Spread The Word Despite The Odds Sermon Viii: Surrender Epitomized By Paul Series

PAUL EPITOMIZED SURRENDER . . . (Acts 9)

If the gospel was going to smash through barriers of resistance in the First Century, there would have to be, as there has been in each century since the beginning of Christianity, a recognizable transformation - of a person or group of people - that would get the attention of the masses.

During the prime of my life - in the latter part of the 20th century, Billy Graham represented that dynamic personality which influenced people from all walks of life in every country on planet earth. Prior to, and since Graham, there have been, and continue to be, others of national prominence.

AS the Christian movement was just getting started - during the three decades following the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus - the person chosen by the Lord to lead the crusade for spreading the gospel beyond the boundaries of Palestine was Saul of Tarsus.

Most of us are familiar with the apostle we know better as Paul; we know about his dramatic conversion from persecutor of followers of Jesus to propagator of the good news about Jesus; he who had been well known for leading the campaign to “get rid of those pesky Jesus people” did an about face and joined Christians in their crusade for Christ.

You recall that God intervened in Paul’s campaign against Christians while traveling on the road to Damascus - on his way to arrest and imprison those who were preaching the gospel there. As Paul and his entourage made their way along that dusty road, the risen Lord appeared to Paul, confronted him, converted him, and blinded him to establish that God was in control and, from then on, in charge of Paul’s life.

As Paul’s associates led him by the hand toward Damascus, the Lord appeared to a Christian named Ananias - told him to go to Damascus, find Paul, and tell HIM that Ananias had been sent there by the Lord to minister to the newest convert to Christianity - Acts 9:15-19a . . .

We learn from the instructions which Ananias received from the Lord just how seriously witnesses for Christ ought to take their assignment. Paul learned that he was God’s chosen instrument. What this means is that God had set this man aside for special service. We, too, have been chosen . . ..

What was Paul’s assignment? Same as that given to each Christian: Take the name of Jesus with you!

It is so important for Christians to understand what it means to carry the name of Jesus - wherever we go. Used in the context of receiving God’s instructions, the term “name of Jesus” refers to the “person of Jesus” – so, what it tells me is this: I represent Jesus anywhere and everywhere I go.

Not all of us receive the monumental assignment that was given to Paul. His task was going to be on a much larger scale than that of ordinary Christians like me. Ordinarily, our task is to share our testimony with family, friends, and others we meet.

Paul was to testify before Gentile rulers – Felix and Festus . . .

He was to testify before kings - Agrippa and the Roman emperor . . .

He was to testify before the sons of Israel – the Jewish Sanhedrin . . .!

There was another aspect of Paul’s ministry that we do not want to overlook – as suggested by the order of priority assigned to the people to whom he was to testify. Notice that the Gentiles were listed FIRST among those to be witnessed to by Paul.

Whether intended or not, it appears to me that, since the Gentiles are listed first, Paul’s primary mission as a minister of the gospel was to spread the Good News to people outside the circle of Jewish tradition.

It’s worth noting also that Paul was forewarned about the suffering he would endure for the sake of Christ. Perhaps he was blinded to be persuaded to surrender to God’s calling; I suppose he was allowed to regain his sight so that he might know that a power greater than himself was now in charge of his life; also, you might say that his eyes were now opened to the dangers he faced due to his “about face” with regard to who Jesus was.

The truth that stared Paul in the face was that the persecutor would now become the persecuted – not because he was being punished by the Lord, but because the anger of the anti-Christian crowd would escalate into warfare against him; he would be accused of being a traitor.

Paul chose surrender to Christ over kowtowing to the evil intent of those who would do anything to stamp out Christianity.