"Enemy" Becomes "Brother"
Notes
Transcript
Where we have been...
Where we have been...
It is so easy especially in the Book of Acts to try and rewrite the context of scripture.
Let me give you just a couple examples
Back in Chapter 5 we read about Ananias and his wife Sapphira. They were killed for failure to make right on their promises.
As I explained then… why was I not killed when I did keep a promise? Well because maybe, just maybe that wasn’t the intent of the story.
As we learned then, just back up a couple of verses and see this
36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement),
37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
1 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.
2 With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.
and then after finding Ananias had held back some money
5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.
The point of this passage is to understand the context between a giver, who followers through with there commitments and one who shirks their commitments
Next topic is commune living
In the 1960’s and early 70’s this idea of sharing everything is common, which is a biblical principle, became a reality. Selling everything, living off the land, singing early contemporary music by the likes of Larry Norman.
Great idea but it distorts the message of
44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.
45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.
This is NOT a path to poverty on the part of the believer
It is NOT a sin to be wealthy; it is a sin to flaunt your wealth and refuse to share it.
Although I know people who practice a reverse tithe, live on 10% and give away 90%
We have to look at the BIG PICTURE OF SCRIPTURE
Man chooses to sin
Sin taints our relationship with God
God understood this and sent Jesus to mend that relationship between and God and man.
Our acceptance of Jesus as our Lord and Savior allows us to boldly approach the throne and
Regain our relationship with God
By...
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
IT IS THE COMMAND OF SCRIPTURE TO BE IN A “RIGHT” RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THAT IS ONLY IN THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST!
In that relationship there is no condemnation.
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
Thanks for working through this stuff with me. We grow up having been taught in a certain way and believing in a certain way and if the follows the context of scripture then your right on the mark. If it doesn’t then you maybe you need to discover some new truths and think it through.
NOW we get to Saul of Tarsus
“And Saul, yet breathing out threats and slaughter...”
1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest
to the Paul of Acts 22.10
10 “ ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked. “ ‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’
Paul and his ministry to the gentile world has it’s great impact if you are European, from North, Central or South America. These where the seeds of the discipleship that were sown in our ancestors.
Here how he got started
God raised up another apostle, given the mission to bring the gospel to the Gentiles. This special apostle was first known as Saul and was from Tarsus. We have already seen him as the willing accomplice of those who stoned Stephen to death.
Saul hated the church and took it as his own responsibility to persecute the church wherever he found it. Saul went to the high priest for permission to imprison, try and execute Christians. He was granted that permission.
As was on the road to Damascus and a light from heaven shone around him...
7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’
8 “ ‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked. “ ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied.
Something happened on that road, something super-natural, something undeniable, something profoundly life changing for Saul and for us.
Non-Jews, Gentiles now had an apostle that was designated to reach out and bring the good news.
Most if not all of us hearing this message would be called “Gentiles.”
God, changed in a mighty, miraculous way the Apostle that is especially made for us!
Here is our BIG IDEA for today
Regardless of who you are… of what your past is… Jesus sees your future!
Paul was this person. An enemy of “The Way,” A person who gladly persecuted in the most ugly, vile way Christians wherever and whenever he found them.
It has long been said that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.
We are sometimes inclined to think that our character, once formed, can never be changed. This is not true.
Our natural dispositions and our patterns of thought and actions rarely change; but their direction can be changed; and the difference between their upward and their downward direction deserves a name.
This is CONVERSION! This is SALVATION! This is Redemption!
Paul, in great measure, remained the same as before—he retained his zeal, his power, his energy.
but the turn which was given to these qualities gave a turn to his whole life, and, through him, a turn to the life of the whole world.
I have a friend, I know that is shocking, he lives here in Sunnyside and has his whole life. I won’t mention his name, you would know him, some of you would know him well.
In high school there was never a party he missed or a drug that he didn’t and wouldn’t try. Most would say that his character was set, settled and permanently flawed. His zeal, all of his energy was spent on the party seen.
I don’t know if he had a “Saul to Paul” experience but that it not the man that I know today. What I know of my friend is a man who is a committed husband, father and Christian. He would give you the shirt off his proverbial back, is super smart and loves community.
Yes, the elements of his previous life are prominent in his life. But, this man experienced a complete change of direction in his life.
Let’s learn about Saul
4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
Out of the blue, walking along the road. Destined to continue is life of persecution of “The Way.”
He hears what he knows may very well be the voice of God
5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.
Paul is struck blind… Just as a way to some force on top of all of this.
9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
Paul was led in darkness, utter darkness and helplessness to a man named Ananias
Ananias was the chosen physical instrument to bring sight back to Saul. The miracle would be done by God but a man, any man would have the honor of bringing sight back to Saul.
17 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.”
18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,
AN ENEMY BECOMES A BROTHER!
My friend who I was telling you about, is farmer and businessman here in the valley. Unless you knew about his past life and decisions you wouldn’t know about his past life and decisions. HE WAS A BRAND NEW MAN!
As I look out on you my brothers and sisters, I know none of you had a past, a time before Christ or a time when you wandered away, experimenting and pushing boundaries.
I also see a lot of grey hair, wrinkles and patched knees as fathers and mothers as they prayed for a change. As they prayed for a generally a “good kid” to find their way back.
It is with that Spirit that we come to the communion table today.
Here is what we contemplate and celebrate today
Man chooses to sin
Sin taints our relationship with God
God understood this and sent Jesus to mend that relationship between and God and man.
Our acceptance of Jesus as our Lord and Savior allows us to boldly approach the throne and
Regain our relationship with God through confession and forgiveness
It is that single act that Jesus did on the cross that eternally mends the relationship between God and man.
It is that redemption, that reconciliation, that forgiveness that we honor today during our communion time.
Servers please come
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