Sunday, April 15, 2012

From Acts to Revelation Part 23 – Saul Blinded


From Acts to Revelation
Part 23 – Saul Blinded
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 the death of Stephen.

Because of the persecution lead by people like Saul, the church in Jerusalem dispersed, traveling to Judea and Samaria.

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.

Two weeks ago, before we took our break for Passover, we saw Saul hunting Disciples.

The scriptures say, “Saul spoke threats and slaughter against the Disciples of the Lord.”

We then see the Lord appear to him, and speak. Saul, trembling and astonished, submitted to the Lord, or became “saved”, and asked the Lord, “What will You have me do?”

And the Lord said to him, “Arise, and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”


SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
Acts 9:8-9
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.       HAVE YOU MET WITH THE LORD?

a.      There are three steps to the relationship the Lord wants with you today.
i.       Meet with Him
1.      The first will of God is Salvation.
2.      Your personal Salvation is God's first will for you in your life.
3.      Have you met with the Lord?
4.      Not all have experiences like Saul or Moses.
5.      However, we MUST all meet with the Lord.
6.      Saul met the Lord on this day.

II.   Illustration:
      My personal experience meeting with the Lord was somewhat like Saul's, in the sense that I, like Saul, did not know I was seeking the Lord. I, like Saul, believed “I was right with God”, although my life told a different story.

      When I met with the Lord, I was at the end of my ropes, as it were. I had given up on myself, and given up on life. But God had never given up on wanting me.

      We underestimate God's love for us, and the lengths at which He will travel for one soul. The scriptures teach that our Shepherd will leave the 99 safe in the pastures to retrieve the 1 lost in the wilderness.

      I do not know how many times my Shepherd called me before I responded. But I do know that when I needed Him most, I realized He was there the entire time, calling me home.

i.       Submit to Him
1.      The second will of God is Service.

2.      This is called “The Great Commission”
(a)  Take the Gospel into ALL THE WORLD (the church does this, do you?)
(b)  Baptizing in name of Father, Son & Holy Spirit (Full Gospel) “ “ “ “ “ “?
(c)  THEN, teach them to obey all the Jesus commands. “ “ “ “ “ “?

3.      You cannot serve by proxy.
(a)  Your service cannot be “done” by another.
(b)  You cannot “ride” your spouses, or your churches coat-tails into heaven.
(c)  YOU must SERVE...

4.      We see in the scripture that Saul submitted to the Lord this day, and was ready to serve.


ii.    WAKE UP!
1.      The third will of God is asking Him, “What will You have me do Lord?”

2.      11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” - Romans 13:9-12

3.      Many have met the Lord, and say they have submitted, but do not serve.
(a)  How has one submitted if he does not serve?
(i)    A police officer is sworn to serve, but if he is hired to be an officer, takes the sworn oath, and sits around, never doing his job, is he serving?

(ii) Self-serving, perhaps.

(b)  Have you sworn an oath, yet do not serve?

(c)  OBEY – (verb) Comply with the command, direction, or request of (a person or a law); submit to the authority of. Carry out (a command or instruction)

(d) How does one “obey” if he does not “do”?

(i)    Works does NOT save us, however, if we are saved, we WILL have works!

(e)  Many deceive themselves into thinking they have a right and healthy relationship with the Lord, yet they slumber when it comes to service.

4.      Saul asks the question, which comes from complete submission, “Lord, what will You have me do?”

iii. HAVE YOU SUBMITTED TO THE LORD?
1.      In scripture, MANY met with the Lord, but not all submit.
(a)  The rich young man
(b)  Sadducee
(c)  Pharisee
(d) Ananias and Saphira

2.      Just because you may have met with the Lord, does NOT mean you submitted to Him.

3.      Saul asked the question, showing he submitted, but he proved it with OBEDIENCE!


III.               ARE YOU STILL BLIND?
a.      Saul was blinded by the glory of the Lord that day
i.        So many today meet with the Lord, ask what they should do for Him, then continue through life, blinded, because they did not obey.

ii.     Saul fasted for three days and nights after meeting with the Lord.
1.      Fasting is an exercise which brings our flesh under submission to our spirit.
2.      If our spirit is in union with God's, we can get our sinful flesh under control of God's Spirit through fasting and prayer.
3.      Saul was telling his body it was going to obey the Spirit of God.

b.     Saul's obedience led him into a right relationship with the Lord
i.        You cannot have a relationship with the Lord unless you meet with Him.
ii.     Once you meet with Him, you must submit to Him.
iii.   Once you submit to Him, you must serve Him.

c.      Are you serving the Lord today?
i.        Have you asked Him what it is He would have you do?

ii.     But more importantly, are you doing it?

CONCLUSION

Our submission is not mere words, but obeying the lord's commands. Service to the Lord is a MUST from those who are saved.

Are you in obedience to the Lord in your life today?

Or are you still blind, wandering around aimlessly, thinking everything is all right?