am031608-Can Christ Change The Worst of Sinners
CAN CHRIST CHANGE
THE WORST OF SINNERS?
Maybe you have such a person this morning. Perhaps for months or even years this person has become increasingly worse; they live as there is no God.
You are no longer as fervent in praying as you once were. You have often thought there is no hope for that person; they have sinned beyond redemption. You once saw some tenderness toward the Lord but now there seems to be no interest at all.
I want to encourage you this morning to renew your prayers for them to come to Christ and the conversion of Saul of Tarsus is the reason why. His conversion on the Damascus road is recorded just for you this morning. It is to give you hope and for those you want to come to Christ.
Paul’s Conversion Was to Encourage You
1 Timothy 1:12-16
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; 14 and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. 15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. 16 Yet for this reason (having been the greatest of sinners) I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect (complete) patience (emotional calm in the midst of provocation without irritation) as an example (pattern) for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.
Bottom line is that if God saved the Saul of Tarsus, He not only can save you and me but He can save your friend who at the present time gives no evidence of interest in Christ.
Let’s read the account of Saul of Tarsus’ conversion who becomes the missionary to the Gentiles.
Prior to Paul’s conversion, Luke records the hatred Paul had toward Christianity; it appeared that he would never be saved.
Acts 8:1-3
1 Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him (Philip) to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him. 3 But Saul began ravaging the church (to cause physical injury), entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.
This hatred was so great that he was traveling some 150 miles to Damascus to capture and bring Christians back to Jerusalem for trial.
Acts 9:1-2
1 Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
No one in their right mind would expect Paul to be converted and his life radically changed. No more than you or I would conceive that Ben Laden would be converted and become a Christian missionary to Islamic people.
Paul’s Conversion Was Unexpected
His Conversion Was Sudden
Acts 9:3-19
3 As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him;
Galatians 1:13-14
13 For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it; 14 and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions.
In all of Paul’s testimonies he give no indication that God was softening his heart toward Him, in fact, he was on his way to persecute the church. Notice that his conversion was sudden and there was no evidence of any conviction.
4 and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, 6 but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.”
We know of no one who was praying for Paul to be saved! If anyone was there was no evidence it was affecting him. This is the point, not that we should not pray but don’t look for evidence that your prayer is working. It is not about your prayer; it is about a sovereign God who is glorified when we pray for people. Don’t expect any evidences of conviction! When you look for evidence; you will be discouraged!
We pray because it honors God; not because it brings immediate results. Pray is an act worship in which we exhibit our gratitude and confidence in God to do that which is best. Thousands of people being asked to pray regarding a person is not to convince God to do what is right but to glorify God and give evidence we trust His will for our lives and others. The more people praying is more people glorifying God not overcoming His reluctance or having more assurance to convince God to answer our request.
Paul’s Conversion Was God’s Sovereign Work
Galatians 1:15-16
15 But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb (having done neither good nor bad, there was no merit on his part to warrant being selected) and called me through His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, …
Ananias Ministry Was God’s Sovereign Work
7 The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus.
9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. 10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem; 14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 16 for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized; 19 and he took food and was strengthened. Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus,
Challenge:
Many of you this morning are authentic disciples of Christ and the point of Paul’s conversion is in 1 Timothy 1:15-16.
1 Timothy 1:15-16
15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. 16 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.
Paul’s conversion is on your behalf; it is for your sake! We, too, since the day we were born until our day of conversion was a long period of time of unbelief, persecution, and mockery of Jesus.
This morning some of you realize you have never accepted Christ. You have never surrendered your life to Christ. You may think it is too late, you have sinned too much, but it isn’t. If God could save Paul, He can save you today.