This Week\’s Sunday School Lesson, \”The Conversion Of A Murderer\”,10/12/2015

 

 

THE CONVERSION OF A MURDERER

 

Acts 9:18-31

 

Saul was on his way to Damascus to persecute the Church. He was accompanied

with armed men ready to take those who believed in Jesus to be tried and persecuted

by the ruling Jews in Jerusalem. Jesus met him on the Damascus road and

blinded him for three days so he had to be led by others. This encounter with Jesus

caused Saul to see Jesus as Lord and Savior.

 

Saul was on a mission to destroy the Church. After His encounter with Jesus, his

mission was to build up the Church. Saul\’s conversion took place on the Damascus

road.

1. He was awaken to Jesus Christ as the Messiah in the scriptures.
2. He had a change in directions
3. He had a change in relationship.
4. He had a change in his Lordship.
5. He had a change in his heart.
6. He had a change in his position from being proud to being humble.

 

BLINDED SO HE COULD SEE

V:18-19 \”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. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus\”

1. We were born in the dark, but God arranges our circumstances so we can see

the truth.

1. Each of us was on a different path until we met Jesus.
2. Jesus chose us from the foundation of the earth and kept us to the time of our

conversion.   Eph 1:4-5

1. The Apostle Paul (Saul) said He was separated by God from his mothers womb

and called by grace.      Gal 1:15.

1. Once we come to the light of Jesus, we are baptized into His death and made

a new creation.  Rom 6:3

1. Our strength to do the work of the Lord come from Jesus himself.
2. Jesus said we can do nothing without Him. John 15:5
3. We were called to serve, not just observe.

 

A CHANGE IN RELATIONSHIP

1. Jesus sent Ananias, one of His disciples to Saul to receive his spiritual sight.
2. Once Saul received spiritual sight, he regained his physical sight.
3. To follow Jesus, we have to drop some relationships.
4. Saul was previous an enemy of Jesus now became a friend of Jesus.
5. We are in this world, but we are not of this world. John  17:16

 

1. We cannot have fellowship with this world.
2. Believers must fellowship with other believers.
3. Those who do not know Christ, will not be a friend of Christ.
4. Since we are one with Christ, the world is not going to be friends

with us.

 

WHEN PRECHING, YOUR PAST CAN AFFECT YOUR CREDITABILITY

V:20-21. \” At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, \”Isn\’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn\’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?\”

1. Saul (Apostle Paul) had a horrible past.
2. Once converted to faith in Jesus, Saul immediately begin preaching the Gospel

in the Jewish Synagogues.

1. The Jewish leaders rejected him and conspired to kill because he changed sides.
2. Saul was also rejected by the Church because they thought he was a fake.
3. The Church did not accept him because he had a reputation of persecuting believers.
4. Part of growing in Christ is learning to accept and expect the rejection by the world.
5. Once in Christ, we are in this world but not of this world. Col 2:20
6. Those who do not know Jesus, think they are doing God a favor by rejecting

Christians.     John 16:2

 

POWERFUL TEACHING IS INSPIRED BY THE WORD

V:22.-24 \” Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ. 23 After many days had gone by, the Jews conspired to kill him, 24 but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him.\”

1. When you stand for Christ, the world stands against you.
2. The more you preach the Word the stronger you will get in Christ.
3. Paul was trained in the Old testament scriptures by the leading

doctor of the law in Jerusalem, Gamaliel.

1. He was not taught to see Jesus in the Old Testament Scriptures.
2. By Jewish thinking, no man could claim to be God or the

Son of God.

1. To claim to be God was blaspheme.
2. The Jews were expecting the coming of a Messiah, but Jesus didn\’t

fit their profile of a Messiah.

1. Once Saul saw Jesus in the Old Testament, his teaching became

so powerful that it angered the leading Jews.

1. Before his conversion, he was on a mission to destroy the church.
2. After his conversion, he was on a mission to promote the Church.
3. The wisdom of God far exceeds all the wisdom of man.
4. It is from the study of the Word that we gain knowledge and confidence in Jesus.
5. The truth in the Word threatens the lifestyle of the wicked.
6. In this case, the wicked Jewish leaders sought ways to kill Saul.

 

 

GOD PROTECTS HIS DISCIPLES

25 But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.

1. When trouble comes, God provides a way out for His disciples.
2. People in the dark are agents the devil will use to attempt to destroy any faith we

have in Jesus.

1. When we are threaten doing God\’s work, He will  show up and block

evil actions against us according to His Will.

1. When we are dedicated to God, He gives us favor among men.
2. The ruling Jews planned to kill Saul, but God made their plan known to

Saul\’s followers.

1. God is always one step ahead of the enemy.
2. Saul\’s followers devised a plan to get Him out of the city unnoticed.
3. God\’s plan for our lives will not be stopped by anyone or any circumstance.
4. In fact, God will use the evil desires of man to promote His plan. Gen 45:5-7

 

STAND UP FOR OTHERS IN CHRIST

V:26-27. \” When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.\”

1. In our journey for Christ, there will be times when we will need someone to encourage

us.

1. People inside the Church will not always believe we are dedicated to Christ.
2. God\’s forgives, but sometimes the Church will use our past against us.
3. Sometimes the Church will use as past as evidence that our love for Christ

is not real.

1. We all need someone we can confide in who will get to know us and encourage us in

the Lord.

1. God always has a \”Barnabas\” for us.
2. When folk in the Church rejected Saul, Barnabas stood up for him.
3. New believers need someone to standby them as they grow in Christ.
4. All of us ought to take it upon ourselves to encourage someone.
5. We all struggle from time to time.
6. Even mature faithful Christians need a pat on the back from time to time.
7. Someone need to hear your testimony about Jesus and come to know that it is real.
8. It does not matter how long you been in the ministry, there will come a time

when you will need someone to lean on.

1. People are judging us all the time. We will need somebody who can see some good

in us.

V:28. \” So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him.\”

1. Satan\’s has a lot of demons roaming around, and some study the word to find fault

with us.

1. The stronger you get in Christ, the stronger the opposition will be against you.
2. Saul had the favor of some in the Jerusalem community, but He had many who

opposed his teachings of Jesus.

1. Everybody does not believe what you believe about Jesus.
2. What we have to learn and expect is that preaching Jesus develops enemies.
3. I believe that God uses our enemies to develop and test our faith in Him.
4. Saul had enemies in Damascus and God protected him.
5. He learned that God protected him from his enemies in Jerusalem.
6. God protects those who serve Him and those who teach and preach His Word.

 

MOVING THE GOSPEL WITH ADVERSITY

V:30 \”When the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.\”

1. Saul was working in God\’s Plan.
2. The rejection of the Gospel by the Jews moved the Gospel to the Gentiles.

Rom 1:16

1. In the early part of Saul\’s preaching, he was in God\’s training program for the

his mission to move the Gospel into the Gentile nations.  Acts 13:2

1. It was fourteen plus years after Saul\’s conversion before he and Barnabas

got the call to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles   2 Cor 12:2

1. Tarsus was Saul\’s home town which was his base of operation.
2. Saul preached in Jerusalem, Arabia, Syria and Chicia before getting

God\’s call.  Gal 1:17-21.

1. When God calls us out of the world to be his disciples, it maybe some time before

we know His mission for us.

1. We must continue to faithfully do the work set before us until God reveals His plan.
2. If we are faithful in a few things, God can makes us rulers over many things.

Matt 25:21

 

THE PEACE OF GOD COME THROUGH SERVICE

V:31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.\”

1. God\’s plan for us includes times of trials and times of rest.
2. The times of trials are the times when we are being tested, shaped and molded to be

the servants God desires.

1. The times of rest are times to reflect on the goodness of God in our lives.
2. When we reflect on our past we can see how God has guided and protected us

throughout our journey with Him.

 

1. Our strength in the Word and the mission of God is by the power of the Holy Spirit.
2. The Holy Spirit equips us with insight into Word and the world around us.
3. The Holy Spirit empowers us to do the work of God.
4. The Holy Spirit is the power that enables us to resist the devil.
5. The Holy Spirit is comforter in all times.
6. The Holy Spirit is our teacher of God\’s Word. John 14:26
7. The Holy Spirit serves to remind us of God\’s Word.

 

THE JOY OF JESUS COME THROUGH SERVICE, TRIAL AND TRIBULATIONS

 

Rev. M Mitchell

Asst Pastor of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church.