Upload
others
View
2
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
1 | P a g e
Acts 9:1-19
The Persecutor is Pursued
It is a joy to be here with you all this morning.
Good morning to those of you listening online as well.
Today we will be continuing our study of Acts, and we
have made it to Chapter 9, we will be looking at Saul’s
conversion on the Road to Damascus.
My wife told me last night that she wanted to get on
that same Road to De-mask-us.
We have been getting a few visitors here online and in
person over the past few weeks, and if you are new
here we are so happy that you have joined us.
In a way we have prayed for you specifically, every
week, we ask the Lord to add to His Church, and He is
faithful to answer that prayer.
Now, those of you who are checking us out, I would
encourage you to sit and be with us for at least six
months, it takes some time to see and understand
what God us doing here in the life of the church.
Really a good thing to do, is join one of our small
groups, it is there you will develop those deeper lasting
relationships.
Here on Sunday morning, you can expect simplicity, we
are simple people, and we simply teach God’s Word
Simply.
2 | P a g e
We come to God’s Word each week, and we go
through it verse by verse, line upon line, and precept
upon precept.
We figured God had it written this way, so this is the
way He wanted us to address it.
Imagine writing someone a letter, and them going to
the middle of it, and just reading one sentence, and
trying to build their understanding of the letter off of
that one sentence.
Well, that is how many today handle God’s Word, they
take obscure verses and build whole sermons upon
them, they do a lot of talking, but their content is far
from what God had written that verse for.
We look at God’s Word for what it was intended to
say, and then and only then do we try to find our
application.
So primarily we look at God’s purpose for inspiring the
text, then we glean our application from that.
That is an important delineation from what much of
the preaching consists of today.
You see, this approach even puts the man at the pulpit
under the Authority of God’s Word, and protects you
from hearing my favorite topics each week.
It also protects you from me trying to be the Holy Spirit
each week, and deciding what I think you need to hear.
3 | P a g e
We simply let God’s Word speak to us as we all come
under its Authority.
So that being said, lets pray, and we will get into our
study this morning…
So at the death of Stephen we came into a new era of
Church History.
At Stephen’s death we were introduced very briefly to
a man who will now become known chiefly during this
time period.
Acts 7:58 And the witnesses laid down their clothes at
the feet of a young man named Saul.
Saul was consenting to the animalistic stoning of
Stephen, and it was in that moment that the beast
within him awoke.
Luke mentioned him one more time briefly at the
beginning of Chapter 8 and reminds us… Acts 8:1
Now Saul was consenting to his death.
At that time a great persecution arose against the
church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all
scattered throughout the regions of Judea and
Samaria, except the apostles.
And Luke then immediately gave us a detailed insight
of the fruit of this persecution, and the fact that the
Gospel was spreading, not only now to Samaria, but
also Gentiles, in Ethiopia were being impacted.
4 | P a g e
The persecution spread the church’s reach further than
ever.
Now, as Luke brings his record back to the murderous
Saul, we will see that he was no longer content with his
campaign against the Church in Jerusalem, his
ambitions will grow now to other regions.
Saul saw Christianity as incompatible with Judaism.
If Judaism was correct, Christianity was an apostasy,
but if Christianity was true, it meant that Judaism was
obsolete.
You see Saul’s whole way of life was under threat, the
faith that he was born into, the faith that he came to
love and study throughout his life, the whole
background of this man’s life was built upon his faith,
and it was all threatened by the spread of the Gospel
of Jesus Christ.
And his own logical conclusion was that Christ was a
blasphemer and Christianity was a cult.
He could not attack Jesus Himself, because He was
supposedly dead, but Saul could go after His followers,
and he would not stop until every one of the Christians
still around were also dead and buried.
Then and only then would his beloved Judaism be safe.
But Saul will find out an important reality through his
intimidations and murders, when you come against the
5 | P a g e
Church, you are in fact coming against a very alive
Jesus Christ, who did not stay dead, but rose again.
Understand something, Jesus prayed before His death
for the future Church, in this manner…
John 17:20-23 "I do not pray for these alone, but also
for those who will believe in Me through their word;
21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me,
and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the
world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory
which You gave Me I have given them, that they may
be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in
Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that
the world may know that You have sent Me, and have
loved them as You have loved Me.
Saul would be so impacted by this reality that Jesus
and the Church are one, this lesson he learns here at
his conversion, he would later write as the Apostle
Paul…
1 Cor. 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and
members individually.
You see whoever comes against the Church comes
against Christ Himself, as Saul will come to understand
that here.
So we pick it up now in verse 1 of Acts Chapter 9…
The Damascus Road: Saul Converted
(Acts 22:6-16; 26:12-18)
6 | P a g e
9:1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder
against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high
priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues
of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the
Way, whether men or women, he might bring them
bound to Jerusalem.
Here we have Saul breathing threats and murder
against the Church.
The Greek word for murder is phonos which some
translations use the meaning of slaughter here.
Saul was trying to rid the world of these Jesus
followers through terrifying threats and his actions
were not in word only but in deed as well, with the
slaughter of many innocent victims.
Now, most of us think we are pretty nice people, we
may live neighborly to those around us.
We don’t hurt anyone, we are mostly honest, and we
for the most part work hard for the things we have.
But understand, none of that would be considered if
the murderous Saul came to your home, he would only
be concerned about one thing, and that one thing
would be the end of your way of life as you knew it.
If you loved Jesus, and followed Him, Saul would have
destroyed you and those you love.
7 | P a g e
The Jewish Sanhedrin had immense authority, and not
only in Jerusalem but throughout all the Jewish
Regions.
Rome had upheld that authority for over a century.
Saul of Tarsus was wielding the full weight of this
Jewish Powerhouse, the Sanhedrin.
He was sick with power and determined at all cost to
destroy the Church not only in Jerusalem but even
those who lived in further regions under Jewish
authority.
Damascus was 150 miles from Jerusalem, about a
week’s travel for the Bloodthirsty Saul.
And Damascus was now filling up with Christians
fleeing the persecution.
Perhaps Saul orphaned many of them, even widowed
others, and as they fled his violent efforts, they looked
for a fresh start in Damascus.
Now, how terrible for them to know, that the place
this religious terrorist was heading to next, was where
they were hoping to be safe.
Saul who became Paul told Agrippa his testimony, and
this is how he described his own behavior.
Acts 26:9-11 "Indeed, I myself thought I must do many
things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10
This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I
shut up in prison, having received authority from the
8 | P a g e
chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast
my vote against them. 11 And I punished them often
in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme;
and being exceedingly enraged against them, I
persecuted them even to foreign cities.
In the words of Kent Hughes, “He was a callous, self-
righteous, bigoted murderer set on a full scale
inquisition.”
Now, it is also interesting here how the first Christians
were described, long before the name Christian came
about, those who followed Jesus were those of the
Way.
Now this was a wonderful early name for the believers,
as Jesus Himself declared… John 14:6 Jesus said to him,
"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to
the Father except through Me.
We follow the One who declares that He is the Way.
Now, of course, He is the Truth, that is a profound
reality, Jesus is Truth.
I don’t know if you have watched the Documentary on
Netflix, the Social Dilemma, but it talks about how
Social Media, through various ways is destroying the
fabric of our society and many others at that.
But toward the end, they start talking about Truth, and
how the virtual world has created a different truth for
every human being alive, no one’s truth is the same
truth.
9 | P a g e
I as I was watching it, I wanted to scream at the screen,
“There is an Ultimate Truth, an Absolute Truth!”
Of course it is found at Jesus, and in God’s Word.
Anyway, you want to understand why our nation is
divided, our world is divided, even your household is
divided watch that Documentary, the Social Dilemma.
I guarantee that they have many so addicted to their
agenda, that even as you learn the truth of what is
behind it all, not much is going to change in our lives.
That virtual world is a Great Delusion and a huge Ruse,
but for many their whole life is caught up in it.
The world is duped, and the answer is a hard reset, and
a revival in the Church, and for us to once again claim
to be following the Way, the Truth and the Life.
True living is not found in this false virtual world we
live in for hours at a time, Jesus gives us a Way to Truly
live.
Christians were of the Way early on, and what a
wonderful thing to be known by, as this world is
searching for a Way right now.
I will say one last thing, get those devices out of your
kids’ faces, every second they are holding one it is
stealing their soul away.
Us older generation, we can remember a day before
this virtual world, and our kids are being raised in only
a virtual world.
10 | P a g e
They don’t know how to interact, social disorders are
higher than ever, they don’t take chances, they cannot
leave the home, they have no meaningful, tangible
relationships, and they won’t get their driver’s license
until they are in their mid to late 20’s.
Yet they will have the pride of a Great CEO of a world
renowned company.
Something has to happen, we who are of the Way have
to lead the Way in the changes that are necessary.
You are not addicted you say, how many times have
you checked your notifications just since you got in
here.
So Saul of Tarsus was on a mission to seek and destroy
those of the Way in Damascus, the mighty Persecutor.
But little did he know, at this time the Hound of
Heaven was Pursuing him, and it would be on this road
to Damascus that Saul’s life would be forever changed,
and completely rerouted.
His story is a continuous reminder for us to never
count anyone too far gone for the Grace of God to
reach.
Perhaps you have someone or someones in our life
who have heard the Word of God for years, and is as
callous as ever towards it.
They enjoy their sin and have no remorse for their
depravity.
11 | P a g e
Maybe you have lost someone to a cult, and they have
taken up a false doctrine with Great Pride.
Understand, God can reach anyone, the scripture
declares it, and I have not only witnessed it, but I too
was a lost cause, who the Hound of Heaven hunted
down.
Something I have learned too, sometimes it is the
fiercest of disputers who God is chasing, the most vial
and blatant sinners, are the ones that God is after.
I have come to learn that they many times are in the
midst of a great internal fight against the Truths of
God’s Word.
I remember on the Jobsite, many encounters with
fierce opposition, but none were greater than a man
who we called Big Mike, Big came from the fact that he
was well over 300lbs, and he had a mighty hot temper
that no one dare try to trigger it.
Now, I never set out to trigger the man, but I had a
certain way I liked to run my crew.
Some have the philosophy about their faith that it is
between them and God, and they keep it to
themselves.
But I am of the opposite belief, our faith should be
known.
12 | P a g e
So I played Christian radio all day, and I gathered my
crew every morning to pray for safety and wisdom for
our day.
From day one, I found that Jesus was a trigger for that
mighty hot temper.
Big Mike would be nose to nose with me in screaming
red faced how he hated religion, and how he especially
hated Jesus.
But I learned over time, that Big Mike had a huge
internal war going on inside of him.
Of course my technique was to argue with him all day,
if I am honest, I was just as bigoted and bullheaded as
he was, and I was not going to budge on my stance.
I would come home and vent to my wife, about how
God made a mistake putting this guy on my crew, and
how pigs would fly before this man ever surrendered
his life to Jesus.
All my arguments and debates were flawless, and yet
he did not budge but he got even more angry.
Jess told me one day, “why don’t you just stop talking,
let God work in his heart?”
So we got him a Bible, and I sheepishly gave it to him
at my wife’s recommendation, warning her he would
never receive it.
I instantly told him it was from Sweetpea, because I
knew he would not take it from me.
13 | P a g e
He took it, and even began reading it, and I did what
Jess said, and I shut my mouth.
She invited him over for Thanksgiving, we found out
Big Mike lost both parents when he was a kid, and the
Grandma that raised him had just passed away.
He was angry with God, because of the hurt in his life.
And any mention of God triggered all that hurt.
When we came back to work, I gathered the crew for
prayer, and Big Mike stopped me, and he was
emotional, I thought more tragedy came upon his life,
but he said “last night in my bed I cried out to God, and
ask Jesus to forgive me and to come into my life.”
Big Mike surrendered the fight, the man I thought
could never be won to Christ, it was impossible, he had
surrendered to the Hound of Heaven, and it wasn’t
through any of my Great Arguments, but a gentle
working of the Holy Spirit, and some good old fashion
Christian Hospitality.
That is what got him in the end, you see little did he
know I spent a great deal of time preparing for an
evening of debates, I studied, got some material ready
to do battle.
But when Big Mike arrived, and Jess welcomed him
into our home and into our family evening, I saw
something on Big Mike that I had never seen prior to
that day, it was a smile.
14 | P a g e
And although I was ready and equipped for the Battle
of the Ages, the Lord never allowed it, and it was my
wife serving him some apple pie with extra whipping
cream that did it.
So, those fierce critics of your faith, those people that
just keep you up at night, who attack you and malign
you, consider the inner battle of their heart, and they
might be much closer to Jesus than you think.
Who would have ever thought Saul of Tarsus, that
murderous, venomous Persecutor was being Pursued
himself.
Look now starting in verse 3 now…
3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and
suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4
Then 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?"
Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are
persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the
goads."
6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do
You want me to do?"
Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city,
and you will be told what you must do."
7 And the men who journeyed with him stood
speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 8 Then
15 | P a g e
Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were
opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand
and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three
days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
Saul approached Damascus, “a beautiful white city on
a green plain,” at midday as Paul would later explain to
King Agrippa.
Midday was the time for the traditional Middle Eastern
nap.
But Paul’s adrenaline and treacherous drive would not
rest, and it was there on that road, that his own inner
battle would yield to the onslaught of God’s Amazing
Grace.
At the time that the sun was brightest and throwing its
own heat downward on that hot desert road, another
light appeared that the sun paled before its glory, it
was a heavenly light that burst upon Saul and it jolted
his soul.
We are told that it shined all around him, surrounded
him, Saul could not flee its power, there was nothing
for him to do but surrender and fall to the ground, as
the light pierced into his darkened soul.
Now, imagine this, the most feared man by the
Christians, the tenacious and ever driven Saul was
grounded to a complete stop.
You see, there are some men that are just
unstoppable, their tenacity and drive are just above
16 | P a g e
average, they can keep up an incredible pace, even
those that work alongside of them have trouble
keeping up.
My first boss was like this, he rarely slept, he had high
energy all the time, he was full speed all day every day,
and it was an incredible pace, but he found incredible
success because of this pace.
I think of even our President today, like him or not like
him, he has not aged a day in that office, look at other
men who have served in that capacity and how much
they have aged from inauguration day to the next
election time, and the office wears on them.
But it is as if President Trump thrives off the pace.
He is at press conferences then at a rally, then at a
meeting, and it is pretty incredible the pace he keeps.
But some men and women were built with this
incredible continuous forward movement.
This is Saul of Tarsus’ make-up, and Satan is using it for
incredible evil, but Jesus sees something of value in
this man as well.
He will take what Satan is using for wickedness, and
Jesus will turn that full throttle man around for His
own good purposes now.
He is stopped in his tracks here, but soon, Jesus will set
loose this determined man upon the world with His
Gospel of Grace.
17 | P a g e
Jesus needed this unrelenting spirit within him, and
Saul was just what He needed.
But first Saul needed to be humbled and broken, like a
wild stallion, he needed to be tamed and bridled under
the Spirit of Christ.
So we see first the confrontation, Jesus Himself meets
with Saul.
Not even Philip the Evangelist is sent, not any of the
Apostles, this man’s heart needed something more
intense to get his full attention and allegiance.
Jesus asks, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
This seems to be Saul’s first encounter with Jesus, his
perception of Jesus was made here on the Damascus
Road.
Paul never forgot this heavenly vision, this moment
changed everything for him.
Interesting, to Paul, Jesus was not Jesus of Nazareth,
but he referred to Him in 1 Cor. 15:47 the Lord from
heaven.
Saul had a unique view of the risen and ascended
Christ.
And this view permeated all of his teachings and
writings.
For Paul, Jesus was God, and He was God over all the
earth, even over the universe, though Jesus was once a
18 | P a g e
Man, He is now seated at the Right Hand of God, as
God.
Also, as mentioned before, this encounter so
engrained in Paul the mystical Body of Christ, his
barbarity toward the Church, was barbarity toward the
Risen Jesus.
He never forgot this, and it permeated through his
teachings as well.
John Philips writes…“So then, one moment Saul of
Tarsus was riding high, secure in the impenetrable
armor of his iron-clad prejudices, breathing out
threatenings and slaughter. The next moment he
prostrate on the ground, blinded by such a light as
never shone on earth and listening to such a voice as
charmed the very angels of God.”
Notice how Saul quickly succumbed to Jesus, as he
instantly calls Him Lord twice in this encounter.
Saul is instantly met with the reality that Jesus is alive,
Paul would later use this encounter for his apostolic
credentials.
Remember a true Apostle is one that has seen the
Risen Lord.
Speaking of the resurrection of Jesus, and putting
himself on par with the other Apostles, he said to the
Corinthian Church, in 1 Cor. 15:7-8
19 | P a g e
7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the
apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as
by one born out of due time.
Jesus tells Saul here, “it is hard for you to kick against
the goads.”
A goad was a stick that you would poke an ox to get
him moving.
Every now and again there would be a stubborn ox,
not wanting to budge, and he would try to kick his feet
up at the stick, which would be a pointless endeavor.
The prodder would step back, and then after the feet
hit the ground, the goad would poke that ox again.
Saul of Tarsus was kicking against that inner work of
the Holy Spirit, and it too was a pointless endeavor.
We can imagine, the goads that daily tormented his
soul were those faces of those innocents that he daily
persecuted.
Stephen with the face of an angel never left the
forefront of his mind, the courageous men and women
who with unflinching resolve stood with Jesus, even
with the greatest of threats and most brutal tactics
coming upon them.
He must have been questioning if the work that he was
doing was just and right, but the thought of him
misinterpreting his zeal only fueled his confused rage
all the more.
20 | P a g e
It created a turmoil within him, as the genuine witness
of these martyrs penetrated his conscious.
But Saul kicked against the goads and suppressed any
doubt.
“He was oppressed by guilt” but so committed to his
cause he stayed the course.
Jesus who knows what is in every man, exposed this
fight within.
Saul relented, he was found out, and for the second
time, he calls Jesus Lord, and then asks for his new
heavenly mission.
This is true conversion, so many come to Jesus for
what they can get from Him, but a True convert in turn
asks, “Lord, what do you want me to do.”
Faith without works is dead, and Saul’s faith is
awakened to obedience.
Jesus tells Saul to continue on into Damascus, and
there in the city he will be given his next steps.
Imagine this now, the Great Persecutor, who was set
out to destroy the Christians in Damascus, he was
going to lead many out bound and restrained, and was
going to lead them to Jerusalem this way.
But Jesus reversed it all, and this powerful man is
reduced to enter the city, led by someone else’s hand,
weak, blind and powerless.
21 | P a g e
Saul whose name struck fear into others, was now
shaking and afraid, full of despair.
His physical eyes were as dark as his lost soul.
But the last thing his eyes saw, was the Risen Lord, and
when we see Jesus clearly, our own sinful condition
becomes so clear to us.
Isaiah, after he saw the Lord sitting on His throne high
and lifted up, and the seraphim singing “Holy, Holy,
Holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His
Glory.”
He was so enamored with his God, and sickened by his
fallen nature, he declared… Isa 6:5
"Woe is me, for I am undone!
Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King,
The Lord of hosts."
This is the natural reaction to a man or woman who
finally sees themselves in the light of God’s Glory.
Paul too would later conclude of himself in his letter to
those in Rome…
Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh)
nothing good dwells;
I get really skeptical when someone starts boasting of
their spirituality and their high marks.
22 | P a g e
Paul went on to say… Rom. 7:24-25
24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me
from this body of death? 25 I thank God — through
Jesus Christ our Lord!
In this fleshly tent nothing good dwells.
Now, understand, if anyone had reason to boast in his
own spirituality, it was this man Saul, who would later
reveal to the Church in Philippi… Phil 3:4-9
If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the
flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the
stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of
the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6
concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning
the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But
what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss
for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for
the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my
Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things,
and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
Paul counted his credentials in religion as rubbish or
refuse.
This man had a passion for Judaism and even sat under
Gamaliel the great rabbi, yet he counted is all as
nothing that he might gain Christ.
This encounter here with Jesus on the Damascus Road
undid in a moment all that Saul had achieved
throughout his entire life.
23 | P a g e
The Hound of Heaven caught His man, and this man
found all he ever needed in Jesus.
And now, for three days Saul knew only darkness, his
sight completely gone.
And we can only imagine the inner thoughts of Saul, as
he assessed his whole life, and how his former religion
pointed to his new fulfilled faith.
His whole world now turned upside down, and in
silence and in darkness he began to salvage and piece
it all together, and although he was blind he began to
truly see.
As he rethought his Bible, the world was opening up
before him.
He patiently waited for the promised instructions, and
was confident that God would soon speak, and next
that Word will come, and although it will be a thrilling
encounter, and a miracle will take place, the reality of
Saul’s new mission would turn even the most stout
hearted men away.
Perhaps Saul saw it all as a way to give back what he
had taken from so many, but his destiny would entail
much suffering.
Look now as God sends his messenger…
Ananias Baptizes Saul
24 | P a g e
10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus
named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision,
"Ananias."
And he said, "Here I am, Lord."
11 So the Lord said to him, "Arise and go to the street
called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for
one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12
And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias
coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he
might receive his sight."
God has servants everywhere, and in Damascus there
was an obedient fellow, ready to obey.
His immediate response to the vision was, “Here I am
Lord.”
Now, although he will soon fall off of the pages of this
saga and never be mentioned again, we see that God
knew exactly who he was and calls him by name…
“Ananias.”
God knew his meek faith and God gives him his
mission.
And this is not an easy one by any means, on the Street
called Straight a principle thoroughfare in Damascus,
he was to go to the house of Judas, to seek out a man,
Saul of Tarsus.
25 | P a g e
The Lord notes that he is praying, and through a vision
of his own, he knows that a man Ananias is coming to
see him.
Now, perhaps Ananias knew many families impacted
by this man’s evils.
So we understand his caution next…
13 Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from
many about this man, how much harm he has done to
Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority
from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your
name."
The Church was there in Damascus waiting for this
man’s wrath to befall them there.
The reputation Saul had causes this man Ananias to
question God…
We often question God as though we know better than
Him, and He is so patient with us.
God gives a generous response and revelation next to
Ananias…
15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen
vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings,
and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how
many things he must suffer for My name's sake."
Saul was a chosen vessel, his whole life, unbeknownst
to him, was a preparatory school for one of the
greatest commissions anyone has ever received.
26 | P a g e
Paul would take the World with this Gospel, he would
take Jesus’ Name before kings.
He was equipped like no other Apostle; none of them
had such immense intellectual gifts and such a great
educational background.
Paul has the stamina, the strength of purpose, once a
wild violent stallion, now tamed and now his incredible
energy had been given a direction, and such clear
vision.
He was culturally blended, he knew the Roman, Greek
and Jewish cultures.
His linguistic skills were superb, and God had specially
trained him for this great endeavor to reach all men,
first the Jews then the rest of the world.
But it will not be a glorious trek, suffering was his
promise here.
But at each beating and each brush with death, at
every imprisonment, at every betrayal and rejection,
Saul knew this was his calling.
He declared years later 2 Cor. 11:30 If I must boast, I
will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.
So, God assures Ananias he has no need to worry any
longer about Saul causing the church to suffer, from
now on Saul would do the suffering.
Ananias has no more argument, and he moves ahead
obediently…
27 | P a g e
Verses 17-19 now.
17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house;
and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the
Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you
came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and
be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18 Immediately there fell
from his eyes something like scales, and he received
his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
19 So when he had received food, he was
strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the
disciples at Damascus.
Kent Hughes says here so perfectly “The physical scales
falling to the ground mirrored Saul’s spiritual
transformation – all things had become new. The eyes
of Saul’s heart had been enlightened. The one who
persecuted Christ by hating His people now belonged
to Christ – Forever.”
The Persecutor was Pursued, and the Hound of Heaven
found His man.
The world would never be the same from this moment
on.
We see there in Damascus the brethren that were
once to be hunted down, now brought their enemy
within their ranks, Saul had a new family now.
And this is one of the evidences that God’s Word gives
us of a genuine conversion.
28 | P a g e
We are not saved and set free, this is not a catch and
release kind of fishing, we are not meant to live our
Christian life on an island, and there is no such thing as
a lone ranger Christian.
No, we are caught, and brought into this wonderful
family of God.
1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death
to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not
love his brother abides in death.
You see our Christian life is meant to be lived among
God’s People, Church is vital to our faith.
Don’t ever believe we can be alone in this journey of
faith, that is a miserable Christian existence.
We are family, through bad times through good times,
we love the brethren.
Now, I wonder if the Hound of Heaven is after any of
you this morning?
Maybe you have even been in church for a while now,
and like Saul you are adamantly religious.
Listen, religion is empty, Jesus did not die for you to
have better religion; He died to have you.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His
only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him
should not perish but have everlasting life.
29 | P a g e
He is always the Initiator in all of this, He is the
Pursuer, and He has made the first move, it is now up
to you to choose to believe on Jesus for your salvation.
No one is too far Gone for His Grace to reach, Saul of
Tarsus will forever be a testimony to this fact, you have
not done too much that you cannot be forgiven.
Come to Him this morning, there will be men up here
during this last song, come up and pray to receive
Christ as your Lord and Savior.
Let’s pray…
Now, if you are a Christian, be encouraged by Saul’s
conversion here, no one is too far gone to be reached
for Christ.
Keep praying for that prodigal, keep preaching to that
co-worker, keep loving and doing good to those who
persecute you, and don’t stop.
Please take this time to come up and pray for them, to
plead for them.