Saul to Paul

Have you ever had something that came into your life that completely changed everything?

For some of us we would say when I got my license I was changed! I had freedom!

Others might say it was a friend that changed our life

I know for me its kids, because before having kids a lot of time you think your life is crazy, then you have kids and all the sudden your life is very different.

I mean having kids changes your life drastically! (All the parents say amen)

But I remember I was the guy who was scared to hold a baby, and now its what I do all day

I use to be able to watch what I want on Netflix and now we watch paw patrol.

I used to be a more selfish person, but it turns out kids are great at sanctifying us right? Because you start caring for someone else.

I mean when my kids came into my life it changed everything for the better and as they mature they continue to change me in different ways.

And really today we are continuing this series called “The Story” and really as I mentioned we have been in this series for a long time and we actually only have a few weeks left.

Because we have went through the Old Testament, We have seen Jesus come get crucified, and for those who were here last week we saw him raise defeating death.

And then this week we see Him accend to heaven, but while He is in heaven we also see that later the Holy Spirit comes down.

And really before we get into anything else today I just want to start with this first point:

The Holy Spirit changes things.

Can you say that with me? “The Holy Spirit Changes things”

And really today we see the Holy Spirit come down on the early church and change so much.

Because the Holy Spirit falls on this small group of believers living in fear and because of it we see thousands of people come into a relationship with Jesus and really the early church begins.

But it is so important that if we want to see God do some amazing things in our church and community then we need the Spirit of God to be a part of it.

Its like how Arika and I had this hanging basket on on front porch, and it was beautiful when we bought it, but there was an issue,

because Arika and I did a terrible job at watering this plant and because of it, instead of the plant growing outward and these beautiful flowers it began to shrivel up and look very different than how it should.

But you know I really believe a lot of times its easy for the church to look like this.

Because we have have dirt (nice programs)

We can have nice weather (a beautiful building)

But it we do not have water the plant will die.

I just have to say this the Holy Spirit has this amazing ability to take the things that are so often so ordinary and do something extra ordinary.

I mean are we allowing the Spirit of God to make us bloom or are we cutting Him of and making of shrivel and die.

And you know really the Holy Spirit changes things and it builds the church, there is really more to it then just it builds the church.

Because the Spirit changes the church, but it changes us.

And really today while the Spirit fuels the church the focus of today is How God can change us.

Because the church is exploding, but at the same time they begin to be persecuted

And there is this man named Saul who is behind almost all of it at this point.

And I want you to notice what it says about Saul, because Saul approves the murder of the leaders of the church, but it even says this in Acts 8:3

Acts 8:3 NIV

3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.

Not only this but jumping down a chapter in Acts 9:1-2 it continues saying:

Acts 9:1–2 NIV

1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

So here is the picture I want you to get because this guy named Saul is a really bad guy, but he also was a religous leader at this time and he believed He was right and doing God’s work

Which just a quick side point: we need to be really careful about what we say believe is God’s work, because God’s work is life giving, not taking.

But really we see this guy Saul taking Christians and imprisoning them and even murdering them and it gets to the point where it even says Saul begins to destroy the church.

And so I mean if you are like me you really get this disgust about Saul, and you think okay what is God going to do about this person?

I mean have you ever had a person like that where just your presence gives you that anxiety and you think “Okay God what are you going to do about this person?”

A lighting bolt?

And look at this next part because God does somthing to Paul because he is heading to damascus to arrest more Christians and in Acts 9:3-17 (and this is little long of the passage, but I think its important to read it all together. It says:

The New International Version Chapter 9

3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”

“Yes, Lord,” he answered.

11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

So He is on the road getting ready to persecute more Christians when a light comes, but its not a strike of lightning, but it is Jesus appearing to Saul.

And whats amazing is overall God uses this experience to change Saul.

And we are going to go into more detail, but it there was one person that did not deserve God’s grace it was probably Saul, but whats amazing is God drastically changes Sauls life.

Because the truth is in our life we can get to points where we might say can God really reach a person like that…

Can He reach a person that causes this type of anxiety in my life or that has done that.

And I really believe the awnser to this question is yes He can.

In fact He wants them to come to Him so much that He died for them.

I remember last year I helped with kids camp and most of the kids are amazing, but I had this one kid in my group who was terrible.

I mean were less then 24 hours into camp and he pulled the fire alarm twice and got in two fights.

And I remember I was ready to snap by the end, but something amazing is that one of the last sessions this kid decided that he wanted to give his life to Christ.

And I just instantly started crying

And I know he is just a kid, but God loves and died for that person and really there is no one to far for His grace to reach.

And I love what happens in the story because Jesus appears to Saul and He reaveals who He is

And after the experiance Saul is blind and some people say this was a punishment others say it was a result of Saul seeing the light of God compared to the deep darkness He was living (like when a flash of light blinds you), but regardless we see that Saul is now blind, and not only that but he is not eating or drinking .

And really I believe its because Saul has realized what He has done and he is just broken over it.

He was blind to all the things he had did and for the first time while he cannot physically see, He can see the wrong and evil he has commited in God’s name.

And here is the thing because while Saul had done this terrible evil what what the first thing we said? because the Holy Spirit Changes things and it changes us.

And in our life we should be able to look at the way we lived before Christ entered our life and we should be able to see the ways we were blind and not just that we should be different.

I mean its like how if you got a gym membership and went everyday, but there was no change (not just physical, but your blood pressure was still high, you still felt unhealthy) you would start to wonder why right?

Is it because you do not go to the gym?

Is it a diet issue?

Is it because when you go you just go and talk?

Because the truth is I believe a lot of Christians do this we say I have accepted Christ and we may go to church, but realistically if we looked at our life before and after there is not a huge difference.

And because of that it is really unhealthy,

But God desires us to have a drastic difference when we enter into a relationship with Him where we can say I was blind, but now I see.

Not where we are guilted, but where God’s presence changes us.

I mean if your life does not look different you have to start to ask why?

Because God Spirit changes us.

And look what happens because Saul is blind and you can picture all this happening but none of the men traveling with Saul see whats happening. (they can hear it but not see it)

And Saul is blind so they lead him to this man named Ananias who was a disciple.

But before that God comes to Ananias in a vision telling him that Saul would come to him.

and you can picture Ananias confused, because this is a person that killed his friends and leaders, but I love what God tells Annanias in Acts 9:15 because he says:

Acts 9:15 NIV

15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.

You know I love this passage because God has reached out to save Saul, but He also is saving Him to accomplish something huge.

Because Paul ends up changing thousands of lives and even writing the majority of the New Testament.

God did not just save Him, but saved Him for something.

When you enter into a relationship with God, you are saved from you sin (that causes destruction in your life), but its more than that, because God has a purpose for your life and wants you to be a part of Him plan.

God did not just save you, He saves you for something.

And as we close I do not know what that area is, but I have to say that God wants you to be a part of His plan. And that means allowing His Spirit to change you.

If you are hear and you feel like your life is not very different can I just ask you why?

Maybe God is calling you to take the next steps forward in your walk with Him.

Maybe its start a ministry or be more generous or change a toxic behavior.

Can I just say how amazing would it be to start living how Christ has called you.

Because even if your a Saul God did for you and is ready to invite you to be a part of it.