Acts 9:1-31 The Lord Jesus Calls Coverts and Sends and Unites.

Christopher Manfreda

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WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Good Morning .. Pause

I welcome you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Out Scripture meditation is from

Psalm 67:1-3 “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!”

PRELUDE — Use these moments to prayerfully consider the Scripture meditation above, so you may properly give God the glory due to His name.

THE LORD CALLS US TO WORSHIP HIM

*God’s Word of Greeting

Call to Worship Psalm 67:4-5

Psalm 67:4-5 “Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!”

*Psalm of Praise Psalm

Let us rise for the singing of Gods Word

Turn in your In your Trinity Psalter Hymnal to Psalm 51C

INVOCATION:

Father we now call upon you to be with us and be in our presence.

And illuminate our minds by your Spirit and Word.

We thank you Father in all things in Christ name Amen.

OUR RESPONSE TO GOD’S CALL

Responsive Reading Psalm 51

I will read the Odd verses And you will read the Even Verses

English Standard Version Psalm 51

1 Have mercy on me, O God,

according to your steadfast love;

according to your abundant mercy

blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

and cleanse me from my sin!

3 For I know my transgressions,

and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against you, you only, have I sinned

and done what is evil in your sight,

so that you may be justified in your words

and blameless in your judgment.

5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,

and in sin did my mother conceive me.

6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,

and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear joy and gladness;

let the bones that you have broken rejoice.

9 Hide your face from my sins,

and blot out all my iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from your presence,

and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

and uphold me with a willing spirit.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,

and sinners will return to you.

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,

O God of my salvation,

and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.

15 O Lord, open my lips,

and my mouth will declare your praise.

16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;

you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;

build up the walls of Jerusalem;

19 then will you delight in right sacrifices,

in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;

then bulls will be offered on your altar.

*LET US PRAY

Prayer of Confession and Repentance

Our Father in heaven

we pray to you as our great Mediator and, Lord Jesus Christ instructed us to,

the Fountain of life and of immortality,

the Author of all creation,

both visible and invisible,

the Son who is coeternal with the Father and equal with the Father Which has no beginning,

Who through your great goodness

has offered Yourself a sacrifice for us ungrateful and evil-natured men,

and you renewed us with your blood.

Our nature which has become corrupt through sin:

We ask of you to accept us O King Immortal,

Accept our repentance and our sinful self;

We pray that you would incline your ear unto us,

and give heed unto our words:

For we have sinned, O Lord,

We have sinned against heaven and before You,

and we are not worthy to look upon the greatness of your glory.

We have affronted your goodness, in that we have transgressed your commandments,

And we have not obeyed your commands.

But you, O Lord, You are not vengeful,

Rather you are long-suffering and of great mercy,

And you have not delivered us over to destruction for our transgressions.

You who love your elect before the foundation of the World

desire not the death of us sinners,

You don’t desire, to destroy the work of your hands

neither the destruction of the human race,

but that all men should call on you for salvation.

And that they should come to the knowledge of the truth.

Accept us, O Lord,

Who loves his people,

And desires those who society looks down upon.

You who did accept the sinning woman, the thief, the publican, the prodigal son;

take our heavy burden of sin,

You Christ Jesus Who has taken upon yourself the sins of the world,

Who heals human infirmities,

Who calls us to Worship the true and living God,

and gives rest unto those who labour and are heavy laden;

Who did come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance.

Purify us from all uncleanness,

both bodily and spiritual,

and teach us to fulfill holiness in the fear and knowledge of you

That we might approach you with a pure conscience,

Through the Blood of your Son and our Savior alone.

In Christ name Amen

Assurance of Pardon Romans 8:31-39

English Standard Version (Chapter 8)

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not, also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

LET US RISE FOR THE SINGING OF GODS WORD

Hymn of Thanksgiving

Turn in your In your Trinity Psalter Hymnal to Psalm 67B

LET US PRAY

Congregational Prayer

Lord, teach us to be resigned to your will; teach us to delight in your law;

teach us to have no will but your will;

teach us to understand that everything you do is good and is the very best that can be done.

Help us to leave our concerns in your divine hands, being persuaded that you have sway even over evil; that out of it you bring good,

till your high purposes shall develop in your own perfect glory,

and in the perfect bliss of all those who put their trust in you.

father we pray for the congregation

Blanks - Pregnancy

Faulkners - continued success with the state and growth in Godliness individually and as parents.

Vicorys-transition out of the military and new business’s

David Williams -

Sandy F.

Clarissa F.

Pregnancies - that they will come to term and add to the congregation covenant children.

Austin OPC:s

South Austin, Providence (Pflugerville)

Father we Pray for _____________ and we ask for all these things in the powerful, glorious, majestic, and wonderful name of Jesus Christ Amen.

YOU MAY BE SEATED

OLD Testament Reading

TURN IN YOUR COPY OF GODS WORD TO Ecclesiastes 12:1-13

HERE NOW THE WORD OF THE LORD

English Standard Version Chapter 12

12 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; 2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, 3 in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, 4 and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low— 5 they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets— 6 before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, 7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. 8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.

Fear God and Keep His Commandments

9 Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. 10 The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth.

11 The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. 12 My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

May The Lord add his Blessing to this reading of His Word

I chose this passage of scripture because it keeps things in perspective.

Our labors here on earth are only for time.

And without the Lord Jesus Christ and the redemptive work that he did on the cross and our lives in light of that work.

Everything else is vanity if it’s not done in light of that work.

Remember what man’s chief and his man’s chief and his to glorify God into enjoy him forever.

And Saul is about to have a moment in his life in our new testament reading that is going to put his life in perspective

the right perspective looking to the eternal son of God look to the one he once persecuted

and who he will worship the rest of his life on earth

and then in the new heavens and new earth.

SERMON/NEW Testament Reading

TURN IN YOUR COPY OF GODS WORD TO Acts 9:1-31

Hear Now the Very Word of God

9 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at 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 instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened.

Saul Proclaims Jesus in Synagogues

For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

Saul Escapes from Damascus

23 When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.

Saul in Jerusalem

26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. 30 And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.

The Grass withers the Flower Fades But the Word of Our God Will Stand Forever.

Acts 9:1-31 The Lord Jesus Calls Coverts and Sends and Unites

vs. 1-9The Lord Calls Saul

If there ever was a great story from our History

This is it

It takes place on the way to Damascus

The city of Damascus lies east of Mount Hermon.

Saul is about to meet Jesus on the road to Damascus.

Sometimes the Lord coverts a man with an awakening from a further understanding of the Scriptures.

Like the Ethiopian Eunuch in chapter 8 of Acts.

Where Phillip gives more understanding of the Scriptures and then the Lord wakes him up.

But that is not the case with Saul in our text this morning.

Maybe the Lord makes so dramatic of a conversion because Saul was so very outwardly persecuting the church.

We are not told in the text.

But Saul is using the synagogues at Damascus and the High Priest to actively persecute the followers of the Way.

He wants to bring Fathers Mothers bound to Jerusalem.

He thinks he is defending the true religion.

The God of Israel.

The God who has been delivering God’s people for generations.

The God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob

The true and living God.

Is about to call Saul to Follow him.

The God that Saul thinks he’s following.

And even thought he is persecuting those of the way.

That’s what early Christians were called.

Followers of the Way which in Hebrew is pronounced “Hudous”

Which literally means Road or path.

And that is a great description of what Saul is about to be sent on.

Saul is persecuting those on the road or path that Christ has sent them on.

And now Saul is about to be sent on the Road or path to Damascus as a blind man.

So on the Road

We read in verse 3

3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Saul is literally a fulfilment of

Isa 42:16 “And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them.”

Saul is Blind for three days

Calvin says regarding this blinding

Acts 9:4 (Calvin Ac): Luke compared the light which shined round about Paul to lightning,

lightnings and thunderbolts did fly in the air.

And this voice of Christ, was sent out to beat down his pride,

because it did not only strike him,

and make him astonished, but did quite kill him,

so that he was now as nobody with himself,

who did so much to please himself before,

and did everything in his power to put the gospel to flight.

Isn’t that what we need before we will turn to Christ.

to be humbled.

To be beaten down by this life.

To know that we are not in control of everything that happens to us in this life.

But more importantly it is nothing in our selves that can make us right with God.

No matter how zealous we are for what we believe.

The work of the Father, Christ and the Spirit in a man or a woman’s life is all in the hands of our Sovereign creator.

Isn’t Saul proof of that.

I bet he was always at the synagogue.

He was the Hebrew of Hebrews

A Pharisee He New the Bible the Law of God.

But he did not know God

Because God had not called him to himself yet.

because Saul is in the Dark.

Yet he sees the light from heaven

the darkness before Saul is literally light,

But the text says even though his eyes are opened he sees nothing.

And he is not hearing things that arn’t there.

The men who are with him see nothing but hear the voice of God as well.

And Saul is not only blinded.

Saul is rebuked

Jesus says “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?”

Jesus is saying your literally hurting me when you persecute my people.

And Saul recognizes this to be one with power.

When he says who are you Lord?

Pause

He uses the greek word Kurios

the same word used in

Mat 7.21 ““Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

But this Lord identifies himself as Jesus

I think Saul is now being humbled.

The Jesus who he persecutes

Through Jesus’s people who are of the Way.

Now says to Saul

Rise! and go into Damascus.

And he can’t do this on his own the men with him have to lead him.

I bet they had to pick him up from the ground

Because he is laying prostrate on the ground.

He is encountering the God of everything

The text says his actual eyes are open but he is still blind.

He is not seeing anything anymore.

He is not only blind but he doesn't eat or drink anything.

Have you ever fasted for any period of time?

No water

No food

No light

For three days

This once fierce man is now at the mercy of those around him.

he is brought low.

Isn’t this how the Lord Jesus brings many to himself that are adults when they come to faith or even teenagers when they come to faith.

We are battling against God.

We are denying the things of God.

We are saying Jesus was a good man.

But he is not God He is not Kurios he is not Lord

And Christ has to show us our sinfulness.

For Saul it was why are you persecuting my people.

Maybe many today can relate with that.

Maybe you once persecuted Christians with your

Thoughts, Words, or actions.

Maybe you thought your Thoughts, Words, or actions. were innocent at the time.

Maybe you thought you were just in your actions

as Saul thought he was just.

And why do we rage against Christ?

Isn't that the question of Psalm 2

Isn’t that the teaching of Psalm 2

“Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?

The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,

“Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.”

He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.

Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying,

“As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” I will tell of the decree:

The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.

Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.

You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.

Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled.

Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”

We need to turn to Christ for Refuge.

We need to turn to Christ for help.

Saul needs to turn to the very Christ he persecuted for Refuge.

Because without Chirst we have no hope.

Because without him we would experience the eternal Wrath of God when we die for all eternity.

Eternity children means forever.

Next in verses 10-19

Vs. 10-19 The Lord Gives Saul and Ananias a Calling.

Saul is to go to Damascus

Ananias is to go to Saul so that he might receive his sight again.

Lets read Acts 9:10-16 “Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.””

When the the scripture says a street called straight.

In Greek this Word is “EuQus” it means immediately, at once, direct.

Christ is saying to Ananias in this vision or dream go immediately to the house of Judas.

He is waiting for you and he is praying.

And this has to be one vivid dream because Ananias is questioning God in it.

Ananias says haven’t you heard Lord this man is an evil man

Who has done evil things.

And the evil he is commited against your saints.

And he has the authority of the chief priests to bind all those who call on your name.

I guess Ananias thought that he could dissuade The Lord Jesus from sending him to Saul.

He wanted to obey and yet he was fearful to do the task the Lord had called him too.

I sure none of us can relate to Ananias?

Right?

What is the second and great commandment

We are to “Love our neighbor as ourself”

We dialog with God and ourselves in our minds all the time Don’t We?

Who’s my neighbor?

They need to apologize first

then I will forgive them.

You know how sinful those people are in that part of town?

Rather we are to go and make reconciliation with those that have harmed us?

Those that seek to discredit us?

Those that seek to jail us?

Those that seek to take to take our lives?

Ananias just needs to go as the Lord has instructed him in this dream

And what is the reason for him to go to Saul.

It is Gods devine will that this take place.

Saul has already seen in a vision that your going to come to him Ananias

And your going to lay hands on him

And his sight is going to return to him.

And what is this all for

why all this effort for this sinful man who persecutes your people.

Verse 15 says

Acts 9:15 “But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.”

Saul is chosen

Saul is Elect

Saul was chosen by God before the foundation of the world.

And Saul is going to Preach my name to Kings

To Gentiles

and to the children of Isreal.

And not only this

He is going to be persecuted for declaring my name to them.

He once spoke out against me.’

And Now he is my instrument.

Did Paul get a choice in the matter.

No, the Sovereign God of all called Saul out of darkness into light in an instant.

He says you will be my instrument

You will be my Son.

You Will learn the way of the cross as I did.

Saul is as we are.

Clay in the potters hands

And praise God that he calls some of us wicked vessels into his marvelous light.

To bask in the glorious Savior Christ Jesus.

So everything happens as the Lord has declared.

Paul receives his sight

Ananias calls Saul his brother recognizing that Saul is a chosen vessel of God.

But Saul is also converted

The scales not only fell off is eyes but they also fell off of his heart.

he was blind but now he has the Holy Spirit according to verse 17

And he is baptized

He takes food

And feels strength come back to his body.

This makes me think of the passage in

2 Cor 4:6 “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Next in verses 19-

vs 19-22 Saul Proclaims Jesus in the Synagogue

And did it take Saul 3 years of school at a seminary or Bible college to learn how to declare what had just happened to him?

According to the text he only needed some days with the disciples at Damascus.

And Paul is also taught humility.

the learned Saul of tarsus learns at the feet of a common disciple,

‘Ananias is sent to help his brother

which of us can be so proud to not hear a teacher that Christ has placed in the church for us

Saul is sent to Ananias for instruction

Granted Saul new the Scriptures

He was in his own words

Phil 3:5 “circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;”

He new the Word of God, But now the Word of God knows him

The Word of God has called him

The Word of God has chosen him

Jesus Christ the Word God has turned all the scriptures he might have memorized into understanding in the light of Christ.

It isn’t just head knowledge.

He has a living Faith

Saul has been regenerated.

And according to verse 20

He immediately after a few days with the disciples learning from the church Saul proclaimed Jesus in the Synagogues.

And what did he proclaim.

That Christ was the Son of God.

And what is the reaction of the Jews.

They said what you might say if this happened in your place of worship.

This guy was just persecuting us and creating havoc, creating destruction, pillaging the Jews for saying the same thing.

That Christ was the Son of God

And now Saul is saying the Same thing.

What happened?

Why the change?

This has to be a trick so he can sift out more Jews that proclaim Christ is the Son of God.

I know that is what would be going through my mind if I was a believer in Christ.

That the man who was persecuting me is now coming into my place of worship

proclaiming the very thing he was ripping us out of our place of worship for and taking us Bound in shackles to the officials for.

But verse 22 tells us that Saul is not worried about what the Jews think of him.

Rather he is a man with a message.

and that message is that Jesus was the Christ

Acts 9:22 “But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.”

He proved it.

Re reasoned with them.

Confounded their arguments.

He confounded their arguments with the Scriptures

Because when God calls a man to proclaim the truth of the Gospel you are hearing God speak to you.

luke 10:16 says ““The one who hears you, hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me, rejects him who sent me.””

and

2 Tim 3:16 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,”

Saul used the Word of God to confound the Jews.

I’m sure he went to Isaiah 53

Showed them that it pointed to the Messiah Isaiah 53 says “Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearer…”

Isaiah and the Scriptures prove that Jesus is the Son of God.

And do you think they all thanked him for the good news?

Maybe some did

But the text says they treated Saul like they treated Christ

they plotted to kill him.

which brings us to verses 23-25

vs 23-25 Saul in persecuted for following Christ

English Standard Version Chapter 9

Saul was just a week or two earlier persecuting these very Jews in Damascus and now they are sheltering him from the persecution he is in-curing for following Christ.

For proclaiming that he is the Son of God.

He is the long awaited Messiah.

These Jews who are of the Way have a common bond.

They are fellow believers in Christ.

And therefore they give shelter to brother Saul

Isn’t that the term Ananias called him when he went to him and the Holy Spirit was given to him.

He is a brother in Christ

And So we give shelter to all those Brothers and Sisters in Christ that are persecuted for righteousness sake.

So they let him down at night

because they are watching the gates.

They are plotting to kill him.

God’s words to Paul are coming true again.

Acts 9:16 “For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.””

The leader Saul who probably use to be honored when he would enter the Synagogue.

Is now being lowered in a basket under the cover of night.

Jews are plotting to kill him.

and lets see what awaits him in Jerusalem.

Vs. 26-31 Saul is United with the Church

Verses 26-27 state that he is not quickly to be welcomed in to the church here.

English Standard Version Chapter 9

The saints in Jerusalem had the same reaction that many in Damascus had.

They were worried and afraid.

they didn’t believe Saul of Tarsus was a disciple.

We also find out that one of the men on the road to Damascus that witnessed Saul being blinded by the Lord was Barnabas.

Barnabas says I heard the Lord speak to him.

And I have seen Saul preach boldly in the name of Jesus Christ.

And the Gospel unites Saul to the Church in Jerusalem.

Becasue Jesus Christ must be glorified through this vessel which is Saul.

Saul then preaches for them in Jerusalem

He disputes with the Hellenists.

Hellenists were Jews who primarily spoke Greek.

And from the text seem to not like the message of the Gospel.

Becasue now they want to kill Saul as well.

It seems that when you preach the Gospel to unbelievers.

When you call them sinners.

When you point out their sin.

And you tell them they are going to hell if they do not turn to the Son of God Jesus Christ who is the the only mediator between God and man who can forgive sins.

Those who the spirit has not regenerated seem to attack you.

They certainly did not like Paul.

I guess Paul missed that lesson from Joel Oilstone “ About having your best life now”

Rather it was people like Joel Oilstone in our society today that resemble the Hellenists.

That resemble Saul before his conversion.

They are trusting in the Works of their own hands.

In their own law keeping for their salvation.

And they think God is going to reward them for it.

We see the opposite in the life of Paul and the Scripture that should come to your minds is

2 Tim 3:12 “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,”

Not maybe will be persecuted.

Will be persecuted.

Brothers and Sisters are we fleeing for our lives. Are we being lowered in baskets.

The Church in China is suffering persecution

So what does that say about the Christianity in America.

I think you can put that together.

So we see how the church protected brother Saul again.

They said Saul go back to Tarsus they are going to kill you here as well.

We also see what happens when the church is united and fed and is built upon the truth of the Word of God.

vs 31

Acts 9:31 “So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.”

If we are to multiply we must become more bold in our message to this American culture.

We must call out false church’s like the church of Christ, Mormons, Jehovah Witness, to only name a few.

We must call out false prophets, those who would preach Federal Vision,

law keeping as a means for Salvation,

and those who preach a prosperity Gospel.

There is only one Gospel

And their is only one name given among men that you might be saved.

One way not many ways.

And we see what a church does when she preaches and promotes the truth. Its built up.

They walk in the Fear of the Lord. -

They know God has a law we ought to follow.

They have comfort in the Holy Spirit -

They know their Salvation is not dependent upon themselves.

And the church Grows under this truth.

If so called church s are growing under lies and something other than the Gospel I procalim to you today they are Synagogues of Satan Churches of Satan.

And they do not follow the Way proclaimed here by Saul in Acts Chapter 9

And they are headed towards the wide gate according to Matt 7:13-14

Matt 7:13-14 ““Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

Do you believe something other than the Gospel preached by the the apostles.

You are headed through that wide gate.

Rather head toward the narrow gate.

The way of the early church .

The way of Saul, Barnabus, and Ananius.

The way that preaches Christ and him crucified for the remission of sins.

No other way

No other Gospel

The Lord Jesus Calls you, Coverts you, Sends you into the Word, and Unites you in his church.

Let us Pray Church to that end!

CLOSING PRAYER

Father I pray that today your people have heard you speaking to them this morning.

Help us to apply this in our walk with you and with our brothers and Sisters in Christ And those around us who are unbelievers.

Help us to show the Love of Christ to others in sharing your Word and Gospel Call to Salvation with this lost and this dying world.

Help us to be generous with our abundance with those who are truly in need.

Help us to be witness for you Lord here in Wichita Falls and good disciples.

Help us to have comfort in the knowledge that we will live forever with you.

And help us to look forward to that day when you will say well done you good and faithful servant enter into the rest of your Lord.

And we pray in Jesus Christ name.

Amen

LET US RISE

*Hymn of Response 463 O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus!

WE ARE DISMISSED WITH GOD’S BLESSING

Let us Pray

Father in heaven be with and keep this your people throughout the week.

Father in heaven encourage these your people to discuss with their families the sermon and how they can apply this to the people who they run into through the week.

And father help them through your spirit to have a stronger walk with you and to make this word preached effectual in their lives.

In Christ name

Amen

Closing Hymn TPH 567 Doxology

Praise God from whom all Blessing Flow; praise him all creatures here below; Praise him above ye heavenly host praise Father Son ands Holy Ghost Amen.

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