An Offer you Can’t Refuse? Acts 9 v1-25
I don’t know what criteria the vicar uses to allocate preaching slots, as I seem to get more evenings, I assume part of his strategy is to make sure I help swell the smaller number of attenders in the evening! However I am delighted to be able to start off this, the first in the series of evening talks on “Faith in Action”. It was exactly a year ago at the evening service I spoke about Paul my hero, that is of course St. Paul not the vicar! I used the same passage of scripture given to me for tonight’s talk. Although I was tempted to use my original notes to save time, as I doubt many remember what I said, I have decided to come in from a different angle, so to speak! This is the passage I always use when sharing my testimony at other churches as it relates very much to my own Damascus Road experience which made me accept an offer I had on numerous occasions refused! I have been sharing my testimony for over 28 years, I must have spoken at well over 600 different venues in the UK and abroad and virtually without exception, someone always says to me afterwards “Aren’t you lucky to have such an amazing testimony”. Although it is a privilege and a pleasure to travel around sharing it, my answer to them is “No! First I don’t as a Christian believe in luck and secondly I’m envious of those whose testimony is as simple as ‘somebody told me’ or ‘I read about it’ and accepted the gospel message. Wow! what a testimony of pure faith! I like Saul, needed a kick up the backside to come into the realisation of faith.
Although not all Christians will have a Damascus Road experience, all Christians are on journey, a spiritual road leading to God’s Kingdom. Figuratively, some may be cautiously negotiating along a country lane, even stuck behind a slow moving vehicle like a tractor. Others may be watching out for speed cameras as they zoom along in the fast lane, or should I say the over taking lane of a motorway. Traditionally most people who attend an evening service have already become Christian even if just starting their journey. Therefore this evening I want to concentrate more on getting the best from the offer rather than accepting the offer, as most here have already done so. I hope that makes sense!
However if there are any here who have yet to start that spiritual journey, I hope you may be encouraged to do so! At the lunchtime Carol Service I briefly spoke about the dangers of buying counterfeit good for people, for example watches and cheap perfume from someone selling out of a suitcase on a street corner and some of the consequences.I then closed by using the illustration of when you go into a reputable store to buy aftershave or perfume, you can experience the quality and fragrance before you buy, a free trial so to speak as they spray it on the back of your hand. Tonight I also encourage you why not give Jesus and the Christian faith a try, what have you to lose? Only your life! Jesus is the only thing that comes with a lifetime and beyond guarantee!
So what can we can we gain from looking at not so much the person of Saul who then changed his name to Paul after the Damascus Road experience but his example. Hopefully we can make our journey easier, not necessarily more comfortable, because we are not promised an easy ride as Christians! Psychologists have discovered that the majority of people’s attitudes change once they get behind the wheel of a car! However road rage isn’t something new! Saul had it on his way to Damascus, although his murderous threats were not caused so much by other drivers cutting him up but because they dared to follow a different route to God. In v2 we are told he would persecute all who belonged to the Way, the term for those who followed the way of Jesus before the term Christian was used. According to the New Testament, those who followed Jesus as his disciples were first called Christians by those who did not share their faith, in the city of Antioch (acts 11 v26.) An excellent choice of a word, meaning, belonging to Christ. As I shared in my previous talk on Paul, many people over the centuries have given him a hard time, as they have misinterpreted his teaching and struggled with his zealous passion. I have even heard some Christians say “well it’s only what Paul thought” as they read his letters to the churches. We are on dangerous ground when we eliminate scripture that doesn’t suit us! Although like all of us, Rev Paul isn’t perfect, he does makes a stand against those who try to water down and liberalise Biblical truths, we need to support him in this. Although I not suggesting Paul does the same, another Anglican vicar I know has just resigned from the C of E due to the liberal attitudes regarding civil partnerships & church blessings! Is it right for a Christian to be passionate or even zealous about what they believe in?..... Too right it is!..... In this age of so called new enlightenment, it is often quoted “it doesn’t matter what people believe in, as long as their belief is sincere” Many, even some church leaders, believe all road lead to God. Although I don’t encourage or suggest we take up Saul’s example of ethnic or religious cleansing, we must understand where his emotion, his passion came from. He was convinced the new way, Christianity was a real threat and blasphemy towards his Jewish beliefs which he held so close to his heart. He wasn’t prepared to tolerate what he thought was false teaching and rituals, certainly today he would have been far from PC, politically correct!
Wednesday lunch time I watched the funeral of that poor policewoman murdered on the street in Bradford. As an ex police office it had great significance for me. I admit big boys do cry! I had tears in my eyes from mixed emotions. Certainly sadness, a sense of relief as it could have happened to me during my police service, but also some rejoicing. How could I rejoice through all that? Because although it was what we would call a full police funeral with civic dignitaries present of many faiths and very much in the public eye, political correctness was ignored as the church leaders clearly preached the true Gospel message without fear or dilution. I pray that many, especially her colleagues, were as touched as I was. I don’t know where the poor woman stood with God, but the husband had insisted on a proper Christian Funeral. I guess the last thing on her mind as she set off on her journey to work was the possibility of being murdered. It was her daughter’s birthday that day and she had done a shift change so she could be home to party later in the day. Likewise, I guess the last thing Saul expected as he set off for Damascus was such a dramatic life transforming experience. Both his relationship with those he was against and God were changed forever.
It is important to consider the journeys we take in life, both physical and spiritual and how it effects our relationships. None of us know what lies ahead for us on our physical journey, our return ticket isn’t guaranteed! There is a saying “don’t put off what we can do today until tomorrow” as tomorrow may never come. Have you ever experienced wanting to tell somebody something, maybe putting something right in a relationship but delaying it, then suddenly it’s too late the opportunity goes forever. Mike Rutherford a Christian, one of the members of the group Genesis, who formed the group Mike & The Mechanics had a hit with a song called, in the living years. I’ll play it at the end but the last verse says this “I wasn’t there the morning my father passed away, I didn’t get to tell him all the things I had to say. I think I caught his spirit latter that same year, I’m sure I heard his echo in my babies new born tears, I just wish I could have told him in the living years”. The chorus says “ Say it loud say it clear, you can’t listen as well as you hear. It’s to late when we die to admit we don’t see eye to eye.” Such poignant words that I guess many here could relate too. Although there were no outstanding grievances, misunderstanding or disputes that I needed to sort out with my Dad when he died, I regret I never told him more about the offer he shouldn’t refuse! Sure he knew where I stood and believed in, and you can’t force anyone to accept the offer of everlasting life, but I often wonder if I missed opportunities to assure his passport to heaven. Likewise don’t delay talking to your heavenly Father. If you don’t have a relationship with God whilst alive don’t expect to when you are dead!
I think most of you would agree that if we drive a lot, especially if we go on long journeys, it’s a good idea to have our car serviced regularly and belong to a car rescue service, would you agree? How many here belong to such a service like The AA, National Rescue, Green Flag or The RAC? I know they can be expensive and often we moan when we get the renewal notice, especially if arrives at the same time as our insurance and road tax is due like mine! But isn’t it worth it for peace of mind? We might never drive along the Damascus Road, but a breakdown on the motorway in a storm is no fun! Belonging to such an organisation can give us reassurance that if we break down, help is on the way. Can you remember that advert for the AA the Automobile Association, “I can’t help you, but I know a man, a really, really nice man who can”
You know life is a bit like a car journey, whatever route we take. Too often we choose to take the wrong or difficult route, except Caroline now she has her Satnav! There will be mountains and valleys, smooth and pot hole rides. Nice straight motorways, crooked, twisted country lanes. Our lives can be crooked with dishonesty, twisted and distorted by physical or emotional pain, such as resentment, bitterness, unforgiveness, envy, pride, selfishness……
How many of us are paid up members belonging to a rescue service that covers us? A service that underwrites to put us in tow when we break down, offers us guidance and direction, a purpose to life. A really, really nice man who sacrificially gave for our benefit, someone to settle claims and to pick up the bill…is there such a service. Yes, not the AA but the RAC…. No I don’t mean The Royal Automobile Club. I mean The Redemption and Anointing of Christ, a really, really nice man who can fix anything! Are you a member, or has your membership expired? Although membership is open to all, even if you were a murderer of Christians like Saul, who admitted to being one of the biggest sinners in the world, you have to apply. You have to sign on the dotted line, make a declaration, take out life membership, which bye the way you can carry forward into the next life. Not like the story I heard last week of a man who died at the wheel of his car and the AA refused to help because his membership expired when he died! How does the cost compare with other rescue services? Very Favourably! It’s free including all the benefits that come with it. The price has been paid for us by the cross of Calvary, that really, really nice man Jesus spilt his blood and gave his life that we might live. Not only live but have life in all it’s fullness.
I wonder how many of us fully understand the meaning and reap the benefits of RAC membership? Redemption, or to redeem means to pay a purchase price, with a view to releasing something from bondage. When we are truly redeemed by Christ, he can release us from all forms of bondage and suffering, paid for by his death at Calvary on that rugged cross.
Anointing. 2 Corinthians 1 v 21 – 22 “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” Just a deposit, there is more to come!
(PP) Christ, every believer has been anointed, set apart to receive special favour and privileges. He is our shepherd and we are His sheep.
As I prepared this talk, although I know this passage so well, it really dawned on me the magnitude Saul’s meeting with Jesus on that Damascus Road had on him. I have often thought what it must be like to go blind, especially when you have had good eye sight, to be honest it is something I would dread. I guess if born blind, although not pleasant, I guess in a sense you wouldn’t know what you were missing. A year after her accident Maggie had to have an eye operation and she remarked on the joy of those around her who had cataracts removed and eyesight regained. However delighted Saul must have been to have his eyesight restored after just a few days, I’m convinced that there was so much more of Christ that he experienced that day. His conversion must be one of the greatest transformations recorded. Transformed from a murderer of Christians to someone murdered for becoming a Christian. Someone who became the greatest evangelist ever, a major factor in the spread of Christianity. Likewise let’s consider the courage of Ananias, sent by God to minister to Saul a known persecutor of Christians! I have to ask the question to myself and you, why are we so reluctant at times to share the Good News of Jesus? Some seem almost ashamed or apologetic about their faith. Is it that we never received the same anointing that Paul speaks of in 2 Corinthians? I don’t think so, it’s exactly the same anointing, the difference I guess is how we use and benefit from that anointing.
Maybe some of us need to check our RAC membership. Are we in compliance, have we fraudulently made an application, or for some even become a new member. When our car breaks down are we reluctant to call out the AA or RAC? Of course not. We have membership, it’s our entitlement. However when we malfunction, breakdown or just need a jump start, how quick are we to call on Christ the redeemer, Christ the councillor, Christ the physician. He should be our first port of call!
As much as I like sharing my amazing original Damascus Road testimony, as I’m sure others do, there have been thousands of books published on testimonies, and they are really useful to encourage people, that should never be the end of the story. If we as a fellowship and I include myself, began to trust God more and more and except his provision and blessing, we should be able to open a library of fresh testimonies if recorded. Recently we as a fellowship seem to hear nothing but bad news, Lord we want some good news, please!
I don’t know about you, but I’m not a morning person. No I don’t mean I don’t preach in the mornings because sometimes I do at other churches, but I take a long time to get motivated first thing in the morning. God has a real sense of humour doesn’t he? I seem to get invited to speak at more Men’s breakfasts than evening dinners. Sometimes whilst driving along a motorway in the early hours to get to such an event, I ask myself why on earth am I doing this at this hour! I guess the answer is, out of gratitude and love I want to share my experiences of God, that the Gospel may reach others. I have learnt over the years that some of my most rewarding and successful talks are when I have to rely on His strength not mine.
When we are at our lowest, that really really nice man should be at His highest!
Finally as I finish I want to play that song In The Living Years, as I do reflect on things you need to say, and people you know who need to know about this offer you cannot refuse.
Amen
