You Have The Outdated Version Of Me

The change that Jesus brought into Paul’s life is one of the most dramatic narratives and radical transformations of a person that has ever been recorded.

The record is that Saul whose name would be changed to Paul was born to a prominent Jewish family in Tarsus – the capital of the Roman province in what is now know in our modern day as Turkey. And we know this because his parents were prominent citizens, and Paul was a Roman citizen from birth, and it was rare for Jews to be a Roman citizen because citizenship had to be granted by a Roman government official.

Now notice that Paul himself was born somewhere in the range of 5-10 years after Jesus’ birth. [5 - Grace or God's Goodness, 10 - Testimony,] but also notice that Paul went to Jerusalem as a young man to receive training in Judaism. So, he undoubtedly heard much about Jesus and may have even heard Jesus teach somewhere along the latter portion of His earthly ministry.

Please understand that Paul was a very intelligent young man and he became a Pharisee at a very tender age. He even describes himself as being “Zealous after the Law.” He was passionate about his faith as a Jew, and he was devoted to its heritage and traditions. As we walk together and develop this message, it is imperative that we look at this man named Saul and understand who he was and now who he would become. Because after a while you will be able to hear through his testimony and know that this is a before and after story, a then and now story, and a former and latter story.

First of all He was very religious – blameless according to the Law of Moses, a Pharisee among Pharisees, he was very zealous for the faith of his fathers and absolutely convinced that he was doing the Will of God, he was Rich from Heritage – he was a Jew among Jews, born into the tribe of Benjamin, he was Well Educated –

He was trained at the feet of Gamaliel (Ga-Male-le-o), one of Israel’s greatest teachers of the day, he was ambitious, determined, a go-getter, he was motivated, he was advancing quickly up the ranks of the Pharisees and had ability, desire and talent far above his peers

However, he was full of Bitterness and Hatred. He hated anything and anyone who could be a threat to the things that he believed in, and those who would cause trouble for his people and those who opposed the teachings of the high priest and the Law of Moses. He hated those who preached and taught heresy against the Law. He was a man of loyalty – he even sought out the permission and approval of the High Priest before he acted.

Saul began this journey recorded in our text with his band of men ready for confrontation with the enemies of the Law of Moses. He rode along with his vigilante committee with the permission of the High Priest. He would do everything within his power to stop the spreading of the gospel of Jesus Christ and to arrest, beat or kill any of his followers.

And you know the story how suddenly while on this road to Damascus there was a blinding flash of light that knocked him off of his high position. And I think that this is a good place to tell you that we ought not get to high because God knows how to bring us down. The 2nd thing that we need to understand this morning is that God knows how to get our attention! No matter what we are doing.

God showed up and interrupted all of Saul’s plans

God shows up and rearrange his calendar for the rest of his life

God shot a laser beam of light out of the throne room of Heaven and knocked Saul to the ground

Suddenly all of the Education - the Plans - the Hatred - the Condemnation that had been controlling Saul was erased in one quick flash, and now Saul the accuser and the condemner became Saul the accused, and the condemned. The God of Heaven had hunted down the hunter and now the hunter has been captured by the game. He is now being preyed upon instead of being the one who did the preying.

In chapter 9 and verse 5 we see that all of a sudden a voice came from Heaven. Saul knew this was no ordinary voice, but he didn’t know the Lord and didn’t exactly recognize the voice. And when you have not been born again, and don’t have a relationship with God, you won’t know the voice of God, and you won’t know when God is speaking to you, and this is why so many people are able to do their own thing, and have their own agenda’s, and it’s all because they don’t know the voice of God.