Acts 9:1
PROPOSITION: The Lord is one of long suffering patience.
OBJECTIVE: To experience the patience of God.
The story of the conversion of Saul has been told through the centuries of the Christian church. Luke found this so important, he gives an entire chapter to it. This conversion makes great commentary from the pulpit. However, unless this conversion is likened to the lost within the church, the story is of little value.
There are several important issues in this story. First of all is the long suffering patience of the Lord. Another is the fact that there are some that attend church, are members of a Christian church, are fully confident of their salvation, and are as spiritually lost as a rock. In chapter 9, there is a joining of these thoughts, the long suffering patience of God and of some who are faithful to the church and yet are spiritually lost.
I believe that the one who we will later recognize as the Great Apostle had an existing relationship with Jesus before he left Jerusalem on the 150 mile journey to Damascus. I believe Jesus and Saul to be about the same age. Being the pious Jew, Saul would attend synagogue and Temple as often as required. We know that it was the custom of Jesus to attend synagogue.
We have reference that Jesus participated in the Passover when he became separated from his parents at the age of 12. Although Jesus’ life is silent for the next 18 years, it follows that he would have gone to Jerusalem and celebrated Passover and other festivals at the Temple. Young Saul would have been there also.
We know that Saul was a student of the Torah. We know that following his introduction by John the Baptizer, Jesus went around the countryside teaching and preaching. Saul would have been very aware of that.
The questions remain that will never be answered this side of Paradise. How long had Saul known of Jesus? Had they passed one another in the Temple? Had they even spoken or taken part in a debate while at Temple? Had Saul actually heard Jesus in person teaching and preaching?
The importance of these questions lends itself to you. How long have you known of Jesus? Have you passed the Spirit of Jesus in the Church. Have you actually heard someone teaching or preaching about Jesus?
How long have you know of the saving relationship available to you through Jesus Christ, and how long have you avoided this relationship? I submit to you that Saul was aware of this relationship, and that he avoided this relationship for several years. Finally at the time of his conversion, it is not that Saul went looking for Jesus, but that Jesus was looking for Saul.
As we read the scripture account of this relationship, we understand that Jesus likened Saul to a lively and recalcitrant young bullock, and himself as a farmer using goads to break him in. In Acts 26:14 we read of Paul’s witness to his conversion experience. Paul said that
When we had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
Jesus was pursuing Saul, prodding and pricking him, which was hard for Saul to resist. I say to you that there are some in this community, and perhaps some in this fellowship concerning the words of Jesus, “it is hard for you to kick against the goads,” are quite personal. Although these goads are not specifically identified in the Bible, the New Testament gives some hints as to what they may be.
One of the goads must be doubt. I believe that with the wisdom of the young Saul, there were doubts in his mind as to how the scripture and his understanding of it came together. There were too many loose ends for Saul to have complete confidence in what he believed to be true.
When one doubts the truth for a long period of time, the psyche tends to become angry. In the references to Saul, we picture an angry young man. Acts 9:1 tells of “Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord,” indicating a very angry person.
There were doubts in his mind. Everything was not falling together as he supposed they should. And he was angry. The more he thought about his relationship with God, the more it would not fall together. And the more it would not fall together, the more angry he got.
I have met people just like this. When the scripture does not fit together the way they want it to, they get angry. The first thing is that they are the repository of all knowledge, and those who do not agree are all wrong. They fear what others may say because it certainly will challenge them to come to grips with what they believe. The longer it goes, the more angry they get until they absolutely explode from within.
Generally speaking, anger is not a sin. But when one is angry and does nothing about it, that is a sin. Saul was angry. He was angry because he could not deal with his doubts in his relationship with God.
There are a lot of angry people in this community. And they are doing nothing about that anger – except trying to make God in their image and cause everyone else to understand God as they understand God. Not always, but sometimes indications are high blood pressure, gastric problems, hyper-sensitivity – just plain mean to others.
I can tell you that Jesus was pursuing Saul, and Jesus may well be pursing you. Jesus was prodding and pricking Saul, and Jesus may well be prodding and pricking you. Surrender to the goading of the Lord and repent. Repent and surrender your sin to the Lord. Be obedient as He would lead you.
There were other goads of the Lord on Saul. In particular, it was Stephen that caused a lot of problem for Saul. We read in Acts 6 & 7 the defense, the apology, the witness of this great soldier of the cross. Stephen, knowing full well that his fate was sealed and that he would soon die a most horrible death, witnessed before all those present – including Saul – of his love and salvation in Jesus Christ. And I can tell you that this really goaded Saul. This really hurt Saul. Saul was really angry after this. Acts 8:3 tells us that “Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house; and dragging off men and women, he would put them I prison.”
How many people have you encountered that begin their spiritual meltdown as you share your witness? How many of you will stand and say that you would rather talk about baseball, football, the meeting of the club – anything except Jesus? How often have you come into a group and people say they don’t want you and your pious goodness around them? Have you ever said this?
This is exactly what Saul was feeling as the Lord Jesus was pursuing him. This is exactly what a goad from the Lord Jesus might be. I tell you to repent and listen to the witness of the Christians around you, and Christians, be faithful and true to be that witness. Sinner, listen to the word of God as it is presented to you. Repent, and believe on the Lord and you will be saved – and the goading will stop!
More than the goading of the doubts; more than the goading of the witness of Stephen, Saul had a problem with his moral well being. Saul, a student of the Bible, had a problem with his moral well being.
Saul could act out the first commandment. Before others, he could act like he loved the Lord. He could honor the Sabbath; he could honor his parents. He did not lie, steal, blaspheme – he could act or present an outward appearance of his following the first nine commandments. But he could not pretend the 10th commandment. He could not present an act for others to see.
He had a moral problem with the 10th Commandment, the one about coveting. Coveting is not an action; coveting is an attitude. Saul would later write of this in his letter to the church in Rome and recorded as Romans 7:7-11 (READ).
Saul could not dodge the empty tomb. Sin had overtaken the attitude of Saul and his reaction to the empty tomb. As I told you, the messages through this and next month would be concerned with our action, our reaction to the empty tomb. The reaction of Saul to the empty tomb was a sin filled heart.
As we read of Saul’s conversion, we see the grace of God in action. This is the work of the sovereign Grace of God. Jesus picked Saul’s mind and conscience with the goads. Then when the time was right, Jesus revealed himself to Saul, not to overwhelm him, but in such a way as to enable Saul to make free response.
And you come to that point today, right here, right now. I bring to you this morning the opportunity to respond to the goads of Jesus. You may have doubts in your mind of the truth and honesty of the Word of God. Repent, believe and you will be saved.
You may have harbored anger and resentment from the witness of a believer of Jesus Christ. I call upon you to repent and believe in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.
You may act the part of a Christian. You may do all those things necessary to make sure others think you a Christian, but your heart may be full of sin. I am here to invite you to repent, allow the Lord into your heart and be saved.
It is the grace of God that so frees us from the bondage of our pride, prejudice, self centerness as to enable us to repent and believe. Surrender to Him, and be saved.
The Lord is long suffering and patient. However, it is also safe to say that there is a time and limit to the Lord’s suffering and patience. I call upon you today, right now, repent and believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.
