Elements: 1.2
Elements: 1.2 • Sermon • Submitted
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1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.
People use the term “life changing” for just about anything.
New taco restaurant to latest cell phone app.
But the biblical concept of life change is something deep and sovereign.
Saul’s conversion was life changing!
Sual
Trained by the best.
Zealous for Jehovah.
Saw these new christians a a threat to everything he had been taught rather than the fulfilment of it!
He began to arrest them.
On his way to Damascus something happened - great light and a voice out of no where
“Saul, why do you persecute me?”
“Who are you Jehovah?”
“I am Jesus whom you persecute”!
The experienced left him blind and the very ones he was persecuting, came to his aide!
15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Discussion:
Why do you think God chose Saul?
What does this say about God’s willingness to forgive?
What was required of Ananias?
17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
Discussion:
Is there anyone that God can’t save?
What kind of change does God make in our lives today?
NOTE:
God loves everyone, no matter their past!
He loves us so much that he is willing to make us brand new!
1. Surrendering for Radical Change (page 17)
Building a spiritual life in the footsteps of Jesus is not about adding a new philosophy to our lives or simply tweaking our belief system. Submitting our lives to Jesus and embracing a life of fait is a radical reorientation - surrendering self and making Jesus the center and essence or our lives.
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
We are called to put on what? (vs. 24)
In this passage Paul called the new believers to no longer what? (vs. 17)
Walking (or living) in our vanity alienates us from what? (vs. 18)
Why do we sometimes resist the idea of living life God’s way? What small steps can we take to embrace new life in Jesus?
Jesus called his followers from all walks of life…
And he is still calling from all walks of life!
All he asks is we totally surrender our lives to him!
23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
That surrender is a different look or walk than the Gentile’s walk… or pagan walk.
We put on the NEW MAN!
2. Undergoing New Birth (page 18)
When we give our lives to Jesus, He doesn’t just patch up a crack here or there; He makes us completely new. I this process of being born again, Scripture promises the provision to repent of our sins, be baptized in his name, and receive the Holy Ghost.
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
When Nicodemus recognized there was something special about Jesus, what revelation did Jesus tell Nicodemus? (vs.3)
Why was Nicodemus confused? (vs 4)
How did Jesus clarify the meaning of being born again? (vs. 5)
Why do you think Jesus used the analogy of being born anew as a way to explain salvation?
Supplementary scriptures:
Jn 1:26-33
Jn 3:8-22
Acts 1:5
Acts 2:38-39
Acts 8:12-17
Acts 10:44
Acts 19:2-6
Eph 4:17-24
2 Cor. 5:17
3. Embracing our heritage as children of God (page 19)
Once we experience the new birth, we can embrace the blessings that come from a Spirit-led life. We are made heirs of God, and we live out our royal identity as children of God.
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
When we walk in the spirit, what is no longer a part of our lives? (vs. 1)
Who are the sons (or children) of God? (vs. 14)
If we are children of God, we are also what? (vs. 17)
What do yo think it means to suffer with Jesus?
18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
4. FOLLOWING THE CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP (page 21)
Undergoing our spiritual new birth and embracing our identity as children of God is not the completion of our process of becoming a Christian. Our new life is Jesus Christ is instead an ongoing journey of continual spiritual transformation. He calls us to be disciples who follow Him all our lives.
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
In this passage what does Jesus compare us to and what does He compare Himself to? (vs. 11-2)
What does Jesus say will indicate that we are His disciples? (vs. 8)
Jesus invites us to abide in Him; how are we to do so? (vs. 10)
What will we receive by following these directions from Jesus? (vs. 11) How do we see those benefits playing out in our lives today?
We are Royal HEIRS!
And as such we are commanded to be fruitful!
Receiving the Holy Ghost and being baptised is just the beginning!!!
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
Closing Discusion:
Why do yo think God does not leave us as he finds us?
What are things that have changed in your life after surrendering to God’s plan for you?
What is one thing that you will surrender to God this week?
PLA (page 22)
What are areas you need to grow in ?
This week I will do the following to focus on this area of growth?