Resources Acts 9 : 1 - 25 - The Acts of the Apostles The Conversion of Saul Week 3 Come to week three ( OHP ) Mention headings .... In some way ... what we will see tonight through Saul's life, is what we have seen in the experience of the 'early church' the previous two weeks. Life changes, persecution, waiting, prayer, preaching. It is a reminder to us of what the church is ... it is people. ( enlarge ) So let's take a look at Saul's life and the changes that took place. Saul Persecutes   -   Acts 7 : 58; 8 : 3 & 9 : 1 - 2 The Church was in Danger. It was Saul's aim to completely destroy the church. He had the authority of the Sanhedrin ( Jewish religious leaders ). He had the backing of the Jewish people in general. The Roman authorities did not intervene much either. Saul's upbringing and training was of the highest order and tradition. He was a Jew; He trained under Gamaliel; He was thoroughly versed in the law and was zealous for God; His enthusiasm for God and his name was intense, fervent, fanatical; He was the son of a Pharisee; a Hebrew of Hebrews; One of the best. He was out to destroy the church - the followers of Jesus, because he thought that they were wrong about God and that Jesus was not the Son of God or the Messiah whom people were saying he was. And he sets about it .... systematically. He was there at Stephen's death - minding the clothes, giving his approval. He began going from house to house in Jerusalem dragging men and woman out of their homes and in to prison. He went to the synagogues. He imprisoned them he had them beaten. He tried to get them to renounce their faith in Jesus. He created havoc in Jerusalem. He continued to threaten them with murderous threats .... even gaining official letters giving approval for this religious cleansing to be carried out ..... and of he went to Damascus ( About 150 miles from Jerusalem ) The Church was in great danger ... but we heard last week however, that in spite of the persecution the church continued to grow ... wherever the people went, they 'gossiped' the gospel. Satan was not able to triumph way back in the garden of Eden. Satan was not able to triumph over the law or prophets. Satan was not able to triumph at the birth of Christ. He was not able to triumph at his death. He was not able to triumph as the embryonic church begun it's first steps. The truth is .... even though persecution comes .... even though danger comes .... 'the gates of hell will not prevail' ... Jesus will continue to build his church. And the hunter was soon to become the hunted. } What a wonderful change The persecutor was soon to become the persecuted. } in my life has been wrought As he was travelling to Damascus .... he met Jesus. ( Weirsbe - page 438 ) Saul Prays   -   Acts 9 : 9 - 12 Changes take place in Damascus. For three days he is blinded. He did not eat or drink .... but we know that he was praying. He had met the Lord on the road ( enlarge ) ..... ( see again Weirsbe - page 439 ) ... now he was praying. He was praying while he waited. Remember the disciples .. waiting for the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem ... what did they do ? they prayed while they waited. Here it is the same for Saul. Praying accompanies the work of God ... without it - nothing. With it - amazing things. With it - great changes take place. ( Ask again here about waiting / praying - ourselves ) Saul was praying and had received a vision, and while he was praying ... God was working in the life of Ananias - speaking to him also through a vision. Ananias makes it clear to Saul that it was Jesus who appeared to him on the road to Damascus .... and it was Jesus who had sent Ananias to him so he could see again and receive the Holy Spirit. Saul ... was a new creation. The old had gone; the new had come. Saul gets up, gets baptised, takes in some food and is renewed in strength. Challenge :- Has Jesus changed your life? Has the old gone, the new come? Are you baptised? Once again .... we come to the gospel message. ( Say what it is ) Saul Preaches   -   Acts 9 : 20 - 25 The challenge in Damascus as Saul preaches about Jesus. What does this new found faith mean for Saul? This new understanding that he has of Jesus, what does it lead to? 'At once' ... we are told, Saul began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. The people are astonished as they recognise him as the persecutor of the Christians, the one who caused havoc in Jerusalem and who had come to Damascus to do the same. Saul through his words and arguments proved that Jesus is the Christ. ( Our faith is a reasonable faith; it is a factual faith etc ) He was convinced of the fact that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the Son of God - and he let the people know. So much so, that the Jewish people turned on him and plotted to kill him. The challenge to the people of Damascus - to the Jews living there was ... Jesus was exactly who he said he was ... There response was to try and kill the messenger. What is your response to God's Word; to Jesus? ....... It didn't end there for Saul ... through out his life, wherever he went, he continued to preach freely, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. He talked and debated. Argued and reasoned, always to bring people to faith in Christ. He was a wanted man ... many times escaping death, many times arrested and beaten. But the message was preached continually. Saul who changed his name to Paul was critical in the expansion of this gospel message. Through his missionary journeys the gospel message was spread far and wide. Through the trade routes and Roman road system that was in operation, as the message was heard and as people believed, so the message was passed on. It is why you and I can be here today .... it is why we have opportunity to wait on God and pray. It is why we have opportunity to respond and say yes to the gospel message. It is why we have opportunity to go on, be baptised, share our faith and pass on the Christian message. Jesus Christ crucified Jesus Christ risen Jesus Christ coming back He is alive, He is the Son of God. He is my Saviour. He wants to be yours. How will you respond to him ? Back to top of page

Orrell Park Baptist Church

Home · About OPBC · Christianity Explained · Visitors Orrell Park Community · Church Activities · Coming Up · Resources