New Beginnings
Acts • Sermon • Submitted
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· 26 viewsPaul was not trusted by disciples and others but he did not let the discouragement stop him. He pushed through it by preaching the word of God and the message of teh Christ.
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and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.
At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.
All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”
Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him,
but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him.
But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.
When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple.
But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.
So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.
He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him.
When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
Prepare but don’t wait
Prepare but don’t wait
and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.
Spent several days with the disciples learning, listening, watching.
Spend time in the word and in prayer. We have the actual word of God. We have the Holy Spirit. We have each other.
Begin immediately, you will never be totally prepared.
Begin immediately, you will never be totally prepared.
At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.
You don’t have to wait. You will make mistakes. That is ok. But begin. Begin with proclaiming who Jesus is. You know. You experienced him. He saved you. He changed you. Just share that. There is no better place to start.
Start where you are.
When God works, people are astonished
When God works, people are astonished
All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”
People were in shock. It was unexpected. it was confusing. But people knew something was up. They knew God was doing something
People will question you
People will question you
They will try to use your past to define you, but God has a different plan. The devil will use your past to try and stop you, but that is where you know God is at work. Because it is the radical change God does in you that brings glory to him.
Look at the disciples before and after the Resurrection and Pentecost.
God will baffle people
God will baffle people
Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
He will make them think. He will make them question what they think they know. He will do all the work in their lives, he just asks you to share who Jesus is and that he is the anointed one, the savior, the Messiah.
You Will Face Opposition
You Will Face Opposition
After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him,
but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him.
People will raise up against you. They will try to stop you. The devil does not want anyone to trust God. He wants anyone who stands up and shares the message of hope in Christ to be destroyed. He will use any means necessary to stop. He does not play by the rules. He lies, cheats, murders, confuses, separates and anything he wants to do try and stop the message of salvation. But God’s plan and God’s word can never be stopped.
God provides
God provides
But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.
Look at what God provided. People were literally waiting at the gate to kill him, but God provided a way out. Now there are plenty of examples in the Bible of God providing miraculous ways out. Noah, Moses, the Exodus, and so many others, but sometimes God provides the perfect way out he brings people home to him. We as humans often fear death, but we do not have to fear death, because we know when we trust Jesus, when we belong to him, death is the true beginning of eternal life. That attitude changes everything. That hope, that promise, is the foundation.
But sometimes, God is not done with you yet in this life, so he provides a way out. This time Paul was lowered in a basket out of the city.
He makes his way to Jerusalem most likely thinking he would join the apostles, but opposition arises from the people who should have known the ability of Jesus to transform and make new, but Saul did not let that stop him.
REPEAT
REPEAT
Saul goes through it all again in Jerusalem. He is excited to be with apostles to learn and serve. They questioned him, did not believe him, God provided.
We need to give the disciples a break, they were very aware that old Saul would go to any cost to stop them, but Saul did not let their fear stop him from being bold.
Barnabas stepped in to share what God had done.
Be a Witness
Be a Witness
But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.
Barnabas simply shared what he had seen God do through Saul.
As disciples of Christ, our number one job is always to tell others what you have seen and experienced what Jesus has done.
Sometimes it is what he has done in our lives, but sometimes like Barnabas it is sharing what you have seen him do in others.
Salvation, Rescue, Healing, Restoration, Miracles.
Also, sometimes it is recognizing the gifts of others and sharing that information with the right people. For example, if you know people with gifts for teaching children, share it with Mike or Katherine. If you know someone who is gifted in hospitality, then let me know.
Remember what Barnabas’s name meant. “Son of Encouragement.” Isn’t that exactly what Barnabas is doing here, encouraging. Encouraging Saul to not stop. Encouraging the apostles to bring Saul in and they did.
So Saul, continued his mission, and he boldly spoke in the name of the Lord, and the pattern continued. A pattern that Saul experienced over and over. Be a witness, God astonished, people believed, opposition arose, God provided, He kept proclaiming.
That same message is for us today. So, spend time asking God, How he wants me to boldly proclaim his message today. Do not let anything stop you from spreading the message of Jesus. Not COVID-19, not riots, not injustice, not anyone. God is still God and Jesus still saves.
In a world so desperate for hope, for good news, For God, we are his instruments, his tools. Let him use you.