“Friendships – the way to Thrive Spiritually”
Acts 9:10-19
What is it that helps you survive and thrive spiritually in a world that is not friendly to Christians? Most of us would have to answer: Family and friends. Our family and friends have been our primary encouragers to survive spiritually. For many your family and friends are found in the life and ministry of the local church.
Do you remember the name Dirk Been? If not his name, you most likely know his story. Dirk grew up in a strong Christian family on a dairy farm in Wisconsin. As a boy he had aspirations of being an actor. When he went off to a Christian liberal arts college in Seattle, Dirk began to take his faith seriously. In addition to his classes, he began to volunteer in urban ministry outreach projects. His natural athletic ability resulted in his being chosen captain of the Seattle Pacific basketball team. Following graduation, Dirk accepted an invitation to join the staff of Interbay Covenant Church, where he served as youth pastor. In the fall of 1999, Dirk sensed the Lord closing the door to his position at the church. He knew that he had a call on his life to be “in ministry,” but he wasn’t sure how it would all pan out. As Thanksgiving approached, he decided to drive home to spend the holiday with his folks before traveling the country in search of his next ministry assignment.
Upon arriving on the family farm north of Madison, Dirk made a devastating discovery. Somewhere between Washington and Wisconsin, his ATM card had been stolen. His life savings were wiped out. As he sat around the family Thanksgiving table passing the turkey and dressing, Dirk’s attitude wasn’t as sweet as his mom’s candied yams. Just what did the Lord have in mind? The money he’d planned to use to set out on his nationwide trip was gone. He had no choice but to hang out at his folk’s house and help with the chores.
One night after supper, Dirk watched the news with his dad. He became curious about a reality TV show that would be filmed on location in Borneo. Interested would-be contestants were encouraged to apply. While he nibbled on leftover turkey, the passion inside Dirk that had been caged since his performances in high school musicals began to stir. The next day, instead of doing his chores, Dirk made an audition video and sent it to Hollywood. After a meaningful college experience and a fruitful youth ministry, could this be the next adventure the Lord had in store for him? As he reflected on the seemingly unrelated ingredients in his twenty-four years of life, Dirk felt like a human kettle of Mulligan stew. Yet, somehow he found it easy not to worry. Continuing to do chores on his dad’s farm, the truth of Romans 8:28 buoyed him with confidence. God was in the process of stirring together the events in Dirk’s life in order to accomplish his plan. Within six weeks, Dirk received word that he’d been chosen to be one of the sixteen castaways on the hit TV series Survivor.
And you probably remember what happened next. If you were among the 26 million viewers who watched Survivor each Wednesday night that summer (I wasn’t one of the viewers), you know that Dirk made a name for himself . . . and the Lord. No, he didn’t walk away with the million dollars, being the lone survivor. In fact, he was voted off the island after only 15 days. But Dirk Been, the vocal Bible-toting farmer, used the platform of a network television show to share his faith. To this day, Dirk continues to be sought out as a speaker for churches and youth groups. And when he gives his testimony, he is quick to acknowledge how the Lord brought about a divine detour in his life that he wouldn’t trade for anything. He believed it was all part of God’s sovereign plan for his life.
The truth is Dirk Been was more than a survivor. He learned firsthand how to thrive spiritually by trusting God and guarding his heart long before he was voted off the island. He learned it at his parent’s farm in Wisconsin when he thought his future had been shipwrecked. He discovered the secrets of thriving spiritually.
Acts chapter 9:1 “Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.”
Acts 9 records how Saul an enemy of the church became Paul a friend of the Church.
Saul started out as a radical revolutionary – a terrorist to the Christian Community. Saul was enemy number one on the Jerusalem Wanted List. Saul was the Bin Laden of his day. Saul was the leader of the stoning of Stephen in Acts chapter 7.
What do we know about Saul? He was born in Tarsus, a Greek speaking city. Paul knew Greek, but he also could speak Hebrew and Aramaic was his first language. Paul was educated under Gamaliel the chief leader of the Pharisees. Paul believed that no one would be acceptable to God without first becoming a Jew and obeying the Jewish law.
Acts 9 Paul was heading for Damascus seeking Jewish believers that had traveled to Damascus from Jerusalem. He was going to
Damascus to arrest Jews that had turned from Jewish traditions to become followers of Jesus. Paul was convinced that he was doing God’s will and serving God. To him Jesus was an imposter and blasphemer.
As Saul neared Damascus suddenly a blinding light flashed around him as bright as the sun. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him: “Saul, Saul, who do you persecute me.” “Who are you Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”
Saul learned that in persecuting the church he was persecuting Christ the Head of the Church.
The risen Lord Jesus instructed Saul to get up and go into the city and wait there until he received further instructions.
Saul got up from the ground and opened his eyes he could see nothing. He was blind. His traveling companions led his by the hand into the city and there he stayed for three days with nothing to eat or drink.
In that encounter Saul experienced a transformation - A transformation of his world-view. Jesus was not his enemy. Jesus was his friend. I’m sure Saul was surprised that Jesus loved him so much that he spoke to him in person. From personal experience Saul knew that Jesus was a friend of people living in sin and rebellion. Saul could have sung as we sang this morning: “What a Friend We Have in Jesus, all our sins and grief’s to bear.”
Saul made two commitments: First to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Jesus was indeed his long awaited Messiah. Second, Saul would make a commitment to the Church - a Community of Believers. Saul found Jesus to be his friend and the church to be a community of friends.
The way Stephen died no doubt had a tremendous impact on Saul. As Stephen was being stoned to death Stephen prayed as he looked toward Heaven: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” Acts 7:60
For most people it takes several encounters from Christians before the person says, “Yes” to become a follower of Jesus. Jesus never gives up. He may use a mother or a father, an aunt or uncle, grandparent or friend to encourage a person to become a Christian.
After a person becomes a follower of Jesus he/she needs a lot of encouragement to survive and thrive spiritually.
For Saul, God used a godly disciple, Ananias to encourage Saul now a new person in Christ. Ananias was having his time of prayer and Jesus called to him in a vision. The risen Lord gave specific instructions for Ananias:
Identified the person: Saul of Tarsus
The Location: Judas’ house on straight street
The person’s activity: He would also be praying
Changed Person God changed his heart and life
Mission Lay his hands on Saul and heal him of his blindness
What do you suppose the normal reaction of Ananias would be? How would you feel if God spoke to you when you were visiting in Afganistan on a business trip? In a vision God spoke to you and revealed to you the secret location of Bin Laden. He was struck blind by God and was a new person in Christ. Go and pray for him that he might receive his sight. How would you respond? “Who me? Why me? Isn’t there a Christian in Special Forces that you want to go?”
The Lord spoke to Ananias: “Go! This man is a chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings, before the people of Israel.” 9:15-16
Ananias obeyed and went to the house and found Saul and placed his hands on his head and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here- has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized.”
Saul the terrible became Paul the tender hearted and humble believer. Ananias obeyed God and took the initiative and offered friendship to Saul
Saul spent several days in Damascus and taught in the synagogues that Jesus was the Messiah. Just as Saul had formerly put his energies and passion in persecuting the church he now gave his all to serving the risen Lord.
Several of the Jews in Damascus felt Saul was a traitor to their cause and conspired to kill him. Saul learned of their plan and had some friends lower him over the wall at night in a basket.
He made his way to Jerusalem and tried to join the disciples there, but they were afraid and didn’t believe his story. They may have thought that he wanted to infiltrate their group and later arrest them. Acts 9:27, Barnabas becomes a real friend and became Saul’s sponsor to the disciples. He took Saul to the disciples and told them his conversion story how the risen Lord had appeared to him and how Saul was boldly preaching to all he could about the risen Lord.
Jesus was a friend and Savior to Saul. Ananias and then Barnabas became friends and encouragers to Saul. When Saul started out on his missionary journeys and Barnabas went along as part of the team. As a missionary Saul name was changed to Paul. Saul was the terrorist and threat to the Christian Community, Paul the Apostle was the missionary and crusader for Christ throughout the world.
A just the right time a friend can make a big difference in your life and your future.
Jackie Robinson was the first black to play major league baseball. Breaking baseball’s color barrier, he faced jeering crowds in every stadium. While playing one day in his home stadium in Brooklyn, he committed an error. The fans began to ridicule him. He stood at second base, humiliated, while the fans jeered. Then, shortstop Pee Wee Reese came over and stood next to him. He put his arm around Jackie Robinson and faced the crowd. The fans grew quiet. Robinson later said that arm around his shoulder saved his career.
What is a friend? Friends are people with whom you dare to be yourself. They ask you to put on nothing, only to be what you are. They do not want you to be better or worse. You do not have to be on your guard. You can say what you think, as long as it is genuinely you. Friends understand those contradictions in your nature that lead others to misjudge you. They understand. You do not have to be careful. Best of all, you can keep still with them. It makes no matter. They like you. They are like fire that purges to the bone. They understand. You can weep with them, sing with them, laugh with them, pray with them. Through it all--and underneath--they see, know, and love you.
A small boy defined a friend as "Someone who knows all about you and likes you just the same."
According to a recent poll only about ten percent of American males say they have a good friend.
Everyone both male and female needs someone to call as friend: Someone who will take time to listen and accept you in good time and in bad times. You appreciate someone you can be honest with and know they will still like you.
Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times…”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 describes the value of a friend: “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
Friendships go a long way in helping you to survive the challenges that come you way in the normal routine of life.
I believe it is because we place such an emphasis on doing, producing, and having that we have very little time and energy left for developing relationships. We’d rather have things than people. Actually, the Bible predicts this is how it will be in the end of times. Revelation 18:11-13 describes the economy of Babylon, that quintessential city of sin. And it lists in order of priority the things her people value most. Gold is first on her list. Then follow such things as silver, linen, jewels, oil, and grain. And would you believe people are last on the list? Revelation 21:1-21 describes the kingdom of God. And there, the economic priorities are exactly the opposite. People are mentioned first. And gold is mentioned last. It is used to pave the streets.
This morning we have looked at the conversion and calling of Saul – known as the Apostle Paul. Jesus was a special friend to Paul. Paul had others that encouraged him – Ananian and Barnabas.
Jesus wants to be your friend. Jesus uses many ways to show you friendship. Jesus uses people to communicate friendship. You find friendship in the Body of Believers.
A vital questions is: what kind of friends does Jesus have in us? Are we friends or are we just casual acquaintances? Do we nourish this relationship by interacting with his words? Do we sustain it through prayer, silent or spoken? Are we there for him the way he is and always will be for us? "What a friend we have in Jesus, all our cares and griefs to bear." Do we share the griefs that weighed upon him? Do we share the imperatives that sent him into a ministry of compassion and conviction?
Jesus wants to be your friend more than just an acquaintance.
The gospel writers can introduce us to Jesus of Nazareth. Whether or not we just remain nodding acquaintances or dependable friends is up to us.
Jesus said in John 15:13-14: “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.”
Commitment:
Trust Jesus as your friend today?
Become an encourager and friend to people around you?
Find someone needing a friend and take the initiative and become a friend and encourage the person to get to know Jesus.
