It's Time To Run

Zachary Adams

Now Go • Sermon • Submitted 6 years ago

Acts 9:1–17

Discipleship

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Saul had this awsome encounter with Jesus, but what was he supposed to do in the moments that followed.

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We’ve been in the series titled, “Now Go” we have looked at the responses we need to have to an encounter with Jesus…

NOW GO and sin no more…

NOW GO and get in your lane… (Jesus calls Matthew and tells everyone his purpose… Get out of the lane of emotions and into the lane of God’s word)

NOW GO and walk it out… (Jesus said don’t tell anyone, the importance of God’s process in your life.)

Sin no more was internal… (Change the bad habits, get out of the dust…)

Get in your lane was external… (The things God has said are more important than your’s or other’s opinions)

Will and Way was about the plan… (Follow through with the process God puts you in…)

Tonight in an epic closing to this series I want to see someone say I am ready to run my race…

Tonight the spirit of God is going to release some of you to run into the greatest season of ministry of your entire life…

I want to start with something that Paul wrote then move into his story…

(NLT) — 24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

Look at your neighbor and say run to win…

Before I get into this word I want to read another passage of scripture to you, because I want to give you some context… Also this series is all about what someone did after a direct encounter with Christ…

KEY POINT- The Paul that writes run to win did not always sound like that.

(NLT) — 1 Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. 2 He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains. 3 As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” 5 “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! 6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one! 8 Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. 9 He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink. 10 Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord!” he replied. 11 The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. 12 I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.” 13 “But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem! 14 And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.” 15 But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. 16 And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.” 17 So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. 19 Afterward he ate some food and regained his strength. Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days. 20 And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!” 21 All who heard him were amazed. “Isn’t this the same man who caused such devastation among Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem?” they asked. “And didn’t he come here to arrest them and take them in chains to the leading priests?” 22 Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn’t refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.

I don’t know about you, but I can see myself in that story… Being positioned as an enemy to God, and then boom something happened… Jesus called my name…

KEY POINT- Notice, Jesus calls his name. He called your name too.

We have had this amazing encounter and now we have a response…

ILLUSTRATION-

MAIN POINT- After Jesus calls your name you are called to run to win, but so many people stay in the place where Jesus called their name.

Now go into the city and you will be told what you must do…

What keeps us from running to win???

1. Our Faith

(NLT) — 6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

ILLUSTRATION- The African Impala can jump as high as 10 feet and span a distance of 30 feet… However a small 4 foot fence tends to be what encloses them in the zoo simply because they will not jump if they can not see where their feet will land.

Imagine with me for just a moment being Saul, on your way to arrest christians and terrorize the church when Jesus shows up on the road and something in you changes…

Then he says go into the city and I’ll tell you what you need to do…

KEY POINT- So many people will never know how to run with faith simply because they can’t first learn to walk blind.

Saul had no idea what was next, he barely can even explain at this point what happened to him…

KEY- In your life there will be times when the key to discovering step 2 is walking out step 1.

When God says go to that person on crutches and ask them if you can pray for them…

When God says after high school do this… go there, don’t go there…

But we struggle with this!!!

KEY- We are so determined to know steps 2 and 3 and 4 because we are determined to know the point of no return.

You think step 1 is terrifying, but step 2 just may be undoable…

Think about Saul for a moment, his step one was going into Damascus with no knowledge of Ananias, no understanding of his calling…

POINT- Sometimes you just have to focus on one step at a time.

KEY POINT- Sometimes he only gives you the first step! Stop waiting for steps 2 and 3 and start executing step 1.

(NLT) — 17 So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. 19 Afterward he ate some food and regained his strength. Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days. 20 And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!” 21 All who heard him were amazed. “Isn’t this the same man who caused such devastation among Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem?” they asked. “And didn’t he come here to arrest them and take them in chains to the leading priests?” 22 Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn’t refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.

KEY- Just because you can’t see step 2 doesn’t mean step 2 does not exist.

(explain how you have to go step by step… Saul was told to go to the city that was it, then soon he was preaching and people were coming to the Lord… Sometimes he only gives us the first step....

KEY POINT- Sometimes he only gives you the first step! Stop waiting for steps 2 and 3 and start executing step 1.

(NLT) — 40 Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?”

I don’t know what your step one is tonight, but walk it out… Don’t let a lack of faith be the reason you stay on the road blinded instead of being on ahead running.

POINT- You will find the faith you need in your obedience.

2. Our Excuses

(NLT) — 8 Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus.

I believe this is a big one for this generation… So many of you are only reaching 2% of what you are capable of because of an opinion of yourself, because of an excuse.

KEY- He was completely unable to see.

Saul could have said how in the world am I supposed to get into the city now???

POINT- When Jesus gives you a command, you do whatever you have to in order to be obedient.

I hear students talking about how they are struggling with sin, some of you are not struggling with sin you are simply allowing sin to do what it does…

(NLT) — 12 This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently, obeying his commands and maintaining their faith in Jesus.

KEY POINT- Saul’s excuse likely became his reason for obedience.

Think about it… If you were Saul and Jesus showed up on the road and appeared to you, not in your best but while you were in your worst… When you were swearing at school, when you were looking at what you shouldn’t, when you were stealing, and lying… If he showed up then and told you I want you to go to this town and then your when his glory left your vision left too… Yeah I am going to do what he said, I’m hoping that I am going to see again....

POINT- The solution to your excuse is found in running your race!

Some of you are struggling with pornography, of course you are you are still right where you were when Jesus first showed up in your life, you have not moved on…

Some of you are still struggling with insecurity, that doesn’t surprise me if you have not followed any of his next step instructions… There is no security where you are…

I don’t find my security in my accomplishments I find my security in my obedience… Thats what it means to boast in Christ

ILLUSTRATION- Driving in Zimbabwe and everything was different…

KEY- Excuses only matter when you allow them to stop you from running your race.

Stop worrying about the things God has already worked out!

KEY- It’s not your ability, but your availability that determines how God will use you.

3. Our Pride

(NLT) — 16 And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.” 17 So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

(NLT) — 6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

CHALLENGE- Is your pride the thing that is holding you back and keeping you in the same spot?

ILLUSTRATION- Going into the woods with some friends and we got stuck in mud about 5 feet deep…

KEY POINT- When you are the weakest and you wonder how you can go another day, you are now in the perfect position for God’s power to work through you.

(NLT) — 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

KEY- Before Saul could ever preach and be used by God he had to become nothing.

KEY- Sometimes your pride takes on different forms… Sometimes its not just about what you can and can’t do, but about the image you try to display.

You think to yourself, I can’t let anyone know who I really am… If they know that I struggle, If they could see my true thoughts…

KEY POINT- Shame is a tool of the enemy to bind and stop you from moving forward HOWEVER it can only attach itself to your pride.

If you are tiered of living in shame, start shedding your pride.

Conclusion…

QUESTION- Are you in the same spot today as you were the day Jesus called out your name?

Are you any different, any further along than the day you gave your life to the Lord?

CHALLENGE- Now Go and run your race!

I’m declaring in this place tonight that this generation is going to be world changers… Not years from now, starting this moment…

CHALLENGE- Perhaps you are here tonight and you know that you are in the same place as you were when Jesus called your name… (Lets be real about this tonight) You know you have been waiting to hear step 2 before you do step one…

Tonight is your night to make a decision…

He has called your name, now he is saying run your race…

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