Saul was from Tarsus of Cilicia and was born into a well to do home. Saul as a rabbi, was required to learn a trade and so labored in the low-paying, menial task of tentmaking. But two facts demonstrate the social status of Saul's family, which are Saul's Roman citizenship and his opportunity to study in Jerusalem. Saul's primary attribute, however, was not his education but his zeal, which was as much a part of his life before his conversion as afterwards.
Acts 9:1-18 tells us of a man that experienced the epitome of God's grace, on his journey on the road to Damascus. We see through Saul's Damascus Road experience, what it is like to be "IN THE GRIP OF GOD'S GRACE.
[PRAY]
Saul was a force to be reckoned with. Saul was one of those individuals who believed he was doing wrong for the right reason. Saul was a Christian's worst nightmare. So ill informed was Saul, that he thought he ought to do all he could against the name of Christ, and that he did God's service by persecuting followers of Christ.
During the New Testament era, Damascus had a large Jewish population. Many Jewish Christians fled there when Saul was persecuting the church. Saul was bound for Damascus on a mission of destruction when he was saved by God's grace.
Have you ever been heading down a road to destruction when God plucked you out of harm's way [PAUSE] as you were heading down the road of drug addiction [PAUSE] alcoholism [PAUSE] crime? Many of us have been in the wrong place at the wrong time. We can't believe it ourselves, when we wake up the next morning to find that we are still alive. Do you ever wonder why God continues to extend His grace to us, even during our constant acts of disobedience and sin?
God offers a renewing grace for the conversion of the greatest of sinners. God's grace is a token of Divine favor. God, by the inward working of His grace, or the outward events of his providence, stops us committing intentional acts of sin.
You see, Saul was on his way to Damascus, travelling some 150 miles out of his way, to continue the persecution of Christians that were now scattered from Jerusalem and Judea.
Saul, as he journeyed, came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined about him a light from heaven: Saul fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying to him,
Saul, Saul, why are your persecuting me? And Saul said, Who are you, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus who you persecute: it is hard for me to kick against the pricks.
In Acts 9:5, Saul is depicted here as a rebellious beast that fights against the will of its master. He is persecuting Jesus in that he is afflicting the body of Christ. When someone does something for or against a Christian, Jesus Christ not only knows but also feels it just as we do. He is moved with the feeling of our infirmities. Jesus himself, feeling the persecution that was being inflicted on His people, asks Saul, why are you persecuting me?
And Saul, trembling and astonished said, Lord, what will you have me to do? The question posed by Saul indicates the state of mind Saul was in. Its elements seem to be a resistless conviction that Jesus whom he persecuted, now speaking to him was Christ the Lord. As a consequence of this, Saul realized that not only his religious views, but also his whole religious character, had been a mistake; and that everything he believed was wrong.
When a sinner is brought to a proper sense of his own state and conduct, he will cast himself fully on the mercy of God, asking God what he would have him do.
When God delivers us from sickness, financial distress, family situations, hunger, homelessness, do we cast ourselves on the mercies of God? Do we ask Lord, what can I do for you? For all that you've done for me, for bringing me out of Jerusalem, Lord, what can I do for you?
God guides the sinner who repents and asks for His mercy. Though God offers his mercy to the sinner, He allows us to be convicted by our conscience, but also extends His grace by forgiving us of our sins.
Now, the Lord said to Saul, Arise, and go into the city, and it will be told to you what you must do. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man because he was blinded: but the men that were with Saul, led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and he did not eat or drink. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus by the name of Ananias. And the Lord appeared in a vision and called Ananias. Ananias, Ananias. And Ananias responded, Behold, I am here, Lord.
And the Lord said to Ananias: Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for he is praying, and have seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him that he might receive his sight.
Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem:
And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on your name. But the Lord said to Ananias, Go your way: for Saul is a chosen vessel for me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: for I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
Have you ever heard the saying what goes around comes around? Saul is going to be put in a place where he will experience the same persecution that he inflicted on God's people. When others do you wrong, put them in the hands of Jesus. No wrong deed goes unpunished. God has a way of making wrongs right.
Even disciples like Ananias sometimes stagger at the commands of the Lord. But it is the Lord's glory to surpass our limited expectations, and show that individuals like Saul, and you and me are vessels of His mercy. Those that we consider as objects of God's vengeance are recipients of His grace.
Now Ananias went his way and entered into the house; and putting his hands on Saul said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared to you in the way you came, has sent me, that you might receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from Saul's eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight from that moment, and arose, and was baptized.
The teaching of the Holy Spirit takes away the scales of ignorance and pride from the understanding; then and only then the sinner becomes a new creature in Christ.
When we enter into the way of God, we must look for trials; but the Lord knows how to deliver the godly, and will, with the temptation, also make a way to escape.
Now Saul, fully converted, changed his name to Paul. Paul went on to preach Christ in the synagogues, that Christ is the Son of God. Those that heard Paul's preaching were astonished, as this was the same man that persecuted followers of Christ.
Being a follower of Christ does not guaranty us any special treatment. The Christians did not trust Paul, and the Jews plotted to kill him. Being a follower of Christ does not guaranty us that we will be immune from sin. Though Paul was saved, sanctified and filled with the Holy Spirit, Paul still had issues. You don't have issues unless you're on the move, and Paul never stopped. He preached in Thessalonia, Jerusalem, Athens, and Corinth - and if he wasn't preaching he was in prison because of his preaching. In all of Paul issues, God reminds Paul that His grace is sufficient. If God's grace is sufficient for Paul, God's grace is sufficient for you.
God says, no matter what you're going through, no matter how ill you are, no matter how weak you are, My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weaknesses. God's grace was sufficient for Paul, therefore, God's grace is sufficient for you, God's grace is sufficient for me, God's grace is sufficient, God's grace is sufficient, God's grace is sufficient for you.
God's grace was extended to Paul when Paul prayed and sought His face. Paul understood the concept of calling on the name of Jesus. Paul knew there was power in that mighty name. Paul called on the name of Jesus when he was faced with trials and tribulations. Paul knew a name that was like no other. Paul called that name frequently.
When you are faced with trials and tribulations, call on the name of Jesus. When you are suffering from a thorn in your flesh, call on the name of Jesus. When you are suffering from illness, call on the name of Jesus. When everything in your life is going wrong, and nothing around you seems to be going right, call on the name of Jesus. When you call on the name of Jesus, demons tremble at the sound of his name, yokes are broken at the sound of his name, bodies are healed at the sound of his name. Call his name. Say Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. [LONG PAUSE]
In Paul's imperfection and distress, he sought to do God's will and seek God's face. Paul humbled himself before God on the road to Damascus. Do you humble yourselves before God? Do you listen to God when He speaks? 2 Chronicles 7:14 says the Lord appeared before Solomon, and told him He heard his prayer, Paul humbled himself before God, and God heard his prayer, Jesus humbled himself before God, and God heard His prayer. God is saying to us this morning.
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will they hear from heaven.
Paul turned from his wicked ways and found God on the road to Damascus. Paul experienced a rebirthing on the road to Damascus.
You see, when the struggle is over, and the rebirthing complete, we RISE UP with new life; we RISE UP with new hope, we RISE UP with new dreams, we RISE UP with a new vision, we RISE UP to a new tomorrow.
Without the struggle, without the adversity, without the rebirthing, there is no character [PAUSE], there is no change [PAUSE], there is no redemption [PAUSE], there is no salvation. Paul, on the road to Damascus, received God's grace, and a glorious conversion.
It is only through these struggles, we see God extending His grace. We see God extending His grace to Paul, on the road to Damascus. To Joshua on his Damascus Road experience, before he defeated Jericho. To Jesus in His Damascus road experience, when He was nailed to the cross on Calvary. Such as you and me, in our Damascus Road experiences in every day life.
In our imperfections and weaknesses, God is strongest. In our lowest moments, God performs at His highest.
Paul preaches a gospel of redemption, justification and salvation. You see, the direction of God's grace does not come from this world. It must come from heaven. Man has no way, but God has a way.
Man has inflated his balloon with his own hot air and not been able to leave the atmosphere.
Our pleas of ignorance are inexcusable. Our comparisons with others are impermissible. The conclusion is unavoidable: self-salvation simply does not work. Man has no way to save himself.
But Paul announces that God has a way. Let God show you the way by accepting Jesus into your life. The doors to the Church are now opened. Thank you Lord.
