Unforgettable: Life Changing Encounters With Jesus // Saul to Paul: From Persecutor to Promclaimor

Unforgettable: Life Changing Encounters With Jesus // Saul to Paul: From Persecutor to Promclaimor

Pastor Harry Stambaugh

Saul’s Character

Born Saul of Tarsus (Modern Turkey)

Roman Citizen by birth

Intellectual – studied to be a Rabbi

On a fast track to be a Rabbi

“For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.” (Galatians 1:13-15)

Saul’s Profile

Intellectual

Competitive

Impatient

Aggressive

Could Be Hostile

Intensely Persecuted the Early Church

Saw Christianity as a heretical sect of Judaism

“Intensely” persecuted Christians – intensely means beyond measure

Desired to Destroy the New Sect of Christians

Acts 9:1-2 says, “Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way (the early Church called themselves followers of the way), whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

Encountered Jesus

“As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"

A Life Changing Exchange

"Who are you, Lord?" Then came the life changing response! "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

The Lord suffers when His Body suffers

A New Apostle for the Gentiles

Jesus announces to Ananias that Saul “…is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.”

A New Center for the Young Church

For a year Barnabas and Saul taught the Church at Antioch, where Acts 9:26 tells us that the disciples of Jesus were first called Christians.

A New Identity

Saul became known as Paul to these new congregations in Asia

But Challenges and Hardship was ahead

“We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.”

Disagreement Yields Two Missionary Teams

Paul and Silas

Barnabas and John Mark

Compelled by the Spirit

Paul said, “…compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me — the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.” (Acts 20:22-24)

Advancing the Gospel in Chains

First sent to Caesarea for two years waiting trial with the Governor

Then sent to Rome for a trial before Caesar, while he was waiting…

“Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.” (Philippians 1:12-14)

The Bottom Line of Paul’s Message

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:8-10)

Conclusions:

• The Lord chose Saul to carry the good news of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles.

• Saul was faithful to his calling and saw both the joy and the pain coming from the hand of God.

• Saul declared himself to be chief among sinners, but he understood and declared salvation came from faith in Christ alone.

• Paul became the great advocate of salvation by the grace of God through faith alone.

• Paul understood that this world is not the Kingdom of God, but the Kingdom is within those who trust in Jesus alone. He placed no hope in this world or its rulers.

Application:

• Know that your salvation comes from Jesus alone and can’t be earned or deserved by any of us

• Remember that you have been chosen by the Lord to share what He has done for you with others. Like Paul, we are called to be witnesses of the great grace of God in our lives and how it has and is transforming our lives.

• Remember that nothing touches us that hasn’t come through His hands first

• Remember that this world is not the Kingdom of God, so don’t expect it to be like His Kingdom. But, He has placed His Kingdom in all who place their trust in Jesus alone so that we can be His witnesses here in this present age.