Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

A fair bit is known about the famous photograph that was taken during the great depression of multiple iron workers atop what is now the Rockefeller Center.

As is often the case however with many, I am guilty of thinking little of the person behind the camera.

Until, one day I found my self scrolling though different articles to appease my love of history and stumbled upon one about a character named Lewis Hine.

Lewis was famous for taking photos during the depression era capturing photos that would highlight the brutality of the poverty suffered during the 1930’s.

At times however he would be seen capturing photos to invigorate the american spirit.

As is the case with “Lunch Atop A Skyscraper.”

As famous as this photo is and as much as it has done for our america, it is impressive how little is known about the person taking the photo.

Not to assume anything, but it would beg the question to ask, to what would we post on our social media, or hang in our classrooms or workplace if not for this photo.

To what should we use to exemplify the american spirit, if not for this piece of art.

To what would OSHA use for safety training if not for this wonderful example.

We look to the laborious efforts of one man, in the risk that he took to capture such a meaningful image.

In the past I have preached on this passage of Scripture, so I have had the pleasure to come back to the fountain as it were to drink in what Luke is inviting us into.

Each time I am pleasantly surprised and blessed to see something new .

As we have seen in Acts many times thus far.

God is passionate about story.

He cares deeply for each our our stories as individuals, as fathers, and mothers, as sons and daughters.

He cares for the story of our Church.

All 186 years of it.

He cares for every parking lot conversion, every sermon preached, every cord played, every committee meeting had.

Yes you heard me right, God cares deeply for committee meetings.

So no, I do not agree with Robert Copland who says.

"To get something done, a committee should consist of no more than three people, two of whom are absent".

God cares for our story.

and he cares about not just the meetings we have that derive some perseaived purpose, but the casual conversations, the small talk the brief words of encouragament that is given to a friend or brother and sister in chrsit.

That everyone of them matter.

To take this matter further, God does not just care about the content of our meetings, but also of whom we do meet.

In these passages this morning, yes we are examining the conversion of Saul, but my hope is that as we walk though these 31 verse we are encouraged of the faithfulness of not just a perfect stranger in Ananias, but also the sweet fellowship of a friend in Barnabas.

He Met Jesus

Acts 9:1–9 (ESV)

But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 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.

Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.

And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

And he said, “Who are you, Lord?”

And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”

The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.

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.

And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

As we are introduced here we are reminded of the last time we encountered Saul, as being one who was complicate in the death of Stephen.

Saul tasted this this so called vengeance against a violator of the the true God.

Saul obtained letters granting him permission to go and capture individuals who have fled into Damascus from Jerusalem.

On this road.

He has this encounter with Christ.

who asked him the persise question that he needed to hear.

Not saul why are you persecuting my people, why are you persecuting my church, Saul why are you persecuting me.

As if to tell him tell him, what you are doing Saul is a direct offence against God.

Saul and Jesus I image at that time didnt have a lengthly conversatin but rather he was met with a command from God to go into the city to have meeting with another man.

When we look at this encounter with Jesus that Saul had there are some things to take away from it.

This meeting that Saul had with Jesus was disruptive.

Our Culture likes to say that belief is simple and unobtrusive.

Famous theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer gave us the term cheep grace.

This is the preaching of forgiveness without the requirement of repentance.

We see here that the encounter that was had rattled Saul to his very core. it disrupted his plans and what he thought to be true.

All of those times he saw followers of the way killed and their lives taken from them i am sure at this point comes into blaring view.

Paul had to work though that in a moments notice.

He understood the vastness of the Grace that was being extended to him as Christ, though his presence showed Saul the depth of his sin.

The meeting that Saul had with Jesus was for Specific for Saul.

Jesus met him where he was.

Notice that we are not made aware of the outcome of the individuals who were with Saul.

Did they stay with him in Damascus while he fasted and was healed?

Did they too have the same experience that Saul did.

many of us this morning can say that our experiences seeing Christ through the Gospel are not simmiler and take on their Own uniqueness.

This was the case with our brother Saul.

Why wasn’t the account bookended with everyone in his party getting saved.

I may be taking liberties with the passage, but I believe that there were indivduals whom walked away from that interaction and did not see the same redemptive work that Saul saw.

And lastly.

This interaction that Saul had with Jesus prompted action.

Sauls reaction to this was to get up, which reminds us that in Vs. 4 his initial reaction was to fall down on his face.

Go into the city and fast.

That is to reject the very substance of his life for three days.

The Gospel beckons us to act.

In every way, In every corner of our lives It calls us to act. in our relationships, it calls us to be gracious, it our confrontations it calls us to be merciful, in our desires it calls us to be Sacrificial.

Paul understood this, the Ethiopian understood this, and i believe we too are to grasp this ever Important principle.

The Gospel requires us to act.

He Met Ananias

The next meeting that Saul was to have was to be with an extremely well-known and prolific celebrity of the time, an individual whose name was known far and wide.

Actually it was quite the opposite.

The individual who was to essentially disciple at least in part this father of the New Testament church was an pivotal disciple to this father of the New Testament church was an obscure figure.

He did not have celebrity, he was not prolific.

He was not extremely well-known matter-of-fact we Don’t see him anywhere else in scripture aside from where Paul mentioned him again in Acts 22.

I wont spend a lot of time on Ananias.

This character, who doesn’t even get a chapter title in my bible, because I have talked in length of him before in a previous sermon.

But I will say it almost feels like when I study this beautiful character in scripture I am reminded of the single earthly lynch pin that God chooses to keep this thing from falling apart.

Saul Was taken into Damascus and lodged in the house of Judas on straight Street, which still runs through Damascus.

Meanwhile the Lord appeared to Ananias who was neither an apostle nor a deacon but an ordinary Christian, and directed him to restore Saul's eyesight and deliver him a commission.

The choice of Ananias for this task made it clear that Saul was not dependent upon the 12 and also that an apostle was not required for bestowing the spirit as might have been concluded from the case in Samaria.

Inasmuch as Ananias was Not an official and merely acted as gods spokesman, no one ever accused Paul of being dependent upon Ananias for his apostle stick authority.

Galatians 1 shows this.

Sauls commission designated him as Christ chosen vessel to accomplish a remarkable ministry.

He would be the instrument where by the name of Christ would be carried far and wide to gentiles, Israelites and even kings.

At the same time he would not be immune from misfortune, for suffering would be a significant feature of his career doubtless it was due in no small part to this advance warning that the sufferings he later incurred did not discourage him but rather confirmed his calling.

Before we move on from the section I would like to emphasize this morning some practical lessons that we as believers are to learn

to begin with God can use even the most obscure saint.

Were it not for the conversion of Saul we would never have heard of Ananias and yet Ananias had an important part to play in the ongoing work of the church.

Behind many well-known servants of God are lesser-known believers who have influenced them.

God keeps tabs on this and i believe he will see to it that each servant will get a just reward.

The important thing here is faithfulness not fame.

Secondly the experience of Ananias also reminds us that we should never be afraid to obey Gods will.