CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: A BLINDING LIGHT!
ACTS 7: 54- 8:3; 9: 1-19
MAY 27, 2007
INTRODUCTION: ROSIE O’DONNELL, PARIS HILTON, LINDSAY LOHAN??
ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT, HANK JR.
I met an old friend in the bar the other night He got a little drunk and he wanted to fight; He jumped up and challenged every man in the room. And just about the time he got the words out An old boy jumped up and closed his mouth And used his head for a mop and his butt for a broom. It was an Attitude Adjustment, I guess it was his first time. An attitude adjustment, now he understands just fine.
He got bent out of shape, then he opened his mouth And just one appointment straightened him right out It was an attitude adjustment--It’ll work every time.
Now I’ve got this big old Brother-in-law And me and him just never did get along
Cause he just wasn’t treating my sister nice. He got drunk one night and started and beating me up And I went and got a tire tool out of my truck And straightened him out as cold as a block of ice. It was an attitude adjustment and it’ll work every time. An attitude adjustment-I made him see the light. Now he says I’m his kind of man, He comes around me with his hat in his hand It was an attitude adjustment; I cured his family pride.
Now my girl friend slapped me in the face And I said "Darling, that was your first mistake". And then she went wild and her eyes turned red. She started breaking everything and screaming loud And kicking me and cussing me out And I gave her a little adjustment on the top of her head. It was an attitude adjustment, Ah she loves on me all the time. Just an attitude adjustment, She’s got a whole new frame of mind. She don’t nag and I don’t beg, We get along and like I said, Just an attitude adjustment Ah, everything’s just fine. She called the cops to take me in
And I said "You’ll never do it , Friend". And they just smiled and said "Oh yes we will!". Now sticks to the head and kicks to the shin And several bites by Rin Tin Tin And I couldn’t wait to get into that jail. It was an attitude adjustment, Oh I went along peacefully Attitude adjustment, They made me clearly see So my head is black and my legs are blue And both knee caps are bit clean through It was an attitude adjustment Made my whole life look brand new. YES, SIR. I UNDERSTAND JUST FINE--PERFECTLY
TRANSITION THOUGHT: Occasionally, in this life, we need an attitude adjustment! Sometime, we just don’t understand how life works, and someone has to come along and remind us! If we are going to make it into the life to come, Jesus needs to change our attitude and Develop our character. Often we look at people in the scripture and forget they are no different than us. They are God’s chosen servants for their day just as we are called to be God’s chosen servants for our day. We must know Jesus and Grow in that knowledge if we are to be usable in the service of our King! We are going to begin a little journey over the next four or five weeks looking at the development of the Apostles Paul’s character and realizing that he like us was on a Journey of growth. And that He did not go on this journey alone!
THESIS SENTENCE: LIFE TRANSFORMATION COMES THROUGH DIVINE INTERVENTION AND THE HELP OF FAITHFUL SERVANTS!
A BLINDING LIGHT IS A PAST EXPERIENCE ACTS 7: 54-8:3
PAST EXPERIENCES ARE BLOODY: MARTYRDOM
PAST EXPERIENCES ARE RIOTOUS: PERSECUTION
PAST EXPERIENCES ARE ZEALOUS: HE CONSENTED
PAST EXPERIENCES ARE EXPLOSIVE: THEY SCATTERED
TRUTH: PAST EXPERIENCES ARE OFTEN DESTRUCTIVE!
QUESTION: HAVE WE MOVED BEYOND PAST EXPERIENCES?
A BLINDING LIGHT IS A JOURNEY TAKEN ACTS 9: 1-2
A JOURNEY TAKEN IS CONTINUING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION
A JOURNEY TAKEN IS SEEKING AUTHORITY
A JOURNEY TAKEN IS A GOAL OF BONDAGE
TRUTH: THE WRONG PATH LEADS TO OUR DESTRUCTION AND THE DESTRUCTION OF OTHERS!
QUESTION: ARE WE ON A JOURNEY OF DESTRUCTION?
A BLINDING LIGHT IS A GOD ENCOUNTER ACTS 9: 3-9
A GOD ENCOUNTER IS A BLINDING LIGHT
A GOD ENCOUNTER IS A QUESTION ASKED
A GOD ENCOUNTER IS A PERSONAL CLARIFICATION
A GOD ENCOUNTER ARE ORDERS GIVEN
A GOD ENCOUNTER IS BLIND LEADING
TRUTH: OUR GOD MEETS US ON OUR JOURNEY!
QUESTIONS: HAVE YOU RUN INTO THE LIVING GOD YET? ARE YOU BEING LEAD BLINDLY TO THE PLACE OF TRANSFORMATION? HAVE YOU TURNED TO THE JOURNEY THE LORD HAS MARKED OUT FOR YOU?
A BLINDING LIGHT IS A RELUCTANT PERSONAL ENCOUNTER ACTS 9: 10-17
A PERSONAL ENCOUNTER IS PREPLANNED BY THE LORD
A PERSONAL ENCOUNTER IS A JOURNEY OF FAITH
A PERSONAL ENCOUNTER IS RELUCTANT AGREEMENT / OLD TRUTH!
A PERSONAL IS AN OBEDIENT HEALING TOUCH!
TRUTH: THE LORD HAS SOMEONE PREPARED TO LEAD AND HEAL YOU ON YOUR JOURNEY!
QUESTIONS: ARE YOU WILLING TO BE LEAD AND HEALED? ARE YOU WILLING TO LEAD AND HEAL? CAN THE LORD US YOU?
A BLINDING LIGHT IS ONCE BLIND, NOW I SEE! ACTS 9: 18-19
NOW I SEE IS SCALES REMOVED!
NOW I SEE ARISING TO NEW LIFE!
NOW I SEE IS BAPTISM!
NOW I SEE IS THE ROUTINE OF LIFE: HE ATE!
NOW I SEE IS STRENGTH AND DISCIPLESHIP!
TRUTH: OUR LORD WANTS TO OPEN OUR EYES TO HIS PRESENCE AND POWER!
QUESTIONS: ARE OUR EYES OPEN? ARE WE EXPERIENCING A NEW LIFE? ARE WE LIVING/ EATING WITH THE FAMILY OF GOD?
CONCLUSION: HAVE WE HAD A BLINDING LIGHT ENCOUNTER? HAS OUR PAST EXPERIENCES PUSHED US TO A PLACE OF DECISION? HAVE WE ENCOUNTER THE LORD AND THOSE WHO SERVE HIM? HOW IS OUR CHARACTER DEVELOPING? ARE WE BECOMING DIFFERENT? ARE WE GROWING IN CHRIST? HAVE WE STARTED THE JOURNEY YET??
CLOSING HYMN:
BENEDICTION: JUDE 24 Now to Him who is able to keep you[f] from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, 25 To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.
