From
Acts to Revelation
Part
22 – Saul
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House
of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org
INTRODUCTION
Saul was introduced to us as a young man
working with those who stoned Stephen at the end of Acts 7.
They laid their cloaks at his feet while
they killed Stephen, and the scriptures tell us that Saul consented to his
death.
Because of the persecution lead by people
like Saul, the church in Jerusalem dispersed, traveling to Judea and Samaria.
This is where we learned of the Apostle
Philip having to travel to Samaria to teach about Christ because of Simon the
sorcerer, and where we also learned that, just because someone confesses Jesus
and is baptized, it does not necessarily mean that their hearts are right with
the Lord.
Peter made that clear to Simon when he told
him that he had no part of the ministry because his heart was not right with
the Lord. He was still in his sin and had not repented.
We then saw Philip speak to the gentile
Ethiopian, whose heart was right with the Lord, but had not confessed Christ,
nor been baptized. After speaking with Philip, he did so, and received
salvation.
Today we are going to look at Saul, and how
his hate for followers of Christ grew to the point it consumed him.
Sometimes, when a truth is presented to us,
it has such a profound effect on us, that it becomes difficult to accept. The
bigger the truth, or the bigger our “self”, the more difficult it is to allow
God to do a work in us.
We will see how, God, judged Saul, not by
his actions, but by his heart, and how Saul, through obedience, became a
servant to the Lord.
Today we will ask ourselves the question,
Is my heart like Simon's, unwilling to let go of my sin, or the Ethiopians,
which was right with the Lord? Secondly, if my heart is right with the Lord, am
I obeying Him so that I may serve Him?
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
Acts 9:1-7
1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats
against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and
asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any
there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as
prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from
heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard
a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute
me?”
“I am Jesus, whom you are
persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now
get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he
could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For
three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
I. SAUL
HAD HIS PLANS IN LIFE
1. Saul
continued his murderous threats and work towards the followers of Jesus
1. He even
went to the High Priest for a letter allowing him to bring followers who fled
Jerusalem, back to Jerusalem as prisoners.
2. His hatred
for followers consumed him.
2. Saul
determined for himself what he was going to do with his life.
1. We can
make choices in life.
2. We can
“follow our dreams”
3. Saul's
dream was to lead the persecution against the followers of Christ.
3. There
was a problem with Saul's life, and plan
1. His
heart was right, although his life was not.
2. Just
like the Ethiopian, Saul's heart loved the Lord, but he had not confessed
Christ, nor been baptized, and his life and actions were that of a lost soul.
3. No
matter how one tries, without Christ, your life, and your actions are all lead
by your flesh because you do not have the Holy Spirit.
4. Those
who are lost, live according to their flesh, which is sinful.
5. Galatians
5:19-21 tells us the fruits of the flesh are;
1. Sexual
Immorality - sex for anything other than what God intended – incl. porn
2. Impurity
3. Debauchery
- excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures
4. Idolatry
- putting anything/anyone before God
5. Witchcraft
- not just magic, controlling/manipulating others to do your will
6. Hatred
7. Discord
– disorder, disagreements (arguing to prove your point)
8. Jealousy
9. Fits of
Rage
10. Selfish
Ambition – selfish dreams, desires and wants
11. Dissensions
– causing conflicts
12. Factions
– creating cliques in the church (including some/ excluding others)
13. Envy – is
resentment and bitterness (Simon's sin)
14. Drunkenness
15. Orgies
16. vs 21 “I
warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the
kingdom of God.”
6. Saul
was living a life that followed his flesh.
4. We NEED
the Holy Spirit to live Godly lives
1. When
our hearts are right, and we confess Christ, like the Samaritans, we too can
receive the Holy Spirit!
2. THEN,
we can live Goldy lives, serving the Lord, and our lives will bring forth
FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT as in Galatians 5:22-23
1. Love - (I
Corinthians 13 - ACTION)
2. Joy – in
ALL circumstances as displayed by the Disciples
3. Peace –
regardless of the world around you
4. Patience
– lack of this is selfishness, and strong will
5. Kindness
– in how we treat others
6. Goodness – in
what we DO for others
7. Faithfulness –
trusting always in the Lord
8. Gentleness
9. Self-Control
10. vs
23-26 “Against such things there is no law. 24 Those
who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions
and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the
Spirit. 26 Let
us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. “
5. The LAW
(of Moses) is to judge the SIN (fruit of the flesh) of man.
1. But
those in Christ, will not be judged by the Law!
II. THE
LORD REACHED OUT TO SAUL
1. Because
Saul's heart was right the Lord continued to try and reach him
1. God had
obviously reached Saul before, which made Saul serve God as he was.
2. The
scriptures tell us, “Draw close to me, and I will draw close to you...” - James
4:8
3. Saul's
heart was right, but he was living by his flesh, he had not submitted to the
Lord.
2. So the
Lord, judging Saul's heart, looking past his actions, reached out
1. On
Saul's Journey, a light from heaven flashed around HIM.
2. HE fell
to the ground.
3. HE
heard a voice say to him, “Saul, why do you persecute me?”
4. This
happened to SAUL, directly...personally, between he and the Lord.
3. Saul
cried out, “Who are you, Lord?”
1. And the
Lord answered, using the name that Saul hated...
2. “I am
Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”
4. Now
that Jesus has presented Himself to Saul, Saul has to make a choice
1. Saul's
heart was right with God, though he had not yet confessed Christ
2. He now
had to accept Jesus Christ as the Lord God!
5. To be a
servant of God, we must;
1. Confess
Christ
2. Repent
of our sins
3. Allow
God's Holy Spirit to do a work in us
4. Live by
the fruits of His Holy Spirit (not to be led by our flesh)
5. and
OBEY
6. The
Lord now gives Saul a command to obey
1. “Get up
and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
2. The
Lord appeared to Saul and invited him to follow.
III. SAULS
FRIENDS COULD SEE AND HEAR NOTHING
1. As it
was with Saul, many of us can relate
1. Those
around Saul saw and heard nothing
2. Many
times in our lives, when we hear the Lord calling us, our friends are
confounded.
2. Saul
SAW and HEARD the risen Lord!
1. He accepted
the Lord Christ was Jesus
2. He
obeyed His command
3. He
would soon be serving the very one he set out to destroy
3. Every
knee will bow, and every tongue will confess!
1. Either
in this life, or eternity.
2. I chose
NOW!
CONCLUSION
Today we will ask ourselves the
question, Is my heart like Simon's, unwilling to let go of my sin, or like
Saul's, willing to confess and repent so that I may have Salvation?
Secondly, if my heart is right
with the Lord, am I obeying Him so that I may serve Him?
