ARE YOU BEING Led by The Spirit?
Notes
Transcript
Can you see clearly now
Can you see clearly now
Good morning! As we continue with our theme “Presence and Power” Holy Spirit. I want us to look at the importance of being able to see clearly as we go about the call of God on our lives. We will look at the conversion of Saul who became Paul and when the scales were removed from our eyes, he could see clearly, he understood that he was a sinner who needed a Saviour and stepped into the call of God on his life.
LETS PRAY
Today I believe this is the same for us (not if but) when we receive salvation.
Holy Spirit draws us to Christ
We recognise that we are sinners
We ask Jesus into our hearts, the scales begin to fall off. (The blindness begins to go)
Baptised with Holy Spirit and baptism with water
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
This is the great commission that Jesus left us with when He went to Heaven
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Now let us look at Saul’s conversion:
1. CONVERSION
What is conversion?
The process of changing or causing something to change from one form to another.
The fact of changing one's religion or beliefs or the action of persuading someone else to change theirs. "he insists that real conversion is a matter of the heart"
Now the 1st rule in the conversion process is that there has to be a need for the thing to be converted
There has to be something wrong with it in the first place
There has to be a need for the change
Remember the old saying if it isn’t broke don’t fix it
This is what we see in today’s text
Paul who is still Saul at this point is going through a conversion
There’s a need for Saul to be converted – changed
1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
Now the first thing we see is that there is a huge difference between the Saul we see in verse 1 and the Saul we see in verse 8
One moment he’s storming up the road, determined to capture and imprison Christians.
The next minute he is being led like a child by the hand into Damascus.
I love the grace of God toward us, I have seen this outwork in my life many times, launching out of the blocks wanting to deal with something myself that I think I have the answer for, when it is Gods wisdom that is truly needed.
10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.” 13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” 17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. 19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. 20 Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.
2. LET OUR EYES BE OPENED
We see Saul’s eyes were opened and he could see clearly, his life had been completely changed. Saul’s blindness had him breathing threats and wanting to murder the disciples of the Lord and after his conversion he is now preaching Christ.
What are things in our lives that are impairing our ability to hear the voice of the Spirit and respond to His leading.
Today we are going to spend a little time asking God to remove the scales from our eyes
That we may see clearly
5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
That we may fulfil Gods call on our lives
That we maybe lead by the Spirit
Are you being led by the Spirit?
Having the scales removed from our eyes helps us to lead others to Christ that they may walk in the freedom He has for them.
This morning as the worship team join me on stage