May 16, 2010
Morning Service

Acts 9

 

Review:

1.       We finished chapter 8 Wednesday evening by reading this:  After reading from Isa. 53, he said;

Act 8:34-40 KJVR  And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?  (35)  Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.  (36)  And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?  (37)  And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  (38)  And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.  (39)  And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.  (40)  But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

2.      This morning as we look at chapter 9 we will see one of the most dramatic conversions in the Bible.  We met him briefly at the stoning of Stephen.  Act 7:58 KJVR  And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.  And again in chapter 8;  Act 8:3 KJVR  As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.  Remember there were upward of 8,000 people that had converted to Christianity.

3.      This example is a lesson for anyone who thinks they have sinned away the grace of God.  This man himself later in life says, “Jesus Christ came into this world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.”

4.     We are talking about none other than the man God used to write two thirds of our N.T. Bible.  THE APOSTLE PAUL.   His famous salutations in his letters;  Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Let’s begin chapter 9:

 

Act 9:1-19 KJVR  And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,  (2)  And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 

• This man is obsessed with stamping out this heresy, and doing God a service.  He is so obsessed that he is actually going against what the High Priest told the council concerning Peter and John.  He said leave them alone, if this work is of man, it will cease, but if be of God, you will be fighting against God.
• Damas'cus. One of the most ancient and most important of the cities of Syria. It is situated 130 miles northeast of Jerusalem, in a plain of vast size and of extreme fertility, which lies east of the great chain of Anti-Libanus, on the edge of the desert.

(3)  And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:  (4)  And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?  (5)  And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.  (6)  And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.  (7)  And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.  (8)  And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.  (9)  And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. 

• Saul fell to the earth.  In fear, and amazement.
• Why do you persecute Me?  Christian when you are suffering persecution Jesus feels it too.  When you feel any kind of pain, or sickness, despair, loneliness, JESUS IS THERE WITH YOU.
• Who are thou Lord?  Saul recognizes divinity when It’s there.  He knew just not anyone could light up the sky, and speak to him the way this voice was.
• I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.  Pricks or goads of the heart.  You see even though Saul seemed so hard, Jesus knew that what he was doing was bothering him.  Saul thought he was doing God a service by trying to stamp out this movement.  But seeing the spirit by which all these Christians possessed, it was bothering him, and Jesus knew it.
• (6)  And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?   And here is where the Lord wants you and I to be!  He wants us on our knees asking LORD, WHAT WILL YOU HAVE ME TO DO? 
• Saul at this time is not experiencing the Love of God, but the fear of God.  He will understand later the love of God in this experience.
• Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
• Notice the pattern in these conversions so far:  God sends someone with the gospel message tell people the plan of salvation.
• NOW NOTICE:  (7)  And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
• And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.  (9)  And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
• Saul had a lot of time to think, don’t you think?  This is precious time, whether he realizes it or not.  How would you like to have 3 days of nothing but thinking about what God has for your life?  Pretty neat huh?
• AND IT SHALL BE TOLD THEE WHAT THOU MUST DO!!!!

 

(10)  And there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 

• Here is a man living close to God.  No doubt a faithful, and devout man of God.
• Again, this is an audible voice from the Lord.
• I AM HERE LORD.

(11)  And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 

• Damascus has always been a great centre for trade. Its present population is from 100,000 to 150,000. It has a delightful climate. Certain localities are shown as the site of those scriptural events which specially interest us in its history. Queen's Street, which runs straight through the city from east to west, may be the street called Straight. Act_9:11. The house of Judas and that of Ananias are shown, but little confidence can be placed in any of these traditions.
• ANANIAS, inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for, behold, he prayeth.
• Here again we can see this man Saul, dedicated to God, praying, but he doesn’t know what to pray for.  He is in a fearful praying attitude.  This is new to him, HE WILL BE TOLD WHAT TO DO.

(12)  And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. 

• The Lord has visited Saul through his prayers in a vision, and told him that Ananias is coming, and will lay hands on him, and Saul will receive his sight.  OH WHAT A MARVELOUS THING IS HAPPENING.

(13)  Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:  (14)  And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 

• Do you ever question God?  I’m sure you have, but just know that if it is from God you have nothing to worry about, just allow His will to be done in your life.
• I think of men like John the Baptist, Stephen, and we will see others, doing the will of God, and being taken out of this life early.  Just remember “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.”

(15)  But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:  (16)  For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. 

• What a tremendous calling;  we will see it all happen right here in this book of Acts, and it is not all easy, for the Lord said, “For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.” 

(17)  And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.  (18)  And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.  (19)  And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

• Saul was awaiting anxiously the coming of Ananias he was ready to do whatever would be required of him.
• The simplicity of the Gospel, Repent, be baptized, and wash away thy sins, and arise to walk in the newness of life, filled with the Spirit of God.
• WE WILL WATCH WITH AMAZEMENT HOW GOD USES THIS APOSTLE IN THE COMING DAYS OF OUR STUDY.         ALMIGHTY GOD HELP US TO BE A YIELDED VESSELL TO YOU.  AMEN.