A Candidate For An Extreme Makeover

Sermon: A Candidate For An Extreme Makeover

Scripture Lesson: Acts 9:1-19 “Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. 2 He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains. 3 As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”5 “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! 6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one! 8 Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. 9 He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink. 10 Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord!” he replied. 11 The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. 12 I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.” 13 “But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem! 14 And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.” 15 But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. 16 And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.” 17 So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. 19 Afterward he ate some food and regained his strength." NLT

Introduction: Saul experienced an extreme makeover. A story told of a product with which most of us have grown up is Ivory soap. Besides being 99.44% pure, it has two uncommon qualities among soap. (1) It floats, and (2) it is the oldest of the best-sellers. But, it hasn’t always been that way!

Years ago, Ivory soap was just another brand among many. But then, one day, a factory foreman blundered by leaving a batch of new soap unwatched in the cooking vat during noon hour. His lunch was delayed and the soap over-cooked. However, rather than report the mistake and risk losing his job, the foreman decided to make the best of it. He shipped out the batch anyway. It seemed to clean as well - although it WAS much lighter.

The results surprised everyone. Because, rather than complaints, the company was deluged with orders for the new ’floating’ soap. So, rather than being fired, the foreman was promoted when he cooperated with the company chemists to revise and modify the old formula to make the soap that floats. The brest is history!

Many who have made mistakes of have learned that there can be "Blessing from blunders" - "a silver lining behind every dark cloud" - that "good can come from grief - and profit may come from peril" - We have been told, and often tell others to "pick up the pieces and be positive" - "move on" - for, "it is always possible to make something better out of something bad." Beloved, that is exactly the way God works with us. There are many times that we may do wrong; a mistake of yielding to the flesh mars our life. Our attitudes and action cause us to fall short of God’s intended design, but He does not toss us aside as something that is worthless, or useless. Rather, He remakes us (over and again, if necessary) until He has completed in us that which He purposed before we ever were.

Many times, what keeps us from changing is our own stubbornness, laziness, arrogance and sometimes ignorance about what needs to be done. At other times, we are confronted with things so painful or difficult that we cannot possibly change them alone. As a child of God, I have discovered that there are some things that I don’t have the ability to change without assistance. I know many of us have been told that we can do anything we put our minds to. It sounds nice, but without the help of God we can do nothing lasting, beneficial, or extreme.