Saul Conversion (Part 2 - Acts 9:10-19)

Reacap:

Last week we looked at How the Lord got a hold of a sinners heart and mind!

As you know that person was Saul!

The Judaistic zealot who thought he was doing God’s Will

Through the hatred and presecution of the saints

In fact he sought out the opportunity to persecute the saints, getting letters of approval from the Sanhedrin

Traveling to Damasacus to arrest any who belonged to the way.

As we saw last week, God had different plans for this zealot, plans that would not only change his life, but would impact the lives of millions who would come after him.

As Saul was traveling to Damascus, the Lord showed up in a mighty way!

First There was a great light that shone around Saul and his traveling group

Then Jersus had a little chat with Saul

Why are you persecuting me?

Who are you Lord?

I am Jesus

You could imagine the shock on Saul’s already shocked face when He heard it was Jesus who stopping him on this road.

He thought Jesus was dead, he had watched him be crucified

He thought his followers were just zealots who needed to put down

But now his whole world is turned upside down as Jesus tells saul he wants him to go to Damascus and await further instructions

But one thing is for sure, that Saul had been forever changed, he was now a believer in the death and resurrection of Jesus.

So when the encounter was over, Saul arose from the ground and was blind, and he neither ate nor drank for three days.

But like we said at the beginning that was just the begining for Saul.

Introduction:

Have you ever been asked by God to do something by God that you didnt think you would ever be able to do?

I am sure we all have, and if you havent then I am sure that you can prepare yourself mentally.

One story from History I love is the story of Nate Saint, Jim Elliot and Ed McCually!

If you are familiar with the story of these men then you know they left everything to go and reach the Waildony people with the Gospel.

And upon making first contact by plane they eventually landed on a sand bar in a river to make contact in person!

However it would be the last time that they ever saw their families

Because they, as part of God’s plan, were killed by the people they came to see won to Jesus!

You could say that is tragic, and rightly so!

Any loss of life is tragic yes

You could look at that and wonder why God would allow such a think to happen?

But the other part of this wonderful story that I love is that Jim Elliot, who said “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain that which he can never lose,” lost everything by the worlds standards, but gained what he could not lose.

After this His wife Elizabeth Elliot went back, with her family, to that same group of people who had murdered her husband and shared Christ!

Those men who had killed these men of God gave their life to Jesus through the Gospel

The church was born in the middle of the jungle of Ecuador

The Word of God woudl be translated and preached to them

Some would go on to become elders in the church

And the children of the men they killed would call them men who killed their family “Grandfather”

This is a picture of the amazing grace of God through the Gospel!

This is also a testimony to the power of God

But we should also take this as a reminder that even though we might not understand the the reasons God is calling us to certain things, we can trust that he is in it, and that he is working!

As we look a little deeper at Saul’s conversion we are going see that God is not only calling Saul to trust Him but also a man named Annais. Let’s take a look!

Annaias’ Vision

Acts 9:10–12 ESV

10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, 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.”

Note: Now I want to remind us again, that as we see acts as a transitional book we see God opperating in ways, that we don’t say are impossible anymore, but nor the normal way of God opperating today.

That is to say God usually doesnt communicate through dreams and visions today, rather he communincates with us through his word!

Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume Acts 9:10–22

As for God, his work is perfect; if he begin, he will make an end: a good work was begun in Saul, when he was brought to Christ’s feet, in that word, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And never did Christ leave any that were brought to that. Though Saul was sadly mortified when he lay three days blind, yet he was not abandoned. Christ here takes care of the work of his own hands. He that hath torn will heal—that hath smitten will bind up—that hath convinced will comfort.

Annaias, what do we know about him?

First Annais was a disciple!

Which meant he was a believer

But als a committed follower of Jesus

Second we know that annais had good testimony

Acts 22:12 ESV

12 “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there,

Third he wasnt anyone special!

He was just a follower of Jesus who wanted to serve and love the Lord!

Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume Acts 9:10–22

But why were not some of the apostles from Jerusalem sent for upon this great occasion, or Philip the evangelist, who had lately baptized the eunuch, and might have been fetched hither by the Spirit in a little time? Surely, because Christ would employ variety of hands in eminent services, that the honours might not be monopolized nor engrossed by a few—because he would put work into the hands, and thereby put honour upon the heads, of those that were mean and obscure, to encourage them—and because he would direct us to make much of the ministers that are where our lot is cast, if they have ordained mercy to be faithful, though they are not of the most eminent.

God’s Interaction with Ananias:

As we read here, God comes to Annaias in a vision.

He calls him by name

To which Ananias responds “Here am I lord”

Does anyone else absolutely love this?

The intimacy that is shown as God calls Ananias by name and he responds with a ready and willing heart to his Savior!

I have a job for you Ananias:

Go to the street called straight

Go to the house of Judas

Go and find a man named Saul from Tarsus

He is praying

He has seen a vision of a man named Ananias

Who will come and lay hands on him

And in so doing restore his sight once more!

What an honor this was to be used of God in this way, or any way at all for that matter!

Do we take full advantage of the opportunities that God puts before us, that he desires for us to step out in faith and trust only Him

Do we seek to be used of God, are we willing, is it what our heart longs for above all else.

Are you active in your life with God?

This is where I would have put the breaks on in my visiion:

Excuse me God let me make sure I heard that right

You want me to go and look for Saul of Tarsus

This is the man who hates the church

This is the man who consented to the death of stephen your servant

This is the man who is seeking to imprison those of us who follow you

Which is what Ananais does

Acts 9:13–14 ESV

13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.”

I think the Lord new all of these apprehensions that were plaguing Ananias at this point!

He hears Ananais concerns when it comes to this man

So God gives him a bit of insight into His plans for Saul of Tarsus

The bigger Picture:

Acts 9:15–16 ESV

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

The Lord, in response to the concerns of his child Ananias reveals to Ananias the plans he has for Saul

He is a chosen instrument of mine

He will carry the Gospel, the name of Chirst to...

To the Gentils

To Kings

To Israel

He will suffer greatly for the sake of my name

The Blessings of Obedience:

Acts 9:17–19 ESV

17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.