Untitled Sermon (14)

Acts 9:13–21 AV

Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?

Evangelism message:

Saul was knee deep into what he perceived was the right thing to do. However, what he was doing was against the will of God.

While Saul was in the thick of his aggression against God, The Lord had mercy upon him, the LORD saw something in Saul that He could use for His glory!

Saul in the midst of his sin had an encounter with God. Often times, the LORD when he calls, he doesn’t call us because we were so good, or because we were already a good person, or because we were so holy.....no the LORD calls us to rescue us out of our sins, to rescue us out of our disobedience!

When ever you have an encounter with God and you hear the voice of the LORD it pays to obey and follow through. God can take the worst of the worst and turn their life around. It doesn’t matter how messed up you are, it doesn’t matter how bad off the person is, God can save them, God can save their life, God can turn their life around and make them a better person, and use them for His glory!

Saul had an encounter with God in the midst of his persecution of the church. That’s why you need to pray for your enemy.....because your enemy can become a valuable ally if they have an encounter with God.

Once you have an encounter with God, once God reveals himself to you, once you hear the voice of the LORD you have to obey it! This is what Saul did.....he had an encounter with God, he heard the voice of the LORD, he believed God and then he followed through and obeyed the instruction of the LORD! Once you have an encounter with God, once you hear the instruction of God, once you hear the word of God, you have to have faith in it, you have to believe it, and then you have to act upon it!

When Saul had his encounter with the Lord, he was changed. But please understand that his change didn’t happen when Ananias laid his hands on Saul and prayed for him. No, the change happened at the inception of Saul’s faith in the Risen Savior!

Saul believed and then acts upon his faith going into the city. He didn’t allow his blindness to cause him not to act on his faith. Saul was lead into the city of Damascus and waited there. He waited there to receive further instructions. While Saul was waiting......God was working. God began to deal with a believer by the name of Ananias. The Lord told Ananias to go to the house of Judas and ask for a man by the name of Saul from Tarsus. He’s praying........so now we have Saul who is waiting and praying to God waiting for further instructions......he has seen a vision of you coming in and putting his hand on him that he might receive his sight.

Now what is so astounding is that Saul is having visions even before the Lord filled him with the Holy Ghost......God has already begun the work in Saul......and there are some that may be hearing this message and you haven’t received the Holy Ghost yet....but God has begun the work in you!

Ananias in verse 13 begins to protest to the Lord....saying “I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.” But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake!

In other-words Jesus told Ananias that Saul is not the same person he was....because once you have a true encounter with Jesus....you can never be the same again! He changes your life, he changes your walk, he changes your talk, he changes your attitude, he changes your outlook on life, he changes the habits, he changes the preferences, he changes your reputation, he changes your name!

(Verse 17) So now Ananias hears and obeys the Lord, goes into the house and lays his hands upon Saul and says “Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost and when Ananias lays his hands on Saul “immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized!”

The greatest miracle wasn’t that Saul received his sight again....the greatest miracle was that God saved a persecuted, God saved a person filled with hatred in his heart, God forgave a man that had done much harm to the saints......the greatest miracle was the fact that despite all of Saul’s wrongs and hang-ups God baptized him with the Holy Ghost and saved Saul! Saul was baptized in Jesus’ name. Scripture? How do we know Saul was baptized in Jesus’ name? Because Saul who took on the name of Paul baptized converts in Jesus’ name:

Acts 19:4–5 AV

Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

God didn’t stop at just saving Saul/Paul. Now we see....that after Saul is filled with the Holy Ghost....after he is baptized in Jesus’ name.....He is now preaching the gospel. The same one who was terrorizing those who preached the gospel is now preaching it himself! If God can save this man.....God can save any man! If God can forgive this man.....God can forgive any man! If God can turn this man’s life around......God can turn any man’s life around!

If you would harken to the voice of the LORD.....if you would believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and accept Him as Lord and savior of your life.....he can turn your life around! He can give you new life......He can give you eternal life. Jesus said, I come that you might have life and that you may have it more abundantly!