Sermon Tone Analysis

Public Reading of Scripture [Acts 9:1-19]

Pray

Introduction to Theme

Sight is defined as “the power of seeing.”

But God would not have us trust in what our eyes alone can see.

The sight that guides a disciple’s life is a spiritual sight, a gift from God, that sees Jesus for who He is — the Son of God.

The Lord teaches us that while a person may have eyes, they may not have this kind of spiritual sight.

A person may be ignorant of God’s working.

A person may see all of creation, and yet fail to see in it the Creator (Romans 1).

This is why we pray to the Lord: “give us eyes that we may see.”

It is a prayer of faith that asks the Lord to: “Give us eyes for our hearts.”

“Open the eyes of my heart, Lord, Open the eyes of my heart, I want to see you, I want to see you.”

I’ve entitled this sermon “Power in Seeing.”

Sight is what a man named Saul thought he had until he met the risen Jesus.

For a time, the Lord took Saul’s physical sight away, so that Saul could experience physical blindness and understand that he had been spiritually blind all along.

Sight is what the Lord will restore to Saul — sight to see Jesus and be used as a chosen instrument for God’s mission in the world.

Introduction to Text

Luke first introduces us to Saul in Acts 7:58.

There, Stephen is being stoned to death, and “the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.”

Acts 8:1 tells us this Saul approved of Stephen’s execution.

Acts 8:3 tells us this Saul “was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, [dragging] off men and women and [committing] them to prison.”

I. Saul - “Who are you, Lord?” [Acts 9:1-9]

From Acts 8:3 to Acts 9:1 when Saul reappears, he hasn’t missed a beat.

During this time, the Gospel has been proclaimed in Samaria and there is much joy there, God sends Philip to an Ethiopian eunuch in the desert and the eunuch learns about Jesus and believes with joy, Philip is preaching the gospel to every town he passes through:

The Spirit of God who inspired this word to be written would now have us direct our attention on this man named Saul.

Saul is “still breathing threats” against the disciples of the Lord.

That word “still” will be an important word later when this same man will write the words:

God does not save people who have cleaned up their life.

God gives life to people who are dead in sin.

While sinners…it was while still breathing threats these things happened to Saul.

Specifically he is threatening murder.

He seeks to kill anyone who follows Jesus — anyone who belongs to “the Way.”

“The Way” is a a designation of a group that believed they alone followed the “way of righteousness” (Keener, IVP Background).

These disciples belonging to “the Way” believed Jesus Christ to be their righteousness.

But Saul believed righteousness was attained by faithfully obeying God’s law.

By keeping the traditions of his fathers.

By excelling in the religion of Judaism.

Later in giving his own testimony, this Saul (now named Paul) would say:

Later, to the Galatians Paul would say:

Saul’s persecution knew no bounds.

He persecuted men and women who were following Jesus.

Notice that women were not insignificant in the early church.

Women had such a role in the advancement of the gospel that they were targets of Saul’s persecution too!

That translation “he went on his way” makes for an interesting play on words.

Saul is seeking to kill those of the Way, yet is met by the Lord as he went on his way.

Someone needs to hear this truth: There is no “way” that you are traveling on that is beyond the reach of God to save.

Do you think that you have gone too far in unrighteousness?

In sexual immorality?

Idolatry?

Adultery?

Homosexuality?

Theft?

Greed?

Drunkenness?

Abuse?

(See 1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

This same Saul later testified of his own experience saying:

Even while known as one seeking to murder disciples of Jesus, Jesus met Saul with a flash of light from heaven “brighter than the sun” (Acts 26:13).

He called out: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

The use of Saul’s name twice conveys emotion.

Just as when Jesus was at the home of Mary and Martha and said to Martha, “Martha, Martha...” (Luke 10:48).

He says, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

Jesus is always present with his people who are called by his name, so when his church is persecuted, Jesus himself is persecuted.

But with the calling of Saul’s name, this question of the Lord carries with it a bit of wonder at why Saul himself, trained as he is in the law of God, advancing as he is in Judaism, could fail to see how Jesus is the fulfillment of the law he was so zealous for.

To the point that Saul, of all people, would persecute disciples of Jesus…

Saul was spiritually blind, and in the light of Jesus becomes physically blind.

Jesus removes the sight Saul has, to show him the sight he needs.

When Jesus speaks to Saul, Saul responds:

Saul was persecuting those whom he thought were followers of the teaching of a dead man.

A man who claimed to be one with God, a man who was crucified, and buried.

A man who Saul considered to be a blasphemer, a lawbreaker — Jesus of Nazareth.

And to Saul, Jesus was a liar who got what he deserved, and Jesus is dead.

But now in his ignorance and blindness, Saul responds to this voice: “Who are you, Lord?”

He recognizes that this presence is a power greater than himself!

He does not know who is speaking to him, but he knows the voice speaking is a voice of power!

This is an act of God!

And the next words he hears change his life: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”

This Jesus, whom Saul has been persecuting, is alive!

And has been alive!

And has witnessed everything Saul has done up until now!

And has suffered from what Saul has done to the Church.

Perhaps Saul trembles at the thought that this powerful Jesus could have stopped Saul’s persecution at any moment!

Jesus has witnessed what has happened all along . . .

But Jesus does not explain anything further to Saul.

The revelation of himself is what is important for now.

“I am Jesus” brings us back to the moment God spoke with Moses at the burning bush and revealed his name as “I AM.”

Whenever God reveals himself in Scripture it is a very important moment and gift of his grace.

It is another example of God’s positioning.

Obey the first instruction, and you will receive a second.

I’m with you here, and I’ll be with you when you get there.

It is an invitation to a journey, to a walk with the living God.

The scene then shifts from Saul to a disciple named Ananias.

Just as God is acting through Jesus to accomplish his purposes through Saul, God is simultaneously acting through Ananias for the same purpose.

II.

Ananias - “Here I am, Lord” [Acts 9:10-19]

When the Lord called to Saul, Saul said “Who are you, Lord?”

When the Lord called to Ananias, a disciple, Ananias said “Here I am, Lord.”

These are the two responses that identify two groups of people: those who know Jesus, and those who do not.

If you know Jesus, and he calls your name, you respond with “Here I am, Lord.” “I am here, I am listening, I am ready to obey.”

If you do not know Jesus, and he calls your name, you respond with “Who are you, Lord.”