From Murderer to Missionary

Saul and the mob were on a murderous rampage against the disciples.

He had the high priest give them legitimacy.

Synagogues did have the right to administer punishment (2 Cor. 11:24), and Paul himself did recall his persecution to have been exceedingly fierce (Gal. 1:13).

He was on his way to Damascus to do the same as they did in Jerusalem.

Many early Christians had fled from Jerusalem and Damascus was one of those places the people gathered.

Nearly there, a bright light and loud noise dazzled him, while walking through the desert, and he fell to the ground.

Saul had seen Jesus and heard his voice.

“Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, sir?” “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” (Nothing Ambiguous Here)

To persecute the church is to persecute Jesus himself.

Saul had attacked the claims of Christians, which were the claims of Jesus.

The other men stood because they also fell to the ground.

It is probable they all journeyed on foot.

Hearing the noise but not an articulate voice.

Seeing the light, but not Jesus himself.

He was kicking violently against the goads (provoked), it was hurting him to do so.

His conversion on the road to Damascus was the sudden climax of a long-drawn-out process of God pursuing him.

He had been there when Stephen was stoned to death, and he would have known of Jesus.

Sudden conversions do happen, but not simply or easily, always with some agony.

the tortured soul, overwhelmed, crying out and pleading, “Lord, save or I perish.” – Acts 9:9

This experience was seared into Saul’s memory.

For three days Saul was blind and not eating, examining his soul.

Others must have seen how affected he was and humbled by the possibility of it happening to them.

Ananias was told to go meet Saul the Persecutor who sought their priest-sanctioned arrest and murder.

Ananias tries to argue with God, but God tells him to “Go!” and do as God commanded.

We are often startled by bright lights and loud noises.

These are mostly created to draw our attention to something or someone.

Sometimes, we get louder or create larger signs.

How far do you want God to go in getting your attention?

If God has to choose between your eternal safety and your earthly comfort, which do you hope he chooses? Don’t answer too quickly. Give it some thought.

God does what it takes to get our attention.

God will whisper, God will shout, God will touch and tug.

He will take away our burdens; He’ll even take away our blessings.

If there are thousand steps between us and him, he will take all but one.

He will leave the final one for us. The choice to listen is ours.

For Saul, God blinded him and made him silent.

What inspires a person to change from Murderer to Missionary?

The commission to the Gentiles comes along the road (literally and figuratively).

This was not a renunciation of who Saul and Israel claimed as their identity and heritage but an awakening to their responsibility to bless all the families of the earth and to be a light to the nations.

The Pharisees saw their separation from the rest of humanity as the goal of their faith.

In light of Jesus and his Spirit given at Pentecost, they were relearning how to bring that light to the nations.

“When God suddenly and vehemently attacks a sinner, it is the highest act of mercy.” “Severe, yet full of Grace.” – J.W.

Saul extended no mercy to the Christians, but God extended mercy to him.

God himself sends Saul to be taught by a man, necessarily requiring him to humble himself before those he attempted to have killed.

Following the Directions of God

Saul confronted with God’s sovereignty

Saul confronted with God’s grace

Ananias confronted with God’s sovereignty

Ananias confronted with God’s grace

Both Dared to believe in God’s Transforming Power

A supernatural occurrence did happen, yet “the Lord deals with us by men, like ourselves.” – J.W.

Saul was graciously received into the body of Christ through God’s Sovereignty Grace

Saul’s conversion:

Recognition of the Risen Lord, Jesus Christ

Penitence and Prayer

Baptism with public confession

Evidenced for life change

Saul would be given a new name; he rejected the honors of his earlier life; he considered all as lost in the light of Christ.

The Persecutor becomes one of the persecuted.

Saul is called by God, by God’s own working to extend his covenant to all the nations.

If God could change Saul the murderer (life-taking) into Paul the missionary (life-giving), there is hope for us.

We might not have a Damascus road experience but God does not leave us to ourselves.

When God reveals himself to us, he does it in a way that is Apparent to us, he Changes us, and it is Seared into our memory.

Like with Saul, God is merciful with us, even when we have been unmerciful with others.

Experiencing the confrontation of God shows us how important living in the light of truth is.

Experiencing God grace and mercy inspires us to respond to others with the same kind of grace and mercy.

Thank God that God confronts us that we may not be eternally lost in ourselves.

After confrontation, we are forgiven as we forgive others.

By the Spirit we are made ready to hear and obey the commands of God, that others might be received into the kingdom of God.

Even when it may be potentially dangerous.