Living Missionally: Requirements for Living Missionally

Acts 9: 1-25

Acts 9:1–25 (NLT)

1 Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest.

2 He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.

3 As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him.

4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”

5 “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!

6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

7 The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one!

8 Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus.

9 He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink.

10 Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord!” he replied.

11 The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now.

12 I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.”

13 “But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem!

14 And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.”

15 But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.

16 And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

17 So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

18 Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized.

19 Afterward he ate some food and regained his strength. Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days.

20 And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!”

21 All who heard him were amazed. “Isn’t this the same man who caused such devastation among Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem?” they asked. “And didn’t he come here to arrest them and take them in chains to the leading priests?”

22 Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn’t refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.

23 After a while some of the Jews plotted together to kill him.

24 They were watching for him day and night at the city gate so they could murder him, but Saul was told about their plot.

25 So during the night, some of the other believers lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the city wall.

Introduction:

In previous messages in this series, we have looked at:

The need to answer the call to live missionally

The need to recognize the big picture of Christ’s Mission

The need to recognize that accomplishing the big picture of Christ’s mission starts with one (one disciple reaching one person for Jesus.).

In order for a person to live in-mission for Jesus, there are certain prerequisites that must be fulfilled by a person. Notice some factors that determine if we are capable of living missionally.

A Transformed Life

A Surrendered Life

A Growing Relationship

I- A TRANSFORMED LIFE (Acts 9:1–9).

Acts 9:1–9 (NLT)

1 Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest.

2 He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.

3 As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him.

4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”

5 “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!

6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

7 The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one!

8 Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus.

9 He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink.

A- Transformed through the new birth experience.

(John 3:3)

John 3:3 (NLT)

3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

1- The new birth makes you a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17).

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

B- Transformed as he works on and in you day by day (Romans 12:2).

Romans 12:2 (NLT)

2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

1- Through the renewing of the inner man (mind, attitude, and spirit).

(2 Cor. 4:16)

2 Corinthians 4:16 (NLT)

16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.

(Ephesians 4:23)

Ephesians 4:23 (NLT)

23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.

2- By the ministry of the Holy Spirit and the word of God (Ephesians 5:26; Titus 3:5).

Ephesians 5:26 (NLT)

26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.

Titus 3:5 (NLT)

5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.

You should not be the same as you were when you first believed.

(Philippians 2:5-9)

Philippians 2:5–9 (NLT)

5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.

7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,

8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names,

attitudes changed

motivations changed

actions changed

desires changed

II- A SURRENDERED LIFE (Acts 9:10 – 19).

A- An active listener (Acts 9:10b-16).

Acts 9:10b–16 (NLT)

10 Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord!” he replied.

11 The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now.

12 I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.”

13 “But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem!

14 And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.”

15 But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.

16 And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

1- Willing to listen to personal instructions.

B- An Obedient heart (Acts 9:17–19).

Acts 9:17–19 (NLT)

17 So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

18 Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized.

19 Afterward he ate some food and regained his strength. Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days.

1- even when the task can be personally costly.

2- Obedience is a matter of faith.

(Luke 6:46)

Luke 6:46 (NLT)

46 “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?

III- A GROWING RELATIONSHIP (Acts 9:20 – 25).

A- A growing relationship begins with an open commitment (Acts 9:20).

Acts 9:20 (NLT)

20 And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!”

1- No relationship can grow if it is secret.

a- Jesus does not allow for secret discipleship (Matthew 10:32).

Matthew 10:32 (NLT)

32 “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.

B- A growing relationship is a changing relationship (Acts 9:21 – 22).

Acts 9:21–22 (NLT)

21 All who heard him were amazed. “Isn’t this the same man who caused such devastation among Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem?” they asked. “And didn’t he come here to arrest them and take them in chains to the leading priests?”

22 Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn’t refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.

1- The more we grow, the more our strength grows.

like physical growth

can handle more in terms of responsibility and adversity.

2- The more we grow, the deeper is our understanding of Christ and his word grows.

(2 Peter 3:18)

2 Peter 3:18 (NLT)

18 Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.

* like physical growth

if your understanding has not grown, you have not grown.

Conclusion:

when we engage in powerful personal ministries, we will find a powerful collective ministry. To do this we must:

A transformed life

A surrendered life

A growing life

Now What?

You need to honestly answer some key questions:

Has my life been transformed by Christ? (Have I received the salvation Jesus offers?)

Am I living a life of surrender to Christ? (Do I place any limits upon my obedience to Him?)

Am I pursuing a continually growing relationship with Christ? (Am I seeking to learn more about His word and will for me? Am I living out the truths that he teaches me in daily life?)

What am I going to do right now and in the days ahead to make it possible to live missionally?