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.
His submission to baptism served as his public confession of (1) his surrender to Christ, and, (2) his acceptance of the task that Christ gave him.
This man whose life had been transformed wasted no time getting involved in the work of spreading the gospel --- Acts 9:19b-21 . . .
Have you ever noticed how a new Christian – especially one who has been “gloriously saved” as was Paul – gets so excited and becomes so enthusiastic that there are no limits to what he or she is willing to do, or willing to go, to bear witness of their conversion experience - AND to seek to win others to Christ?
Paul even preached Christ in the synagogues! Now, that took a lot of nerve! Can you imagine standing before “the assembly” - made up of orthodox Jewish rabbis and their constituents - to testify to them about the very One they had rejected and crucified?
Yes, Paul had just been converted and could not contain himself. Previously he had been blind to the truth; now he could see clearly that Jesus was indeed the Christ, Son of the living God. His heart’s desire was to explain it to his former “brethren in the Law” so that they might come to know Christ whom to know is life eternal.
Folks who had known Paul as a persecutor now listened to him as he tried to convince them that Christ was who He claimed to be and that Paul was now one of His followers; , they all were amazed!
The more Paul witnessed, the more persuasive he became at convincing his brethren that Jesus was the Messiah --- Acts 9:22 . . .
Exactly how Paul proved that Jesus was the Messiah is not said, but I suspect he resorted to the arguments that: (1) Jesus fulfilled prophecy in word and in deed, (2) His miracles provided evidence of His deity, (3) His resurrection confirmed His relationship to Jehovah God, and (4) His followers would not have been willing to risk their lives for Christ if they had not witnessed “these things” . . . and Paul undoubtedly recounted his own personal experience of salvation and sanctification.
Now that Paul had fully surrendered himself to Christ and His Cause, it was important for him to join forces with key leaders who were still in Jerusalem; so, he went where they were --- Acts 9:26-30 . . .
You can understand why these Jerusalem Christians were not too keen on Paul; after all, he had led the campaign to persecute them; so quite naturally they found it hard to believe him – UNTIL a highly respected follower – Barnabas – put in a good word for Paul and encouraged folks to be cordial to him and cooperative with him.
Your testimony and mine will be as convincing as is our intensity to the Cause of Christ. If we pay Him lip service but fail to walk the walk, our witness will be much less convincing than if we totally surrender ourselves to Him and His Cause.
“All to Jesus I surrender, all to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him, in His presence daily live. I surrender all, I surrender all, all to Thee, my Blessed Savior, I surrender all.” Amen.
