Fall Before the Name of Jesus

Introduction:

There will always be opposition to the Way.

Saul was breathing threats and murder against those of the Way.

Acts 8:1-3 “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. “

Gen. 49:27 “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf, in the morning devouring the prey and at evening dividing the spoil.”

He got letters in order to arrest Men and Women of the Way.

The Way was an Early name for Christians.

Our World speaks the same threats.

The World and Ultimately the devil proclaim that Jesus was a nice teacher. He said some really nice things. We get the golden rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” from Jesus. BUT so was Ghandi who was a good man and taught good things. So was Buddha who taught good things and was good. So was Confussus and Muhummad. This is an attack of the Devil upon the Supermacy of Jesus. This comparision is not ture, because Jesus was the only good man, the only good teacher, and the only Way to heaven. Jesus Says, “I am the Way that Truth and the Life no one comes to the Father excepte through me.”

This is the problem in the heart of Mankind. We want to be god, we want to be incharge. We want to say what is right and with is wrong. There is only One. The human heart in it’s sin is in cosmic rebellion against it maker!

This will not last. Dad and the Ram

Sooner or Later everyone will fall before the glory of the Lord.

Saul fell sooner rather than later.

The Light of Heaven shone around them and Saul feel to the ground.

Jesus does not indicate that Saul was persecuting his followers or the church, but Himself.

Jesus tells Saul His Name and then commands him to go and wait.

Everyone will later fall on the day of Judgement.

There is coming a day when the most hardened athiest will be forced to acknowledge the Name of Jesus.

Philippians 2:9-11 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Every individual will be forced to recognize the supremcy of Jesus Christ.

Now is the time of mercy, so fall before the Name of Jesus.

2 Peter 3:9-10 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

2 Cor 6:2 For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation

The New King James Version Chapter 9

It is hard for you to kick against the goads.

If the Lord is calling you it is hard to kick against the goad.

Working cows - Seth and I getting the cow to go forward.

Others may not understand the call on our lives but we will not be able to ignore it!

When we fall before the Lord we will see.

Saul regained his physical sight.

The Lord goes to Ananias and tells him to go to the street called straight

Intersting but not definitively profound.

Tells Him to Go to Saul and lay hands on him that he might receive his sight.

Ananias is uncertian about this command. He has heard of Saul and how Saul has persecuted those who call on the Name of the Lord.

Jesus Proclaims to Ananias that Saul is His chosen (ἐκλογή The act of picking out) Instrument (σκεῦος Household utensil) to carry the Name of Jesus to the Gentiles, Kings, and childeren of Israel.

Ananias goes and does what the Lord commands him to do.

Saul receives his sight as something like scales fall off of his eyes.

Saul immedetily is baptized and then eats.

We all receive spiritual sight.

Internal Change

We see that Jesus is Lord.

English Standard Version Chapter 10

if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

English Standard Version Chapter 35

Say to those who have an anxious heart,

“Be strong; fear not!

Behold, your God

will come with vengeance,

with the recompense of God.

He will come and save you.”

5  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,

and the ears of the deaf unstopped;

English Standard Version Chapter 35

And a highway shall be there,

and it shall be called the Way of Holiness;

He is in control.

He has a plan.

Mom’s spoon thing

He provides salvation to all who call on His name. Joel 2:30-32

English Standard Version Chapter 2

30 “And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. 32 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved

Therefore, if we have receive sight we live differently.

External Change

Have you ever witnessed a blind man or woman walking down the street. I am always impressed by their ability to use their white cane to tell if there are rocks, trees, or anything else in their way. You do not see a blind individual running down the street, because they arer blind. However, what would happen if that individual suddenly received their sight? They would probably do everything different. They would run, see rainbows, watch movies, or anything else that they were prevented from doing because of their blindness. Similarly, when we behold the Glory of Jesus and believe confess that Jesus is Lord and Believe in our hearts that God rasied Him from the Dead WE CHANGE!

Saul immediately proclaims Jesus as the Son of God!

The Jews wanted to kill him.

The Disciples in Jerusalem din’t beleive at first.

When we behold the glory of Jesus we are inevitable changed.

We proclaim Jesus with our lips.

We proclaim Jesus with our deeds.