Future Disciples Of Christ
Acts 9:1-3
Today we will conclude our series on “Disciples Of Christ” - Over the past 5 weeks we have seen False …Fearful …Fallen …Faithful & Fruitful Disciples of Christ.
• Each disciple (or follower) of Christ that we have considered thus far has been individuals who lived here on earth and followed Christ before His ascension. Today we will consider the conversion of the Apostle Paul. This event happened well after Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father. Jesus had a desire for His followers to be fruitful and to make more disciples.
He commissioned His followers to do just that – Matthew 28:19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
For those of you who are “disciples” of Christ, you did not wake up one day and think “I am going to be born again today” . But before the foundation of the world, God knew you and God had a plan for your life.
You may be here and you have not yet met the Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. Little do you know that He knows you and He may very well call your name today. This was the case for Saul of Tarsus. He was opposed to everything associated with Jesus. Saul spent his life fighting against the church during its infancy. Then one day as he was living his own life, striving for his own religious goals Jesus came to him and called his name!
Though you are not saved now, you very well may be a “Future Disciple Of Christ” Let’s look to Paul’s conversion and consider that very thought … “Future Disciples Of Christ” - There are some similarities in Saul’s story and the lives of many unbelievers today. Notice:
I. Future Disciples May Be Rebellious - v1a And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord,
Saul was not a friendly character before his conversion. Consider his own testimony of his past - Galatians 1:13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
He was not just a silent objector, he was an intense persecutor of Christ & the Church. We read where he held the coats as the Deacon Steven was stoned to death. He had no concern for the things of Christ. In fact, he was opposed to them.There are many today, in fact you may be one today that could care less about the things of Christ.
You have heard all of the religious speak. You have been taught by family & witnessed to by friends. In fact, you may even believe these things and you just don’t care!
You are “living in the moment”
You are living for yourself
You have heard the Word and rejected it
You have been convicted of your sins and you refuse to repent
You may have plans to make things right one day
You just aren’t ready yet.
That is a dangerous life to live, for you are not promised tomorrow. I have some encouragement, you may not know it yet, but Jesus may call your name before you leave this place today! You may say “not me! I don’t believe this fantasy world that you are preaching about” Paul would have said the same thing before he walked down Damascus road.
I have seen men who at one time didn’t even believe in God surrender to Christ. I have seen some who were the worst that society had to offer, be humbled at the conviction of the Holy Spirit. I have seen people who thought they had been saved for decades come to know Jesus. Great things can happen when Jesus calls your name!
Pay attention my “rebellious friend” You just may be a “Future Disciple Of Christ’ As we mover further I would like to submit to you that:
II. Future Disciples Might Be Religious - v1b 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.Saul was not your “stereotypical sinner”, he was actually a very religious man. Listen to his personal testimony of his life before Christ
Philippians 3:5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
Saul was a Jew, born in Tarsus
Trained and educated in Jerusalem under Gamaliel
Trained in the Jewish laws and customs
Saul was very zealous to honor God in everything he did
This man was not a hoodlum, he was an extremely religious Jew.
Still, that was not enough …He needed a savior.
You may have a similar upbringing.
You may have been in church you whole life
You have received quality religious training
You attend church faithfully
You give a tithe
You serve in some capacity
You read you bible & pray faithfully
You may possess all of these attributes, But like Saul there is something missing!
You don’t lack religion, YOU LACK SALVATION
Remember the very beginning of this series, We considered the life of Judas Iscariot. He was a man who knew the truth, he observed the rituals. Judas was named among the other disciples, yet he was a FALSE DISCIPLE!
You may be here and you too are a FALSE DISCIPLE, you very well may be a FUTURE DISCIPLE!
Jesus may call your name today! I praise God that Jesus is still calling disciples today. There is an encouraging fact concerning “Future Disciples” Notice:
III. Future Disciples Can Be Reached - v3 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?
Saul did not seek Jesus. He was not looking for a crutch. He was not overcome with guilt concerning his sins. He was doing what he felt was right. He set out for Damascus with the intention of bringing Christians bound back to Jerusalem. As he traveled he encountered the very Jesus that he was persecuting.
You may have plans for your life!
You may be working toward personal goals
You may be reaching toward some religious goal.
You may be attempting to “work your way into heaven’
You may even be convinced that you are truly saved.
Whatever your situation, you are not without hope. Jesus can and will come to you just as he appeared to Saul here on Damascus Road.
We addressed the fact last week that God uses us as vessels to reach out to lost man. But let us never think that the power to save is ours. We cannot save anyone. If you have the opportunity to lead someone to Christ it is simply because Jesus has already been dealing with, or he is currently dealing with them! John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him
There is a blessing in the fact that God desires more & more disciples come into the fold. The Father is “not willing that any should perish but that all come to repentance’
John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Future Disciples can be reached and when they are, we see that:
IV. Future Disciples Will Be Redeemed - v5 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.
This bold & zealous Jew who had wreaked so much havoc on the early church was humbled at the sight of Jesus. He didn’t realize exactly what was happening. He was confused and asked “Who are you, Lord?”Jesus made it clear who he was!
Saul asked for direction? “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. “
At this point Saul didn’t have all of the answers, but he was humble and obedient! Saul arose and was led him by the hand to Damascus.
He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink. The Lord sent Ananias to Saul.
Ananias laid his hands on him and said, “Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
The scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. As I mentioned, At this point Saul did not fully grasp what was happening but he surrendered to the Christ that he persecuted.
You may not have all the answers. You may be extremely confused as to what is happening to you right now. But you do know that something is happening! Maybe this is your Damascus Road! Jesus may be calling your name today! I encourage you to follow Saul’s example. HUMBLE YOURSELF AND SURRENDER TO JESUS TODAY!
On January 2, 2000, a noose was placed around the neck of seventeen-year-old young man.He killed a man Tehran on December 13 after a quarrel. The gallows were standing and a large crowd was assembled for the execution. With hands cuffed and tears streaming down his ashen face, the teenager waited for the final signal to end his short life. To his utter surprise, the victim’s father, exercised his privilege under Iran’s Islamic legal system and granted the boy forgiveness. Just seconds before being hanged, he was extended grace rather than justice. The killer’s mother collapsed under the strain and cried out, “I will never forget as long as I live how he gave me my son’s life back.” After receiving clemency, the man was ushered away from the gallows in an ambulance that was waiting to take his body to the morgue.
State-run television ran footage of the teenager repeatedly thanking the father whose son he killed. Like this young man from Iran, we are all guilty of sin and worthy of spiritual execution.
But God has “commended His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8)
This loving God is seeking Future Disciples today!
