A life forever changed
Witness to the world: Book of Acts • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 51:43
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A Zealots life change
A Zealots life change
From the masses (5000, and continued to multiply) to the despised (the Samaritans) to the curious one (Ethiopian Eunuch) to now a Zealot for God comes out of ignorance and into the light of Christ.
A zealot, chief persecutor of the church (Act8:1-3, 9:1-2)
To keep things in context let me give some scriptures along the way today.
1 Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him.
3 But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.
Saul in hearty agreement, a bringer of great persecution
Saul who began ravaging the church and started throwing Christians (people of the Way) in prison.
(Transition) Jesus can impact, does impact lives and we will see that tonight, here is Saul who becomes Paul:
To an untimely Apostle (1Cor15:8; Act13:9; 2Cor11:23-28)
8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.
and add to that
9 But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze on him,
And you can read in 2Cor11:23-28 some of what he suffered for as an apostle.
(Transition) in such a dramatic way we find this famous conversion story before us. It is actually found 3 times in the book of Acts>
Conversion story
Act9:1-19 Story described
Act22:6-16 Story recounted
Act26:12-18 Story defended
(Transition) Tonight we are going to briefly bring in some details from the other accounts, but our focus will be on Act9:1-19, the story described. I think you will see a few important things.
A powerful testimony of the resurrection of Jesus Christ
The nature of conversions evidenced
The when and how of a life forever changed
Was it on the road?
Was in in prayer and fasting?
Or was it at baptism?
The conversion
The conversion
In spite of Great learning (Act26:24) he was spiritually blind (2Cor3:12-18). He did not fall before the cross, it was a stumbling block (1Cor1:23). He depended on his own righteousness vs. relying on Gods (Rom9:30-10:13; Php3:1-10) - But! Meeting Jesus changes everything!
(Transition) in stead of reading the 19 verses and the supporting harmony verses all at once, going to break it down like this tonight.
On the road (Act9:1-7)
Arrival in Damascus (Act9:8-9)
The Lords servant Ananias and Saul (Act9:10-19)
On the road
On the road
The reason, the Light and the voice that changed a direction of a persons life.
1 Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
3 As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; 4 and 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?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, 6 but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.”
7 The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.
What did you see, what did you notice, what sticks out to you?
To persecute more Christians (Act9:1-2, 22:4-5, 26:9-11)
I want to read the other scriptures and will point out a few fillers as we go
4 “I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons, 5 as also the high priest and all the Council of the elders can testify. From them I also received letters to the brethren, and started off for Damascus in order to bring even those who were there to Jerusalem as prisoners to be punished.
So putting to death, binding, men and women to bring back to Jerusalem
9 “So then, I thought to myself that I had to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 “And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I cast my vote against them.
11 “And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities.
In defending himself Paul explains that he did many things that were hostile to Jesus of Nazareth, he pursued in Jerusalem in the Synagogues and in foreign countries.
What happened, a heavenly light (Act9:3, 22:6, 26:12-13)
From Act22:6 we can add that it was around noontime that this happened
From Act26:12-13 it was brighter than the sun and shone on him and those around him.
Then from seeing hearing (Act9:4-5, 22:7-9, 26:14-15)
7 and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ 8 “And I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’
9 “And those who were with me saw the light, to be sure, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me.
Others saw, but did not understand what was being said to Saul.
From Act26:14-15 we can add that the voice was spoken in a Hebrew dialect, so in a way, manner that Saul could understand.
The voice identifies himself (v.5)
Why would Jesus say he is persecuting Him?
Could it be because when you do anything against His people you are doing it against Him?
A change, a surrender happens (Act9:6; Act22:10)
What was he feeling, what do you think you would feel if you were in this situation.
What was the change, the surrender?
From about the murderous rage to the asking what is he to do?
What are the instructions given in (Act9:6, Act22:10)?
Arise, so in other words get up!
Get up and go, go where you were going, to Damascus, (he had been travelling a journey of 140 miles between Jerusalem and Damascus) Saul was committed but so was Jesus, but the commitment was changing and he was converted in his purpose. He is asking for direction and willing to take it.
Go there and you will be told what to do. See God does not always give us the big picture. He tells us the next indicated step to take.
Take action and more will be revealed to you.
10 So I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.’
(transition) Here is Saul the persecutor, a well educated, refined Roman citizen who was a relentless persecutor of the church who left Jerusalem in a murderous rage to a place of surrender. - Is there anyone who is too far gone, outside of the reach of God?
A few quick thoughts:
From Hebrew of Hebrews to Apostle to Gentiles
From persecutor to preacher
From Pharisee to proclaimer
From leader to one who had to be led
What about you, who were you and who are you today?
Saul was being converted to be a Christian is a man who ceases doing what he wants to do and begins to seek, ask, and do what Christ wants hi to do.
From leading to being led (Act9:7-8)
7 The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.
8 Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus.
Those with him heard but did not see,
Saul had his spiritual eyes opened but his physical eyes closed.
(Transition) He intended to enter Damascus in a fury and ended up being lead in blindness and helplessness. So the meeting and the arrest by Jesus led to the next meeting God had in store for Saul.
Ananias God’s reluctant servant
Ananias God’s reluctant servant
Having met Jesus set Saul on a course for another important meeting with a reluctant servant named Ananias. Reluctance does not mean no action. You will see how reluctance did not hinder God’s Word and God’s work to be done.
10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying,
12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at 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 instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;
16 for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized; 19 and he took food and was strengthened. Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus,
What did you see, what did you notice, what sticks out to you?
Led by the hand Paul completes his 140 mile trek and gets to Damascus led by the hand. With spiritual eyes open and physical eyes closed he meets with God’s chosen instrument Ananias.
Ananias called in a vision (Act9:10)
what can we know about Ananias (v.10)
He is a disciple
He knows the Lord and listens to the Lord.
Ananias is given direction (Act9:11-12)
What are the instructions, direction given to him?
Arise, so get up and go! (see v.6 too; Saul told the same thing)
Told to go to a street called Straight
Major thoroughfare running east to west through Damascus
Inquire
Ask about a man named Saul in the house of Judas
Does it strike you the names here, the last Ananias named and the last Judas named in scripture it did not end well for either of them.
Assurance that he knows you are coming and why you are coming.
Ananias questions the direction given (Act9:13-14)
Is it OK to questions directions?
Saul was known for his rage, but also his authority, so I think I may question the direction too.
Ananias is informed of God’s plan (Act9:15-16)
Saul was God’s chosen vessel.
He may not have seemed to be watching and listening to the gospel, just wanted to stop it, but something happened, what it at watching and heartily agreeing to the death of Stephen?
He may have seemed to have turned a deaf ear, but the Word of God will accomplish its works and not return void as it says in (Isa55:11)
Chosen vessel to who?
Gentiles, kings, children of Israel
Chosen to suffer for the cause.
Ananias is obedient (Act9:17; Act22:14-16)
Ananias went, but what else do you notice?
He laid hands on him (fulfilling the vision, see v.11)
He addressed him as “brother”
From enemies to brothers - that is what Christ can do!
Ananias displayed a great example of Christian love in addressing Saul. We can learn from his example.
He told Saul why he was there, look, what was the reason(s)
to receive sight
to be filled with the Holy Spirit
(Transition) - let me give to you the parallel in Act22 to fill in a more information and keep it in context
14 “And he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear an utterance from His mouth.
15 ‘For you will be a witness for Him to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16 ‘Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.’
What more do you learn about the instructions from the Act22 passage?
Do not delay
Be baptized
Wash away your sins calling on His name (expand)
Results to Saul from Ananias obedience (Act9:18-19)
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized; 19 and he took food and was strengthened. Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus,
What were the results?
regained his physical sight
got up
was baptized
broke the fast, ate, was strengthen
stayed with the local disciples for several days
(Transition) This conversion gives a great and powerful testimony of the power of the resurrection and meeting of the Lord and the power of a faithful obedient servant and even reluctant as he was. You have seen a great transformation, the same type of transformation that happens, can happen in people today. We also see the process of conversion, and may we spend the last few minutes making some observations about the conversion process.
Conversion, when and how
Conversion, when and how
There is much discussion, much debate and even much disagreement regarding salvation, may we go from our passage tonight and make some observations from the scripture.
When was Saul Saved, was it on the road (Act9:6; Act22:16)?
Some may say that Saul was saved on the road when he met and was arrested (or apprehended as it says in Php3:12)
Was it when Jesus appeared to him? Did the conversion, the salvation happen at that moment?
Consider what the Lord said to Saul in answering his question of the Lord.
6 but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.”
So there was something that Saul was going to be told what to do, and that was going to be revealed to him in Damascus.
It was revealed in Damascus by the words of Ananias what that was.
16 ‘Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.’
(Transition) so what do you notice, was his conversion, was his salvation at the moment of meeting Jesus? If so, where did the Lord give further instructions to him? - So may we press on to another item.
How was Saul saved, was it calling on the name of Jesus (Act9:9, 11, 22:16, 2:38)?
According to Ananias instructions to Saul in Act22:16 Saul was not saved by meeting Jesus, and his sins were not washed away at this point.
It is apparent also that after 3 days of fasting and prayers (which would be a form of calling on the Lord) that he was not saved, put let me give you the scripture.
9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
and add to that
11 And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying,
(Transition) So, Ananias gets to Saul where he is in the house of Judas on the street called Straight. He is fasting and in prayer, but yet he is not saved by either. How do we know? Again, the words from Ananias, the instructs, be baptized, and calling on the name of the Lord. This goes hand it hand with the instructions that Peter gave on Pentecost.
38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
(Transition) so not on the road, not in prayer, may we continue on now.
Was it at baptism and calling on the name (Act2:21, 38, 22:16; 1Pt3:21)?
On Pentecost Peter and the other apostles speak of calling on the name of the Lord.
21 ‘And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
Again, if it was only on the calling, why command baptism?
Peter says that it, baptism, is an appeal to God
21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
In essence baptism is an appeal, a calling on the name of the Lord, by faith, for our sins to be washed away, our sins forgiven.
Isn’t an appeal a form of prayer,a request, a request that sins be forgiven and to be born again of water and Spirit, so baptism is a form of prayer, so yes, prayer is a part of it.
(Transition to summary / close)
No great display, testimony can we find in the scripture than the life changed forever in Saul to Paul. So the take away today is simple.
God can transform anybody (Saul)
God can use anybody (Ananias)
Don’t discount the value of one person, are you willing to be God’s vessel today?
Don’t underestimate the power of the scripture and the instructions regarding salvation, conversion.
One is saved when they are baptized for remission of sins
When they are baptized their sins are washed away
Baptism is an appeal, a prayer, to God for a good conscience
A great reminder as we close today
3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;
7 for he who has died is freed from sin.
Are you free today? be free today, be reminded of your freedom in Christ today and how and when that happened.
(Prayer) prayer (closing slide)