Acts 9:23 – 31
23 Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him. 24But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him. 25Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket.
26. And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. 27But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 28So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out. 29And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him. 30When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus.
31 Then the churches[4] throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.
It’s so wonderful to realise that there are so many fascinating messages in the Bible – I can read today and get a total different message than you.
God accepts you just as you are, but loves you so much that he changes you into the image of His Son in the way that he wants you.
He got to Saul on that road to Damascus … In Saul’s deepest darkness and changed him.
There is no doubt that Saul was on a course of self destruction… He was fighting against Jesus.
The same way that we do if we sin.
James 4:4 – 10.
4Adulterers and[2] adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"? 6But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:
"God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble."[3]
7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
This is where God med Saul. This proud man.
All God is asking is for him to repent (I john 1:9) and he will change Saul in love.
David Ring – Cerebelpausy – I’m in the oven – God still cooking on me – Well done
I believe that this is where Saul is at in his Christian walk right here.
We find in our reading of today how God deals with “PRIDE”
I’m going to show you four things about that “PRIDE”
1. What is pride and how does it affect us here today?
2. Where did it come from?
3. What does the Word say about Pride
4. How does God deal with it.
1. What is pride and how does it affect us here today?
·Another word for pride is arrogance.
·This is a feeling of being more important than someone else.
·A proud person will say “I’m better than you”.
LIKE the DOG Chasing other animals bragged about his running skills to his friends. Wasn’t long before he was put to the test by a rabbit. Who outran the dog. The other dogs watched with smiles as he came tired back. The dog then excused himself by saying “you must remember, that I was only running for the fun, He was running for his life.
·I mean to say that the human body is a very sensitive thing. You pat someone on the back and his head swells.
·In fact if you look around you, you will find that we’re living in prideful society.
·We’re living in a Humanistic society. We’re it’s all about self-importance.
·That’s the reason why divorce courts are so full, Why you have fight’s everywhere.
·I believe the most used phrase in the world today is “You’ve hurt my feelings”
·These days if you do business with some people. The first thing they ask you : “What’s in it for me”
·That is what pride is….. My ego… my self-importance.. The BIG I
·Paul warns about this in Rom 12:2… Go with me there….
2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith
·This is exactly where we are today in Acts 9:23-31 where God deals with this in Saul’s life… so that he may be able to say these words to Romans and you and me in Faith,, because he had first hand experience..
2. Where did it come from?
·Turn to Isaiah 14:12-14.
·It started before the Garden Eden.
·It started with the father of lies, Lucifer himself.
·Look at this passage…..V13
13For you have said in your heart:
"I will ascend into heaven, Who is this about? I
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
14I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’
15Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol,
To the lowest depths of the Pit.
It entered into the human race in the Garden of Eden.
Gen 3:5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
IOW: You will be important… You’ll be god’s… Isn’t that a message in a lot of places today?
Let me show you why I say that pride entered here:
See what happens from V8-10
8And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
9Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?"
10So he said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself."
V10 the first time that man talked about himself as I.. He saw that He was naked ..
Didn’t had self confidence..
Through that it became a global sin through the ages..
Gen 11:3-4 3Then they said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly." They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. 4And they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth."
That brings more clarity to Paul’s words in Rom 12.
3. What does the Word say about Pride
Prov 13:10 By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom.
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world.
James 4:6 "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."[3]
I believe the one that apply to Saul’s life here in Acts 9
Prov 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall
After reading today’s passage you can say “How the mighty have fallen”
4. How does God deal with it.?
He resist it……………
Go back to Acts 9…….
V23 the Jews plotted to kill him
25 Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket
26. And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple
Hellenists, attempted to kill him.
30When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus.
31 Then the churches[4] throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And they were multiplied.
Remember his name was Saul meaning Expected – He was arrogant… V1
Now he was rejected… humiliated… and the church multiplied without him..
But the good news is that God was busy with him… changed him to Paul..
Paul means little … Now God could use him.. From Acts 13 onward.
What is God allowing in your live to humble you?….
