DECISION DAY
A Destroyer, A Doubter, and a Few Disciples
Acts 8, 9, 16, 19, 22
INTRODUCTION:
ILL> The Obit
Brad and Mike were two old retired widowers who lived close to each other and would constantly check on the other. Their friendship was more practical rather than a real friendship and would remind you of the two guys in the movie Grumpy Old Men.
One day, as Mike is drinking his morning coffee, opens the newspaper and turns to the obituaries page.
He gets the shock of his life when he sees his own obituary in the column. He realizes that the query for info on him by the local newspaper several months earlier, was in preparation for this event. He correctly surmises that it is a mistaken entry from their database.
It still excites and rankles him, so he calls Brad up.
"Brad, are you up yet?" asks Mike.
Brad sleepily answers, "Yeah, but I’m only now starting my coffee."
"Brad. open the newspaper to page 31."
"Why, what’s in the paper?"
"Brad, get the paper and open it to page 31 NOW!"
"Ok, Ok, I’ve got the paper here, so what’s in page 31?"
"Brad, open the paper to page 31 already!"
"All right, don’t be such a pain so early in the morning already. So,
what’s on page 31 that’s so important?"
"Brad, look at the bottom of column 4."
"Why? What’s that story on?"
"Brad, read the story on the bottom of the column already!"
"OK, OK, I’ll start reading the column if you stop yelling in my ear!"
The paper rustles for a few seconds, then a long silent pause ensues. Finally, Brad comes on the line quietly and fearfully asks, "So Mike, where are you calling me from right now?"
A. Let me ask you─if something tragic happened and you passed away and were able to make one phone call to a loved one, where would you be calling from?
1. Today is Decision Day. Even though we try to encourage people every day to make decisions for Christ, we have set aside today to give the importance of making a decision even greater emphasis.
2. The Bible teaches that in order to become a Christian that a person needs to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
a. Faith is also required
b. Repentance must be sought
c. On these most churches would not disagree
3. However, the Bible also teaches that a person committing his life to Jesus Christ must also be baptized so that his sins will be washed away
a. This is where there is a lot of controversy
QUOTE> Baptism (Christian Theology in Plain Language, p. 158)
“Over the centuries Christians have debated what baptism accomplishes, to whom it should be administered, and how much water should be used.”
b. We could debate that this morning, but it doesn’t make any difference what this church believes or teaches
c. The only thing that really matters is what does God say in His Holy Word?
d. As we examine that question this morning we want to take a look at three different events where people committed their life to Christ as recorded in the Bible
e. We are going to take a look at a Destroyer, a Doubter, and a few Disciples
I> A DESTROYER
A. The first person that we want to take a look at this morning is a man by the name of Saul who later changed his name to Paul
1. In Acts 7 we have the story of Stephen who became the first Christian martyr─that is, his life was taken because he professed his faith in Christ.
2. Stephen told the men surrounding him that day that they had put to death God’s Righteous One and they were murderers─that had the law but they chose not to obey it.
a. Acts 7:54
When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him.
b. Acts 7:57-58
At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
ILL> It’s hard to imagine that people could get so mad, unless you’ve been to a basketball game lately. There are times that I wouldn’t be surprised to see people jump out of the stands and chase the referee.
c. Acts 8:1
And Saul was there, giving approval to his death.
d. We don’t know if Saul threw any of the stones, but we do know that he was their cheerleader.
3. Not only is Saul a hater of the Church, but he decides to do all he can in order to destroy the Church.
a. Acts 9:1-2
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
B. Something unusual happened on the road to Damascus
1. We can picture Saul riding all high and mighty─filled with hatred for the Church
a. He may have even been giddy over the thought of capturing some of these followers of Jesus and destroying their lives
2. Everything is going according to plan─he has permission from the high priest, he has plenty of men to do the job, everything is working out just the way he planned it
a. However, not everything always goes according to plan
ILL> A few weeks ago Kay and I made a quick trip to Zanesville. Every thing was going according to plan, we were talking about plans for the house, discussing our kids, when Kay said, “Doug” and the next sound I heard was the thud of the deer as our van collided with the unsuspecting animal. I only saw the deer for a split second before I hit it. Until that one brief second, everything was normal.
b. That’s the way it was for Saul, until a light from heaven flashed around him
● Brighter than any flash bulb when you’ve had your picture taken
● So bright that it blinds Saul
c. Acts 9:4-6
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. 6"Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
3. Sometimes we mistakenly say that Saul became a Christian on the road to Damascus, but look at VS 6 again
4. Saul’s men take him to Damascus where he sits for 3 days
a. Blinded by the light he can do little more than think about what he has been doing, his life
b. For 3 days there is no word from God, no more voices, until Ananias comes in
c. Acts 22:16
And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’
C. People today like Saul need to be jolted into reality
1. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes a tragic event for people to have their eyes opened to the need they have for Christ
2. Here was a man who was a murderer, and a hater of the Church
a. Yet, his life was changed by Jesus Christ
b. That gives us hope, as well
II> A DOUBTER
A. The second conversion story that I want to look at this morning is found in Acts 16 and is commonly referred to as the story of the Philippian jailor
1. Paul and Silas had been thrown into prison because they continuously preached Jesus Christ in that city
a. There was such an uproar that the two men were arrested, beaten, and thrown into prison
2. For the jailor it was a usual night.
a. It wasn’t his fault that Paul and Silas were in jail─he was just doing his job
b. We don’t have any evidence that he was trying to destroy the Christians─he probably hadn’t given it much thought.
3. ACT 16:25-30
a. Now I really don’t believe that the jailor was asking, “What do I have to do in order to become a Christian?”
● I believe that he was asking what he had to do in order to get out of this mess
b. However, the door of opportunity was open and they began telling the jailor about Jesus and what he had done
c. VS 31-33
B. Here is the question that we have to answer─why was it so important that the jailor and his family be baptized
1. At some point during the night he believed in what Paul and Silas were saying
a. Still in the middle of the night they went and were baptized
b. Doesn’t that seem to be inconvenient if it is not important?
2. Some things we might point out here is that the jailor and his family didn’t go through a 12 week course
a. They didn’t read through the Bible first
b. They didn’t first attend church a few Sundays and then make a decision
c. They hadn’t even been to a worship service
d. Once they understood who Jesus was and how they needed to respond, they did it
C. I believe that there are a lot of people that can relate to this jailor in Philippi
1. They aren’t out to destroy the church, but they’ve never really been confronted with it either
a. That may be where you are today
b. Maybe you don’t mind coming to a worship service, but you’ve never felt like you needed to make a commitment
c. Open your ears, open your heart
2. This is a decision that has eternal consequences
III> A FEW DISCIPLES
A. The last conversion story that we want to look at this morning is found in ACTS 19
1. We don’t know the names of these men, but they are referred to as disciples─people who were committed to the ways of God
a. READ: ACTS 19:1-5
2. Let me make a point first─when Paul placed their hands on them, they received a special ability given to them by the Holy Spirit
a. There are a few recorded instances of this taking place in Scripture, but it was not something that all Christians received.
b. I could spend an entire sermon on that, but that is not what I want to emphasize this morning.
3. Notice Paul’s question in VS 3
a. They answered, “John’s baptism”
4. John the Baptist was the forerunner of Christ
a. It was his job to prepare people for the ministry of Jesus
b. As part of that ministry he would often baptize people as they repented and turned to God─a baptism of repentance
c. Now I want you to understand that John’s baptism was not a baptism for salvation and the forgiveness of sins
d. The reason is that Jesus had not died and He had not yet become the sacrifice for the sins of all the world
5. The people that Paul is talking to here are devout followers of the Lord─disciples
a. However, they had never been taught about being baptized into Jesus Christ so that they sins could be forgiven
b. So Paul shares with them what Christ had done and then they were baptized into Jesus Christ.
B. These disciples may be just like you
1. They weren’t trying to destroy the Church─as a matter of fact it was just the opposite─they were God fearing people, people who worshiped the Father
a. However, they had never been baptized into Jesus Christ so that their sins could be forgiven
b. They had never been taught what God expected
2. It may be that you grew up in a church where baptism was never taught
a. Or maybe a church you attended only sprinkled instead immersing people as written in the Scriptures
b. It doesn’t mean you have to start over
c. But rather, submitting to baptism would just be the next step in your faith because you now understand what God expects.
IV> CONCLUSION:
A. Some of you here this morning may identify the most with the one who tried to destroy the Church─However, God will forgive is you seek His face
1. Some of you may be like the jailor in Philippi─not a church hater, but just have never seriously thought about committing your life to Jesus Christ
2. For some of you it is just a matter of taking the next step─your faith in Christ has led you to this point today
a. Now what will you choose?
3. Some of you are already baptized believers, but have not committed yourself to the ministry of this congregation
ILL> Story of lady who saw a glimpse of heaven but was told she had to go back down into the darkness. How awful it would be to here Jesus say, “I’m sorry, but you can’t go in. You have to go back down into the darkness.”
