SUPERNATURAL #9: TWO QUESTIONS TO DISCOVERING YOUR DESTINY
INTRO TO TOPIC:
Have you ever had a friend or a family member who you thought: they will never get saved! Have you ever had a loved one that you have given up on their ever coming to faith in Jesus? Or maybe you think that because of all of the wrong things that you’ve done in your life, God would never love and accept you. If that’s you – then today’s message will bring you hope!
I. SAUL’S SINFUL BACKGROUND
• Before we take a look at the God encounter that Saul had, let’s look at his background:
“Yet I could have confidence in myself if anyone could. If others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more! For I was circumcised when I was eight days old, having been born into a pure-blooded Jewish family that is a branch of the tribe of Benjamin. So I am a real Jew if there ever was one! What’s more, I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. And zealous? Yes, in fact, I harshly persecuted the church. And I obeyed the Jewish law so carefully that I was never accused of any fault.” (Phil. 3:4-6).
• From Saul’s own autobiography, he was a very religious man, yet he didn’t know God.
“As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.” (Acts 8:3). (havoc means = ravage, devastate, ruin).
“Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 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.” (Acts 9:1-2).
• Saul was also a terrorist – ravaging churches and killing Christians for fun.
• Christians were afraid of them, and no one ever thought that Saul could be saved.
“This is a true saying, and everyone should believe it: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – and I was the worst of them all. But that is why God had mercy on me, so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.” (1 Tim. 1:16-17).
• Here is the hope of the Gospel:
o If you are a sinner, it doesn’t matter how far gone you are – Jesus is able to save from the uttermost to the guttermost those who come to God through Him! (Heb. 7:25).
o If you have a friend or family member who is a terrible sinner, or deeply entrenched in a false religion – don’t give up on them. There is always hope in Jesus!
o Through Jesus, there is forgiveness of sins, freedom from worries and fears, and victory over all kinds of addictions and bondages!
II. SAUL’S SUPERNATURAL CONVERSION:
“As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” (Acts 9:3-4).
1. Saul’s conversion was a sovereign act of God’s grace.
• Saul wasn’t looking for Jesus, Jesus was looking for him.
• Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you.” (John 15:16).
• Later on in his life, Paul wrote: “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.” (Eph. 1:4-5).
• God’s choice of Saul wasn’t based on any inherent goodness in him.
• Man by nature is not good – we are born with a sin nature:
• “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23).
• Saul was totally depraved, and God’s election (choosing) of Saul was unconditional.
• “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23).
ILLUSTRATION: As a 12 year old, I wasn’t very athletic, but I tried out for the Huskies baseball team. Why did I make the team? Not because of my abilities (good works), but because my best friend’s dad was the coach of the team! Why does God choose us? Not because of our good works, but because of Jesus!
2. Saul’s conversion was supernatural.
• He saw a light from heaven, and heard the voice of God.
• Although you might not have seen a light or heard a voice, your conversion was no less supernatural.
• Paul wrote: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Cor. 5:17).
• God changes Saul’s name to Paul. New name, new nature.
• He became one of the greatest preachers in the history of the church, and wrote over half of the books of the New Testament (14 of 27).
ILLUSTRATION: Like the caterpillar that becomes a butterfly, we gain a new nature. We are new creations in Christ! We cannot become a caterpillar again, we are butterflies forever. We may act like caterpillars, but will never become so again. (Perseverance of the saints).
III. SAUL’S TWO QUESTIONS TO DISCOVERING HIS DESTINY:
“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." 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.” (Acts 9:5-6).
• Here is where we look at the practical application of this message to our lives today:
THE BIG IDEA: The two greatest questions that we can ask to discover our destinies are: #1, who are you, Lord? and #2, what do you want me to do? Knowing God and doing His will.
1. KNOWING GOD: Paul’s first question to Jesus was, “Who are you, Lord?”
• This question became the #1 passion and driving force in the rest of Saul’s life.
• Paul prayed for the church, “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.” (Eph. 1:17) and “to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge.” (Eph. 3:19).
OUR SCRIPTURE MEMORY VERSE FOR THIS WEEK:
• “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” (Phil. 3:10).
• Amplified version: “For my determined purpose is that I may know Him, that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him…”
• This is our highest calling as Christians, the first question to discovering our destiny!
• May this question spur you on to know Jesus more and more throughout your life.
• APPLICATION POINT: Take the time to study the nature of God in the Scriptures, revealed in Jesus His Son.
2. DOING HIS WILL: Paul’s second question was, “Lord, what do you want me to do?”
• He realized that the second most important thing in life was to discover God’s will.
• Paul prayed for the church, “that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.” (Col. 1:9)
• There are two aspects of the will of God for everyone – the general and specific:
o The general will of God is the same for all people – is contained in the Bible. God’s will for you is that you would be saved, obey His commands, pray, read your Bible, worship, witness, etc.
o The specific will of God is different for everyone, and comes by learning to recognize His voice. This includes who you will marry, where you will live, what kind of work you will do, etc.
• APPLICATION POINT: Take the time to study the will of God as revealed by the commands of Scriptures, and seek God’s will in prayer in every area of your life.
CLOSING CHALLENGE:
The two greatest questions you can ask to discover your destiny are:
1. Who are you, Lord? (knowing God personally)
2. Lord, what do you want me to do? (doing God’s will)
Let these two questions take you on the greatest adventure of your life!
ALTAR CALL: For salvation. If you don’t know Jesus, call on His name today!
PRAYER: For unsaved loved ones.
Write their names down and continue praying for them until things change!
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://thelandofpromise.blogspot.com/
