The Power Of Humble Surrender Series

-The power of humble obedience is great because it allows us to get in step with God. Humble, loving obedience is what God wanted from Adam and Eve way back in the beginning. Disobedience and stubborn pride strip us of spiritual power. But simple trust in God and humble obedience to what He tells us to do will produce powerful results!

-TS: And that is essentially what this next point is about.

IV. Repentance Is the Proper Action towards Jesus (Acts 22:12-16)

12 "A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there. 13 He stood beside me and said, ’Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very moment I was able to see him. 14 "Then he said: ’The God of our fathers has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. 15 You will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’

-Paul was taken into Damascus, and Ananias obeyed the Lord and came and shared the good news about Jesus with him. However, there came a point where enough words had been said. There was no more need for talking about it. It was time to do something about it. “What are you waiting for, Paul? Get up, get baptized, get right with God, and call on Him for forgiveness!”

-Do you ever talk things to death? We do sometimes. It took us several months to decide to pull up our stakes and go off to seminary. Before that, we would talk all around it until we were tired of discussing it. We’d just leave it alone for awhile, but it would always pop back up. So at some point, we had to make a decision.

-When it comes to our relationship with Jesus, no decision can become your decision if you never act on what you know. Once you encounter Jesus and come to know the truth about Him, you might need a few questions answered along the way, but the proper action in response to the power and love of Jesus is to repent and make things right with Him.

-If you will do that, then you will begin to experience the life you’ve always wanted, but were too confused, too hurt, too angry, or too blind to receive. If you have never repented before God for the wrong things you’ve said and done, don’t wait. Do it today!

V. God’s Plan Is of Greater Importance than our Plans (Acts 22:17-21)

17 "When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw the Lord speaking. ’Quick!’ he said to me. ’Leave Jerusalem immediately, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ 19 "’Lord,’ I replied, ’these men know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you. 20 And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’ 21 "Then the Lord said to me, ’Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’"

-Paul apparently objected to leaving Jerusalem, being willing to stay there and preach the gospel – even if it cost him his life. However, God wanted to use Paul on a much larger scale. His background, personality, gifts, and willingness to listen & obey the Lord were all needed in order to get the message of forgiveness and grace to the Gentiles.