Sauls conversion to Paul by Kevin Harvey

Opening Prayer

O God from whom every gift derives, we gather to worship You this day. You are an awesome God, greater than our comprehension or our imagination. You are beyond any word we could ever use to describe You. And yet, through Jesus, we know the intimacy of Your vast Love.

We have come to You in thanksgiving and praise, to know that You are God and to place our lives anew into Your perspective. Enlarge our vision this hour with Your Word. Instill in us, again, Your hope in place of our despair, Your peace where our hatred threatens, Your joy amidst our depression, Your love overwhelming our apathy. May Your Holy Spirit surround and indwell this congregation now, and forevermore. In Jesus we pray. Amen.

Offertory Prayer

Living God, you are the Lord of all! Only you can send your Spirit to bring us new life. You graciously speak your word of hope in times of struggle and uncertainty and in times of joy and peace. We are grateful that you are continually at work in our lives and the world to fulfill your promises. May our giving today show our trust in you. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Pastoral Prayer

Dear Father, you know all there is to know about each of us and how you would like for us to fit into your providence for this world.  Open our eyes to your callings for each of us..

Most of our lives, Lord, simply tick- tock – tick- tock along —bound by schedules and agendas which hasten our descent toward a predetermined rendezvous with all things eternal.

 O God, forgive us for missing the point of life and the mission of Christ.  Awaken us just now to the beauty of our loved ones smile – to the joy of walking together in the pilgrimage of faith. O God, why can’t we see beauty in those around us?  Why can’t we find appreciation in the ministry of those we have known for most of our lives?  Why can’t we accept as your calling and gift to us— each and every child of God in our midst?

 Deliver us from the caverns of criticism into which we fall and from which we seem unable to escape.

O God, bring true confession- heartfelt confession- heart breaking confession—and bring about radical change in our behaviors.  Help us to learn to forgive those who hold grudges and nurse bitterness.  They seem caught in the tangle of their own depression and negativity.   Free us to be grateful for those you give to us each day meant to bless us and sent for our growth in Christ.   And free us to be blessings to all your children in our pathways today.

Help us to remember the people, the places, where the needs are great and the ache is strong: where chemo treatments & mental illness take place, where hunger persists, where families fall apart, where guns are used, where violent storms ravage the countryside, where grief is renewed.  In Jesus name we pray. Amen.   Shall we now pray the prayer Jesus taught his disciples to pray.... Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name.  Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. // For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.  Amen.


 

Acts 9
 New International Version (NIV)
Saul’s Conversion


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?”

5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“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.”

7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 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.

10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”

“Yes, Lord,” he answered.

11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Act 9 The Damascus road

 Vs 1-3

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.

Life lesson

Sometimes we think we are serving God, when we are not.

In fact,  our “service” hurts God.

 

Vs 3-4

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?”

Life lesson

Jesus looks at us and sees Potential and has a plan for us/  Notice Christ how He gets to the heart of SIN.

A.    He points it out to convict us

B.     But does not barrage us with accusation and condemnations

C.     Condemnation is the Devil’s Method

D.     

Vs 5-6

5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

 

“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.”

 

Notice the respond of Saul : Who are you, Lord?

A.    This is the single most important significant question, one can ask!

1.     Who are you? Lord

2.     What do you want me to do?

Here I am send Me!

When we settle these 2 questions, we have a New destiny, a new purpose,

indeed as Paul a New Divine Assignment

To kick against the goad would be to kick the end of a shear like tool meant for driving cattle

 

Vs 6-9

6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

 

7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 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.

Life Lesson

When God gives us an assignement, He rarely gives us the whole picture/ More like daily instructions/ eg Moses

Saul is blinded 3 days. He obeyed the vision.

Often in those times, God appeared in Visions, but today, we have the cannon of Scriptures to know God’s will.

So beware of people’s “visions” from God. The Bible is His word and Instruction.

Vs 10-12

10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”

“Yes, Lord,” he answered.

11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

Life Lesson

When God is truly involving us in his plan, he Works it out at both ends. He prepared Soul to meet Ananias/ and Ananias to meet Soul.

Vs 13 -14

13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

Ananias was uncertain, afraid maybe resentful when it came to Soul and no wonder I would be too.

Vs 15

15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.

 

Paul did indeed go before Gentiles Kings, and the Children of Israel.

Life Lesson

Some time, we too are sent before Kings, President etc. eg. Billy Graham.

 

Vs 16

16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

 

Life Lesson

The Lords servants will suffer for Christ for his name sake.

Benediction

May the peace of God surround you

Like the trees of the forest

May the peace of God warm you all over

Like the sun in the sky

May the peace of God swell and roll over you

Like a wave in the sea

May the peace of God fill you

Like the cool wind

May the peace of God be with you