"What Wilt Thou Have Me To Do?"

Acts 9:1-9

"What wilt thou have me to do" in 99?

In Acts chapter 9 we have the miracle of Saul’s conversion. Paul’s conversion was perhaps the greatest event in church history after the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Note his deadly enmity against the church (1a). Then I observe his driving energy against the church. Bitterly determine to weak vengeance on the believers. He was as an angry animal whose very breath was dangerous. Some have said that Paul’s madness and obsession to destroy Christianity was driven by a desire to gain favor with the authorities. Paul was the fierce enemy of the church. However on the road to Damascus, Paul had a forceful encounter that changed his life forever. There was the light from heaven and the Lord from heaven that Paul that left an impact upon him. He was never the same again.

Verse 6 presents Paul as he puts the Lord on the throne of his heart. "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" The Lord answered him and told him to arise and go into the city of Damascus and more directions would follow. "Lord. what wilt thou have me to do" was not just the response of Paul’s heart on the road to Damascus but it was constantly the heart throb of Paul. Now, I know that the Lord has a perfect will for every born again child of God, and many of the specific things in that will I do not know. However, there are some general things that I believe God wants us all to do in 1999. What would the Lord have us to do in 1999?

I. He would have us to GROW

We have a duty with regards to the Scriptures.

I Peter 2:1,2

Word is indispensable for salvation (Romans 10:17)

sanctification (John 17:10)

Word is needed to conceive

cleanse

complete

Must grow in the Word of God.

How is physical health maintained?

A. Avoidance of that which is harmful

negative) MUST lay aside certain things that would hinder our appetite for the Word of God.

"malice"-- ill will towards. Vicious nature which is bent on doing harm to others.

"guile" -- craftiness

"hypocrisy" -- deception in putting on a front

"envies" -- resentful begrudging of the blessings or success that someone else has

"evil speaking" -- speaking against another person by slander or defaming of character

SIN IN THE LIFE DESTROYS ONE’S APPETITE FOR THE WORD OF GOD.

B. Assimilating of that which is useful

(positive)

When children are sick, they just don’t eat. When a Christian is spiritually sick, they have little or no appetite for the eternal Word of God. A spiritually healthy Christian is a hungry Christian!

See II Peter 3:18. It is impossible to maintain a spiritual status quo, if you don’t grow, you will retrogress. To grow their must be adequate nourishment, and spiritual nourishment is found only in the Word of God.

II. He would have us to GO

A. Mark 5:19

B. Luke 14:23

C. Mark 16:15

GO.....

Why?

Where?

What?

Psalm 126:6 "He that goeth forth and weepeth bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."

III. He would have us to GLOW

Matthew 5:14-16

A light can do many things. It shines in the darkness. It may guide as it does on the runway of an airport. It also welcomes (Luke 8:16). Most of us are familiar with the advertisement of Motel 8 that says we will leave the light on.

God has saved us to shine for him. Lights are lit that something else may be seen by them. God wants us to show men Christ in our lives. The world always takes its conception of Christianity from the people it comes in contact with.

Our presence and influence in every walk of life should be invaluable in helping souls to live. The words of Jesus were not only a compliment, but they also constitute a challenge.

Men do not light a lamp and put it under a bushel. The bushel is a unit of measure used in business. Christians are not to allow the claims of business to douse their witness for Him,

but rather we are to use our business as a means of sharing the Saviour with others. Men put a lamp on a stand so that it will give light to all in the house.

Oh, that this year our lives would shine so that men could see the Father’s redeeming and transforming power. Oh, that this year men could see in our lives the redemptive and transforming grace of God in our lives.

Philippains 2:15. What a faint light the world receives from most Christians.

IV. He would have us to SOW

Since there will be no salvation apart from the Word of God that the Holy Spirit uses, God would have us to SOW the Word this year. See Luke 8: 4-8. Our task is to sow and leave the increase with God.