Series: Action [#20]
THE BEGINNING OF A NEW LIFE
Acts 9:19-30
Introduction:
Some things are hard to believe. Last week we saw that…
* Saul had a difficult time believing in Jesus.
It had been his mission to utterly destroy those that believed in Jesus.
* Saul changed his mind when confronted with the impossible.
He met Jesus. He met the One he did not believe in. It was impossible, or so he thought, until he was thrown to the ground. As a result of this incident, Saul was converted. Instead of being a persecutor of the followers of Jesus, he became a follower of Jesus.
* Saul was welcomed into the community.
Ananias got the privilege of being the 1st to minister to Saul. Saul made his faith public by being baptized. This morning, we are going to look at what happens to new Christians and how we should help them as they grow.
Acts 9:19b-22
New Christians experience…
1. Change.
Saul’s change was unexpected. Saul’s mission to Damascus was not a secret. Many Jews were anticipating Saul’s arrival to Damascus so his persecution and arresting of Christians could begin. Shortly after Saul’s arrival, instead of having Christians arrested, he was defending them. Saul began to preach that the people of “The Way” were correct about Jesus. The people hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ from Saul was shocking to them. They knew that he had come to Damascus to destroy Christians, not join them. Saul’s salvation was obvious and intense.
Saul had the finest education. He knew the Hebrew Scriptures forward and backwards. Once he began to follow Jesus, he understood how Jesus fit into the Scriptures. Saul stayed in the desert area near Damascus for 3 years, where he was taught by Jesus. He reread those Hebrew Scriptures and found Jesus everywhere in them.
Acts 9:23-25
New Christians experience…
2. Conflict.
Saul wore out his welcome. He was effective and bold in his preaching which caused the Religious and Government Leaders to want him dead. He had to escape from Damascus which was accomplished by some of his followers. So humbly, (in the dark of night) Saul was secretly lowered out of the city in a basket.
Acts 9:26-30
New Christians experience…
3. Confidence.
Saul found that many of the Christians were afraid of him and did not trust him. He also knew that his old friends were not going to welcome him back to Jerusalem. So, Saul had a problem- He didn’t have any friends. Many of us feel like no one wants to be our friend; but God proves us wrong by putting friends into our lives. This new friend of Saul’s was Barnabas. Barnabas matched the meaning of his name- Son of Encouragement. Barnabas helped Saul get to know the Apostles.
Saul returned to the scene of the crime, so to speak. He returned to the place where Stephen was debated; but now, Saul takes Stephen’s side and proves unbeatable in the debate. As far as the Hellenists were concerned, Saul was worse than Stephen. To them, Saul was a traitor, who deserved the same end as Stephen- He should be killed.
When some of the Christians learned that the Hellenist were going to kill Saul, they sent him home to Tarsus. Tarsus was a Roman ruled city and was a safe place for him to be for that moment. Saul stayed in Tarsus for the next 7-10 years to learn the lessons he needed.
Conclusion:
We need to be encouragers of new believers. Each one goes through these things that challenge their new faith.
