LORD WHAT WILT THOU HAVE ME TO DO Part 1
– Paul in Acts 9
– A decision that made a division
DIVISION
In the Rockies is a stream called Divide Creek. At a point in its course, the creek divides around a large boulder. Waters that flow to the left of the boulder rush on into Kicking Horse River and finally into the Pacific Ocean. Waters that travel to the right go into the Bow River which courses into the Saskatchewan River, on into Lake Winnipeg, the Nelson River, Hudson Bay, and to the Atlantic Ocean Once the waters divide at the rock there is
no turning back.
Acts 9:1-16 (NKJV) 1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.” 13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
Let us briefly look at Paul’s life
1) Very religious – blameless according to the Law of Moses, a Pharisee among Pharisees, very zealous for the faith of his fathers.
2) Rich Heritage – a Jew among Jews, born into the tribe of Benjamin
3) Well educated – Trained at the feet of Gamaliel, one of Israel’s greatest teachers of the day
GAMALIEL [guh MAY lih el] (God is my recompense) – the name of two men in the Bible:
A famous member of the Jewish SANHEDRIN and a teacher of the Law. Gamaliel, who had taught Paul (Acts 22:3), advised the Sanhedrin to treat the apostles of the young Christian church with moderation. Gamaliel’s argument was simple. If Jesus was a false prophet, as many others had been, the movement would soon fade into obscurity. If, however, the work was “of God,” he pointed out, “you cannot overthrow it” (Acts 5:39).
4) Ambitious – advancing quickly up the ranks of the Pharisees and had ability, desire, and talent far above his peers.
5) Full of bitterness and hatred – hated anything and anyone who could be a threat to the things that he believed, and those who would cause trouble for his people and those who opposed the teachings of the high priest and the Law of Moses. He hated those who preached and taught heresy against the Law that had led Israel for so many years.
I. He Saw the Light
Saul had set off on a mission, to stop the spread of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and arrest or kill its followers. God had other plans.
Suddenly – a blinding flash of light knocked him off his high horse.
GOD KNOWS HOW TO GET YOUR ATTENTION!
Saul encountered the Lord Jesus Christ on that Damascus Road and it changed his life forever.
I can certainly say amen to that, I know each Salvation experience is different, but the end result is the same, a changed life 2 Corinthians 5:17.
2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
My life has certainly changed since I accepted Christ as my Savior, since His Light got my attention. … what is your Testimony
Is Christ the center of your life? Is there anything in our lives that take priorities over the Lord?
Once we accept Christ as our Savior we are: –
• To live a certain way – Romans 12:1-2
• Treat our wives a certain way – Eph 5:25
• Bring our children up a certain way – Proverbs 22:6
• Study God’s Word – 2 Timothy 2:15
• Pray – 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Keep your eyes on the Savior…
The snow covered the ground, and three young boys were playing in it. A man said to them, “Would you like to try to race, with the promise of a prize for the winner?”
The boys agreed, and the man told them that his race was to be different. “I will go to the other side of the field,” he said, “and when I give you the signal, you will start to run. The one whose footsteps are the straightest in the snow will be the winner.”
As the race commenced, the first boy began looking at his feet to see if his steps were straight. The second lad kept looking at his companions to see what they were doing, but the third boy just ran on with his eyes fixed on the man on the other side of the field.
The third boy was the winner, for his footsteps were straight in the snow. He had kept his eyes on the goal ahead of him.
We have seen the light; we have been changed by the light, keep your eyes on the “Light of the World”
II. He Heard a Voice
Saul had only ever heard one voice before; he had heard the voice of religion and of the world.
It frustrates me that people are happy the listen to the voice of the world today, they will believe a newspaper article or a history/science book, but not God’s Word!!!
Paul now hears a different voice – a voice with power and authority that shook him to the core of his soul.
This same voice had spoken the world into existence.
This same voice had called to Adam in the Garden
This same voice had spoken judgment upon Satan, the serpent, and all of creation as a result of sin.
This same voice had spoken to Moses on Mt. Sinai and given the Law
This same voice had spoken to Lazarus and raised him from the dead
This same voice had raised the Window’s son.
This same voice had caused the Soldiers to fall backward in the Garden of Gethsemane
This same voice had cried out, “It is finished” as He paid the price of redemption on the cross
This same voice cries out to us today – follow me, and I will make you fishers of men
This same voice speaks to each of you – this is My will for your life, now do it
This same voice will someday say to us “Well done my good and faithful servant”
When that voice came from Heaven, Saul knew this was no ordinary voice.
People say that God does not talk today. I beg to differ; He speaks to us through His Word. How can people expect to hear His voice if they do not read His Word? If they are not in Church listening to His Word?
God did not call me to preach when I was on the Golf course, on the lake, or in the woods hunting, but through the preaching of His Word, He spoke directly to my heart.
When God called me to preach, He showed me in His Word, He couldn’t have been any clearer. Romans 10:14
He will reveal His plan for you, His will for your life, what He would have you to do for Him.
Study His Word and hear His voice.
III. He Obeyed a Call
A converted cowboy put it very well when he said, “Lots of folks that would really like to do right think that serving the Lord only means shouting themselves hoarse praising His name. Now I’ll tell you how I look at that. I am working for my Boss here. Now if I would do nothing but sit around the house telling what a good fellow my Boss is and singing songs to him, I would not suit Him. But when I buckle on my straps and hustle among the hills and see that my Boss’s herd is all right, not suffering for water and feed, or being driven off the range and branded by cow thieves, then I am serving My Boss as he wants to be served.” Let that be our philosophy, too, when the temptation is to talk instead of serving the Lord.
Don’t misunderstand me; we should be in Church Praising God and shouting Halleluiahs.
Is our question to God, “Lord, what would you have us to do?”
