The Least Likely

Imagine with me as we get started this morning. Imagine someone coming up to you and saying, “You should be shaking in your boots because I have the authority to arrest you, try you, and execute you. Persecuting Christians is my passion in life.” Imagine this person isn’t from the government, but is enabled by the government to do what he is doing.

Let’s take a step back and imagine how a person might get to such a moment. They were from the right family, descending from a people who thought they were always superior to everyone else. He kept up appearances of being a religious person, even though in his heart he knew it was a sham. You see, he did the “right” things to be in favor with those in authority.

Now imagine that you were part of a movement of Jesus that was powerful. One that it was obvious that the Holy Spirit was working in and among your church. People were being served by you being the hands and feet of Jesus. People were coming to Christ and being baptized by the hundreds. People were being delivered from harmful lifestyles and bondage. People were being healed from all sorts of afflictions. People were being discipled to reach more people and make more disciples. I don’t know about you, but I long to be a part of such a movement of God!

But there was a problem. You see, that movement of God was seen as a threat by another “religious” group because it threatened their way of life, their wealth, their influence, and their power. As God continued to move among this other group of people, they saw it more and more as a threat everyday.

Here’s the problem. That particular “religious” group was well connected. Their wealth and influence had translated into political power that essentially let them get away with whatever they wanted. A young man in this “religious” group is growing more frustrated and angry every day. He sees how this movement of Jesus could end up causing lots of trouble and maybe even costing him everything. It So he starts to take matters into his own hands. He starts to harass people who are in this “Jesus movement.”

He realizes shortly after this that harassment won’t do it. They are not intimidated by it, but in fact praise Jesus even more, which results in more people coming to know Christ. He decides to ramp up the pressure a bit. He starts bringing false accusations against people who are seen as leaders in the movement, having them thrown in prison, but that doesn’t work either. Others just step up and take their place.

It is at this point he steps up the game even further planting evidence and accusing leaders of heinous crimes that would likely result in their death. He thinks he is successful as one of the prominent leaders ends up being executed. However, the movement doesn’t stop, it just keeps getting stronger.

While this young man has been on a rampage to imprison, torture, and even have people killed for being a part of this powerful movement of God in our world, what he doesn’t realize is that God is about to get his attention. One day, very suddenly, God gets a hold of this young man’s heart and does a transformational work that only God can do.

You might think I’m talking about something that could happen in the coming days or maybe something that has happened in more recent history, but I’m not. I’m talking about someone out of Scripture, someone who went on to be one of the greatest missionaries of all time, Saul of Tarsus.

Turn with me to Acts 9 as we look at the account of God getting a hold of a ruthless murder, who had been persecuting and having Christians put to death. When the believers saw Saul coming, there was most definitely fear, and I’m sure some gave into that fear. But we also see many stand up to that persecution with such a fervent love for Jesus that they refused to back down, leading to death. Just before this account in Acts 9, we see the account of Stephen being stoned, martyred for his faith in Christ.

Acts 9:1–31 NIV

1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. 10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. 11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” 13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” 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, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah. 23 After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, 24 but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25 But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall. 26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him. 30 When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. 31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

If we jump back to Acts 8, after the stoning of Stephen, the crowd piles their coats at a young man named Saul. We know at this point that Saul is anything but an observer, but is actually a leader of this resistance to these “Christians”. Saul, like the young man in our earlier story, goes on to ravage the church, going door to door to find Christians to imprison. What is interesting is this causes the church to disperse, into Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. One example is Philip going to Samaria where the gospel is overwhelmingly accepted, so much so that Peter and John join him. The next time we see Philip it is with the Ethiopian eunuch after his visit to Jerusalem.

God’s mission doesn’t discriminate between crowds of people in cities or lone travelers on the road. It doesn’t discriminate between Jews and Gentile. And it doesn’t even discriminate against a Christian persecuting, Christian murdering Jew that many people might have the opinion isn’t worth saving. Just a quick note - no one is beyond saving by God’s grace alone and as believers we need to treat everyone that way!

WALK THROUGH SAUL’S ENCOUNTER in ACTS 9 - INCLUDING ANANIAS ENCOUNTER

Do we still believe that God can perform a miraculous change in someone’s life like we see in Saul on the road to Damascus?

I can’t help but wonder how we would accept someone like this into the fellowship of believers in 2021?

Would we take them seriously if they all of a sudden started preaching a powerful message or would we be skeptical and afraid at first?

John Wesley wrote in one of his sermons (sermon 61) - “Persecution never did, never could, give any lasting wound to genuine Christianity. But the greatest it ever received, the gran blow which was struck at the very root of that humble, gentle, patient love, which is the fulfilling of the Christian law, the whole essence of true religion, was struck in the fourth century by Constantine the Great, when he called himself a Christian, and poured in a flood of riches, honours, and power upon the Christians, more especially on the clergy.”

RITUAL

The Communion Supper, instituted by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is a sacrament, which proclaims His life, His sufferings, His sacrificial death, and resurrection, and the hope of His coming again. It shows forth the Lord’s death until His return.

The Supper is a means of grace in which Christ is present by the Spirit. It is to be received in reverent appreciation and gratefulness for the work of Christ.

All those who are truly repentant, forsaking their sins, and believing in Christ for salvation are invited to participate in the death and resurrection of Christ. We come to the table that we may be renewed in life and salvation and be made one by the Spirit.

In unity with the Church, we confess our faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. And so we pray:

PRAYER OF CONFESSION AND SUPPLICATION – ENDING WITH:

Holy God,

We gather at this, your table, in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who by your Spirit was anointed to preach good news to the poor, proclaim release to the captives, set at liberty those who are oppressed. Christ healed the sick, fed the hungry, ate with sinners, and established the new covenant for forgiveness of sins. We live in the hope of His coming again.

On the night in which He was betrayed, He took bread, gave thanks, broke the bread, gave it to His disciples, and said: “This is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

Likewise, when the supper was over, He took the cup, gave thanks, gave it to His disciples, and said: “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in remembrance of me.” Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

And so, we gather as the Body of Christ to offer ourselves to you in praise and thanksgiving. Pour out your Holy Spirit on us and on these your gifts. Make them by the power of your Spirit to be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the Body of Christ, redeemed by His blood.

By your Spirit make us one in Christ, one with each other, and one in the ministry of Christ to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, let us pray:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

EXPLAIN ELEMENTS

The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, broken for you, preserve you blameless, unto everlasting life. Eat this in remembrance that Christ died for you, and be thankful.

The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, shed for you, preserve you blameless unto everlasting life. Drink this in remembrance that Christ died for you, and be thankful.

CONCLUDING PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING AND COMMITMENT