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Introduction
Last time we were in Acts we discussed Philip and his passion for preaching the gospel.
He preached anywhere and everywhere taking advantage of every opportunity.
He was used by God to spread the Gospel to Samaria.
The outline for the book of Acts is given in 1:8.
We have seen the gospel spread to Jersualem and now to Samaria and Judea.
As we come to ch. 9 the gospel continues to spread in Judea through the unlikeliest of sources.
Ch. 9 deals with The Miraculous Conversion Of Saul The Persecutor Ch. 9:1-31.
The portion of ch. 9 we will deal with today focuses on Saul Encountering Christ On The Road To Damascus vv.
1-9.
With that idea in mind, the title of the message this morning is “Encountering Christ”.
PRAY
The Miraculous Conversion Of Saul The Persecutor Ch. 9:1-31
The Miraculous Conversion Of Saul The Persecutor Ch. 9:1-31
When I was just out of high school my older brother, myself, and a friend were traveling to the coast.
I was driving and we get on the road and head out (S).
About 20 min.
outside of Redding Tim says “I think we are going the wrong way.”
I confidently assure him that we are fine, headed to the coast.
About 20 min.
later we see a sign that makes it very clear that we are indeed, going the wrong way (S).
I turned us around and after this delightful detour we were able to reach the coast, just later than we had expected!
I was confident that we were going the right way.
Even when questioned, I was confident.
However, when I had an encounter with the truth, I was able to correct my course and get back on track.
Encountering Christ On The Road To Damascus vv.
1-9
Saul is a sincere, passionate person who is completely deceived and dangerously wrong.
What he needs to get him back on track, to get him on the correct path, is an encounter with Jesus Christ.
Jesus is the way the truth and the life and when we encounter Him, He gets us on the correct course.
Today we will walk through the three elements of Saul’s encounter with Christ.
From Saul’s encounter we will draw principles to help us stay on the correct course.
Only as we are on the right path will we be able to grow and bring glory to Jesus Christ.
The first element of Saul’s encounter is…
1.
The Reason For The Journey vv.
1-3
As we travel through life we all have reasons for what we do.
As Luke reintroduces us to Saul he gives us three reasons why Saul is headed to Damascus.
We first met Saul in ch.
7 when Stephen preached a powerful and convicting message and was stoned for it.
Saul was present as Stephen was murdered.
In fact, he held the coats of those who stoned Stephen.
We meet him again as he is seeking to further persecute the church.
The first reason we are given for his journey is…
a. Saul’s rage v. 1
The word “still” is interesting.
This is the Greek word ἔτι (eti) meaning still; yet.
With reference to action or condition; without change, interruption, or cessation.
Temporal adverb.
Still – ἔτι (eti)
The idea is that the murder of Stephen had in no way satiated Saul.
That wasn’t enough!
His rage against Jesus and these followers of His has not changed in the slightest.
The word “breathing” here is used metaphorically to represent what someone is living for.
The reason Saul breathed was to persecute the church!
Notice Luke’s wording.
Saul lived for the threat, declared intention to cause harm on another, and murder, the unlawful killing of a human being, of the church.
Saul wanted to shut Christians up!
He was so passionate about this he was even willing to outside the law to do it.
That’s what the word “murder” implies.
Saul is passionate about keeping Judaism pure.
His rage is caused by his belief that the disciples of Jesus are corrupting the faith he holds dear.
What Saul doesn’t know is that God is going to use his rage to set him up, convert him, and make him a useful tool.
This leads us to a principle.
Heightened emotions prepare us to encounter Christ.
Tragedy, success, grief, joy; these times of high emotion are when we most often find people open to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I actually came to Christ after winning a baseball game!
The Lord used that high emotion time to bring everything together for me.
Saul is in a very high state of emotion here and this leaves him wide open for Christ!
As Christians, we need to be investing in the lives of others so that when the times of high emotion come, we are able to speak Christ into those situations.
What Saul doesn’t know is that God is going to use his rage to set him up, convert him, and make him a useful tool.
What Saul doesn’t know is that God is going to use his rage to set him up, convert him, and make him a useful tool.
The reason for Saul’s journey is motivated by his rage.
The second reason for this journey is…
Heightened emotions prepare us to encounter Christ.
b.
Saul’s request v. 2
In the end of v. 1 we read that Saul goes to the high priest.
This tells us the influence and importance of Saul.
He had access to the high priest.
The wording is such that it implies Saul simply told the high priest what to do.
Saul has a plan.
He wants permission to “clean house” 150 miles away in Damascus (S).
If any followers of Jesus are part of the Damascus synagogues, he wants to arrest them and bring them back to Jerusalem.
This word “found” is important.
Saul isn’t just going to walk in and see if he can see any Jesus followers.
No!
He is searching for them!
He’s like a detective.
He is going to find these people, arrest them, bring them to Jerusalem, and the implication in the text is that he will then see them dead.
Just like Stephen.
Saul has no remorse for what happened to Stephen!
He wants more of the same.
At this point the Christians were still active parts of Jewish society.
Christianity was viewed by many as a sect of Judaism.
The believers were using the synagogues to build relationships, witness, and bring people to Christ!
Saul knows this and he plans to put a stop to it.
Believers are not called Christians yet.
They are called “The Way” or “Followers of the Way”.
Where does that come from?
John 14:6 (S).
9:2 – Not called Christians yet.
Called “The Way” or “Followers of the Way”.
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