Gtcotr/ss082122
The
Apostle Paul was an Israelite who was born a citizen of Rome in the city of
Tarsus in Cilicia, which was located in the South-Central region of what is now
the country of Turkey, not far from the Mediterranean Sea.
·
He
was born in about the year AD5.
·
At
birth he was given the name of Saul, a common Israelite name.
·
It
is evident his parents practiced Judaism and were somewhat influential in the
Jewish circles at Jerusalem.
·
We
see this in the fact that Saul of Tarsus, as he was known, was accepted to study
in Jerusalem under Gamaliel who was one of the most well-known Jewish scholars
of the day.
o Saul most likely moved
to Jerusalem and began his formal education as a teacher and prosecutor of the
Jewish Law in about the year AD16, just prior to his 12th birthday.
o He studied and served in
Jerusalem for perhaps 12 years.
·
Saul
was a 25-year-old educated Pharisee and protector of the Jewish Law when Jesus
of Nazareth was sentenced to die for blasphemy, and crucified on a cross at
Golgotha in what I believe to be the year AD30.
o We aren’t told if Saul
was present in Jerusalem or serving the High Priest in some capacity in another
city during that pivotal Passover.
o It seems reasonable to
me that if he had been present at the crucifixion or was involved in any part
of those proceedings, he would have written something about that moment.
However, that specific time in his life remains a mystery.
·
We
do however see Saul of Tarsus present and directly involved in the early
persecution of the followers of Jesus just afterwards.
o We are introduced to
Saul of Tarsus in about the year AD31, one year after the Church was birthed at
Pentecost. He was evidently a member and leader of one of the more radical
factions of the Pharisees, (Philippians 3:4-6; Acts 6;7;8;&9).
o He was present and he
consented to the stoning of Stephen in about AD32.
o At this time Saul
would have been only 27 years old.
·
Saul
of Tarsus vehemently pursued what he believed was the primary calling of God on
his life for another 3 to 4 years afterwards.
·
Then,
at the height of his career as a personal emissary who was deputized to act on
behalf of the High Priest, Saul of Tarsus was on his way to Damascus and had a
life changing encounter with Jesus.
· No one expected this … not his friends, not his enemies, and least of all him!
The Holy Spirit knows when you’re ready for change even when you don’t.
Saul
of Tarsus was more ready to change than anyone imagined.
·
It
shocked both him and the Church.
·
I
wonder if the so-called Believers in the Church had been praying for God to
save Saul?
o Maybe … maybe not … but the truth is:
God has a plan far beyond our prayers.
·
He
has Angels on assignment working all around us without notice.
·
And
He also included men and women in His plan for Saul and they didn’t know it
either.
o One such man was named
Ananias …
o Let’s read
Acts 9 NKJV
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.
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 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.
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.
20 Immediately he preached
the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.
21 Then all who heard were
amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name
in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them
bound to the chief priests?”
22 But Saul increased all the
more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that
this Jesus is the Christ.
23 ¶ Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him.
You know, it sure can make your ungodly friends real upset when you decide to change. However …
One word from heaven changes everything.
·
Whether
it comes from the thin air of heaven
· Or if it comes from a messenger sent by God to speak directly to you.
God knows your name and He knows exactly where you are in life. He also knows where everyone else is in life and who is ready for a life change. So many people are standing on the edge, ready for something no one expects to happen.
People all over the world are being saved today and neither their friends nor their enemies imagined it would happen. Lives are changing today because of the messages and the messengers of God.
You might be one of those people hearing a life changing message from God today. Perhaps you are hearing a word from heaven right now and seeing the light of Jesus, even if no one else around you is hearing a thing.
This is your time! This is for you!
Stop letting your friends, you education, your employment, or your own personal past keep you from the dramatic life change God has for you.
You
might be a Saul or maybe you’re an Ananias. Both of these people had a life
change on a day they did not expect.
·
Say
what Saul of Tarsus said: “Lord, what do you want me to do?”
·
Do
what Ananias did: “Arise and invest.” Befriend people you never imagined would
change.
o Maybe it’s not them
that needs to change anymore … maybe it’s you now.
·
The
change Ananias needed was his willingness to let others change.
o Let’s let God work on
others while we work on ourselves.
· Note: Both Saul and Ananias were first told by God to “Arise and go”.
Paul was martyred for Jesus by Nero in about AD67. He was 62 years old. He lived half of his life pursuing his plan for his life and half pursuing God’s plan for his life. Both Paul and Ananias, along with all the others Paul encountered teach us that:
1. The Holy Spirit knows when you’re ready for change, even when you don’t.
2. God has a plan far beyond our prayers.
3. One word from heaven changes everything.
