Have you ever had an “Aha!” moment when you discovered something which
had been there all the time? When lightening struck Franklin’s kite …
his life was lit up! I’m sure when Edison invented the light bulb … it
was a brilliant moment. When the Wright brothers finally got their plane
off the ground … they were finally riding high! Aha! And history was
changed forever!
There are moments in life when something happens that changes everything
you are … and everything you do, and meeting Jesus is the greatest moments
that any of us will ever experience! There was a man named Saul who met
Jesus and it changed his life, too …
Acts 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.
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 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.
Very few people have had a salvation experience like Saul where a bright
light shines around and you hear a voice booming like thunder, but when
you and I respond to Jesus in faith it is just as real as Saul’s experience.
All of heaven comes to attention when you call upon the name of the Lord!
Jesus responds to your faith even if you can’t see or hear a response!
When the Light shined upon him, there was apparently a conviction of
sin … Saul knew he was in the presence of deity … “Who are you, Lord?”
He thought he knew God. He could quote the Law of God and he followed
the rituals of the Temple, but when he came face to face with deity he
is asking, “Who are you, Lord?” This Person evidently was divinity, yet
Saul didn’t know Him.
Jesus boldly proclaims His authority, “I am Jesus … the one you are
persecuting.”
Saul’s attack on the Church was an attack on Jesus, just as disobedience
of all kinds is an act of disobedience to Jesus Christ. He is the one
who persecuted; He is the one who is defiled!
Jesus described Saul as “Kicking against the goads.” These goads … the sharp
sticks … are the Scriptures he had ignored and the words of Stephen’s reasoning
about Jesus as the Christ. He was attempting to shut his ears to the memory
of Stephen as he cried out, “Look, I see Jesus standing at the right hand
of God!” These were sharp contradictions to his understanding of God and
he would not accept them! He just kept kicking against them … ignoring sound
judgment, solid reasoning, and the proof of Scripture, until now.
Now Saul’s spirit and intellect are challenged by Jesus and
without hesitation …Saul surrenders Himself to Christ! "Lord, what do You
want me to do?" That is what Jesus was looking for in Saul … and
in you and in me. Lord, what do You want me to do? There was no reservation,
no hesitation, and no arguments of any kind … just total surrender.
Have you come to that place in your life? Do you want Jesus to do great
things for you? Do you want to see God move mightily in your life? He
wants all of you and all of me. Are there places in your heart that you
have not surrendered to Jesus?
The result of Saul’s encounter with Jesus Christ was one of the most
dynamic moments to ever happen in Saul’s life. The results of that encounter
affected him and the whole world from that time until now! It was one
of the biggest “Aha!” moments ever recorded!
Let’s briefly follow the transformation that is revealed in the next
several verses.
1. With a great commitment there was a great commission.
God directed Saul to go into Damascus and he would be told what he
should do. Then God spoke to a man by the name of Ananias to go minister
to Saul. Ananias was reluctant to go;
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."
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.
You know by now that this is the story of the Apostle Paul. After making
a commitment to follow Christ he is healed, filled with the Holy Spirit,
and baptized in water! He was ready to follow Jesus! This was not the
time to say “I have arrived” and then wait for Jesus to come back!
The drama now begins to unfold! We enjoy watching good drama on the
television screen. I want you to know … this is some of the best drama
you will ever find! Jesus is choosing someone to spearhead His Church
into the world … the Gentiles, kings of many lands, and the children
of Israel. When you read of the adventures of the Apostle Paul, you will
not find a dull moment in his life from this time forward! Adventure,
intrigue, challenges of every kind, dangers, duels of wit and wisdom,
difficulties, and victories!
Making a commitment, being filled with the Spirit, and baptized in water
is just the beginning!
1. With a great commitment there is a great commission.
2. With a great commitment there is great enthusiasm.
The Apostle Paul wrote in the Book of Galatians that he “did not confer
with flesh and blood” but immediately he began to preach!
19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent
some days with the disciples at Damascus.
20 Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the
Son of God.
21 Then all who heard were amazed, and said, "Is this not he who
destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here
for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?"
22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews
who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.
23 Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him.
24 But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day
and night, to kill him.
25 Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the
wall in a large basket.
In the Book of Galatians, Paul states that he was in the region of
Damascus for a time period of about three years. During this time studied
the Scripture and increased all the more in strength. His commitment
to Christ didn’t leave any room for allowing life to continue as usual!
He wanted them all to know that he had changed! His message had changed!
His methods had changed! His life’s purpose had changed! Christ now had
his life!
This wasn’t a well received message among the Jews and Paul found it
necessary to leave the city in a basket under the cover of darkness.
But his ministry was ended … it was just beginning!
1. With a great commitment there is a great commission.
2. With a great commitment there is great enthusiasm.
3. With a great commitment there is a great hunger for more of Jesus.
After leaving Damascus, Paul found himself in need of fellowship with
other believers. He seemed to want most of all to hear the story of Jesus
from someone who had spent a great deal of time with Him during His earthly
ministry … so he headed to Jerusalem.
26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples;
but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.
27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared
to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken
to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
28 So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out.
29 And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against
the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him.
30 When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and
sent him out to Tarsus.
As the Apostle Paul wrote about this adventure in the Book of Galatians, he
said,
Gal 1:18 after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and
remained with him fifteen days.
It was Peter that Paul wanting to find. It was this great man of fiery
commitment that was known as one of the inner circle of Jesus’ disciples
who knew Him best, and Paul wanted to hear his words. For two weeks they
were closed off from the rest of the world as Paul asked questions and
Peter answered. The shared their hearts, they shared their faith; they
shared their fire and their zeal with each other. What a wonderful time
of fellowship as Paul had many of the blank spots of the story filled
in by this bold disciple of Jesus.
One of the great evidences of a person’s commitment to Christ is his
desire to be with those who are talking about Jesus. Conversely, one
of the evidences of a commitment that is drifting away is a desire to
not be near those who talk about Jesus. A fading enthusiasm for the things
of God is another evidence of a fading commitment, and other things take
the place of Christian fellowship, prayer, reading the Bible, and ministry
to others.
Paul’s commitment to Christ led him into an exciting commission, an
infectious enthusiasm, and a love for fellowship with other believers.
What is the level of your commitment? Are you ready to start afresh?
Then let’s go!
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