PP0709 DATE
BLINDED BY AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE
LORD JESUS!
Acts 22:11.
Ac 22:11 And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus. (KJV)
INTRODUCTION: Men have you ever told your wife that when she enters the room it gets lighter with her presence? Maybe you should.
There were two cousins – One a country boy – the other a city boy. The country cousin asked his city cousin to help him impress this certain girl. The city cousin told him that he and his girl friend would be setting in the porch swing that night and he was to listen to what he told his girl friend and then say that to his girlfriend. That night the country boy had his girl friend on one side of the porch and the city boy was on the other side in the porch swing. (The Moon was shining – the night insects were making their noises) The city boy said to his girl friend, “Darling, when I look in your eyes, time stands still!” The country boy heard him and looked at his girl friend and said, “Woman, that face of yours would stop a clock.” That’s probably not the way you do it.
Explain what is taking place….! In Acts 22 Paul has been mobbed by the Jewish leaders in the Temple at Jerusalem. Therefore he is defending himself before the mob. He is telling them of his birth and his heritage. He is actually replaying what happened to him in Acts 9 as he was on his way to Damascus to persecute believers. I want us to see that we can be blinded by the glory and goodness of God – and that He really wants that for each of us.
One of the great old hymns says:
Come to the light, ’tis shining for thee;
Sweetly the light has dawned upon me.
Once I was blind, but now I can see:
The Light of the world is Jesus!
Joh 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (KJV)
Our text verses speak of the glory of God as being light. That Glory is actually the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul could not see because of being blinded by the glory of the light and he had to be led everywhere he went.
Notice in Acts 22:11, after the event of the light and falling off his horse, and being blinded by the light of the glory of God, Paul still went to the same destination, Damascus – only now for a new purpose. Even though he was blinded, he still proceeded to follow God. God expected him to continue on. He didn’t receive his eyesight again until he had gone into Damascus. There Ananias restored his sight for him.
This was Paul’s first encounter with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ and his life was changed completely. He had a new destiny. That is exactly what happens to a person when they accept the Light of the world, Jesus Christ. Everyone that does this becomes a new person with a new purpose and a new destiny. If a person continues in the same old pattern of life after making a profession of faith in Christ, they didn’t get what the Bible calls salvation. There will be a new person erupt.
I. ONCE PAUL SAW THE GLORY OF GOD HE WAS NO LONGER IN CONTROL OF HIS OWN LIFE
The Glory of God took over in Paul’s life.
A. Any Time God Reveals His Son To Man His Glory Will Be Displayed.
1. It was that same glory that was displayed when the angel came to the shepherds on the hillside and told them of the birth of the Christ Child in the manger in Bethlehem. That glory brought with it the angelic host that sang - Lu 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (KJV)
2. Isaiah told us of His glory in the Temple. Isa 6:1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.(KJV)
3. We see His glory again in Matt. 27:50-51. Jesus was on the cross making the atonement for sin - Mt 27:50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; (KJV) Man was affected with His glory – as well as was the universe.
This wasn’t just an ordinary crucifixion. This was the Son of God – the Joy of Heaven – The Lamb of God that was slain before the world was formed.
The veil in the temple was there to keep sinful man out, only the High Priest could enter after having been cleansed by the blood of the sacrifice. The priest would make the sacrifice and then make the atonement. But on that day of Calvary, there was a different sacrifice, the blood of the SACRIFICE, the Lamb of God, was paid once and for all, and the veil was rent in twain, meaning that from that point on salvation was available to all who wanted it because of that shed blood of the Lamb of God.
I love that Southern Gospel Song that says:
I’m so glad He was willing to drink His bitter cup
Although He prayed, “Father let it pass from me,”
I’m so glad He never called heaven’s Angels
From my hands pull these nails that torment me.
He could have – He could have called 72,000 angels and they would have freed Him without question. Somewhere in this scene that is not viewed by man there is the glory of God shining brightly.
B. Any Time God Saves Man His Glory Will Be Displayed.
That’s the situation in our text verse. Ac 22:11 And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus. (KJV) You know the story. Paul was on his way to Damascus to take captive all who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ – but he had an encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ on the road and during that encounter the glory of the Lord shown around about him and he was blinded with that glory. The glory didn’t shine because God knocked Paul off his horse, but because Paul met the Lord Jesus in salvation that day.
Do you recall the day you met Him. I do. I wasn’t blinded as was Paul – but I met the same Christ as did Paul. He did for me the very same thing He did for Paul. He forgave me of my sin and gave me a brand new start, and set my feet on solid ground.
C. Any Time God Calls Man To Serve Him His Glory Will Be Displayed.
Moses on the hillside and the burning bush. Moses had no intention of meeting the God of Abraham, The God of Isaac, and The God of Jacob that day as he was watching the sheep, but the glory of The Lord God Almighty was displayed in a mighty fashion. Moses saw a bush on fire and it was not consumed by the fire. From this experience Moses heard the call of God to lead the Children of Israel out of captivity. The event was so sacred by the presence of the Lord God, that Moses was instructed to remove his shoes from his feet because he was standing on Holy Ground. God’s glory was in control that day.
When God called me to the ministry that same glory was shining brightly as it was on Paul and Moses.
The glory wasn’t displayed because my name is Ivan Casteel, but because my surrender to His will glorified and honored God. I didn’t encounter a burning bush – but I did encounter the same Person Moses did.
D. Any Time God’s Name Is Exalted His Glory Will Be Displayed.
David declares God’s glory over and over - Ps 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. (KJV)
Ps 8:1 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. (KJV)
Ps 57:5 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth. (KJV) When we sing hymns of faith, and praise – He is exalted and that brings His glory upon this place.
Ps 24:7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. (KJV)
Here’s one that should get our attention: Ps 96:3 Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people. (KJV)
Any time we tell someone about the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s glory is magnified. What an opportunity for this church to declare the glory of God. Do you want to flabbergast people? Just say to them that the Lord has been glorious good to you that particular day and them tell them why He is glorious. That will blow their mind. The lady at 7/11. She will ask me how I am doing and I will say, “The Lord has been so good to me.” She looks at me kind of funny. Not knowing what to say back to me and not understanding what I am saying.
Let’s look at this verse a little different. When our building was destroyed 6 years ago God’s glory was shining brightly that night. Not because our building was blown away, but because we were witnessing an answer to our prayer about building a new building. To the entire community and state it was an F-5 tornado that took 44 lives and cost billions of dollars in destruction. To we at BHBC it was just God answering our prayer.
Ps 148:13 Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven. (KJV)
II. PAUL’S EVERY MOVE AND ACTION WAS DEPENDENT UPON THE DIRECTION OF GOD
He couldn’t even walk by himself without being led. God wants each of us to be so dependent upon Him until we can’t even operate apart from Him. 100% dependent upon Him. That brings glory to Him.
That’s where God wants us to be.
A. We Must Depend Upon The Leading Of The Spirit.
Isa 42:16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them. (KJV) This person is totally depending upon someone to guide him wherever he goes. He knows he can’t see on his own. He is blinded by the will and desire of God. When you and I allow ourselves to be in this same position, spiritually, we will have a much better life in the Lord.
Look at Vs. 17-20. Isa 42:17 They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods.
18 Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.
19 Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the LORD’S servant? (Who is the perfect mentioned here? Every born again person is perfect in that he is “complete” in Christ.
20 Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not. (KJV) (This is tunnel vision.) “Seeing many things but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.” That’s the way Paul was. He was blinded and deaf to anything and everything but the will and wish of God.
B. A Blind Person Learns To Depend Upon A Trusted Friend Or Someone To Help Them In A Lot Of Situations.
The Spirit of God is our trusted Friend. He will guide and lead us in all situations. There are things that a blind person cannot do that a seeing person can do. And the one leading us becomes our eyes for us. Therefore the need for depending upon that person.
When we are blinded to the Light Of His Glory we will not want to partake in the things of the flesh.
Listen to what the Bible says that the works of the flesh are:
Ga 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
In these three verses Paul has described a person who is filled with the fullness of the flesh.
Being blinded by the glory of the light of God will keep one from being involved with the works of the flesh. A person would be blinded by the glory of God only if they were totally committed and dedicated to God – just the fact of the glory of God being blinded would have no effect on a person if they were not submitted to that glory. The glory of God is always shinning. He doesn’t turn it on and off according to His mood swings.
III. EACH MEMBER OF BHBC MUST BE EQUALLY BLINDED BY HIS GLORY AND COMMITTED TO HIS WILL
If we will let this happen – that is to be blinded by His glory we will see some specific results:
A. We Won’t Be Able To See The Faults Of Other Members.
I have known of church situations in that one member wouldn’t speak to another member for over 30 years. Grudges, friction, selfishness. Listen to Paul’s advice on this matter. He is talking about Christian love. 1Co 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, (KJV)
Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. (KJV)
Do you know what causes most church problems and eventually church splits? This one thing right here. The lack of a forgiving – longsuffering spirit. If each of us are always blinded by the glory of God then we won’t have these issues.
Ps 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. (KJV)
B. We Won’t Be Tempted To Be Led Astray By Satan’s Lures.
1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (KJV) When we keep ourselves in a devoted mode of reading and obeying God’s Word we will experience a relationship with the Lord and we won’t nearly as vulnerable.
C. We Won’t Have A Covetous Heart – Lusting After Everything We See.
The pleasure of the world has most Christians in it clutches – and is consuming them in debt, and shallowness in the things of God.
Let me challenge each of you to keep yourself in a position to see the glory of God continually in your life. You accomplish that by a committed program of reading the Bible, and a healthy prayer life.
Keep striving to live on the higher plane – Covet the Life On The Highest Plane.
