Sermon Notes

July 14, 2024

Call Waiting

Acts 9:1-20

In our culture, the word “call” is used in a wide variety of ways. In church circles, the list isn’t much shorter for how we use that word in different ways to describe different things. Often it is used to describe a spiritual experience without really being clear about what we mean. It has come to mean a lot of different things. When I talk about a call in my life or yours, I am referring to a life-altering impression from God that gives direction for moving forward in life — walking in fellowship with Him.

The beginning of the book of Acts talks about the early church and how things were progressing. A man named Stephen was stoned to death in chapter 7. At the beginning of chapter 8, the text says great persecution had arisen against the church in Jerusalem and the church there scattered throughout the region.

A man named Saul was introduced to us during the account of Stephen’s stoning. He was a devout Jew with Roman citizenship. He grew up studying the Hebrew Scriptures, Jewish customs, and the Law under one of the most famous Jewish teachers (Gamaliel; Acts 22:3). He was a Pharisee and someone who was granted permission to hunt down any former Jews who had started following Jesus. Plainly, he was a very respected Jewish religious leader who was feared by believers in Christ because of his authority to arrest them and punish them. Later, He will become more commonly known as Paul (Acts 13:9).

Acts 9:1-9 (ESV)

“But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 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. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 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.” And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Encountering Jesus changes everything! (vv. 1-9)

If you claim to have met Jesus and confessed Him as your Lord and Savior, then your life must be completely different than what it was before.

Saul is pursuing the church for persecution – breathing “threats and murder” to them. He gets letters from the high priest in Jerusalem so that he can go 135 miles away to Damascus to bring believers in Jesus back to Jerusalem to punish them. Along the way to Damascus, Jesus encounters Saul.

Jesus said to Saul in verses 4 and 5, “Saul, why are you persecuting ME…” Persecution of the church is really persecution of Jesus – that is how He views it! The church is not a building or just a group of people. The church is part of Jesus!

Saul understood what was being said here as later in his letters to the churches of Ephesus and Colossae (cf. Eph 5:23; Col 1:17-18), he (Saul/Paul) identifies Jesus as the head of the church. There can be no separation between loving Jesus and being committed to His church. The church is Jesus’ bride. You can’t love Jesus and hate His bride.

Marriage is a beautiful picture of the inseparable union we have with Jesus as individuals through salvation. Corporately it is the inseparable union we have with Jesus as the head of the church. There are many people in our culture and in our own communities that say they love Jesus but hate the church, or they’re only flippantly involved in the church. Scripture says believers in Jesus should be involved in a local church to serve and be served. You need to join and get involved in the ministry of the church. Living life through the church is one of the major ways your encounter with Jesus will help change and shape your life.

Later in the book of Acts (chapters 22 and 26) Paul shares this encounter with Jesus a few other times in. In chapter 26 he shares something else Jesus said during their encounter. Here is what is said, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” (ESV) A goad is a sharp stick used to prod oxen along. You would poke them in the hind quarters or legs, and they would kick against them.

Jesus had been prodding Saul and Saul was kicking against Him. He was resisting Jesus’ leading in his life. At times, we have questions we can’t settle in our life regarding Jesus. Sometimes these questions we have hurt and make us uncomfortable, so we kick against them. We all avoid the things we aren’t comfortable with. God will make things clearer in His timing. He desires an intimate relationship with you through Jesus and will draw you closer to Him through His prodding.
He will make His calling and leading in life clear as you continue to draw closer to Him.

So, Jesus gets Saul’s attention, and Saul falls to the ground in the presence of Jesus. (v. 4) Jesus makes it clear who He is. Those that were with Saul couldn’t see anything or understand what they were hearing. When you encounter Jesus in your life, it won’t always make sense to those around you. (vv. 7; cf. 22:7; 26:14)

We are to be obedient to Jesus regardless of what others around us say, think, or do. Our obedience to Jesus is never to be contingent upon someone else’s obedience. Not always does God’s calling on our life doesn’t always make sense to those around us. When we are walking with the Lord, exploring how He is prodding us, we know that He will faithfully lead us.

Saul stands up, now blinded, and is led the rest of the way to Damascus where he remains for three days seeking the Lord – not eating, drinking, or having his sight restored. (v. 9)

Acts 9:10-16 (ESV)

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.” 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, 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.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 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. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

In Christ, our past does not define our future. (vv. 10-16)

Ananias is instructed by the Lord to go find Saul at a very specific location. And, like many of us would, he objects a little because he’s heard of the things that Saul has done to the believers in Jerusalem and how he has pursued them to Damascus to take them back. How often do we refuse to engage with people whom we judge by our standards? We look at people and judge them based on their past, but none of us are perfect! When we have surrendered our life to Christ, He defines our future.

Outside of Christ, none of us would want anything to do with Saul. Ananias didn’t either! Saul’s conversion rocked Ananias’ world. That is the beauty of the work of Christ! No matter who we are, we are reminded that we too were once like the wretched Saul (Rom 3:23; 1 Cor 6:9-11; Eph 2:1-3; 1 Jn 1:10). When we turn to Christ, his amazing grace covers our sins; past, present, and future. Jesus saved Saul, the murderer, and He can save you, too!

In verse 15, Ananias is told, “Go, for he (Saul) is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.” Saul was chosen by God to stand before Gentiles and kings and Israel! God took an enemy of the church and would put him before kings and others with the message of salvation for the world! God is the One who determines whom He will use for His purposes!

Acts 9:17
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.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples in Damascus. And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”

Obedience is evidence of our faith and trust in Jesus. (vv.17-20)

Ananias was chosen by God to go to Saul and Ananias obeyed. Ananias had so much incentive not to obey what the Lord commanded, but he did anyway. Ananias was obedient because of his faith and trust in Jesus.

Verse 18 says when Saul’s eyes were opened, he got up and was baptized. Baptism is another thing of obedience. Baptism is commanded by Jesus to proclaim the new relationship someone has with Him. Saul was obedient because of his new faith and trust in Jesus. He was also obedient in doing what the Lord had called Him do — proclaim Jesus as the Messiah in the synagogues. God has a calling on each of our lives, regardless of our circumstances. Some of us already know what that is and are living it out. Keep your guard up to make sure you continue following Him. Some of us are discontented and we don’t know why or what God is calling us to. Keep seeking the Lord – He will make things clear in His timing. Others of us are kicking against the goads. We know what is expected, yet we are fighting it because of our pride and selfishness, but there is a “call” waiting, and you have a responsibility to answer that call.

When we encounter Jesus, everything changes: our priorities, our behavior, our desires. When we are living in relationship with Jesus, He defines our next steps. As we see those next steps become clearer, obedience is the only right response.

How is the Holy Spirit working in your heart today?

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Sermon Notes

Call Waiting

Acts 9:1-20

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