Gtcotr/ws081623
The Bible story we are going to survey this evening will teach us 3 important principles:
1. Truth is not determined by a show of hands.
2. Some people, even good people, cause trouble everywhere they go.
3. This is not the day to die.
(Share in brief the conversion of Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus from Acts 9.)
Acts 9 NKJV
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.
• How many days? We will find out in a minute …
24 But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him.
25 Then the disciples took him by night and let himdown through the wall in a large basket.
• Saul of Tarsus left Jerusalem as an emissary of the High Priest enroute to Damascus to search out and arrest all Jews who professed Jesus as Messiah.
• He carried written authority to put these Believers in chains and drag them back to Jerusalem to be judged, jailed, tortured, and even executed.
• Saul was often the star witness for the prosecution.
Acts 26:10 “This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.
• Saul of Tarsus was not to be trusted by the Believers in Jerusalem.
• But the Born-Again, Spirit-Filled Paul the Apostle was …
• Three years after Saul of Tarsus was born again, some still didn’t believe it …
Galatians 1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
Acts 9
26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.
• I suppose Peter and James weren’t very spiritually discerning on this one.
27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
28 So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out.
29 And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him.
• Galatians 1:18 leads us to believe that Paul may not have been in Jerusalem longer than 15 days. Evidently he was a really annoying witness. These men tried to kill Paul!
30 When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus.
31 Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.
• This has always amused me a little … “Then the churches had rest …” Once Paul stopped irritating these Hellenistic Jews.
So … What have we learned this evening?
1. Truth is not determined by a show of hands.
a. Why did the people in Damascus want to kill Paul? Because they all agreed he was a menace. I bet there was a vote in there somewhere.
b. Why did the Disciples in Jerusalem not accept Paul? Because they all agreed he was not to be trusted.
c. Just because everyone around you is in agreement with your opinion does not make it true.
d. Don’t mistake opinion for truth.
2. Some people cause trouble everywhere they go.
a. Saul caused trouble for the Church when he was a sinner.
b. Paul caused trouble for the Church when he was a disciple.
c. He kept getting into trouble and getting his companions in trouble everywhere he went. Why? I don’t know.
d. I’m just reading the accounts from the Bible.
i. As Saul and as Paul, It seems almost everywhere he went, Christians kept getting beaten and jailed.
ii. Don’t imagine troublemakers are always wrong.
3. This is not the day to die.
a. As long as you can keep from dying … do!
b. There were several plots aimed at killing Paul. And, even though he was not afraid to die, he went to great lengths to avoid death every time he was given an option.
c. When it’s time, God will let you know. Until then, don’t go!
i. You’re more needed here.
ii. Take the option … this is not the time to give up.
