Monday, April 30, 2012

From Acts to Revelation : Part 25 – Saul's Conversion II


From Acts to Revelation
Part 25 – Saul's Conversion II
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

INTRODUCTION
Saul's introduction came in Acts 7, when he was present at the stoning of Stephen.

We read in Acts 9 that Saul has taken it upon himself to seek the approval of the Sanhedrin to track down all of the followers of Christ that fled into Samaria and Judea, bringing them back to Jerusalem to stand before the Sanhedrin for trial.

With the full agreement of the Sanhedrin, Saul began his journey hunting down Jesus' Disciples, when he met with the Lord on a road to Damascus.

Here, the Lord revealed Himself to be Christ, and Saul submitted to Him, asking for instruction.

The Lord commanded that Saul seek out a man in Damascus who would heal his blindness.

Saul left the meeting, blind, and fasted for three days while traveling to Damascus in search of the man named Ananias, whom the Lord had also visited.

Ananias laid hands on Saul, and prayed, and Saul was healed, and received the Holy Spirit.

He was then baptized, and ate so he could regain his strength.

He was now a servant of the Lord, a follower of Jesus Christ, and equipped for his service.

Today we will see how Saul had difficulties with other followers accepting him because of his past, and how those from his past, now hated him. He traveled many times, to differing cities, trying to find where it was that the Lord wanted him.

1)     When you came to the Lord, did other followers accept you easily?
2)     Do you accept new converts easily?
3)     What about your past, do you find those whom you thought were your friends no longer agree with you?
4)     Lastly, have you discovered yet, where it is the Lord wants you to serve Him?


SCRIPTURE REFERENCE

Acts 9:19-31
19 Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 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?” 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.

23 After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, 24 but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25 But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.

26 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. 27 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. 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him. 30 When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

31 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.














I.       ACCEPTED
a.      Saul was immediately accepted, and spent many days with the disciples.
i.       They were inviting, and warm towards him, although they knew of his past.

ii.    They allowed him to be among them, and did not turn him away.

iii. They encouraged, and lifted him up.


b.     He began preaching right away, Jesus is the Son of God.
i.       He did not wait.

ii.    He knew the scriptures already, for he was a Zealot.

iii. His eyes now open, after receiving the Holy Spirit, he understood the scriptures he had learned over the years.


c.      All of those who heard him were confused.
i.       and asked, Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name?

ii.    And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?


d.     Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.


II.    REJECTED
a.      After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him.
i.       The ones he was trying to save, wanted him dead.


b.     but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him.
i.       You cannot serve the Lord if you are dead...so he left to another town to preach.

ii.    For every person that refuses to listen, there are 100 more for you to preach to.

c.      But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.
i.       The other disciples helped Saul escape.


III. UNTRUSTED
a.      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.
i.       Here we see the opposite of what happened in the Damascus church.

ii.    They did not accept him, they did not trust him, they judged him solely on his past.


b.     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.


c.      So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.
i.       We see he was eventually accepted because of Barnabas stepping in.


d.     He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him. 
i.       If you want someone to want you dead, debate religion with them.


e.      When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
i.       Now Saul would return to his hometown.

ii.    The scriptures say a prophet is not welcome in his home town, but that does not mean God won't send prophets to their hometown...because although the majority may reject that prophet, and they do not welcome him with open arms...the truth needs to be shared everywhere, and there will always be a seed that was sewn.




IV.  TIME OF PEACE
a.      Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened.

b.     Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.


CONCLUSION


1)     When you came to the Lord, did other followers accept you easily?

2)     Do you accept new converts easily?

3)     What about your past, do you find those whom you thought were your friends no longer agree with you?

4)     Lastly, have you discovered yet, where it is the Lord wants you to serve Him?