To the Ends of the Earth, Part 13
Spiritual Growth requires Faithfulness
Acts 9:23 – 9:31
Introduction
- Welcome to Seasons Church & 2024 sermon series, “To the Ends of the Earth”
-- In 2023 we unpacked the beginning of all history (Creation/Fall/Promise)
-- And we looked ahead, anticipated the coming & victory of Jesus (Revelation)
-- But, in order to get to the end, we have to be busy doing the work now (Acts)
- Last week we unpacked the miraculous conversion of the murderer, Saul
-- He was, in a word, a literal one-man wrecking machine against the Gospel
-- Coming face to face with Jesus, he has realized something: he is not in charge
-- Even his doubters could see he had changed: What changed him? Jesus!
-- He has gone from a murderous blasphemer … to a messenger of grace!
-- Lesson for us: Even the farthest one from Christ can be redeemed
- Today, I’d like us to dig a little deeper into this man and the road ahead of him
-- It is an interesting story, one that could easily parallel any believer’s today
-- We will also take a quick look at what a healthy church looks like
- Why is this important? You may know that today is Palm Sunday
-- The day that signifies Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem (Zechariah prophecy)
-- But that day of joy came at a cost for believers who wanted to be faithful
-- Jesus had to go through the good and the bad in order to redeem us of sin
-- In this same way, we can see that our life can also experience ups and downs
-- APP: Even Saul’s life can be a great encouragement, if we will see it
- Read Acts 9:23-31 / Pray
- TR: Starting off this morning, let’s dive deep into our first point …
Point 1 – Examining the growth of a Disciple
- Teaching point here to allow us to take a deeper dive
- Want us to examine a peculiar translation in verse 23’s wording
-- Most scholars agree there is a 2 or 3-year span of time here
- However, many versions (other than the KJV transliteration) don’t highlight it
-- KJV: “And after that many days were fulfilled; the Jews took counsel to kill him”
-- Note the words – “after many days”; Greek: eplerounto; many days had passed
- This lends credibility to the time spent in Arabia to learn and grow
-- Galatians 1:15-18 is the reference: “But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being. Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went away into Arabia, and later I returned to the city of Damascus. Then three years later I went to Jerusalem to get to know Peter, and I stayed with him for fifteen days.”
- However, the NLT translates it into: “after a while”
-- Admittedly, it could minimize/skew the time, which is why I want to highlight it
-- This is not an argument for or against one version over another
-- There is a still a recognition of time passing, but not the whole scope
-- However, even in that it does do something very interesting for us
- We’ve unpacked this same backstory in Acts:
• Ananias prayed for/healed Saul
• Saul stayed with him for several days to help regain his strength
• While he was there he preached to anyone who would listen
• As he did– he was pressed into the understanding that he needed more
• He needed to find a place where he could grow and learn more
• It would be in the quietness of the desert that he communed and grew
• THEN: “After many days” (2 to 3 years), he returned to Damascus
- Saul comes back more mature, with a deeper understanding of Christ
-- But it was still 12 more years before he launched his missionary journey
- FACT: Fleeing Damascus saved his life (due to the plot to kill him)
-- But it was in that time away that he was able to draw closer and learn
-- UNDERSTAND: Knowledge is not automatic … even Saul had to study
- REM: He is an educated man, a Pharisee, but even this was not enough
-- It did not arm him to handle the stress of share the ministry; he needed more
-- APP: He had to draw closer to Christ in order to be an effective witness!
- TR: So, armed with this knowledge, what can we immediately see?
Point 2 – Sharing the Gospel will be a Tough Road
- We get a small preview of the periods Saul will face as an evangelist
-- What we need to see here is the criticality of being faithful in all things
-- Yes, times will be tough, uncertainty is guaranteed, but Christ is still faithful
- Fact is, we could bottle that up and apply it to any aspect of our lives
-- From sharing Jesus, to selling a house, to working a job, to raising kids …
-- Showing Jesus in moments of difficulty is something we all face
- Saul was certainly no different, and in these verses we see three callouts
-- God wants faithfulness from us in three specific areas:
1. Faithfulness in witnessing
- We know that Saul has been witnessing in Damascus for some time
-- And these actions have heavily angered the Jews; they’ve plotted to kill him
-- Yet, his testimony and witness can be a bold encouragement for us all!
- APP: No matter the opposition, we too are called to be faithful and determined
-- Jesus taught us this in John 10:10, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”
- FACT: Being a fanatic is often not popular (unless you’re a sports fan …)
-- But here, in the most important time, Saul shows how to be faithful to Christ!
-- HOW? God will always make a way for those who are willing to be faithful
-- So much so, that to escape the manhunt other believers helped him escape! (v25)
- We can even look at the wisdom we get from Saul at the very END of his life:
-- 2 Tim 4:18, “Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.”
2. Faithfulness in seeking fellowship with believers
- As the former heavyweight champion of killing Christians, he has a problem
-- Fellowship, and especially true friendship, are tough to find … but …
-- In Jerusalem, he meets an incredible encourager: Barnabas
-- Barnabas sensed a truth in Saul, a truth that could only come from God
-- So much so, that he takes him to the Apostles (v26-27)
- Can you imagine this interaction for a moment? I’m sure it was quite a shock!
-- Just doing the stuff and in walks the former chief persecutor of Christians
-- But Barnabas testifies for him – he speaks of his conversion, of his life change
-- This leads to him being accepted and brought into the community
- In short, Saul was a man without fellowship and needed that community
-- Fact is, you and I are absolutely no different – remember the banana analogy
- Real talk:
• “Well pastor, I don’t feel like going to church with those people”
• So I’ll say it then … “TOUGH! Fact is, you/we actually need each other!”
• Stop with the excuses and dive in, you might be surprised at what you find
• HINT: You’ll find a whole bunch of broken people … just like you!
3. Faithfulness in preaching boldly
- If there is one thing we can learn, is that Saul was 100% committed
-- He preached boldly and faithfully, despite anything that stood in his way
-- Even under the threat of assassination, he was still faithful to Jesus!
-- Side note: Kind of reminds me of the witness he saw in Stephen in Acts 7!
- Saul’s faithfulness cannot be understated here, re-read vv28-30
-- Do you see the APP? Those who he found fellowship with helped him succeed!
-- They not only saved his life again, but they ensured he could carry on preaching
-- APP: It’s a great nod to surrounding yourself with trustworthy believers
- TR: So, what is the outcome of this time in the “Church”? Better question:
Point 3 – What does a healthy church look like?
- In one verse we see the state of the church (re-read v31)
-- It is a statement of incredible results … something all churches can learn from
-- Thankful that we have this here – to see there is always more opportunity
-- Know this: In one sentence, we see a clear picture of what we can strive for:
- Acts identifies 4 things happening in the Church (these are quick):
1. At peace
- The NT church is at peace with itself and with one another; focused on the future
-- Greek: eiréné; at peace … It is the active or present tense, current state
-- Luke is telling us that the result of their fellowship is a church in harmony
2. Strengthened
- Another word that can be used is edified; they are built up and stable in Christ
-- They were becoming stronger in the faith because of their common mission
-- Mission: To share the Gospel, not to bring people into a pew
3. Living for the Lord
- They lived in fear (reverence) of the Lord, but with comfort of the Holy Spirit
-- They were not living a life of being afraid of God and his wrath; not who He is
-- This is their fuel for their fire … they are devoted to walking together for Jesus
-- And this produces a great result! Collectively, they are …
4. Growing
- They are multiplying in those coming to Christ, and those going out to preach
-- It is through the power of the Spirit that this is happening – always know this
-- A church that is not growing is a church getting ready to die; or close its doors
-- Together they are committed to one thing: Telling others about Jesus
-- And the reward is simple: More people were coming to know His salvation
BIG IDEA
- For us there can be no greater call - or ministry - that we spend our time in
-- Whether it is loving people through hardships or witnessing amidst peacetime
- The Gospel is able to penetrate in all seasons, if we are willing to share it
-- This is what Acts teaches us, those around Saul demonstrate, now it’s our time
-- It is our time to react in a way that shows people Jesus, not ourselves
-- This is what Saul experienced, and how he shows us to live!
-- It is why it is strategically placed here in Acts, to show us we can succeed also
- Pray
