SALVATION ON THE DAMASCUS ROAD
Acts 9:10-20
YOUR ROLE
IN MAKING DISCIPLES
V:10 In
Damascus, there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a
vision, "Ananias!, Yes, Lord," he answered.
11 The Lord
told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from
Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named
Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."
A. Every Christian has a starting point
in Christ. We have that first
Moment when our eyes are open to the glory of the Lord.
1. Saul, later to be called Paul had his
turning point on the road
To Damascus.
2. Being a zealous Pharisee, he was
headed there with letters from
From the high priest to bound
anyone practicing the Christian faith.
Acts 9:3-6
As he neared Damascus on
his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the
ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute
me?"
5 "Who are you,
Lord?" Saul asked.
"I am Jesus, whom
you are persecuting," he replied. 6 "Now get up and go into the city,
and you will be told what you must do."
3. It is my belief that every believer
is prepared by God to be on the
Mission field long before
they ever thought about Christ.
Saul a Roman citizen and
a Jew was born in Tarsus and trained
In the law by one of the
best teachers.
Acts 22:2-4
Then Paul said: 3 "I
am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under
Gamaliel, I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as
zealous for God as any of you are today.
4. Saul was trained in the law by the
interpretation of Jewish
Tradition. His training
in the law gave him knowledge of
God but lacked the
spiritual power of God.
5. Saul knew God but not the rightness
of God. According to
Saul’s training, the Law
was a tool of judgment but not a
document of love and
compassion.
To him, the law was a
document of destruction but
Not a document of
redemption.
6. Saul’s experience on the road to
Damascus open his eyes
To the love of Christ, he
had persecuted.
LIFE EXPERIENCES
USED BY GOD
B. God uses experiences and people to
draw us to himself.
1. Since we were predestined before the
foundation of the
Earth, God leaves nothing
to chance in our molding to
The Christian faith.
2. From birth Saul was trained to be the
Paul we know as the
As the humble servant of
Jesus Christ and the champion of
Gospel.
3. God joins people together for a
season and a reason for
His glory.
4. Both Saul and Ananias had visions of
their meeting for the
Redemption of the
Gentiles.
5. God has a purpose for everyone He
puts into your life.
6. It is up to us to see the work of God
in unexpected situations.
7. Saul’s experience on the road to Damascus
open his eyes
To the love of Christ, he
had persecuted.
YOUR
RESPONSE TO GOD’S CALL
V:13
"Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this
man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And he has
come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your
name."
A. When the Lord calls us to do something,
I think it ok to voice our
Opinions, based on our knowledge.
1. However, we must consider that our
opinions are ignorant of
God’s divine plan.
2. Out of obedience, we must be prepared
to act on God’s commands
Knowing that our ways are
not His ways.
B. We must know that whatever God
commands us to do will work for our
Good and the good of all believers.
1. God did not give us the job of
judging other people.
2. God can use who we think is the worst
sinner for His
Glory.
THE
IMMEDIATE NEED FOR THE MISSION
V:15 But the
Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my
name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 16 I
will show him how much he must suffer for my name."
A. When we go to God in prayer with
thanksgiving, He will in His
Time reveals to us the reason for His commands.
1. Ananias knew what he knew about Saul
but didn’t
Know the plan God had for
Saul.
2. All of our experiences have been
allowed by God to make us
Uniquely qualified for His
plan for our life.
B. All believers are chosen by God to be
the light that draws others to Him.
1. All have sinned and fall short of the
Glory of God.
2. Even though God has chosen us, the
punishment for our sins
Will also be used for His glory.
THE
BUSINESS OF DISCIPLESHIP
V.17 Then
Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he 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." 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and
he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food,
he regained his strength.
A. God uses
us to be the vessel that brings others to the light of His
Glory.
1. We must see everyone as potential
brothers and sisters in Christ.
2. Everyone God puts into our life is there
to be ministered to by us.
3. We are an important step in the process
of bringing others to Christ.
B, God has
already done the work of preparing others for His mission.
1. Our job is to welcome them into the
body of Christ.
2. God sends us to make disciples
baptizing them in the name of
The Father, Son, and the
Holy Spirit.
3. When we lay our hands on God’s
chosen, we extend
The right hand of fellowship
to the body of Christ.
C. Notice that even though Saul was chosen by
God, it was not
Until he was ministered to by Ananias that he saw the light.
1. We exercise the power of the Holy
Spirit when we are
Obedient to God’s
commands.
2. Ministry is not just a word, it is
acting in obedience.
3. The new Christian needs our support on
the way to their
Ministry.
4. The right hand of fellowship is the
start of our relationship
With new believers.
D. Discipleship continues by bringing
new believers into the
Mist of other believers.
1. New believers need our counseling and
support in their
Development.
2. We should commit time and resources
to develop
Disciples.
GIVE NEW
DISCIPLES A CHANCE TO SHINE
V:19b. Saul
spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to
preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.
A. Discipleship continues by bringing
new believers into the
Mist of other believers.
1. We may never know what gifts others
bring to the body of
Christ until we give them
the opportunity to serve.
2. By being obedient, Ananias was an
important step
In Saul’s conversion.
B. We are called to minister to everyone,
regardless of their
History.
1. It is not what we think of anyone
that counts, but what
God plans for their
lives.
2. It is a blessing when God allows us
to play
A part in someone’s
salvation.
3. We are all part of the ministry of
making disciples.
4. Make discipleship your priority.
Rev. M.
Mitchell
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