Persecutor to Preacher
Acting out Acts • Sermon • Submitted
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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.
Saul still breathing threats and murder
Sought authority to go to Damascus - another country
Why are you persecuting me
Think about this for a moment
Jesus asked “why persecute “me””
When we sin against others, we sin against Jesus himself
Jesus said whatever you do to the least of these, you have done unto me
We should really consider this in so many of our actions
What if we really believed that Jesus would consider our behavior towards others as being toward Him
If you are a Christian, you are one with Him
And so our your Christian brothers and sisters
What if Jesus said to you:
That was me that you hurt
that was me that you lied to
that was mine which you stole
that was me that you cursed at
that was me that you neglected
It is hard to kick against the goads
It is hard to kick against the goads
God had been calling Saul throughout all of these things
When Stephen was preaching - that message was for Saul
When so many others were arrested, imprisoned and killed
The Holy Spirit was convicting him with the truth
Yet he raged on “breathing out slaughter”
So many people who seem to be enemies of the gospel are like Saul “kicking against the goads”
Maybe you are hearing today, and realize that you are doing that yourself
Kicking against God’s call in your life
Kicking against God’s will for you
resisting God’s grace to save you, and transform you
Its a hard place to be, kicking against His grace
Lord, what do you want me to do?
Lord, what do you want me to do?
Finally, freedom through surrender
In that moment, Saul understood, Jesus is Lord!
He made a decision, to trust and obey
His life was forever transformed
That is the place that God wants us to be
Simply willing to say: “What Lord shall I do?”
Three days without sight
Three days without sight
So He was three days without sight, and fasted
Fasting is an important part of our spiritual walk
Should be a part of every Christians life
A time for turning down the flesh and turning up the spirit
Especially when we need to see what God is showing us
Saul’s period without sight could be symbolic of many new Christians
Sometimes after making a decision to follow Him, we still can’t see
We need to wait, in faith, for His direction
If it seems dark, and silent, fasting and prayer may be the right choice
Ananias
Ananias
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.
The Lord Said “arise and go”
remember last week when Phillip was told to arise and go
Sometimes it may not be convenient to go
Ananias had heard about this man
He had many reasons to be afraid of Saul
And just as many reasons to hate him
How many of Ananias’ friends had been imprisoned or killed by Saul?
Lord, I don’t Want to go!
Lord, I don’t Want to go!
Ananias even protested to the Lord
He had good reasons for not wanting to go
He was not unlike many people who didn’t want to go at first
Consider Moses, Jonah, and Peter, for example
Maybe God has put some great things into your heart to do or accomplish
perhaps it was a long time ago, or maybe recently
So often, as soon as we hear the idea, we are flooded with fears, and doubts and reasons why it couldn’t be
Usually we just dismiss it as our own ideas, and quit
We begin to think about all the reasons we can’t serve the Lord
Like Moses, we can’t speak good enough
we have too many bills and debts, our job won’t let us
we have so many cares of the world
Or, like Jonah and Ananias, maybe we don’t like the people involved
Or maybe it involves forgiving something we don’t want to let go of
We all have reasons: (David Ring example)
But the Lord said Go!
But the Lord said Go!
Thank God for His patience
Like with Jonah, when the Word came the second time
God doesn’t change His mind, but He is very patient, and kind toward us
We knows our fears, and cares, but God knows what is best
Only He knows the future
Ananias couldn’t have known what was going to happen with Paul
Moses had no way of knowing what great things God was going to do through him
Jonah couldn’t have foreseen the amazing revival that would happen in Nineveh
And you have no way of knowing how amazing it will be when you fully trust the Lord to obey Him
When we just step out in faith, it is always good for us
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.”
Brother Saul
Ananias went from counting Saul an enemy to considering him a brother
At the Word of the Lord - only
Before there was any evidence to prove it
When he did the scales fell away from Saul’s eyes and he received his sight
When we trade fear and doubt, prejudice and unforgiveness for love and faith:
Things become clear
miracles happen
we can see the transformation God brings
What about you?
Are there people God wants you to forgive, but your own fears and doubts stop you
Places that He wants you to go?
A gospel he want you to speak?
Are there people you thought were never going to change?
Let’s ask God, where He would have us to “arise and go”