Okay, let's turn back to Acts
9. The heading at the top of my
page says, The Conversion of Saul. And these headings are not the
inspired Word of God. Sometimes they say words that
are not actually in the scripture. But they usually do give a general
idea of what is taking place, and that is what's taking place.
The conversion of Saul. But if the question is asked,
when was Saul saved? The only answer I can give is
I have no idea. I have absolutely no idea. I cannot tell you exactly when
I was saved. I really can't. I don't have
any idea when God truly turned the light on for me. I don't
know. Odds are you don't know exactly when God opened your
eyes. I mean, you might have a general
point in time, but we don't know. All that matters
is that God opened our eyes. That's all that matters. I do know that God caused Saul
to hold the coats while those men stoned Stephen. And the reason they stoned him
is because they were angry because of the message he just preached.
And I also know that the Lord sent Saul to a man named Ananias. And he said at the end of verse
6, he's going to tell you some things that you must do. But the individual thing about
Saul of Tarsus, there's an individual thing. that does not apply to
anybody today. Nobody. This is completely individual
to Saul of Tarsus. He was chosen by God to be an
apostle. And that's a big one. All right? He was chosen by God to be an
apostle. None of us were. Saul was made an apostle. Now, one of the requirements
of being an apostle is you had to hear the gospel. You had to
learn the truth from the actual, physical mouth of the Lord Jesus
Christ Himself. That was one of the requirements
to be an apostle. Turn with me over to Galatians
chapter 1. Galatians 1 verse 11 says, now
this is Paul talking and he says, But I certify you, brethren,
that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of
man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus
Christ. That's how it came to me. Turn
back a page to 2 Corinthians chapter 12. 2 Corinthians 12 verse 2 says,
and again this is Paul, I knew a man in Christ above fourteen
years ago, whether in the body I cannot tell or whether out
of the body I cannot tell, God knoweth. Such and one called
up to the third heaven, and he's talking about himself. Verse
3, and I knew such a man, whether in the body or out of the body
I cannot tell, God knoweth. how that he was caught up into
paradise and heard unspeakable words which it is not lawful
or possible for a man to utter. Of such and one will I glory,
the one that I heard speak these words. Yet of myself I will not
glory but in my infirmities, for though I would desire to
glory, I shall not be a fool, for I will say the truth, But
now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above, that which
he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. And lest I should
be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations,
there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of
Satan, to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. So Paul was an apostle, and he
heard the gospel directly from the mouth of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We are not apostles. I did not learn the gospel directly
from the mouth of the Lord Jesus Christ himself. I learned it
from a man. And so did you. But Paul gives the best answer
to his own conversion. He gives the best answer to when
he was saved right here in Galatians 1. Go back one page to Galatians
1. And he tells them right here
what an awful sinner he was. Verse 15 says, But when it pleased God, that's when God saved me. Verse
16 says, To reveal His Son in me. That is when God saved me. When it pleased God, who separated
me from my mother's womb, and called me by His grace to reveal
His Son in me." Salvation is in the hands of the Lord. It
is totally in the hands of the Lord. We declare how God saves
sinners. We declare what He has revealed
to us through His Word, His promises, His means, His purpose, and then
we leave it at that. We declare it, and then we leave
it at that. When did God save Saul? When did He save you? When did He save me? The answer
is, when it pleased God. That's when He did it. Now, did
He use means to save us? The answer is yes. He used means
to save us, and He used means to save Saul, and we're going
to see what God did for Saul, okay? So go back over to Acts
chapter 9. Acts 9, look at verse 1. It says,
ìAnd Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against
the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and desired
of him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues, that if he found
any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring
them bound unto Jerusalem." Threatenings and slaughters. Now, we already know the end
of this story, don't we? We know how it turns out. So why don't we just go ahead
right now and glory in what God has revealed to us by His Holy
Spirit through His Word that God would take a man so
low in hell's depravity, so low in wickedness and sin,
breathing out threatenings and slaughter and that God would
reach down, reach way down and lift that man up so high that
he would make him an apostle of Jesus Christ. Is that not
amazing? Isn't that glorious? Why Paul? Really? A man, he made him an apostle
of Christ. One that preached Christ. Now,
we are going to see just how much he hated Christ and his
people. And God made him a man that preached
Christ so clearly and so sincerely. One that had such a concern for
the salvation of men's souls in his own heart that he could
actually wish himself accursed for Christ for his brethren,
his kinsmen after the flesh. Can you believe that? Is there anything that God's
grace cannot accomplish? Is there anything? anything that the grace of God
cannot accomplish. We think way too little of our
God. I can tell you that. You know
that? We think way too little of our
God. Well, He won't save them. Oh,
really? He saved me. Look at chapter
8, verse 1. Chapter 8 verse 1 says, And Saul
was consenting unto his death, and at that time there was a
great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem,
and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea
and Samaria except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen
to his burial and made great lamentation over him. As for
Saul, he made havoc of the church. Entering in every house and hailing
men and women committed them to prison he went into every
house And he drug him out Saul of Tarsus had one mission
in this life. I'm telling you one mission in
this life. I And that was to exterminate
Christ and his people from the face of this earth. Let me tell
you who he was. I'll tell you exactly who he
was. Saul of Tarsus was Adolf Hitler. That's who he was. He wanted God's spiritual Jews
gone. Put them in prison and then slaughter
them. That's who he was. Back in chapter
9, look at verse 10. Verse 10 says, There was a certain
disciple at Damascus named Ananias, and to him said the Lord in a
vision, Ananias, and he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And
the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which
is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas. For one
called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he prayeth. And hath seen in
a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand
on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered,
Lord, I have heard by many of this man. How much evil he hath done to
the saints at Jerusalem. And here he hath authority from
the chief priest to bind all that call on thy name. This man has made a name for
himself. Much evil hath he done to thy
saints at Jerusalem. This man is notorious. Lord,
don't send me to him. He's going to kill me. That's
what Ananias thought. This would be just like if I
was an actual Jew. And Brother Tom Harding called
me on the phone and said, Gabe, Adolf Hitler is in Kingsport
and he's staying in a house over off of Fort Henry Drive. And
I want you to go by and see him for me. What? That's exactly what this is. This is the most notorious slayer
of your people that has ever been known. Verse 15, But the Lord said unto
Ananias, Go thy way, for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear
my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of
Israel. I thought about that scripture
where the Lord said, Don't fear him that can kill the body, but
after that there's nothing he can do. I'll tell you who you
ought to fear. Fear him which is able to destroy
both body and soul in hell. Don't fear this man. I'm going
to take him. And I'm going to break him. And
I'm going to use him for the glory of God. Is that not amazing? It's amazing what God did through
the Apostle Paul. what He allowed him to be and
what He made him to be. And this is such a blessing right
here. Watch this. I know we're bouncing around this, but this
is how it has to go tonight. Go to verse 2. Verse 2, it says, ìHe desired
of him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues, that if Saul
found any of this way,î this way, right here, if he found
any of this true and living way. Any of this one and only way,
Christ himself, if he found any of this way. Turn over to Acts
19. Acts 19 verse 9 says, ìBut when
divers were hardened and believed not, but spake evil of that way.î
They didnít believe and they spake evil of that way. Look
at verse 23 right there in Acts 19. ìAnd the same time there
arose no small stir about that way.î Saul said, if he found
any of this way. Now turn to chapter 24. Now this
is Paul speaking. Chapter 24, look at verse 14. He said, but this I confess unto
thee. that after the way which they
call heresy, so worship I, the God of my fathers, believing
all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets. God said, after this way which
he hates with every fiber of his being, I am going to make
him confess This is now the way that I worship the God of my
fathers, believing every word that is written in this book.
Back over in Acts chapter 9, verse 3, And as he journeyed, he came
near Damascus, and suddenly there shined round about him a light
from heaven. Now don't turn, but chapter 22
tells us that it was not night time. And it was not early in
the morning. It was high noon. That's when
this happened. It was high noon. It was already
the brightest moment of the day. But this light was so great,
it still knocked this man off of his horse. Chapter 26 says
it was way above the brightness of the sun. The sun was at its brightest,
and this was so much brighter than the sun, he fell off of
his horse because of this. What was that light? Turn with
me over to Matthew 17. Matthew 17 verse 1 says, And
after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother and
bringeth them up into a high mountain apart, and was transfigured
before them, and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment
was white at the light. Saul saw the glory of God in
the face of the Lord Jesus Christ, and it was brighter than the
sun. And in our text, back in Acts
chapter 9, verse 4 says, he fell to the earth. What mercy it was
that God struck him to the earth and not to hell. You know that? What mercy it was. All he did
was strike him to the earth. He should have struck him right
to hell. That's what he deserved. Verse 4 says, ìAnd he fell to
the earth and heard a voice saying unto him, ìSaul, Saul, why persecutest
thou me?îî Now let me tell you what our Lord did not just say.
ìSaul, Saul, why persecutest thou them?î He said, ìMe.î You persecute my child, you are
persecuting me. And I'm telling you, that is
true. You ever had somebody mistreat
your child? You will. You haven't yet, but you will.
And you watch and see. You don't think there's any viciousness
in you, any vengeance in you? Watch somebody get a hold of
your child. We have a high priest that is
touched with the feeling of all our infirmities. Inasmuch as
you've done it unto them, you've done it unto me. Shall not God avenge His elect?
You better believe it. Verse 4, He fell to the earth
and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest
thou me? And he said, ìWho art thou, Lord?î
And the Lord said, ìI am Jesus, whom thou persecutest.î He didnít
say, ìI am Jehovah,î although He was. He didnít say, ìI am
the God of Abraham,î although He was. What he said was, I am
the one who died and was buried and rose again. If you want to
get specific about this, this same Jesus is the Almighty God. The Almighty God. Verse 5, and
he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I'm Jesus,
whom thou persecutest. It is hard for thee to kick against
the pricks. What prick is he talking about?
He's talking about the Word of God. The true Word, he heard
Stephen preach. You know, a person can sit under
the Gospel and not be pricked by the Word of God. You know
that? A person can hear the Gospel
for years and years and even a lifetime. and never be pricked by the Word
of God. Well, how will I know if I'm
pricked? Oh, you'll know. You'll know. God Himself must take the Word
and prick the heart with it. He must. A mind can be dead set on what
it believes, but when God starts pricking the heart, I don't care
what the mind believes, when God starts pricking the heart,
it cannot be resisted. The flesh might kick just a little
bit at first, but it's not going to last long. Verse 6 says, He
trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me
to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise,
and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou
must do. And the men which journeyed with
him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man."
It didn't affect them. This was personal, and it always
is. It was going on. They were all around him. This
was happening to him. This was personal, individual.
Verse 8 says, And Saul arose from the earth, and when his
eyes were opened, he saw no man. But they led him by the hand,
and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without
sight, and neither did eat nor drink." For three days he was
totally blind, and he didn't eat, and he didn't drink. What did he do? The end of verse
11 says, Behold, he prayeth. For three days he sat there and
begged God, Be merciful to me, a sinner. Oh, man. God blinded
him to this world so that he could see his own sin. Lord,
don't kill me. Can you imagine what was going
through his mind for three days? Could you imagine going from
total sight to total blindness that fast? And know that it's
God who just did it to you? Lord, don't kill me. Lord, you're
so high and I'm so low. You are God and I am dust. I'm lower than dust. He just knew God was going to
kill him. All he knew so far was God's
wrath and God's law. He hadn't yet seen God's blood.
So God in mercy said, Ananias, you go to him. Verse 15, the
Lord said unto Ananias, Go thy way for he is a chosen vessel
unto me to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings and children
of Israel. For I will show him how great
things he must suffer for my name's sake. And Ananias went
his way and entered into the house, and putting his hands
on him, said, Brother Saul, you know what grace that took? You
know how much grace that took? To know who that man was. If
I had to go to Adolf Hitler, can you imagine what grace it
took? He went into this despicable man and he said, Brother, you
know what God revealed to Ananias? I'm no better than he is. Brother
Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way
as thou camest, hath sent me that thou mightest receive thy
sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there
fell from his eyes as it had been scales. Can you imagine the joy that
flooded his soul when he received his sight and saw Ananias? Can you imagine how happy he
was? He thought God was going to kill him. But this man came
and put his hand on his shoulder and said, ìYouíre a chosen vessel.î
What relief! You mean God is not going to
kill me? No, Heís going to adopt you. Thatís what Heís going to do. He purchased you with His own
blood and He did every bit of it to the praise of the glory
of His grace wherein He hath made us, both of us, dear brother,
accepted in the Beloved. And Saul had to ask this question
because otherwise he would have never known. He had to say, How
can I renounce my past? How can I renounce what I am? what I've been, how can I confess
Him in this glorious news of what He's done for me? How can
I tell the whole world that Ananias said, you can be baptized? The
end of verse 18, and he received sight forthwith and arose and
was baptized. And that's not Campbellite, that's
the Word of God. We'll just leave it right there.
All right, let's stand together.