Acts_9_1-9
9/21/08
Saul’s conversion
Acts_9
I. Saul's conversion on the road to Damascus.
A. Saul's purpose for traveling to Damascus
Acts 9:1-2 (NKJV)
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.
1. Saul with incredible zeal is persecuting the church.
a. The word "still" points back to chapter 8:3 where we read
Acts 8:3 (NKJV)
3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.
b. So with intense religious energy Saul continues his persecution of disciples or followers of Jesus, breathing threats and murder against them.
(1) What a testimony for a man of God to have murders in his heart!
(a) Yet this is often true, and comes when we lose sight of God and have our eyes on a cause or a man.
(b) Often we are most vocal about things we struggle with… (a defense or a cover-up)
(2) Previously we read how Paul describes his persecution of the church as evidence of his zeal for God
Philippians 3:4-6 (NKJV)
4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. 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.
(a) But in Galatians he adds to this notion and informs us that he had actually set out to destroy the church!
Galatians 1:13 (NKJV)
13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.
(b) Many have tried to destroy the church, but it is a thing of folly to try, in fact the persecuted church strengthens and grows.
c. Paul was so intent on destroying the church that he asked for letters of permission to travel all the way to Damascus 133 miles North of Jerusalem.
(1) A roughly six day journey, so that he might arrest christians and drag them back to prison.
2. Paul refers to the believers as those who were of the "Way" evidently an early term to describe the followers of Jesus.
a. What an appropriate title, for being a Christian is more than just belonging to a group, or holding a certain teaching, it is a way of life!
B. God meets Paul on that road as he headed toward Damascus.
Acts 9:3-6 (NKJV)
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.”
1. Light from heaven shone around him, he heard a voice calling him by name and asking him a question.
a. In Acts chapters 22 and 26 we are told that this took place at noon when the sun is at its highest and brightest, and so this heavenly light was far brighter than the midday sun could ever shine (very unusual way in which God confronts this man with such a light and speaking audibly)
b. And immediately Saul falls to the ground in terror hearing a voice that identifies Himself as Jesus.
(1) Saul, Saul…He knows my name; He knows your name; He calls out to us.
(a) As I thought about this I was reminded of a wonderful old hymn
Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me;
See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.
Refrain
Come home, come home,
You who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!
Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
Pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not His mercies,
Mercies for you and for me?
Refrain
Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,
Passing from you and from me;
Shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming,
Coming for you and for me.
Refrain
O for the wonderful love He has promised,
Promised for you and for me!
Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon,
Pardon for you and for me.
When the world-renowned lay preacher, Dwight Lyman Moody, lay on his death bed in his Northfield, Massachusetts, home, Will Thompson made a special visit to inquire as to his condition. The attending physician refused to admit him to the sickroom, and Moody heard them talking just outside the bedroom door. Recognizing Thompson’s voice, he called for him to come to his bedside. Taking the Ohio poet-composer by the hand, the dying evangelist said, “Will, I would rather have written ‘Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling’ than anything I have been able to do in my whole life.”
i) Saul, Saul not word of anger, but spoken with great emotion and love.
(2) And the question "Why are you persecuting me" (not why are you persecuting my church)?
(a) When you attack the church He takes it personally.
(b) A glimpse of the reality that we (the church) are in Him.
Romans 8:1-2 (NKJV)
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
Ephesians 1:3 (NKJV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
c. Many things that when polled people say they would ask God if they were given the chance, most of which are already answered in the Bible if people would only read it and believe -
(1) But Saul asks two of the most important and foundational question that can possibly be asked and when embraced by faith make all the others fall into place.
(a) Who are you Lord?
i) Jesus whom you are persecuting.
(1) Jesus was a common name in that day, but notice Saul doesn't have to ask which Jesus, he already knows!
ii) It is hard for you to kick against…(goad a sharp stick)
(1) The harder you kick the deeper the prick goes and inflicts injury to you individually, and it is vanity to think the gospel can be crushed.
(b) If like Saul here we come to know that "Jesus is the Lord" and that is the reality that Saul now understands, then the second question is a natural follow on "Lord what do YOU want me to DO?"
i) Note that Saul ask the question in a personal way, what do you want "ME" to do.
ii) Arise go into the city and you will be told what you must do.
iii) Often God leads us one step at a time, we don't get the next instruction till in faith and obedience we have taken that step which He has presently revealed or commanded.
(1) As we walk with God we don't necessarily need, have, or get all the answers.
2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV)
7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
(a) But we do have His word to guide us.
d. I would like you also to notice that as lay there on the ground, he trembling and astonished
(1) Why is Sail trembling?
Luke 12:4-5 (NKJV)
4 “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!
(a) Saul understands that he is being addressed by the One who should be feared and at that He is the all powerful God of whom the Luke 12:5 speaks.
(2) Why is Saul astonished?
(a) Because in his religious zeal persecuting the church he actually thought he was doing God a favor, and a lot of what he thought he understood has just fallen apart in the light of true revelation.
(b) Also I believe that the fact that Jesus says it is hard for you to kick against the goads (added here by a scribe) indicates that Saul has been ignoring what God the Holy Spirit has been speaking to his heart.
i) I suspect today in this room or listening on the radio or over the internet that there are many, who know that you are resisting what God has been speaking to your heart for some time, just like Saul.
C. Saul in obedience takes this step as he was instructed.
Acts 9:7-9 (NKJV)
7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one.
8 Then 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.
1. Others who were with Saul heard a sound but heard without understanding, we are told they saw no one but later we are told they saw a light.
2. Saul opened his eyes and was blind he could not see anyone, the others however were still able to see and so they led him by the hand to Damascus.
a. And Saul spent three days there blind for three days of waiting and fasting…
b. I am sure he sat there alone and quiet, his mind filled with thought, reflection, and begging God for help, not just for his physical eyes to open, but now with his spiritual eyes open, pleading with God to help to see and understand correctly begging for more truth.
(1) Do you want to know the truth, are you willing to let God show you, because He will if you let Him.
(2) He wants us to see and understand who He is, and He wanst us to be in the place where can follow, worship, and commune with Him,
Just before he led the children of Israel into the promised land,
not those who had left Egypt and refused to believe and trust Him (that generation had died in the wilderness wandering due to unbelief,
but concerning their children we read the following
Joshua 3:1-4 (NKJV)
1 Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and they set out from Acacia Grove and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they crossed over.
2 So it was, after three days, that the officers went through the camp;
3 and they commanded the people, saying, "When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it.
4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before."
D. Consider:
1. Saul has been knocked off his high horse, and is now in a position of humility before the living God.
a. No place for pride, or religious zeal, but merely God I need your help!
b. He is physically blind, but now his eyes are open to God, he has spiritual eyes to see God and receive truth.
c. He is actively seeking God and asking God to show hime what to do, that is he is willing to be led of God, rather than dictate to God what should be done, etc...
2. God has called and he is responding:
a. God is calling some of you (to salvation and relationship)...
b. Others God is calling you to forsake some sin...
c. Still others He is calling you to some action of service or response of faith
d. Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, won't you please respond right now???
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