Where He goes I go

But there are 99 of them!

Matthew 18:12–13 HCSB

What do you think? If a man has 100 sheep, and one of them goes astray, won’t he leave the 99 on the hillside and go and search for the stray? And if he finds it, I assure you: He rejoices over that sheep more than over the 99 that did not go astray.

THe one that ran away…had to have someting to run away from and God chases after.

He goes after the lost.

Acts 9:1–2 HCSB

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

Sincerity and intention don’t matter.

No matter how sincere we are if we are wrong we are wrong.

Paul sincerely wanted to please God and the religious leaders of his day. When he stood at the Stoning of Stephen he believed what was happening was what God would want. Tradition was what mattered the most. Following all the rules was how you pleased God. The followers of Jesus were doing things differently, they were not keeping the traditions alive in their worship or in their meetings. They were undermining hundreds of years of the way religion and worship happened. Paul was sincere in his desire to do what was right, he was just sincerely wrong. (many times we are the same.)

ii. I have often said that intention doesn’t matter. Along with that statement I have also said perception is reality. To qualify those two statements is not always easy but the bottom line is they are both accurate.

Intentions don’t matter. (Big Prarie story about hurting my parents feelings)

The Damascus moment.

Acts 9:3–6 HCSB

As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” “Who are You, Lord?” he said. “I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting,” He replied. “But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

i. God is trying to get our attention.

1. Intentions don’t matter. (Big Prarie story about hurting my parents feelings)

1. If we are honest with ourselves, really honest we know it’s happening.

ii. Our questions must move us to action.

1. Saul had a choice…we all do.

A shift in perspective.

Acts 9:7–9 HCSB

The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing no one. Then Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink.

i. Not everyone will understand our shift in perspective

ii. Before we can lead we must be led.

Sure you did.

Acts 9:10–16 HCSB

There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Here I am, Lord!” he said. “Get up and go to the street called Straight,” the Lord said to him, “to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, since he is praying there. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so he can regain his sight.” “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go! For this man is My chosen instrument to take My name to Gentiles, kings, and the Israelites. I will show him how much he must suffer for My name!”

i. God is quick to forgive and slow to anger, people not so much.

ii. Staying the course will be difficult but when we see people through the eyes of Christ we won’t really care what others think.

Going regardless.

Acts 9:17–19 HCSB

So Ananias left and entered the house. Then he placed his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road you were traveling, has sent me so that you can regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. And after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul was with the disciples in Damascus for some days.

This Week’s Challenge

Play follow the leader!