The Turnaround in Saul of Tarsus’ Life

The Turnaround In Saul of Tarsus’ Life Acts 22.1-16 Think of the person you know who would be the most unlikely to become a follower of Jesus Christ. Then think of them after coming to Christ becoming one of the people God uses to bring a whole group of nations to Him. Saul of Tarsus was such a man. Galatians 1. 13 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. 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when God, Who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any man. 17 I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus. If you or I were responsible to choose someone to be an apostle to the Gentiles, in the middle of the first century, Saul of Tarsus would be our last choice. So often God chooses people to serve who would not be ones we would choose. This morning God is speaking to hearts. You may be listening online. God has been speaking to you about something unusual, highly unusual that He wants you to be a part of. The call of God doesn’t usually come like this one. For years I sat on boards and listened to prospective ministers describe their call. Most of them spoke of a still small voice, a quiet but definitely calling. Saul to become Paul was as far away from the Gentiles as one could be. He was persecuting Jewish Believers. His world was Judaism. Philippians 2.4 If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. *A persecutor of the church Paul’s words: I Timothy 1.21 I thank Christ Jesus our LORD, Who has given me strength, that He considered me trustworthy, appointing me to His service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our LORD was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Acts 22.2 Then Paul said: 3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. 4 I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, 5 as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.” We see the grace of God here. We see the patience of God. We also see the plan of God which is often different then our thoughts. His thoughts are not our thoughts. He took the most unlikely person, one who was persecuting and killing the church to be a follower and one sent to bring the Gospel all over the world at the time. *A Determined and Stubborn Soul Acts 9.1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 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.” 26.14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ “It is hard for you to kick against the goads” was a Greek proverb, but it was also familiar to the Jews and anyone who made a living in agriculture. An ox goad was a stick with a pointed piece of iron on its tip used to prod the oxen when plowing. The farmer would use it on the animal to steer it in the right direction. Sometimes the animal would rebel by kicking out at the goad, and this would result in the goad being driven even further into its flesh. In essence, the more an ox rebelled, the more it suffered. Saul of Tarsus was a headstrong Pharisee who came to the LORD. He was one of many whom Jesus spoke about. They shall put you out of the synagogues, and the hour will even come when whosoever kills you will think that he does God service. John 16.2 He acted in ignorance. God showed him mercy. *A Life that submitted to God Immediately Paul called Jesus, “LORD” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. So he submitted to the LORD before He knew it was Jesus. We all need to come to a place of this kind of submission to Jesus of Nazareth. Bowing at His Feet (John 11. 32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at His feet and said, “LORD, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”) There is no better time than right now, this moment to submit to the LORD. Isaiah’s words, 6. 8 Then I heard the voice of the LORD saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Here I am LORD. Help Yourself. The Apostle of the Heart Set Free *An Apostle of the LORD Jesus Christ I Corinthians 1. 1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God apostle= a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders God had a plan to reach the Gentiles. Like we have said He picked an unlikely person, the most unlikely person. You may feel you are unlikely to be used by God. Submit yourself to Him, tell Him you will do whatever He tells you. Mary to the servants at the wedding feast in Cana of Galilee: John 2.5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.” That is what I say to you today. The conversion (turn around) of Saul is quite significant as it was the turning point in his life. Paul later wrote nearly half of the books of the New Testament. What can happen in your life as you make a total surrender to Him? Sent from my iPad