PRESENTATION OUTLINE
I.The Broken and Hopeless:
“Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.”
1 Cor. 15:8-9
“though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent…. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost."
1 Timothy 1:13, 15
“Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.”
Romans 1:32
We are more like Saul than we are unlike him:“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—
among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”
Ephesians 2:1-3
What we may see as setbacks God uses for good.
I.Hopelessness meets Sovereignty:
In this moment as Jesus reveals Himself,
what was Saul thinking and feeling?
Paul was being made helpless so that he would be surrendered to God physically and spiritually.
III.God's Chosen Instruments:
Ananias as an Instrument:
Ananias as an Instrument:
- When the Lord calls you answer.
Ananias as an Instrument:
- When the Lord calls you answer.
- Because you are reluctant at first, or confused, or even afraid does not disqualify you from deciding to follow God.
Mistaken identity seemed to be a better explanation than that this man was transformed at such a level and yet this is the unexpected work of God.
"He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy."
Galatians 1:23