A Come To Jesus Meeting

Bradley

Book of Acts • Sermon • Submitted 5 years ago

0 ratings

· 10 views

Notes

Transcript

Sermon Tone Analysis

Emotion

Language

Social

View more →

This morning we are picking back up in our study of the book of Acts

If you’re new to MCF, it would be good for you to know that we practice a form of preaching called Expository Preaching.

So, if you’re new to MCF, I would encourage you to go online and listen to the messages leading up to today.

What that means is, not only do we believe the Bible is God’s authoritative Word, we believe it is best taught by taking books of the Bible, and then studying them from beginning to end, chapter by chapter, verse by verse, in order to understand how it applies in our lives today.

And what we’ve learned so far is that the book of Acts represents in many respects a template for the church today.

Currently, we are doing that through the book of Acts. A NT book that was written by a first century historian named Luke, who wrote Acts for two primary reasons:

First, he wrote it to give us a history of how the church started. Who was involved, how it happened, and the circumstances that surrounded it.

Second, he wrote it to give us a template of how God intends the church to accomplish the mission of taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the entire world. A mission Jesus gave to His followers right before he ascended into heaven. Listen to how Luke records it in .

Acts 1:8 ESV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Notice, the template involves two primary components.

#1, it involves the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. We saw the importance of this in as the first Christians were empowered by the Spirit on the day of Pentecost. An empowerment that allowed them to share their faith in a supernatural manner. Luke puts it like this in :

Acts 4:8 ESV

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders,

Acts 4:8–13 ESV

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” 13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

Acts 4:8–12 ESV

:8-

Acts 4:

Luke goes onto write:

Acts 4:13 ESV

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

Acts 4:

Luke says Peter and John’s witness was so powerful, so bold, that the religious leaders were left speechless. They didn’t know what to think. And as we’ve learned this continues to be the pattern throughout the book of Acts as the Holy Spirit continues to supernaturally empower the early Christians to spread the gospel.

Why is this important for us to understand? It’s important because what was true then, is still true today. The truth is, if we want to affectively share our faith, we have to do it in the power of the Holy Spirit. We have to be empowered in order to be Jesus’s witnesses. An empowerment that comes when a Christian makes leading people to Jesus a priority in their life.

So, that’s the first component, Spirit empowerment. The second is this.

If we want to accomplish the mission Jesus has given us, we have to be willing to go to the people who need to hear it. Remember, Jesus said:

Acts 1:8 ESV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Jesus says the gospel is for people living in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. That’s Jesus’s way of saying, “The Gospel is for everyone on the planet”.

And as we’ve seen in the book of Acts, that’s exactly what the early disciples were committed to, as the Gospel started in Jerusalem in chapter 2, moved into Judea by chapter 4, and then by the end of chapter 8 it’s in Samaria and reaching out to the ends of the earth as a disciple named Philip shares the gospel with an Ethiopian man who is from a region known as “The ends of the earth”.

Again, why is this important for us to understand? It’s important because the mission hasn’t changed. Just like 1st century Christians, as 21st century Christians, our job is to continue to spread the gospel to the entire world.

And that begins with our Jersualem as we share our faith with friends and family.

It spreads to our Judea as we share our faith in the workplace, and in our community.

And it expands outward as together we commit to a local church like MCF as together we accomplish the mission of reaching our county, region, and even the rest of the world through missionaries and mission work.

You see, just like 1st century Christians in the book of Acts, we have the same mission. A mission that continues through us as we love people, lead them to Jesus, and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

That’s where we’ve been in chapters 1-8. So, if you haven’t been with us, I would encourage you to go online to mcf.life where you can listen to all the messages leading up to today.

Today however, we are moving into chapter 9 as Luke switches gears for a moment in order to introduce us to a man, a man who for the rest of our study in Acts, will become a central focus.

A man nobody thought would ever put his faith in Jesus.

A man that came to faith in Jesus in a supernatural and spectacular way.

A man who is responsible for writing 13 of the 27 books found in the NT of our Bible.

A man who would eventually become one of the most influential Christians to walk the face of the earth.

But before we get to this man, I want to lay some framework for our text today by asking you a question. A question about a possible experience you may or may not have had at some point in your life. It’s an experience we sometimes refer to as a “Come to Jesus Meeting”.

Anybody ever been invited or been a part of one of those meetings?

Or how about this, how many of you have ever held one of those meetings for someone else?

You all know what I’m talking about, right? Somebody does something stupid or somebody gets in trouble, or somebody crosses a line, or somebody’s about to make a big mistake, and so you say, “I think it’s about time we have a come to Jesus meeting with them”.

And what we mean by that is, its time address the issue. It’s time to quit playing games. It’s time to bring an end to the shenanigans. It’s time to sit down with this person, speak the truth, and maybe even lay down the law.

And the hope is, by having the “come to Jesus meeting”, the person who is being addressed will come into line. The hope is the meeting wakes them up to some realities that they need to face. The hope is, the come to Jesus meeting will bring some needed change into their life.

We all tracking on this?

Example - When I was 27 years old, a pastor, who was a mentor of mine, held one of those meetings for me. After spending some time with Denise and I one evening, he called me and asked if I could meet with him. I said, “Sure.” So, later that day I met him at his office, and as I sat down he started the conversation by saying, “You know Brad, as your mentor, there are going to be times when I need to speak into your life. Times when I’m going to challenge you and maybe even chastise you a little bit in order to help you grow. And I need to know if you’re going to be ok with that?”

So, I said, “Yeah for sure. I’m open to that. I can live with that.” And he said, "Good, I’m glad you feel that way, because this is one of those moments.”

He went on to say, “Brad, last night, as we sat at dinner, I noticed whenever Denise talked, you got embarrassed. You hung your head, you looked the other way, you were visibly bothered.”

And it was at that point I knew he had my number.

He went on to say, “Brad, the fact is, Denise is a gift God has given you. And you should never be embarrassed of the gifts God has given you. Denise is going to be a big part of your ministry. She’s going to help you and bring strength where you have weakness. You need to quit being embarrassed of her and start cherishing the gift that she is.”

To be honest, when he said that, it was like somebody had just punched me in face. I was stunned, embarrassed, and ashamed all at once. And as tears welled up in my eyes, I realized he was right. For years I had been trying to squelch Denise. Trying to make her more like me. Trying to silence the best part of her.

But in that moment, my eyes were opened to the gift that she was. And what I discovered is what I had been so embarrassed of is what everybody else loved about Denise.

What I had been embarrassed of is what drew people too her. And from that point on, I started to view Denise differently. I started to see her as a gift God had given me. It was a “come to Jesus meeting” for my marriage, and I’m so glad I attended the meeting.

Maybe you’ve had a meeting like that. A moment when you were confronted with something you needed to hear. Something that woke you up to some realities. Something that maybe even changed the course of your life.

The reason I bring this up, is because as we come back to today, we are about to attend an actual “come to Jesus meeting”. A meeting where a man named Saul is about to be confronted for his shenanigans. What’s notable though, is his come to Jesus meeting doesn’t involve a group of friends. It’s not led by a mentor or pastor. But by Jesus himself. In other words, this is a literal come to Jesus meeting. The real deal.

And it’s going to be a come to Jesus meeting that changes the course of Saul’s life. A meeting that will forever change his path.

So, with that as our framework, I have three goals this morning:

First, we’re going read through the passage.

Second, as we go through the passage, I’m going to give some explanation as to what is happening.

Finally, we’re going to conclude with some application points in order to discover how Saul’s “come to Jesus meeting” applies to you and me.

So, let’s get started as Luke introduces us to a man named Saul. Picking up in , Luke writes:

Acts 9:1-

Acts 9:1–9 ESV

1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he 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 rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Acts 9:1–2 ESV

Luke begins by referring to a man named Saul who is apparently causing the early church a lot of trouble. Luke says he is breathing threats and murder against them.

So, to get us started, a good question might be, “Who’s this Saul guy?” Because this isn’t the first time Luke has mentioned him, and for some reason his name keeps coming up.

You may recall, we first heard about Saul back in , as Luke references Saul at the stoning of the first Christian martyr, a man named Stephen. It took place in as Stephen preached the gospel to a hostile crowd. Luke writes concerning Stephen:

Acts 7:58

Acts 7:58 ESV

58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.

Notice what Luke tells us about the stoning. He says as Stephen’s persecutors picked up stones to kill him as they laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.

What that tells us is while he’s not throwing the stones, this Saul guy was present and involved in the stoning and murder of Stephen as well.

Luke then mentions Saul again in chapter 8 as the death of Stephen leads to greater persecution against the church. Luke writes in chapter 8:

Acts 8:1–3 ESV

1 And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

Luke says following the death of Stephen, the man named Saul not only was the one who gave approval for Stephen’s death, but is the one who seems to be leading the charge for more persecution.

And our assumption appears to be correct. Because as the gospel continues to go out from Jerusalem, to Judea, to Samaria, and to the ends of the earth, Saul’s name appears once again in our text this morning. Listen again to what Luke writes:

Acts 9:1–2 ESV

This is now the third time Luke mentions Saul, and this time Luke not only verifies Saul is involved in the persecution of the church, but that he is most definitely the one leading the charge.

We know this because Luke says Saul is now seeking out legal permission from the Sanhedrin, the same group that sentenced Jesus to death, to pursue, imprison, and even kill those who follow the Way.

And I should probably point out, when Luke says, “Those belonging to the “Way”, he’s referring to the early church. “The Way” is a metaphor that represents those who follow Jesus. In other words, for the Christ follower, Jesus is the way to salvation or righteousness. It could also mean Jesus is the only “Way” too salvation. It’s the term that had been assigned to the early church prior to them being called “Christians”. Everybody with me?

So, going back to Saul’s request to the Sanhedrin, what Saul wants is legal permission to hunt Christians down. To go to places like the city of Damascus, where the movement is growing, and snuff them out.

That’s what’s going on here. So, what’s Saul’s problem? Why does he hate the church so much?

To help us determine that, we probably need to know a little bit more about Saul. And the good news is, we actually know quite a bit about him. Here are just a couple of key points:

First, we know in the NT, he has two names. Because while he’s called Saul up to chapter 13, from chapter 13 on he will become known as Paul. Which is super significant, because what were going to learn in the weeks to come, is the Saul of is none other than the Apostle Paul who wrote a majority of the NT.

Second, we know that prior to taking on the name Paul, Saul was a Pharisee. We know this, because later on in Acts, Paul verifies this. In acts 23 we read:

is that he was a Pharisee. We know this, because later on in Acts, Saul verifies this. In acts 23 we read:

Acts 23:6 ESV

6 Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”

In this passage Paul verifies that at one time, when he was known as Saul, he was indeed a Pharisee.

Which is a major detail and part of the answer to why Saul so hated the church. So, a good question might be then, “What is a Pharisee and why the hatred?”

To put it simply, Pharisee’s were the religious law keepers and teachers of Judaism in the 1st century. Meaning, they were the group responsible for making sure the Jewish people knew what God’s commands were and that the people were keeping the law and the traditions that went with them. In a way, they were the religious police of their day.

You may recall in the gospels, these are the guys giving Jesus the most trouble. The ones who were constantly trying to trip him up.

But here’s what we need to understand about the Pharisees. While the Pharisees could be a pain, they weren’t all bad. Some of Jesus’s greatest friends and advocates were Pharisees. So, you can’t throw the baby out with the bath water. The truth is, most of the Pharisees truly loved God and were devoted too keeping God’s commandments, but they didn’t believe Jesus was the Messiah, and some of them had gone off the deep end, Saul being one who had. In fact, listen to how the Apostle Paul describes his previous life as a Pharisee. In Paul writes;

Philippians 3:4–6 ESV

4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

Philippians 3:5–6 ESV

5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

Philippians

Paul says, “If you want to brag about who the most religious person is, come talk to me, because I was a Pharisee of Pharisee’s. In fact, I was so zealous for the law, I thought I was blameless.”

That’s quite a claim. Paul’s basically saying, “In my religious thinking I thought I was perfect.”

In he adds this:

Galatians 1:14 ESV

14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers.

Pauls says, “I wasn’t just a Pharisee, I was the radical nut job in the group. The one willing to take it to extreme measures if necessary.”

Think of it like this:

Culturally speaking, Saul is the one on the radical left trying to exterminate Christianity from our schools, institutions, and culture. He’s the one leading the protests.

From a religious stand point, Saul is the one who would fly a plane into a building. He’s willing to kill others for what he believes.

From a political stand point, Saul is the communist dictator who burns Bibles and forbids Christian worship.

That’s how radical this guy is.

So, why is it so important we understand this? It’s important because this paints a picture of the kind of person we are dealing with. A radical religious zealot who is hell bent on taking out the church. Why? because the church is a threat to everything he believes and holds dear.

The church is teaching the Messiah has already come.

The church is teaching that Jesus was the Messiah and that he died and rose from the dead.

The church is teaching that if you want to be saved, you have to put your faith in Jesus.

In fact, the church is teaching that Jesus is God.

And Saul’s not about to have it. If it’s the last thing he does, he’s going to make sure the church and their false claims come to an end. In fact, he’s willing to go to extreme measures. He’s willing to travel 135 miles to the city of Damascus in order to take them out.

Meaning, in a day when there are no cars or airplanes, and travel is dangerous, Saul is willing to make the trek. Which further highlights Saul’s radical intentions to snuff out the Christian movement. He’s willing to go to hell and back if that’s what it takes.

So, when Luke says, “But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord...”, that’s the kind of person we are dealing with. Everybody with me?

So, when Luke says, “But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord...”, that’s the Saul we are dealing with. Everybody with me?

So, what happens next? Let’s keep reading.

What Luke indicates here is that Saul got exactly what he wanted from the Sanhedrin. He has permission and letters form the Sanhedrin hand to hunt down Christians in the city of Damascus. And what’s interesting about that, is as the crow flies, Damascus is 135 miles from Jerusalem. Meaning, in a day when there

I’d like to suggest it applies in this way:

Application #1 - Extreme faith in Jesus will always result in extreme persecution from the world.

Acts 9:3-

You see, what we need to understand is, in many respects Saul represents the response we can expect from the world when we proclaim the name of Jesus.

Luke indicates here that apparently Saul got exactly what he wanted from the Sanhedrin. He has permission and letters in hand, and he’s on his way to Damascus to hunt down Christians. And what’s interesting about that, is as the crow flies, Damascus is 135 miles NE of Jerusalem. Meaning, in a day when there are no cars or airplanes, this is an extensive journey. Which further highlights Saul’s radical intentions to snuff out the Christian movement. He’s willing to go to hell and back if that’s what it takes.

A message that challenges religious ritual and tradition.

A message that runs countercultural and calls sinful lifestyles into question.

A message that boldly proclaims, “Jesus is the only way”.

Jesus says it like this in :

John 14:6 ESV

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

The fact is, when you start proclaiming that message, the world is going to kick back. The world is going to go to extreme measures to snuff you out.

And the truth is, we’re seeing it more and more in our culture today.

We’re seeing it in our public school system as extreme groups like the ACLU work to snuff God and faith out of our schools.

We’re seeing it on our college campuses as radical left professors work to discredit and intimidate the faith of young adult students.

We’re seeing it in our legal system as Christian florists, bakers, and photographers are being dragged to court and sued for their stance against gay marriage.

We’re seeing it on social media as those who stand for Biblical truth are chastised, threatened, and censored on platforms like Facebook and Twitter.

The truth is, it’s all over the place, and some of you know exactly what I’m talking about. Because the fact is, if you’re boldly living out your faith, you have a Saul in your life.

Acts 9:4-

For some of you, Saul is a family member. A father, mother, brother, sister, husband, wife, son, or daughter that hasn’t accepted your faith. In fact, they’re doing everything they can to discourage it.

For some, Saul is a former friend or a group of co-workers who refuse to accept your faith. Who are always looking for ways to trip you up and challenge you. Who go to great lengths to discourage you.

For others, Saul is teacher or a college professor that is constantly ridiculing and trying to discredit what you believe.

And the list goes on.

Revelation 1:

You see we all have a Saul or Saul(s) in our lives. And while that can be discouraging, what we have to remember is it comes with the territory.

You see we all have some Sauls in our life. And while that can be discouraging, what we have to remember is it comes with the territory.

The Apostle Peter puts it like this:

1 Peter 4:12 ESV

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

Peter says this is part of the deal. There are always going to be people who radically oppose your faith.

But Saul’s about to have a meeting he wasn’t expecting. Because as he’s approaching Damascus, listen to what Luke says happens next:

Acts 9:3–4 ESV

3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

Based on what Luke just told us,

Luke says after getting permission from the Sanhedrin, Saul begins the 135 mile trek to Damascus. But as he’s approaching Damascus, something happens. A meeting Saul wasn’t expecting takes place. What you might call “A Come to Jesus Meeting”.

Because as he’s approaching Damascus, Luke says suddenly there’s a bright flash of light that causes Saul too cover his eyes, lose his balance, and fall to the ground.

Because as he’s approaching Damascus, listen to what Luke says happens next: as Paul approaches Damascus, out of nowhere a bright light shines around him,, takes him off guard, and causes him to fall to the ground.

Example - It’s like when you’re laying in bed, getting ready to fall asleep, and your eyes have finally adjusted tot he darkness, and then all of a sudden your significant other walks in the room and flips the swtich as blinding light causes you to nearly fall out of the bed. Not saying that’s ever happened at my house.

That’s what happens to Saul, but in his case it’s daylight when this happens, so the flash of light must have been extremely bright. In other words, somebody flipped a switch that out did the sun.

Not exactly. What the text indicates, is that this was a light separate from normal sun light. We know this because it happens in the middle of the day. So this isn’t the sun. Apparently it’s a light outside of normal sun light and brighter than the sun at that point in the day. In fact, the text seems to indicate that it was like a flash of light that caught him off guard, causing him to fall to the ground.

So, what’s going on here? What’s this bright light and where did it come from?

Let’s find out. Luke goes on to write:

In fact, what the text indicates is that it was like a flash of light that triggered an automatic drop and cover response, causing Saul to fall to the ground.

Example - It’s like when you’re laying in bed, getting ready to fall asleep, and your eyes have finally adjusted tot he darkness, and then all of a sudden your significant other walks in and turns the light on as blinding light causes you to nearly fall out of the bed. Not saying that’s ever happened at my house.

That’s what happens to Saul, but it’s daylight out when this happens, so the flash of light must have been extremely bright.

So, what is this blinding light and where is it coming from? Let’s find out. Luke goes on to write:

Acts 9:4–5 ESV

4 And falling to the ground, he 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.

Well, Now, that’s an important statement, because what it implies is to persecute the church or God’s people is to persecute Jesus. I want you to think about that for a minute. Because

What Luke is indicating here is it’s not a natural source of light, but a supernatural source of light. Because Luke says the light is coming from the appearance of none other than Jesus.

But it’s not the Jesus we find in the gospels that walked like a man with the disciples.

It’s not the risen Jesus the disciples interacted with before he ascended into heaven back in .

Jesus represents

It would be like crossing the street at night, and a car comes out of nowhere with blinding lights and a blaring horn as it almost takes you out, causing you to jump out of the way in a state of fear.

This is King Jesus in his glorified state.

Acts 9:6

So, what does this Jesus look like?

The Apostle John gives us some insight in when the glorified Jesus appeared to him on the Island of Patmos. Listen to how John describes Him:

He challenges their immoral living.

He forces them to face their need for salvation.

He represents their inability to save themselves. That there’s no work, religious action, or tradition that can make them right with God.

For example, Jesus represents their need for a savior. That they are indeed sinners in need of saving.

Revelation 1:12–16 ESV

12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

That’s what Jesus looks like now. a Jesus whose eyes are like flames of fire and whose face shines like the sun in full strength. This is the Jesus that Saul encounters in this “come to Jesus meeting.”

The place Saul has to be if he truly wants to experience the salvation Jesus offers and provides.

But not only does Saul see a flash of blinding Jesus light, he hears a voice as well that identifies himself as Jesus. Wonder what that sounded like? Guess what, in , John tells us. Listen to how he describes the voice of the glorified Jesus, because right before John turns to see Jesus, he hears him speak as well. John writes:

Revelation 1:10 ESV

10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet

John says the voice of Jesus sounds like a trumpet. So, combine the voice of a trumpet with eyes that burn like fire, and a face that shines like the sun in full strength, and we can maybe begin to understand how this flash of light caught Saul off guard and caused him to fall to the ground.

Years later the apostle Paul would reflect on his come to Jesus meeting, and

1 Timothy 1:12–13 ESV

1 Timothy 1:12–17 ESV

12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

So, what does Jesus have to say?

Luke says Jesus has a question for Saul. It’s a simple question. The question is, “Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

Kind of seems like an odd question. I mean Saul’s the one terrified on ground. So, why this question and what does it tell us?

Well, obviously Jesus asks this question because that’s what Saul has been engaged in doing. He’s persecuting people who follow Jesus.

And what that tells us is to persecute the church or God’s people is to directly persecute Jesus. In other words, while Christians are the target, from God’s perspective, the one Saul is persecuting is Jesus. The one Saul really has the problem with is Jesus.

I want you to think about that for a minute. According to Jesus, He’s the one being persecuted. Jesus is the one being hated. Jesus is the one Saul is trying to snuff out.

Here’s what that means. When somebody persecutes you for your faith, while it may feel personal, you’re really not the one they have the problem with. The person they have the problem with is Jesus.

Why? Because Jesus challenges everything they believe and have put their hope in.

He challenges their religious thinking and man made attempts to get right with God.

He challenges their worldly hope and material desires.

He challenges their immoral living and secular lifestyle.

He forces them to face their need for salvation.

He challenges their religious thinking. That there’s no work, good deed, religious action, or tradition that can make them right with God.

He forces them to face their need for a salvation they cannot provide themselves.

Jesus boldly proclaims:

John 14:6 ESV

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

And that’s why people hate Jesus. He represents everything they don’t want to face about their life. And so when somebody like you, or somebody like me comes along, and proclaims Jesus as the only way, we become the target of their hatred. That’s why Jesus also says:

John 15:18 ESV

18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.

And that’s why this come to Jesus meeting is taking place. That’s why Jesus asks the question he asks. Because Saul’s real issue isn’t with the Christians. His real issue is with Jesus. And so on a road to Damascus, a meeting is scheduled as Jesus decided, “I think it’s about time Saul had I a come to ME meeting.”

So, what does Jesus have to say in this come to ME meeting? Luke writes:

Acts 9:6–9 ESV

6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Acts 9:6–7 ESV

6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.

Luke says after identifying himself, Jesus tells Saul to go into Damascus and wait for further instructions. How does Saul respond? Luke writes:

Acts 9:8–9 ESV

8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Acts 9:

Luke says Saul gets up, and obeys Jesus’s instructions.

But really, what choice does he have. Because Luke says after getting up, while his eyes were open, he couldn’t see anything. In other words, he’s blind. And as a result, the men who are with Saul have to lead him into the city like a an invalid, where he waits and doesn’t eat or drink anything for three days. A humbling experience to say the least.

So, what’s that all about? What does this all mean?

What this moment represents is the brokenness of Saul. Because it’s in this come to Jesus moment, that the world Saul had built came crashing down on him.

It’s in this moment he’s faced with the reality that he was wrong. That Jesus was who he said he was. That Jesus is God and He is Lord.

He’s faced with the reality that he’s been opposing and persecuting God’s chosen redeemer.

He’s faced with the reality that he’s killed and imprisoned innocent people.

He’s faced with the reality that he’s been spiritually blind.

He’s faced with the reality that he’s a sinner in need of saving.

He’s faced with the reality that he’s been spiritually blind.

And now he’s helpless. Now he has to depend on God in a way he never has. And now he’s ready to listen. The come to Jesus meeting has been like a punch in the face. A punch of spiritual realization that has left Saul stunned, humbled, and broken.

Because the fact is, until a person comes to that point, it will be impossible for them to be saved. Only when they come to the end of themselves and recognize Jesus is Lord , can they receive the salvation Jesus provides.

And Saul is finally there.

So, with that as our stopping point today, a good question would be, “How does Saul’s “Come to Jesus Meeting” apply to us? What does this mean for our lives?”

I’m glad you asked. And what I would like to suggest to you is that there are at least two applications for us to consider this morning.

Based on Saul’s Come to Jesus Meeting, we can know:

Application #1 - Nobody is beyond Jesus’s ability to save.

The good new of the gospel is this. That regardless of your past or what you’ve done, nobody is beyond God’s ability to save.

I love how the Apostle Paul puts it as later on in life he reflects back to his come to Jesus meeting. Listen to what he says in :

“I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent...” (ESV)

Paul says prior to his faith in Jesus, when he was known as Saul the Pharisee, he was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent.

Not only that, but he was a murderer. Listen to how Paul describes his actions in as he once again recounts his past actions:

Acts 22:4–5 ESV

4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, 5 as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.

All that to say, Paul was a bad dude with a bad past. But regardless of all that, he wasn’t outside of Jesus’s ability to save him. Listen to how Paul describe how Jesus poured his grace upon him:

1 Timothy 1:13–17 ESV

13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

What Paul is basically saying is, “Jesus’s grace is bigger than my sin. Jesus’s grace overshadows my past. And I am a living example that his grace has the ability to save the worst of sinners, of whom I am the worst.”

And what was true for Paul, is true for all of us. And that’s why the gospel is good news. Because regardless of your past, where you’ve been, or what you’ve done, God’s grace is bigger than your sin.

It’s bigger than your history of sexual immorality.

It’s bigger than your history of drug and alcohol abuse.

It’s bigger than the abortion you wish you would have never had.

It’s bigger than your divorce history.

It’s bigger than any sinful thought, desire, or action you could ever dream up.

The good news of the gospel is regardless of what somebody has done in their past, nobody is beyond Jesus’s ability to save them. That’s why Paul writes:

1 Timothy 1:15 ESV

15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

1 Timothy 1:

Apparently, that was a saying the early church had adopted. A truth they held onto and repeated often. And some of you needed to hear this truth today.

The fact is, there are some here today, and while you’ve put your faith in Jesus, your still struggling with past guilt and shame. You’re still wondering if God really has forgiven you. You’re still questioning if God could really save somebody like you.

And then there are those here today and you’ve never put your faith in Jesus. And for you, the gospel just seems too good to be true. It’s like a fairy tale. You’re thinking, “That all sounds great Pastor, but you don’t know what I’ve done. You don’t know the mess I’ve made of my life. If you really knew my past, you probably wouldn’t let me in the church doors.”

Here’s the deal, you’re right, I don’t know what you’ve done. But I know what Saul did.

I know Saul hunted down, murdered, and imprisoned innocent people. And I’m not sure to many of you could top that.

And guess what, that didn’t top Jesus from extending grace and mercy to Saul.

The truth is, some of you need to grab onto the saying of the early church. You need to remind yourself that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of who I am the foremost.

You see here’s the deal, some of you think your sin has disqualified you from salvation. But the truth is, it’s your sin that has qualified you. It’s your sin that has verified you are in need of a savior. And the truth is, like Paul, some of you have gone great lengths to verify it. Your past is dark. But the light of Jesus can overcome that darkness. The light of Jesus has the power to break through the darkness of your sin.

That’s why Paul says:

1 Timothy 1:16 ESV

16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.

And the only way you can experience the salvation Jesus offers is if your willing to accept that His grace is bigger than your sin.

And the same is true for you. And the only way you can experience the salvation Jesus offers is if your willing to accept that His grace is bigger than your sin.

The truth is, some of you need to grab onto the saying of the early church. You need to remind yourself that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of which you are the foremost.

Because here’s the deal, the only way you can experience the salvation Jesus offers is if your willing to accept that no only are you a sinner in need of saving, but that His grace is bigger than your sin.

This leads us to a second application.

Because of Saul’s come to Jesus meeting, we can know:

Application #2 - Everybody can, needs, and will have a come to Jesus meeting.

The fact of the matter is, at some point, each and every one of us is going to have a Damascus road experience. A moment when we come to face to face with Jesus. A moment when we are presented with the truth of who He is and our need for Him.

My Story: I know I’ve shared this before, some of you know my story, but my Damascus road experience took place on April 20th, 1996 on a tractor 9 miles East of Colby Kansas.

It was at a point in my life when I wasn’t serving the Lord. Yes, I knew about Jesus. Like some of you, I’d grown up in the church. But I didn’t know Jesus, I didn’t have a relationship with Him. And instead of living for Him I was living for my self. I was on a path of definite destruction.

But thanks to the mercy and grace of God, Jesus hadn’t given up on me. Because in the late morning of April 20th, as I planted corn, I had tuned into a memorial service on a local radio station. The service was being broadcast from Memorial Stadium in Lincoln Nebraska as thousands of people had gathered to remember the life of a young man named Brooke Berringer.

Brooke had been a popular quarterback at Nebraska who had been expected to be selected in the 1996 NFL draft on April 20th. But that day never came for Brooke. Because two days before the draft, on April 18th, Brooke was killed in small plane accident.

And the reason I was listening to the service is because I had grown up 18 miles from Brooke, had played football against Brooke in high school, and Brooke had been somebody I looked up to.

To be honest, his death had come as a shock to me. And so as I planted corn that morning, I listened as family members, professors, coaches, and close friends took the mic and shared how Brooke had impacted their life.

And then something happened I didn’t see coming. Something that literally knocked me out of my seat and to my knees. It happened as one of the coaches shared that Brooke had recently given his life to Christ. And that in a conversation just days before his death, Brooke told his coach he didn’t care what team selected him or whether he got selected at all. He just wanted what Jesus wanted for his life.

And it was in that moment that Jesus showed up in the tractor cab with me. A moment when I recognized my sin. A moment when i recognized Jesus wasn’t my Lord. A moment where Jesus reminded me of how much he loved me. A moment where He reminded me that he had a plan for my life. A moment where the world I had built came crashing down and Jesus began to lay a foundation for the new life He wanted to give me.

And my life has never been the same since.

Maybe you’ve had a moment like that in your life. A come to Jesus moment where Jesus made himself real to you. A moment where he turned your life upside down. A moment that changed the course of your life forever. I hope you have.

But maybe you haven’t had that moment yet. Sure, you’re a church goer, most of the time. Yes, your a decently good person, at least that’s what you want people to think. But deep down you know there’s something missing. Deep down you know something about your life isn’t right. Deep down you know you need a savior.

So, maybe it’s time for you to have a come to Jesus moment. A moment where Jesus makes himself real to you. A moment where Jesus becomes more than just a name and somebody you’ve heard about, and instead becomes your Lord and savior.

My prayer is that you would have that moment. In fact, for some of you, it’s possible that moment could be happening right now. It’s possible you came to church today thinking it would be like any other service you’ve been to. You’d show up, sing the songs, listen to the Pastor talk, and then go home check your I went to church box.

But Jesus had something else in mind for you today. This morning before you came to church, Jesus looked at you, and then He looked at the Father and said, “You know what, I think it’s time he/she and I have a come to Me meeting.” And it’s happening right now.

How do you know it’s happening? Because right now, inside your chest, your heart is racing. Right now, deep down inside of your soul, your Spirit is burning. And in the inner depth of your soul, the voice of Jesus is calling. He’s calling your name and He’s calling you to a new life. He’s challenging you to let go of your sin and embrace the new life He wants to give you.

Today is your

You didn’t know it, but today is your come to Jesus meeting. The day the old you dies and the new is born.

And if that’s you, you have two choices. You can either listen to the voice or ignore it. You can either accept his invitation of eternal life, or you can continue to live a life that leads to emptiness. The choice is yours.

Invitation for Salvation

For those that have already had your come to Jesus moment, as we close, here’s my challenge for you. The truth is, just because you had a come to Jesus meeting at one time, doesn’t mean you don’t need another one.

And by saying that, I’m not saying you need to be saved again.

What I’m saying is maybe you’ve grown lax in your commitment to Jesus.

What I’m saying is Maybe you’ve allowed some sin into your life that you know shouldn’t be there.

What I’m saying is Maybe you’ve returned to some old habits that Jesus delivered you from.

What I’m saying is, maybe your come to Jesus meeting needs to be a meeting where Jesus identifies some compromises you’ve made in your faith.

Something that is working against your relationship with Jesus.

Something that is causing harm to your spiritual growth.

What I’m suggesting is maybe Maybe while you thought today would just be another service, before you got here, Jesus looked over at the Father and said, “I think it’s time I had a come to ME meeting with…” you fill in the blank.

your come to Jesus meeting is more of an intervention where the Holy Spirit shines His spotlight on some areas of your life that need to change.

And you know Jesus wants to have this meeting with you, because at this very moment, as you sit in your seat, you are sensing the conviction of the Holy Spirit. He’s pointing out something in your life that needs to change. Something you need to let go of. Something that is hindering your relationship with Jesus. The Holy spirit is shining light on some junk in your life that needs to go.

And now you have a choice. You can either listen to the voice, or ignore it. You can either make changes or you can continue to ignore what the Spirit is saying.

My prayer is that you would listen and act. My prayer is that you would surrender whatever it is that’s working against your relationship with Jesus. My prayer is that you would be willing to have the meeting.