Isn’t it amazing how people always remember the bad things you’ve done.
Peter’s Denial not His preaching at Pentecost
David’s sin with Bathsheeba not him bringing the ark home.
Jonah running from God not his preaching
Eve’s sin as oppose to her beginnings
The World remembers the bad things that we have done, Praise God He forgive us. Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
What do we want to be remembered for?
What legacy do we want to leave behind? Not to take any credit, but to say how God has used us.
Acts 9:1-6
Let’s briefly look at Paul’s life
1) Very religious – blameless according to the Law of Moses, a Pharisee among Pharisees, very zealous for the faith of his fathers.
2) Rich Heritage – a Jew among Jews, born into the tribe of Benjamin
3) Well educated – Trained at the feet of Gamaliel, one of Israel’s greatest teachers of the day
4) Ambitious – advancing quickly up the ranks of the Pharisees and had ability, desire and talent far above his peers.
5) Full of bitterness and hatred – hated anything and anyone who could be a threat to the things that he believed, and those who would cause trouble for his people and those who opposed the teachings of the high priest and the Law of Moses. He hated those who preached and taught heresy against the Law that had led Israel for so many years.
I. He Saw the Light
Saul had set off on a mission, to stop the spread of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and arrest or kill its followers. God had other plans.
Suddenly – a blinding flash of light knocked him off his high horse.
GOD KNOWS HOW TO GET YOUR ATTENTION!
Saul encountered the Lord Jesus Christ on that Damascus road and it changed his life forever.
I can certainly say amen to that, I know each Salvation experience is different, but the end result is the same, a changed life 2 Corinthians 5:17. My life has certainly changed since I accepted Christ as my Saviour, since His Light got my attention. … Testimony - Desires changed (Carl)
Is Christ the centre of your life? Is there anything in our lives that take priorities over the Lord?
Once we accept Christ as our Saviour we are:-
• To live a certain way – Romans 12:1-2
• Treat our wives a certain way – Eph 5:25
• Bring our children up a certain way – Proverbs 22:6
• Study God’s Word – 2 Timothy 2:15
• Pray – 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Keep your eyes on the Saviour…
The snow covered the ground, and three young boys were playing in it. A man said to them, "Would you like to try to race, with the promise of a prize for the winner?"
The boys agreed, and the man told them that his race was to be different. "I will go to the other side of the field," he said, "and when I give you the signal, you will start to run. The one whose footsteps are the straightest in the snow will be the winner."
As the race commenced, the first boy began looking at his feet to see if his steps were straight. The second lad kept looking at his companions to see what they were doing; but the third boy just ran on with his eyes fixed on the man on the other side of the field.
The third boy was the winner, for his footsteps were straight in the snow. He had kept his eyes on the goal ahead of him.
We have seen the light; we have been changed by the light, keep your eyes on the “Light of the World”
II. He Heard a Voice
Saul had only ever heard one voice before; he had heard the voice of religion and of the world.
It frustrates me that people are happy the listen to the voice of the world today, they will believe a newspaper article or a history/science book, but not God’s Word!!!
Paul now hears a different voice – a voice with power and authority that shook him to the core of his soul.
This same voice had spoken the world into existence.
This same voice had called to Adam in the Garden
This same voice had spoken judgment upon Satan, the serpent and all of creation as a result of sin.
This same voice had spoken to Moses on Mt. Sinai and given the Law
This same voice had spoken to Lazarus and raised him from the dead
This same voice had raised the Window’s son at Nain.
This same voice had caused the Soldiers to fall backward in the Garden of Gathsemane
This same voice had cried out, “it is finished” as He paid the price of redemption on the cross
This same voice cries out to us today – follow me, and I will make you fishers of men
This same voice speaks to each of you – this is My will for your life, now do it
This same voice will someday say to us “Well done my good and faithful servant”
When that voice came from Heaven, Saul knew this was no ordinary voice.
People say that God does not talk today. I beg to differ; He speaks to us through His Word. How can people expect to hear His voice if they don’t read His Word? If they are not in Church listening to His Word?
God did not call me to preach when I was on the Golf course or on the Rugby pitch or in the Pub. It was through the preaching of His Word, He spoke directly to my heart.
When God called me to preach He showed me in His Word, He couldn’t have been any clearer. Romans 10:14
He will reveal His plan for you, His will for your life, what He would have you to do for Him.
Study His Word and hear His voice.
III. He Obeyed a Call
A converted cowboy put it very well when he said, "Lots of folks that would really like to do right think that serving the Lord only means shouting themselves hoarse praising His name. Now I’ll tell you how I look at that. I am working for Jim here. Now if I would do nothing but sit around the house telling what a good fellow Jim is and singing songs to him, I would not suit Jim. But when I buckle on my straps and hustle among the hills and see that Jim’s herd is all right, not suffering for water and feed, or being driven off the range and branded by cow thieves, then I am serving Jim as he wants to be served." Let that be our philosophy, too, when the temptation is to talk instead of serving the Lord.
Don’t misunderstand me; we should be in church Praising God and shouting Halleluiahs.
We get excited enough when Wales are playing, we should get excited about what God has done for us, He has saved us and given us a home in heaven…ETERNAL LIFE through Jesus Christ our Lord..
Look at what Paul says (Acts 9:6)
Is our question to God, “Lord, what would you have us to do?”
Don’t let your past stop you from serving God, We can all find an excuse to use from our past, “I was too bad..” “I was a drunk..” “I was a thief..”
Look at who God used,
Abraham was a liar, yet became the father of a great nation
Moses was a murderer, yet he led the children of Israel out of Egypt
David was a sinner, yet he shows us how to truly repent (Psalm 51)
Peter was a denier, yet preaches an awesome message and sees 3000 saved.
Paul was a persecutor, yet wrote 14 books of the NT (Incl Hebrews)
Their past did not stop God from using these men; God used them in a mighty way.
Paul is a prime example. He goes from persecuting the church to preaching to the church. God would use him to take the Gospel to the Gentiles.
It doesn’t matter what we’ve done in our past – God has forgiven us – Through Christ – and He will use us.
Are you willing? - Are you willing to hear God’s call? Are you willing to put Him first?
Are you Teachable? – Do you think you know it all already? Bible institute awesome.
Are you receptive? – Spend the time with Him, in study / prayer. Pray for God’s guidance. Often times God is speaking but no one is listening.
Are you yielded? – Are you willing to do His will no matter what the cost? If God calls you to do something, don’t delay – do it!
If you had the cure for cancer would you share it with people? If you held that cure in your hand would you let people know? We have in our hands the answer to eternal life – don’t keep it to yourself
CONCLUSION
Saul was instantly and eternally changed in the flash of light.
Where he was threatening, now he was trembling
Where he was in control, now he was under God’s control
Where he could see his future under his own control, now he was blind to the world around him and blind to the future that lay before him.
For three days Saul was blind – that gave him time to focus on the things that God wanted him to do. It gave him time to think about his life, to repent and learn to depend on God’s voice and leading in his life.
Sometimes God must lead us into a blind corner and take away our ability to do anything before we will stop long enough and listen close enough to hear His voice.
This man who had once persecuted Jesus became a great missionary and his life has touched the life of every man since that day. He is remembered for his writings and his church planting and his missionary journeys.
What do you want to be remembered for?
What do you want out of you Christian life?
What legacy do you want to leave for your children?
Will we walk in our own power and understanding?
Will we fight battles in the flesh and try to use our own strength to change the world?
Or
Will we be changed by the light, hear God’s Voice and obey His call? Will we preach the gospel and let Jesus change the world? It’s up to us!
