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Acts 9:1-19

The Persecutor is Pursued

It is a joy to be here with you all this morning.

Good morning to those of you listening online as well.

Today we will be continuing our study of Acts, and we

have made it to Chapter 9, we will be looking at Saul’s

conversion on the Road to Damascus.

My wife told me last night that she wanted to get on

that same Road to De-mask-us.

We have been getting a few visitors here online and in

person over the past few weeks, and if you are new

here we are so happy that you have joined us.

In a way we have prayed for you specifically, every

week, we ask the Lord to add to His Church, and He is

faithful to answer that prayer.

Now, those of you who are checking us out, I would

encourage you to sit and be with us for at least six

months, it takes some time to see and understand

what God us doing here in the life of the church.

Really a good thing to do, is join one of our small

groups, it is there you will develop those deeper lasting

relationships.

Here on Sunday morning, you can expect simplicity, we

are simple people, and we simply teach God’s Word

Simply.

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We come to God’s Word each week, and we go

through it verse by verse, line upon line, and precept

upon precept.

We figured God had it written this way, so this is the

way He wanted us to address it.

Imagine writing someone a letter, and them going to

the middle of it, and just reading one sentence, and

trying to build their understanding of the letter off of

that one sentence.

Well, that is how many today handle God’s Word, they

take obscure verses and build whole sermons upon

them, they do a lot of talking, but their content is far

from what God had written that verse for.

We look at God’s Word for what it was intended to

say, and then and only then do we try to find our

application.

So primarily we look at God’s purpose for inspiring the

text, then we glean our application from that.

That is an important delineation from what much of

the preaching consists of today.

You see, this approach even puts the man at the pulpit

under the Authority of God’s Word, and protects you

from hearing my favorite topics each week.

It also protects you from me trying to be the Holy Spirit

each week, and deciding what I think you need to hear.

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We simply let God’s Word speak to us as we all come

under its Authority.

So that being said, lets pray, and we will get into our

study this morning…

So at the death of Stephen we came into a new era of

Church History.

At Stephen’s death we were introduced very briefly to

a man who will now become known chiefly during this

time period.

Acts 7:58 And the witnesses laid down their clothes at

the feet of a young man named Saul.

Saul was consenting to the animalistic stoning of

Stephen, and it was in that moment that the beast

within him awoke.

Luke mentioned him one more time briefly at the

beginning of Chapter 8 and reminds us… Acts 8:1

Now Saul was consenting to his death.

At that time a great persecution arose against the

church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all

scattered throughout the regions of Judea and

Samaria, except the apostles.

And Luke then immediately gave us a detailed insight

of the fruit of this persecution, and the fact that the

Gospel was spreading, not only now to Samaria, but

also Gentiles, in Ethiopia were being impacted.

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The persecution spread the church’s reach further than

ever.

Now, as Luke brings his record back to the murderous

Saul, we will see that he was no longer content with his

campaign against the Church in Jerusalem, his

ambitions will grow now to other regions.

Saul saw Christianity as incompatible with Judaism.

If Judaism was correct, Christianity was an apostasy,

but if Christianity was true, it meant that Judaism was

obsolete.

You see Saul’s whole way of life was under threat, the

faith that he was born into, the faith that he came to

love and study throughout his life, the whole

background of this man’s life was built upon his faith,

and it was all threatened by the spread of the Gospel

of Jesus Christ.

And his own logical conclusion was that Christ was a

blasphemer and Christianity was a cult.

He could not attack Jesus Himself, because He was

supposedly dead, but Saul could go after His followers,

and he would not stop until every one of the Christians

still around were also dead and buried.

Then and only then would his beloved Judaism be safe.

But Saul will find out an important reality through his

intimidations and murders, when you come against the

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Church, you are in fact coming against a very alive

Jesus Christ, who did not stay dead, but rose again.

Understand something, Jesus prayed before His death

for the future Church, in this manner…

John 17:20-23 "I do not pray for these alone, but also

for those who will believe in Me through their word;

21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me,

and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the

world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory

which You gave Me I have given them, that they may

be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in

Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that

the world may know that You have sent Me, and have

loved them as You have loved Me.

Saul would be so impacted by this reality that Jesus

and the Church are one, this lesson he learns here at

his conversion, he would later write as the Apostle

Paul…

1 Cor. 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and

members individually.

You see whoever comes against the Church comes

against Christ Himself, as Saul will come to understand

that here.

So we pick it up now in verse 1 of Acts Chapter 9…

The Damascus Road: Saul Converted

(Acts 22:6-16; 26:12-18)

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9:1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder

against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high

priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues

of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the

Way, whether men or women, he might bring them

bound to Jerusalem.

Here we have Saul breathing threats and murder

against the Church.

The Greek word for murder is phonos which some

translations use the meaning of slaughter here.

Saul was trying to rid the world of these Jesus

followers through terrifying threats and his actions

were not in word only but in deed as well, with the

slaughter of many innocent victims.

Now, most of us think we are pretty nice people, we

may live neighborly to those around us.

We don’t hurt anyone, we are mostly honest, and we

for the most part work hard for the things we have.

But understand, none of that would be considered if

the murderous Saul came to your home, he would only

be concerned about one thing, and that one thing

would be the end of your way of life as you knew it.

If you loved Jesus, and followed Him, Saul would have

destroyed you and those you love.

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The Jewish Sanhedrin had immense authority, and not

only in Jerusalem but throughout all the Jewish

Regions.

Rome had upheld that authority for over a century.

Saul of Tarsus was wielding the full weight of this

Jewish Powerhouse, the Sanhedrin.

He was sick with power and determined at all cost to

destroy the Church not only in Jerusalem but even

those who lived in further regions under Jewish

authority.

Damascus was 150 miles from Jerusalem, about a

week’s travel for the Bloodthirsty Saul.

And Damascus was now filling up with Christians

fleeing the persecution.

Perhaps Saul orphaned many of them, even widowed

others, and as they fled his violent efforts, they looked

for a fresh start in Damascus.

Now, how terrible for them to know, that the place

this religious terrorist was heading to next, was where

they were hoping to be safe.

Saul who became Paul told Agrippa his testimony, and

this is how he described his own behavior.

Acts 26:9-11 "Indeed, I myself thought I must do many

things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10

This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I

shut up in prison, having received authority from the

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chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast

my vote against them. 11 And I punished them often

in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme;

and being exceedingly enraged against them, I

persecuted them even to foreign cities.

In the words of Kent Hughes, “He was a callous, self-

righteous, bigoted murderer set on a full scale

inquisition.”

Now, it is also interesting here how the first Christians

were described, long before the name Christian came

about, those who followed Jesus were those of the

Way.

Now this was a wonderful early name for the believers,

as Jesus Himself declared… John 14:6 Jesus said to him,

"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to

the Father except through Me.

We follow the One who declares that He is the Way.

Now, of course, He is the Truth, that is a profound

reality, Jesus is Truth.

I don’t know if you have watched the Documentary on

Netflix, the Social Dilemma, but it talks about how

Social Media, through various ways is destroying the

fabric of our society and many others at that.

But toward the end, they start talking about Truth, and

how the virtual world has created a different truth for

every human being alive, no one’s truth is the same

truth.

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I as I was watching it, I wanted to scream at the screen,

“There is an Ultimate Truth, an Absolute Truth!”

Of course it is found at Jesus, and in God’s Word.

Anyway, you want to understand why our nation is

divided, our world is divided, even your household is

divided watch that Documentary, the Social Dilemma.

I guarantee that they have many so addicted to their

agenda, that even as you learn the truth of what is

behind it all, not much is going to change in our lives.

That virtual world is a Great Delusion and a huge Ruse,

but for many their whole life is caught up in it.

The world is duped, and the answer is a hard reset, and

a revival in the Church, and for us to once again claim

to be following the Way, the Truth and the Life.

True living is not found in this false virtual world we

live in for hours at a time, Jesus gives us a Way to Truly

live.

Christians were of the Way early on, and what a

wonderful thing to be known by, as this world is

searching for a Way right now.

I will say one last thing, get those devices out of your

kids’ faces, every second they are holding one it is

stealing their soul away.

Us older generation, we can remember a day before

this virtual world, and our kids are being raised in only

a virtual world.

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They don’t know how to interact, social disorders are

higher than ever, they don’t take chances, they cannot

leave the home, they have no meaningful, tangible

relationships, and they won’t get their driver’s license

until they are in their mid to late 20’s.

Yet they will have the pride of a Great CEO of a world

renowned company.

Something has to happen, we who are of the Way have

to lead the Way in the changes that are necessary.

You are not addicted you say, how many times have

you checked your notifications just since you got in

here.

So Saul of Tarsus was on a mission to seek and destroy

those of the Way in Damascus, the mighty Persecutor.

But little did he know, at this time the Hound of

Heaven was Pursuing him, and it would be on this road

to Damascus that Saul’s life would be forever changed,

and completely rerouted.

His story is a continuous reminder for us to never

count anyone too far gone for the Grace of God to

reach.

Perhaps you have someone or someones in our life

who have heard the Word of God for years, and is as

callous as ever towards it.

They enjoy their sin and have no remorse for their

depravity.

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Maybe you have lost someone to a cult, and they have

taken up a false doctrine with Great Pride.

Understand, God can reach anyone, the scripture

declares it, and I have not only witnessed it, but I too

was a lost cause, who the Hound of Heaven hunted

down.

Something I have learned too, sometimes it is the

fiercest of disputers who God is chasing, the most vial

and blatant sinners, are the ones that God is after.

I have come to learn that they many times are in the

midst of a great internal fight against the Truths of

God’s Word.

I remember on the Jobsite, many encounters with

fierce opposition, but none were greater than a man

who we called Big Mike, Big came from the fact that he

was well over 300lbs, and he had a mighty hot temper

that no one dare try to trigger it.

Now, I never set out to trigger the man, but I had a

certain way I liked to run my crew.

Some have the philosophy about their faith that it is

between them and God, and they keep it to

themselves.

But I am of the opposite belief, our faith should be

known.

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So I played Christian radio all day, and I gathered my

crew every morning to pray for safety and wisdom for

our day.

From day one, I found that Jesus was a trigger for that

mighty hot temper.

Big Mike would be nose to nose with me in screaming

red faced how he hated religion, and how he especially

hated Jesus.

But I learned over time, that Big Mike had a huge

internal war going on inside of him.

Of course my technique was to argue with him all day,

if I am honest, I was just as bigoted and bullheaded as

he was, and I was not going to budge on my stance.

I would come home and vent to my wife, about how

God made a mistake putting this guy on my crew, and

how pigs would fly before this man ever surrendered

his life to Jesus.

All my arguments and debates were flawless, and yet

he did not budge but he got even more angry.

Jess told me one day, “why don’t you just stop talking,

let God work in his heart?”

So we got him a Bible, and I sheepishly gave it to him

at my wife’s recommendation, warning her he would

never receive it.

I instantly told him it was from Sweetpea, because I

knew he would not take it from me.

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He took it, and even began reading it, and I did what

Jess said, and I shut my mouth.

She invited him over for Thanksgiving, we found out

Big Mike lost both parents when he was a kid, and the

Grandma that raised him had just passed away.

He was angry with God, because of the hurt in his life.

And any mention of God triggered all that hurt.

When we came back to work, I gathered the crew for

prayer, and Big Mike stopped me, and he was

emotional, I thought more tragedy came upon his life,

but he said “last night in my bed I cried out to God, and

ask Jesus to forgive me and to come into my life.”

Big Mike surrendered the fight, the man I thought

could never be won to Christ, it was impossible, he had

surrendered to the Hound of Heaven, and it wasn’t

through any of my Great Arguments, but a gentle

working of the Holy Spirit, and some good old fashion

Christian Hospitality.

That is what got him in the end, you see little did he

know I spent a great deal of time preparing for an

evening of debates, I studied, got some material ready

to do battle.

But when Big Mike arrived, and Jess welcomed him

into our home and into our family evening, I saw

something on Big Mike that I had never seen prior to

that day, it was a smile.

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And although I was ready and equipped for the Battle

of the Ages, the Lord never allowed it, and it was my

wife serving him some apple pie with extra whipping

cream that did it.

So, those fierce critics of your faith, those people that

just keep you up at night, who attack you and malign

you, consider the inner battle of their heart, and they

might be much closer to Jesus than you think.

Who would have ever thought Saul of Tarsus, that

murderous, venomous Persecutor was being Pursued

himself.

Look now starting in verse 3 now…

3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and

suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4

Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to

him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"

5 And he said, "Who are You, Lord?"

Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are

persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the

goads."

6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do

You want me to do?"

Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city,

and you will be told what you must do."

7 And the men who journeyed with him stood

speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 8 Then

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Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were

opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand

and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three

days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Saul approached Damascus, “a beautiful white city on

a green plain,” at midday as Paul would later explain to

King Agrippa.

Midday was the time for the traditional Middle Eastern

nap.

But Paul’s adrenaline and treacherous drive would not

rest, and it was there on that road, that his own inner

battle would yield to the onslaught of God’s Amazing

Grace.

At the time that the sun was brightest and throwing its

own heat downward on that hot desert road, another

light appeared that the sun paled before its glory, it

was a heavenly light that burst upon Saul and it jolted

his soul.

We are told that it shined all around him, surrounded

him, Saul could not flee its power, there was nothing

for him to do but surrender and fall to the ground, as

the light pierced into his darkened soul.

Now, imagine this, the most feared man by the

Christians, the tenacious and ever driven Saul was

grounded to a complete stop.

You see, there are some men that are just

unstoppable, their tenacity and drive are just above

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average, they can keep up an incredible pace, even

those that work alongside of them have trouble

keeping up.

My first boss was like this, he rarely slept, he had high

energy all the time, he was full speed all day every day,

and it was an incredible pace, but he found incredible

success because of this pace.

I think of even our President today, like him or not like

him, he has not aged a day in that office, look at other

men who have served in that capacity and how much

they have aged from inauguration day to the next

election time, and the office wears on them.

But it is as if President Trump thrives off the pace.

He is at press conferences then at a rally, then at a

meeting, and it is pretty incredible the pace he keeps.

But some men and women were built with this

incredible continuous forward movement.

This is Saul of Tarsus’ make-up, and Satan is using it for

incredible evil, but Jesus sees something of value in

this man as well.

He will take what Satan is using for wickedness, and

Jesus will turn that full throttle man around for His

own good purposes now.

He is stopped in his tracks here, but soon, Jesus will set

loose this determined man upon the world with His

Gospel of Grace.

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Jesus needed this unrelenting spirit within him, and

Saul was just what He needed.

But first Saul needed to be humbled and broken, like a

wild stallion, he needed to be tamed and bridled under

the Spirit of Christ.

So we see first the confrontation, Jesus Himself meets

with Saul.

Not even Philip the Evangelist is sent, not any of the

Apostles, this man’s heart needed something more

intense to get his full attention and allegiance.

Jesus asks, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

This seems to be Saul’s first encounter with Jesus, his

perception of Jesus was made here on the Damascus

Road.

Paul never forgot this heavenly vision, this moment

changed everything for him.

Interesting, to Paul, Jesus was not Jesus of Nazareth,

but he referred to Him in 1 Cor. 15:47 the Lord from

heaven.

Saul had a unique view of the risen and ascended

Christ.

And this view permeated all of his teachings and

writings.

For Paul, Jesus was God, and He was God over all the

earth, even over the universe, though Jesus was once a

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Man, He is now seated at the Right Hand of God, as

God.

Also, as mentioned before, this encounter so

engrained in Paul the mystical Body of Christ, his

barbarity toward the Church, was barbarity toward the

Risen Jesus.

He never forgot this, and it permeated through his

teachings as well.

John Philips writes…“So then, one moment Saul of

Tarsus was riding high, secure in the impenetrable

armor of his iron-clad prejudices, breathing out

threatenings and slaughter. The next moment he

prostrate on the ground, blinded by such a light as

never shone on earth and listening to such a voice as

charmed the very angels of God.”

Notice how Saul quickly succumbed to Jesus, as he

instantly calls Him Lord twice in this encounter.

Saul is instantly met with the reality that Jesus is alive,

Paul would later use this encounter for his apostolic

credentials.

Remember a true Apostle is one that has seen the

Risen Lord.

Speaking of the resurrection of Jesus, and putting

himself on par with the other Apostles, he said to the

Corinthian Church, in 1 Cor. 15:7-8

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7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the

apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as

by one born out of due time.

Jesus tells Saul here, “it is hard for you to kick against

the goads.”

A goad was a stick that you would poke an ox to get

him moving.

Every now and again there would be a stubborn ox,

not wanting to budge, and he would try to kick his feet

up at the stick, which would be a pointless endeavor.

The prodder would step back, and then after the feet

hit the ground, the goad would poke that ox again.

Saul of Tarsus was kicking against that inner work of

the Holy Spirit, and it too was a pointless endeavor.

We can imagine, the goads that daily tormented his

soul were those faces of those innocents that he daily

persecuted.

Stephen with the face of an angel never left the

forefront of his mind, the courageous men and women

who with unflinching resolve stood with Jesus, even

with the greatest of threats and most brutal tactics

coming upon them.

He must have been questioning if the work that he was

doing was just and right, but the thought of him

misinterpreting his zeal only fueled his confused rage

all the more.

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It created a turmoil within him, as the genuine witness

of these martyrs penetrated his conscious.

But Saul kicked against the goads and suppressed any

doubt.

“He was oppressed by guilt” but so committed to his

cause he stayed the course.

Jesus who knows what is in every man, exposed this

fight within.

Saul relented, he was found out, and for the second

time, he calls Jesus Lord, and then asks for his new

heavenly mission.

This is true conversion, so many come to Jesus for

what they can get from Him, but a True convert in turn

asks, “Lord, what do you want me to do.”

Faith without works is dead, and Saul’s faith is

awakened to obedience.

Jesus tells Saul to continue on into Damascus, and

there in the city he will be given his next steps.

Imagine this now, the Great Persecutor, who was set

out to destroy the Christians in Damascus, he was

going to lead many out bound and restrained, and was

going to lead them to Jerusalem this way.

But Jesus reversed it all, and this powerful man is

reduced to enter the city, led by someone else’s hand,

weak, blind and powerless.

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Saul whose name struck fear into others, was now

shaking and afraid, full of despair.

His physical eyes were as dark as his lost soul.

But the last thing his eyes saw, was the Risen Lord, and

when we see Jesus clearly, our own sinful condition

becomes so clear to us.

Isaiah, after he saw the Lord sitting on His throne high

and lifted up, and the seraphim singing “Holy, Holy,

Holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His

Glory.”

He was so enamored with his God, and sickened by his

fallen nature, he declared… Isa 6:5

"Woe is me, for I am undone!

Because I am a man of unclean lips,

And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;

For my eyes have seen the King,

The Lord of hosts."

This is the natural reaction to a man or woman who

finally sees themselves in the light of God’s Glory.

Paul too would later conclude of himself in his letter to

those in Rome…

Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh)

nothing good dwells;

I get really skeptical when someone starts boasting of

their spirituality and their high marks.

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Paul went on to say… Rom. 7:24-25

24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me

from this body of death? 25 I thank God — through

Jesus Christ our Lord!

In this fleshly tent nothing good dwells.

Now, understand, if anyone had reason to boast in his

own spirituality, it was this man Saul, who would later

reveal to the Church in Philippi… Phil 3:4-9

If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the

flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the

stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of

the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6

concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning

the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But

what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss

for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for

the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my

Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things,

and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ

Paul counted his credentials in religion as rubbish or

refuse.

This man had a passion for Judaism and even sat under

Gamaliel the great rabbi, yet he counted is all as

nothing that he might gain Christ.

This encounter here with Jesus on the Damascus Road

undid in a moment all that Saul had achieved

throughout his entire life.

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The Hound of Heaven caught His man, and this man

found all he ever needed in Jesus.

And now, for three days Saul knew only darkness, his

sight completely gone.

And we can only imagine the inner thoughts of Saul, as

he assessed his whole life, and how his former religion

pointed to his new fulfilled faith.

His whole world now turned upside down, and in

silence and in darkness he began to salvage and piece

it all together, and although he was blind he began to

truly see.

As he rethought his Bible, the world was opening up

before him.

He patiently waited for the promised instructions, and

was confident that God would soon speak, and next

that Word will come, and although it will be a thrilling

encounter, and a miracle will take place, the reality of

Saul’s new mission would turn even the most stout

hearted men away.

Perhaps Saul saw it all as a way to give back what he

had taken from so many, but his destiny would entail

much suffering.

Look now as God sends his messenger…

Ananias Baptizes Saul

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10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus

named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision,

"Ananias."

And he said, "Here I am, Lord."

11 So the Lord said to him, "Arise and go to the street

called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for

one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12

And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias

coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he

might receive his sight."

God has servants everywhere, and in Damascus there

was an obedient fellow, ready to obey.

His immediate response to the vision was, “Here I am

Lord.”

Now, although he will soon fall off of the pages of this

saga and never be mentioned again, we see that God

knew exactly who he was and calls him by name…

“Ananias.”

God knew his meek faith and God gives him his

mission.

And this is not an easy one by any means, on the Street

called Straight a principle thoroughfare in Damascus,

he was to go to the house of Judas, to seek out a man,

Saul of Tarsus.

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The Lord notes that he is praying, and through a vision

of his own, he knows that a man Ananias is coming to

see him.

Now, perhaps Ananias knew many families impacted

by this man’s evils.

So we understand his caution next…

13 Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from

many about this man, how much harm he has done to

Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority

from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your

name."

The Church was there in Damascus waiting for this

man’s wrath to befall them there.

The reputation Saul had causes this man Ananias to

question God…

We often question God as though we know better than

Him, and He is so patient with us.

God gives a generous response and revelation next to

Ananias…

15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen

vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings,

and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how

many things he must suffer for My name's sake."

Saul was a chosen vessel, his whole life, unbeknownst

to him, was a preparatory school for one of the

greatest commissions anyone has ever received.

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Paul would take the World with this Gospel, he would

take Jesus’ Name before kings.

He was equipped like no other Apostle; none of them

had such immense intellectual gifts and such a great

educational background.

Paul has the stamina, the strength of purpose, once a

wild violent stallion, now tamed and now his incredible

energy had been given a direction, and such clear

vision.

He was culturally blended, he knew the Roman, Greek

and Jewish cultures.

His linguistic skills were superb, and God had specially

trained him for this great endeavor to reach all men,

first the Jews then the rest of the world.

But it will not be a glorious trek, suffering was his

promise here.

But at each beating and each brush with death, at

every imprisonment, at every betrayal and rejection,

Saul knew this was his calling.

He declared years later 2 Cor. 11:30 If I must boast, I

will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.

So, God assures Ananias he has no need to worry any

longer about Saul causing the church to suffer, from

now on Saul would do the suffering.

Ananias has no more argument, and he moves ahead

obediently…

27 | P a g e

Verses 17-19 now.

17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house;

and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the

Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you

came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and

be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18 Immediately there fell

from his eyes something like scales, and he received

his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

19 So when he had received food, he was

strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the

disciples at Damascus.

Kent Hughes says here so perfectly “The physical scales

falling to the ground mirrored Saul’s spiritual

transformation – all things had become new. The eyes

of Saul’s heart had been enlightened. The one who

persecuted Christ by hating His people now belonged

to Christ – Forever.”

The Persecutor was Pursued, and the Hound of Heaven

found His man.

The world would never be the same from this moment

on.

We see there in Damascus the brethren that were

once to be hunted down, now brought their enemy

within their ranks, Saul had a new family now.

And this is one of the evidences that God’s Word gives

us of a genuine conversion.

28 | P a g e

We are not saved and set free, this is not a catch and

release kind of fishing, we are not meant to live our

Christian life on an island, and there is no such thing as

a lone ranger Christian.

No, we are caught, and brought into this wonderful

family of God.

1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death

to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not

love his brother abides in death.

You see our Christian life is meant to be lived among

God’s People, Church is vital to our faith.

Don’t ever believe we can be alone in this journey of

faith, that is a miserable Christian existence.

We are family, through bad times through good times,

we love the brethren.

Now, I wonder if the Hound of Heaven is after any of

you this morning?

Maybe you have even been in church for a while now,

and like Saul you are adamantly religious.

Listen, religion is empty, Jesus did not die for you to

have better religion; He died to have you.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His

only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him

should not perish but have everlasting life.

29 | P a g e

He is always the Initiator in all of this, He is the

Pursuer, and He has made the first move, it is now up

to you to choose to believe on Jesus for your salvation.

No one is too far Gone for His Grace to reach, Saul of

Tarsus will forever be a testimony to this fact, you have

not done too much that you cannot be forgiven.

Come to Him this morning, there will be men up here

during this last song, come up and pray to receive

Christ as your Lord and Savior.

Let’s pray…

Now, if you are a Christian, be encouraged by Saul’s

conversion here, no one is too far gone to be reached

for Christ.

Keep praying for that prodigal, keep preaching to that

co-worker, keep loving and doing good to those who

persecute you, and don’t stop.

Please take this time to come up and pray for them, to

plead for them.