First, I am praying that at the end of this sermon,
1. We would have the desire to experience the deepest significance of Jesus’ resurrection in our lives.
2. We will never think of Paul’s story and Easter, the same way again.
[PAUL/SAUL]
• Paul was born, in about the same year or a little later after Jesus was born.
• Born as Saul, in Tarsus in Cilicia, (which is now in Turkey), he is a Jew, a Roman Citizen, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews.
• Paul has a powerful mind.
o At the age of 13, he had mastered,
? Jewish history
? The poetry of the Psalms
? Majestic literature of the Prophets.
o He knows rhetoric which is making an effective argument.
o He virtually outshines his age group and is considered the best Jew and the best Pharisee of his generation. (Galatians 1:13-14)
• He left Jerusalem in his early 20’s to master a trade (which is tent-making)
• He returned when he was 30 and spent his days pursuing his career and grooming himself for heaven.
Paul was grooming himself for heaven.
Imagine in a temple court in Jerusalem, wherein the Law is read aloud and explained by elders and anyone they invite, including Paul.
When Paul steps in the temple court,
• He wears the arrogance of a man whose background, training, and giftings, make him feel very important.
• He believes he deserves, respectful greetings and a high position in the synagogue.
• He is sure he deserves God’s favour. He would have prayed, “God, I thank Thee I am not like other men, judgemental, opportunist, extortionist, scammers, sinners. I fast twice a week; I say the daily prayers in exact progression, I never fail to carry out cleansing rituals, I give tithes without fail.”
The truth is that most of us encounter a modern-day Pharisee, who is busy pointing out others' faults, to elevate him/herself.
[STEPHEN]
Now there was this disciple named Stephen.
• Stephen and Paul were probably much the same age.
• Like Paul, he is a quick thinker, has a powerful mind, and likes to engage in public controversies.
• He was 1 of the 7 men, chosen by the disciples, known to be full of Spirit & wisdom.
• He spent much of his time on social concerns helping in the daily distribution of food for the widows. (Read Acts 6:1-7).
Men respected Paul yet feared him; they respected Stephen and loved him.
[Paul vs Stephen 1]
The credentials of these two gentlemen are outstanding. Paul and Stephen took the game to a very high level.
Put their credentials side-by-side, who do you think has the edge?
Paul may have a longer resume, but if we look at Stephens's resume, under the character reference portion, likely it says – “The Holy Spirit.”
Do you know that Paul and his friends could not win an argument against Stephen?
And theologian once said that Stephen was Paul before Saul became Paul.
[Resurrection]
Stephen carries a powerful force that no one in this world can stand against which is the resurrection power of Jesus Christ.
The resurrection is not just a display of the biggest miracle of all. It also unlocks a supernatural power that is made available to us.
By believing in Jesus’ resurrection, like Stephen, we can be carriers of that power too.
Romans 8:11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.
[The Power of the Holy Spirit]
When the Holy Spirit lives in you,
• You are constantly transformed to be the best version of yourself.
• You are in the best position to win battles in life.
• You will have the power to cancel the works of the devil such as sickness, disease, lies, and others.
• You will have the power to get rid of sin, and things Satan brought into your life such as addiction, depression, guilt, sickness, strongholds, and others.
Without the Holy Spirit make life work on your own.
But with the Holy Spirit, it is not just you doing life. The Holy Spirit will carry out things, through the work that you are doing.
The Holy Spirit never enters a man and lets him live like the world. – A. W. Tozer.
[Paul vs Stephen 2 – Face Off]
When Stephen preached, he always turned the Scriptures in the direction of Jesus as the Messiah. Stephen is sure Jesus has risen. Members of the Synagogue began to argue with Stephen.
Acts 6: 10 But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.
So, they stirred up conspiracies against Stephen and took him to Sanhedrin (the Jewish judicial and administrative council). Likely, there was a face-off between Paul and Stephen happened. (Paul was still Saul)
- Imagine Paul arguing from the Law rejecting the idea of the resurrection saying – “The disciples stole the body”, and “The resurrection is just a product of your imagination.”
- Whatever his argument is, Stephen in reply asserts that Moses and the prophets, David and the Psalms, foreshadow how Christ would come and allow Himself to be abused, hurt, and murdered. And He would rise from the dead.
Paul and his friends surely realized that they were fighting not only Stephen but also a powerful force they could not recognize.
[Stephen was seized and stoned]
As Stephen continued, he sensed that the judges did not believe him. And so, he asserted to their faces that they were hypocrites, who betrayed and murdered their saviour, the Messiah they’d been waiting for (Jesus).
The judges grumbled but Stephen ignored their rage.
Acts 7:55-56 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
The people can’t believe what they heard. Stephen, whom they are charging for blasphemy, is now saying that he saw Jesus. This ignited a mad rush that ended with Stephen’s smashed body in a pool of his own blood.
Acts 7:59-60 59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
[Words of Encouragement]
In your life as a believer, you might have experienced, (figuratively) falling on your knees, being stoned, because of your passion to share God. Today, the Lord is assuring you that he will protect you from those whose agenda is to destroy you.
Know that they can’t stand the anointing of God in you. Like Cain who can’t stand God’s favour in his brother Abel.
Know that today, the resurrecting power of Jesus is making you more courageous, and passionate, and will never be intimated for God’s kingdom.
[Paul approved Stephen’s killing]
The witnesses threw their clothes “at the feet of Paul (who was still Saul the Pharisee); they knew his responsibility. Paul did not throw a stone, but he approved and watched as the mob stoned Stephen to death.
[Paul charged to Christians]
Paul considered Stephen’s arguments of the resurrected Christ, nonsense and dangerous. He is dedicated to demolishing it.
Acts 8:3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
With Paul as the chief representative, a systematic manhunt of Jesus’ followers was launched. He charged like a lion tearing the scattered sheep. His heart and mind were fully engaged. Dragging believers to the synagogues for inquiries demanding that they curse Jesus. While these are happening, other followers of Jesus run away.
[Road to Damascus]
But Paul was breathing out murderous threats, he requested “authorization” from the high priest, to chase after the believers and bring them back to Jerusalem. Paul got the letter, wasted no time, and began the chase.
Acts 9:3-5 3As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.
Saul called Jesus “Lord.” It is possible that on the spot, the moment Saul recognized Jesus’ lordship, he became a believer.
When Saul heard and saw Jesus, he cracked. When he finally stood, he was literally blind.
[Saul and Ananias]
Saul spent the next three days fasting and waiting for the Lord’s instruction. Then the Lord sent a disciple named Ananias to Saul.
Acts 9:17-18 17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,
Ananias calling him “Brother Saul,” is a hint that Saul is already a believer. Even so, Ananias was sent by God to pray for Saul that he would be healed, infilled, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Paul had to receive the Holy Spirit, which is crucial in Paul’s new purpose, to testify in Jesus’ resurrection.
[Saul becomes Paul]
After the encounter and the infilling of the Holy Spirit,
• Paul spent three years sorting out and rethinking his Theology (understanding of God).
• He claims that God taught Him directly:
Ephesians 3:2-3 2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.
• In the third year after the encounter, Paul has become lean and hard physically, and Paul by the grace of God has become like Stephen. He is not just a man full of wisdom, but full of Spirit too. He is ready.
[Paul’s Gospel is the Resurrection]
He is ready,
- to play a crucial role in spreading the Gospel.
- to plan a dozen churches.
- to write his Epistles for the NT
- to spread the good news that Jesus has risen.
As he told Timothy in one of his letters,
2 Timothy 2:8 Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach.
The theme of Paul’s Gospel is about the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
[Paul’s Life Transformation
The transformation of Paul is one of the most important pieces of the puzzle in the declaration of the resurrection.
Considering the extreme change in Paul’s beliefs, his conversion from a zealous persecutor of followers of Jesus to a tireless champion of Jesus' resurrection.
He now knows that “The resurrection is our passage from death to life.”
Paul’s realization is that Jesus was alive, as Stephen and the others had said.
But Paul's greatest realization is that God’s love is not only for those whom he was persecuting, but to everyone including him.
Jesus came to save us. Was crucified to spare us. Died for us to live. He rose again so we can be transformed. He is alive because he loves us!
Like Paul, we need to be transformed, to be empowered. To believe that Jesus loves us thus he died and rose again.
Today, you could possibly relate to the life of Paul before he encountered Jesus. Not necessarily, you have been harassing Christians.
But the thing is that you have not really realized that Jesus’ death and resurrection, the power behind it, and the love that compels it, are all made available for you.
Like Paul, the only thing that separates you and the resurrecting power of God is a sincere acknowledgment and acceptance of Jesus as your Lord and Saviour.
You may know God, but like Saul, you have been trying to make life work on your own.
Today, there’s an invitation from Jesus, to enter your life. If you are responding to the call, begin to pray now.
[PRAYER]
Dear Jesus
I confess that I am a sinner.
And I want to thank you for dying on the cross for my sins.
Right now, I invite you to come into my life.
Be my Lord, Be my Savior.
Help me to become the kind of person I was created to be.
I pray all this, in Jesus’ name.
Amen
