Gospel Expansion

​Read Acts 8:2-9:31
 
Acts 9:3-6 As Saul was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” 5 “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! 6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
 
IF anyone says, “God doesn’t force anyone to do what they don’t want to do.” point them to Acts 8-9. Did you notice in Acts 8 how the Holy Spirit moved Philip to the Eunuch and then to Azotus, where he preached the Good News there and in every town along the way until he came to Caesarea. (Acts 8:40) God did not ask Philip, “Would you like to do this?” It was the LORD’s will done for his purpose. This is God’s story, not ours.
   Another example of God s unrelenting will upon a chosen servant is Paul’s conversion in Acts 9. This is great evidence for the existence of God and one of Scripture’s most famous passages. Saul was a Pharisee on fire against the Christians. He had letters authorizing him to arrest Christians and take them to Jerusalem for trial. He was opposed to every aspect of that pretender Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. No false Messiah would mislead him!
   Nonetheless, the true Messiah came. He transformed Saul and began to lead him along the road of salvation. This was the last time the man who became apostle Paul would address Jesus as “lord”.
   Paul’s question, “Who are you, lord?” would open Paul’s life in a similar way as the question, “What must I do to be saved?” has opened many a sinners’ hearts to confess and receive Christ. Imagine the shock to Saul’s mind when the reply was, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!” The impassioned servant of the law was hearing from the Living Word, who had written the law. From the moment Jesus said, “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Saul’s life belonged to Jesus. In Christ he became a new creation. Jesus intruded into Saul’s life to shape him into a servant who would live out Jesus’ commands to disciple the nations.
   Jesus took from Saul each aspect of Saul’s authority. He blinded the man, so Saul would need help, even to walk. A blind man in that culture was seen as weak and cursed. Saul became helpless and could only wait on Jesus’ next moves.
   Jesus sent Ananias to be Paul’s helper. This was a challenge for Ananias to go to this hateful man. But Jesus told him what to do, so Ananias obeyed. Ananias prayed, and Jesus healed Paul’s eyes. (There is evidence Paul did not clearly see again.) Soon Paul became a powerful preacher. The man who was going to ride with authority in Damascus left in a basket over the wall at night. The new man was born again into the kingdom of God.
   Paul then met Barnabas, a man who modeled encouragement to new leaders in Jesus’ church. How quickly the LORD acted to gift people for the gospel’s mission.
   God was on the move then, and of course he is moving today. What has Jesus told you that you must do? Are you willing to get up and do it?