Saul becomes Paul - One Letter Changes All (Part 2)

Mark Borrett

Saul becomes Paul • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

Acts 9:10–19

God’s Love

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Prayer and Welcome

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Scripture Reading

Acts 9:10–19 NKJV

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. 19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.

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Saul becomes Paul - One Letter Changes All (Part 2)

You may recall that last Sabbath we ended with Saul, blind, fasting and in Damascus.

It says in,

Slide

Acts 9:8–9 NKJV

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.

Paul’s encounter with the Glorified Lord

What an encounter that had been for Saul just outside of Damascus with the Gloried Jesus.

Emphasis

The Shekhinah glory of the Glorified Jesus appears at noon, brighter than the sun(!), and shines all around Saul and his travel companions.

In my minds eye, I picture this like a huge spotlight, all around them.

Saul falls to the ground.

The Lord speaks to Saul, all hear the voice, but only Saul understands.

“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me!”

Saul replies, “Who are you Lord?”.

That is question 1!

The greek term for Lord here is Kyrious.

It is the translation for Yahweh or Jehovah. It can also have the sense of Master.

Jesus says for the second time, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting”

Maybe that is why Saul’s name is called twice?

Jesus continues, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”

Saul, with your direction in life, you are just hurting yourself, and others.

Saul replies, “Lord, what do you want me to do?”

Saul’s second question.

There are allot of twos in this account.

But that is a good question.

Jesus replies, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

The Shekhinah glory departs.

Personal Contact with Jesus changes everything!

Pause

How long do you think that whole encounter lasted?

Seconds? Minutes? Maybe 2 Minutes?

Going with the 2 theory.

But seriously, it was not long.

Pause and Emphasis

Slide

It does not take Jesus long to change a person’s direction in life!

Personal contact with Jesus alters everything!

Changed in an instance, worked out for a lifetime.

Saul’s life is now totally disorientated

Saul’s life is in chaos!

His focus, his mission, his purpose, his very motives, are all now totally disorientated.

He is like a ship cast adrift, way of its moorings.

That fear. That deep down insecurity. Those doubts.

That drove his former Zeal for God.

Box

It is still in his Box.

All that shinny, starry wrapping is gone!

Regret and Remorse

But now there is something new in Saul

Something new in his Box

It had gown during those three days of blindness.

He had to admit it and face it head on

I was wrong, so very wrong!

Maybe the three hardest words for us to say

I was wrong

Regret and Remorse!

It is humbling!

Saul is Blind for Three Days

I said last week that in my view, The Lord making Saul blind was an act of mercy, not judgement.

Saul needed time to think, to listen and to pray.

You ever needed that?

Please leave me alone, so I can just think and pray.

Nothing wrong with that.

Saul desperately needed those three days.

Saul is led into Damascus, to stay at the house of Judas!

Emphasis

“The House of Judas”!

The utter irony of it!

Judas, .... is staying at the House of Judas.

Ananias has a Vision

Luke continues the account.

We read this earlier.

Slide

Acts 9:10 NKJV

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.”

The Lord so ordains that often the first touch of God’s love to a new believer, is from a follower of Jesus.

The Lord employs His people to love and encourage each other on faith’s journey.

Dean gave us a wonderful story last night that illustrated this so well.

That is what Church should be all about!

That is what we should be all about!

We all need our Elijah

As Elisha’s, we all need our Elijah’s.

Especially at certain seasons during our walk with the Lord.

It is how the Lord works!

It is humbling!

It shows how dependant we are on the body of Christ, as well as the head.

That is humbling.

It is why we are concerned when folks are missing!

Please understand, Love is behind that, not control!

The Lord calls Ananias

Ananias was Saul’s Elijah, for a season.

The Lord called Saul’s name twice on the road to Damascus.

“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me!”

But the Lord only has to say Ananias’ name once.

Pause and emphasis

Ananias responds.

“Here I am Lord”!

There is no “Who are you Lord”,

This is a disciple, ready and waiting!

The lamp is burning bright and He has plenty of oil in the jar.

Ananias Background

We don’t know much about Ananias from the Bible.

Paul refers to him in Acts 22.

I like to think of Acts 22 as the companion passage to Acts 9.

In Acts 22:12, it says,

Slide

Acts 22:12 NKJV

12 “Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there,

Ananias, a devout man, keeping the commandments of God.

A man of good reputation.

Don’t confuse him with the other Ananias mentioned in Acts.

Ananias says, “Here I am Lord”

Ananias says “Here I am Lord”

Then Jesus commissions him,

Slide

Acts 9:11–14 NKJV

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.”

Even though Ananias says, “Here I am Lord”, what he hears next is not what he expects!

Ananias is ready, but he is not ready for THAT commission from the Lord.

The irony of what the Lord says.

Go to Straight Street.

Inquire at the house of Judas, for one called Saul of Tarsus, He is praying.

Emphasis

Every 1st Century disciple knew about That Judas, who betrayed Jesus.

Ananias basically says to the Lord,

Lord, You want me to go to the house of Judas, to meet with another Judas?

Pause

The Judas, called Saul , who has done so much harm to your saints in Jerusalem?

That Saul, who has letters of authority to do the same right here in Damascus?

And you want me to go and lay hands on him?

Are you sure about this plan Lord?

Emphasis

It might be better to just leave him blind?

The Call to Ministry

Pause

We are all called to Ministry.

When we are ready to say, “Here I am Lord”,

Slide

God can asks you to do something that is way outside of the your box, comfort level and expectations!

Emphasis

That is how we grow!

And once we obey, God will show what is next!

The Hand and the Tool

Hold Srewdriver in right hand

There is the hand

There is the tool.

In this case a screw driver

Round head or Philips screwdriver

Vs Flathead

Does the tool decide what it does?

Does the tool even know what it has been fitted for and shaped for next?

The Hand knows!

The Hand has shaped the tool.

The Hand has prepared the tool.

The Hand knows the work to be done.

The hand directs the tool!

The hand gives the tool power!

I hope you get what I am trying to say!

We can get so busy trying to be the hand , that we forget we are the tool for the Lord!

The Call to Us and our District

Where God calls, He equips.

If He checks, stop.

As a Church District, my sense is we are facing a call to a change as we move forward!

I don’t have all the answers.

But I pray that as churches we are ready to say, “Here, we are Lord”.

He is a Chosen Vessel of Mine

Slide

The Lord’s reply to Ananias is blunt and emphatic,

Emphasis

Go!

It reminds me of so many other “Gos” in the Old and New Testament.

Read

Acts 9:15–16 NKJV

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.”

“Go Ananias, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine”.

Vessel or Jar

When we think Vessel, we should not think Ship, but think Container or Jar!

He is my chosen container

He is my chosen jar

That is what the greek means here!

Saul’s during those 3 Days

Box

You have to wonder what Saul was thinking and praying about during those three days of blindness?

You have to wonder if Saul have a video recording of Stephen and his last words, playing over and over again in his mind.

Acts 7:59–8:1 NKJV

59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. 1 Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Does 1 Cor 15:8-9, give us a glimpse to Saul’s thoughts during those 3 days,

1 Corinthians 15:8–9 NKJV

8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Regret in our lives

Is there anything playing over and over again in your head?

Regret!

Maybe where you offended and that relationship is now broken?

More likely, where you were offended, more than offending?

I will avoid simplistic answers!

I pray there is something as we conclude here that helps.

Ananias went his Way

Luke concludes this account with Ananias Going as commanded.

Acts 9:17–18 NKJV

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.

Saul becomes Brother Saul

Ananias comes to Saul, to Judas, to his former enemy, to his former persecutor,

And the very first thing he says is “Brother Saul”.

Emphasis

Brother Saul

There is no moralising, there is no vitriol, there is no Elder Brother

There is Brother Saul!

Emphasis

There is Ananias saying , you are now my family!

Love is the answer to Fear

I tried to spell it out last week.

It has been a growing conviction in my heart since Covid 19 started.

And so many messages that were Fear based!

Fear is not the answer to Fear

Saul is Baptised

Our time is gone.

Saul is baptised.

Did the church in Damascus all come together for the baptism?

I hope so.

Can you imagine the rejoicing on that day?

Pause

Have you been baptised?

If you have, do you belong to the local church?

Baptism and belonging to the local church go hand in hand.

That is the NT model.

The Bible is main and plain on this.

Pastor Walker and myself stand ready.

Saul eats some food

Slide

Acts 9:19 NKJV

19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.

All good Baptismal services end with food and celebration.

That is my view. I love cake.

I was reminded reading this, of the Baptismal Service we had last year at Great Yarmouth

Good memories.

Hopefully repeated soon in some measure.

For Paul, the food marked the end of his fast.

Over the next 3 years, in Arabia and Damascus, the Lord will directly reveal to Paul the Gospel.

As I said last week, you can find that account in the second half of Galatians 1

Box

The Lord will fill Paul’s box to overflowing.

The Lord will fill it with what Paul calls “My Gospel”!

We read that Gospel in every letter Paul writes.

Paul will preach it, teach it and defend it, for the rest of his life.

Paul, now the small and humble one, writes, “For me to live is Christ, to die is gain”

What is God asking you to do Next?

What is God asking you to do next?

Is it baptism?

Is is taking the public step to belong to your local church?

Is it being an Ananias in someone else's life?

Is it a call to ministry that is way outside of your comfort level?

Is it giving up something in your life that the Lord has been convicting about?

Is it facing regret in your life head on, and humbly allowing Jesus to say what is the next step?

Pause

You know what it is.

Obey that, .... and the Lord will show what is next.

Pause

Paul writes,

Romans 15:5–6 NKJV

5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, 6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Lets us Pray

Hymn 590 – Trust and Obey

Benediction

Reminder that next Sabbath we will join SEC for Virtual Camp Meeting and the Sabbath Service

Ephesians 3:20–21 NKJV

20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.