, he was to arise and go at once.
Ananias was also told why he was to go; he was to go to Saul of Tarsus; “for behold he prayeth.”
He was told what to do when he found Saul.
notice, that he objections but notice that he could tell the Lord about his objections; and whenever you feel any difficulty, if you can lay it before the Lord in prayer.
9:11 - Paul’s prayer
It was his prayer was noticed in heaven
How do you know that? The verse says,
“Behold he prayeth”
God knew the street where he lived: “Go to the street that is called straight.”
God knew the house where he resided: “Inquire at the house of Judas.”
God knew his name; it was Saul.
God knew the place where he came from: “inquire for Saul of Tarsus.”
And God knew that he had prayed. “Behold, he prayeth.”
He Met the Opposition (Acts 9:20–25)
He Met the Jerusalem Believers (Acts 9:26–31)
The glorious fact that prayers are noticed in heaven.
Prayers are noticed in heaven.
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12 tn Or “But arise.”
13 tn Literally a passive construction, “it will be told to you.” This has been converted to another form of passive construction in the translation.