Sermon Tone Analysis

Saul was determined to wipe out The Way

The namesake of Israel’s most insecure leader, was following in his footsteps.

A young Pharisee who wanted to make a name for himself saw an opportunity with this band of nobodies who were shaking up the religious scene.

His methods were clearly whatever it takes to stop them:

First I just want to point out that followers of Jesus were said to be members of The Way. Remember, Jesus had said: I am the way, the truth and the life.

I don’t know if they came up with this name or if they were tagged with it, but it’s an interesting choice.

Unlikely people following a surprising savior in a whole new way of life.

The way.

A way of peace and love and joy in the Holy Spirit.

But also a way of invitation and welcome and challenge to live differently.

So, of course, threaten to murder them and get papers to arrest them, even planning to drag people in Damascus all the way back to Jerusalem.

So there’s no doubt Saul was committed.

He knew the Scriptures inside and out, but other things were higher on his agenda.

Simply knowing the Scriptures alone can’t make up for the absence of genuine faith in Jesus.

Listen to Paul writing later about his state of mind at this time...

Even John Wesley was an ordained priest in the Church of England and had been a missionary to Georgia here in the U.S. BEFORE he actually found true faith...

Mr. Wesley dates his conversion from May 24, 1738.

His mind had been particularly impressed during that day with certain passages of Scripture which had occurred to him; and “in the evening,” he says, “I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate-street, where one was reading Luther’s Preface to the Epistle to the Romans.

About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed.

I felt I did trust in Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me, that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.”

Wesley, J. (1872).

The Works of John Wesley (Third Edition, Vol. 5, p. xiv).

London: Wesleyan Methodist Book Room.

So as I’ve been talking about this whole series, knowing the Scriptures is important, but knowing Jesus is more important.

Saul was in the state of unbelief.

In that state, the world still had a great pull on him.

John Wesley had not yet fully trusted Christ, so he was in constant fear and confusion despite his position.

The Scriptures point us to Jesus.

That is their purpose.

We should study them as much as we are able, but we should not worship the Bible.

The author we call Luke wrote his gospel and this book of acts “so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.”

John wrote his gospel saying:

The goal is faith.

Faith in Jesus.

Apart from faith in Jesus you can’t fully understand the Scriptures.

Paul knew so much but he could not have been more wrong.

So God intervened in a unique way for a unique man at a unique moment in history.

So Saul, was blinded by the light from heaven.

He was called out directly by Jesus.

Later as Paul tells this story to King Agrippa at Caesarea he shares another important detail:

To begin with, he warns Paul about the difficulty of ‘kicking against the goads’ (verse 14) like an ox, angry at the metal prods that are pushing it in the right direction and kicking out at them, thereby making things worse.

The point is not simply that God is wanting Paul to do something and, like an obstinate ox, he is refusing.

The point is that the crucified Jesus is himself doing a new work through his resurrection, and that Paul, in persecuting the church, is like an ox kicking against the direction the Driver intends the whole ox-train, plough and all, to be travelling.

So Saul is trying to serve the right God and studying the right books and is very committed to what he understands.

But the absence of deep faith in the true messiah has left a void and he’s trying too hard to fill that void.

As it turns out he’s literally persecuting Jesus.

Remember over in Matthew 25 when Jesus said, if you do it unto the least of these by brothers you do it unto me and when you don’t do it to the least of these by brothers you don’t do it unto me?

Yeah, here’s most likely what Jesus is talking about.

You persecute my followers, you persecute me and I’ve got their backs, Saul.

So this is going nowhere.

Basically he’s saying: realize how blind you are over this next three days.

Realize how wrong you’ve been.

Get yourself ready for what comes next...

Okay so Saul’s mind is blown.

Someone else’s mind is about to get blown...

Ananias.

Just a dude following Jesus for all he’s worth over in Damascus, the place Saul is going to arrest people.

Probably one of the people he would have abused and imprisoned.

It’s vision time again and Jesus says: Ananias!

Ananias says: Yes, Lord.

Always the right answer.

Go to the house of Judas over on Straight Street and ask for Saul of Tarsus because he’s praying and has seen a man named Ananias laying hands on him and praying for him to receive sight.

Ananias: Uh, cool, Jesus.

But I think I’ve heard a bunch of stuff about this guy.

He’s done some bad stuff to your holy people in Jersalem and he’s here to do more to US!

Jesus: Go!

This is my guy and I’m going to do great things through him and I’ll take care of everything else.

And just like Philip, even though it’s such weird request, it says this:

Yeah, so the chief of sinners gets wet for Jesus!

Can I get an amen?

And hey a cheer for Ananias for being a very cool and very forgiving and very obedient and very bold man of God, amen?

But all praise and glory to God above for being so full of grace and mercy, watching over his people and preparing the way.

For taking what seems like the most impossible moment and bringing out the best in everyone and turning things around radically!

The Devil thought he had this little band of believers isolated and down for the count.

But he. did.

not!!!! Ha! Jesus was just.

getting.

started.

Friends, I don’t know what you’ve done in your past that makes you doubt that God can use you.

But Peter and Paul are standing there, saying: he used us.

He can use you.

Don’t fight against God.

Trust God.

We are all up against some very interesting circumstances right now.

But we serve the same God.

He specializes in flipping the script and snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.

God will do his part.

IF we do our part like Ananias, he will turn darkness into light.

He will give spiritual sight to those who are spiritually blind.

Hard cases.

Tough guys.

Does Jesus have disciples in Munster, and Hammond, in Highland, Lansing and Dyer, and Crete?

People who will obey and trust and sacrifice in times of uncertainty?

People who will hold steady by the grace of God and not lose heart?

I believe he does and I believe great days are ahead because of our great God.

Let it be so, here, Lord.

Let it be so in our lives so it can be so in our community.

Let’s not kick against the goads.

Let’s stay in step with God’s plan and see what God will do.

Let’s pray...