Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today we continue our journey at the 3rd Sunday of Easter. In this Season we are looking at the transformation that happened in the early church as we study the "Acts of the Apostles" or "Acts of the Holy Spirit." Today we are looking at the Conversion and Transformation of the Apostle Paul from Saul the persecutor of the Church to the blind, humbled, and then champion of Christ's Resurrection. How did he change so much? He met the RISEN Christ on the road to Damascus. Again this is a historical fact from after Pentecost and not during the 50 days following Easter or the 40 days during which Jesus teaches and spends time with HIS disciples. In our Gospel lesson we hear of HIS reinstatement of Peter, three questions and answers to wipe out the three denials of Christ on that Thursday night. Again these are extremely important because without the blessing of the "12" Paul's transformation would never have impacted the world as it did.
My prayer for this Easter Season is to see a heart, mind, action and perspective change in us as Christ followers. It has always amazed me how the early church had such a profound impact on the world as we hear in Acts 17: 6 "And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also!" What was the reason for this impact? It is obvious: The Resurrection of the Christ, our Lord and Savior Jesus! How could Peter and the others not testify to the truth, even under extreme torture, that Christ had Risen when they spent this time with HIM the 40 days after HIS Resurrection. We remember that they were given the Holy Spirit on the night of the Resurrection and then they were commissioned on the way to Jesus' Ascension. It is when the Holy Spirit has control of HIS Church and the Apostles at Pentecost that the growth happens. They are bold to say in our lesson last week "we must serve God rather than men!" They KNOW that Jesus is ALIVE and therefore we have the gift of eternal life as baptized believers, we have the Holy Spirit, we have the forgiveness of sins and the sanctification that the Spirit brings. We should have the BOLDNESS to do what the Lord says and trust in HIM to keep HIS promises!
Our example today is from Acts 9:
9 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened.
For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
The example I would like to be is Ananias! Can you imagine how hard it was for him? He even argues in a minor way with the Lord, questioning HIM about Saul. I love the willingness he has when he is told to "GO!"
I find this a great encouragement because I have often been nervous about sharing with people that I have heard things about or have given me the impression that they are NOT interested. I do believe that as we are open to listening to the Holy Spirit we will find "people of peace" that are being prepared by the Holy Spirit who calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies. There are many people out there who seem to us like Saul did to Ananias. We are scared to share our faith with them. Yet the Lord wants us to say "Here I am LORD" as Ananias and share. Think about how the Church would look, or not look, if no one in Damascus would do what Ananias did? I believe the Lord Jesus would have made it happen as HE did by appearing on the Road to Saul but think about what it was like for Ananias to experience Saul having the scales fall from his eyes, being Baptized and FILLED with the HOLY SPIRIT to go to the Jews in Damascus and CONFESS that CHRIST HAS RISEN! HE HAS RISEN INDEED! HALLELUJAH! They were shocked and I truly believe that if we lived a Resurrection people who know that Christ Risen is proof of HIS Victory over Sin, Death and the Devil, we would have a different perspective, expectations and life! We are Covenant people who have our identity as Children of the LIVING God and therefore are obedient because of who we are and we live as KINGDOM people because we have the AUTHORITY given by our Risen Lord and the POWER of the Holy Spirit to do what HE SAYS!
May we be Resurrection people who live in the Covenant and the Kingdom being the change agents the LORD desires us to be. Not just saying: "Christ has RISEN! He has RISEN INDEED! Hallelujah!" but living it!
Look forward to worshiping our RISEN Lord with you!
Love,
Pastor Bryan
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