We'll turn back to a reading in Acts chapter 9.
As we look here at the conversion of Saul,
! We're going to focus mainly on verse 10 down to verse 20.
! I just want to read again at verse 15.
But the Lord said to him, he was saying to Ananias,
Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name
before the Gentiles and kings and the children,
of Israel.
He is a chosen instrument of mine.
We hear the word testimony used in church,
and particularly maybe as we approach a communion season,
we hear people talking about their testimony.
But what does it mean?
Perhaps many of us know what a testimony is.
Maybe we've told our testimony.
Maybe we've heard others sharing what we call their testimony.
But perhaps we're not sure just what it means.
The word testimony itself has two real meanings.
One can be, and they're both related to evidence.
One is when you think of a testimony given in court.
So in a legal setting, someone will give a testimony.
That's an account of something that they've maybe done,
or something that they may be seen happening.
So they give a testimony.
It's spoken.
It's giving evidence.
But the other testimony is speaking about the Christian's experience.
And again, it's making something public.
And it's speaking about evidence.
It's speaking about something that's happened.
But it's the work of God's grace in our lives.
So instead of when we're giving evidence in court,
we're looking maybe at the accused, or maybe at ourselves.
That's giving testimony to a person.
When we're thinking of the Christian's testimony,
it's not just looking at ourselves,
although it's telling about our experience,
but it's looking to God,
and telling of the wonder of what God has done in our lives.
So what's your testimony today?
When you think of the two ways that we can give a testimony,
one is kind of giving evidence about ourselves.
That is a testimony of some,
where the focus is on what we're doing,
or what we've done in life.
Is that your testimony today,
when the focus is on what you are doing?
Or is your testimony today to the experience
and the work of God's grace in your life?
That you're able to say that the Lord has helped me,
that the Lord has been with me,
that the Lord has taken me from the mighty clay
and put my feet on that rock that is Jesus Christ.
That he's taken me from darkness into his marvelous light.
Is that your testimony today?
And is your testimony a public one?
Is it one that you are delighted to show to others?
Whether you think of the selfish way we can boast in ourselves,
or whether it's a public way we're able to profess Christ
as our Lord and as our Savior.
Well, every testimony of God's grace
is a reason to rejoice.
It doesn't matter who it is.
It doesn't matter what they've done.
Young or old, male or female, boy or girl.
It doesn't matter.
It doesn't matter what kind of conversion it's been.
Whether it's been a dramatic one.
Whether it's been a major change,
as we see here with Saul.
Or whether it's just the quiet way that God has worked.
Maybe from your childhood,
you've always known and loved the Lord.
And then you come to a point where you make that a public profession.
A testimony is a wonderful thing.
It's a beautiful thing to hear and to see
the way the Lord works in so many people's lives.
But what do we do when we hear of someone becoming a Christian?
When someone gives their testimony,
do you rejoice?
And do you give thanks to God for that work?
Or do you maybe begin to question it?
Is it real?
Is it true?
Can it really be right that that person is converted?
Well, think of the conversion of Saul here,
the testimony of Saul.
What do you see?
We think of Saul, who became known as Paul.
We think of him and all that he did for the Lord.
And all the letters that he wrote to the churches,
the places he went.
And we think of him as a great evangelist in the New Testament,
going out proclaiming the wonders of Jesus Christ.
But what was he before he came to that?
Before he came to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Well, all you have to do is look at the first verse of Acts chapter 9.
And you see what he was.
But Saul still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord.
This is what he was.
He was a persecutor of the church.
And the more we look at the scriptures,
the more we see the wonder of God's grace.
Saul's conversion is one of these high points in scripture,
where we see the wonder of grace towards one who was literally killing Christians,
arresting them, having them put to death.
And the history of the church and the change that would come through his conversion,
it's remarkable.
And we think of Saul here.
But there's another name mentioned,
just as important in the midst of Saul's conversion.
Not as well known,
little is known of him,
but this man,
Ananias.
He is mentioned here too.
And as a reminder to us,
yes,
there's dramatic conversions,
and the wonder of Saul's conversion.
But there's also the way God works through all his people.
Ananias being one.
God is able to transform anyone.
And here we're looking at Saul.
And really,
he was like an animal,
and a wild animal.
But God tamed him.
John Calvin uses that kind of illustration
in his commentary on Acts.
He says,
Luke tells how the Lord not only brought him under control
when he was like a wild animal,
but made him a new person.
It wasn't like taming an animal and putting him in a cage
because they were still dangerous,
but this wild animal was a new creation.
Saul, who was breathing out murderous threats,
is now going out,
proclaiming the wonder of the grace of God.
He's a new person.
He ever tried to tame a wild animal?
I'm sure many have had pet lambs over these last months.
They're not exactly wild animals,
but by nature,
they want to go and do their own thing.
But you can.
You can feed them,
and they can come very close to you.
The closest I ever came
was catching two baby rabbits out in the garden.
Again, not exactly wild creatures,
but by nature,
they just want to be out.
But I thought I could look after them.
I thought I could care for them
and make them love me.
But the first opportunity they got,
they were away.
They ran away.
And that's just the way we are.
We are by nature a people
who God needs to tame.
But by nature,
we are a people who run away.
And it's amazing when you see
truly wild animals tamed.
Lions and those who can work with them
and get alongside them.
But the worst of sinners
in the hands of God
can be changed and tamed
and made into new creations as well.
And this is what this passage reminds us of.
The power of God to change.
And that God is in control.
And that when we trust him,
he is able to help us.
When we think of that thing
that we need to do
as we're talking about
with the children,
the bravest thing we've ever said,
help.
That is what we need,
to say help to the Lord.
And there's just two things
I want us to look at this passage,
two headings we want to look under it.
And the first is looking at
the taming that takes place.
And then secondly,
we're going to look at the tamer,
the one who does it.
So first of all,
we see the taming.
So we think of Saul
breathing out murderous threats.
He's like a wild animal.
So what changed?
Do you believe in miracles?
You might say yes,
because we see them in the Bible.
We read about miracles
that Jesus performed in the Bible.
We read about the miraculous works of God
throughout the scriptures.
But what about today?
Do you believe that God does miracles today?
There's a psalm, Psalm 77, verse 14.
In the St. Sam's version,
it says,
you are the God of miracles,
whose power the nations view.
Other translations use the word wonders,
but it means the same thing.
You are the God of miracles.
And today we still view God in that way,
that he is the God of miracles,
because God still does wondrous works.
God still takes people
from darkness to light.
God still takes people
from anger and a rage against God
to love the Lord.
He is the God of miracles.
But we can be scared
of what God is doing as well.
Think about it for yourself.
Maybe you've been out on a walk,
walking around the castle grounds, perhaps,
and you're on a narrow path
and coming towards you
is someone with a dog
and the dog is kind of
straining at the leash
to come towards you.
And if you're a little bit scared of dogs,
you're quite hesitant
to go towards them.
But the owner very often
will say something like,
don't worry,
it won't bite you.
But you're still not sure,
are you?
You're still a little bit wary,
especially if they start barking.
You're still a little bit wary
and sometimes rightly so.
Well, think about Saul here then.
He's like a wild animal.
He was ravaging the church,
breathing out murderous threats.
But now the grace of God
has taken hold of him
and he's a new creation.
He is tamed.
Now, had you heard
or known of Saul at this time,
what would your reaction be?
Especially if you're told,
go and see him.
Go and speak to him.
Well, we see it with Ananias here
how he responds in verse 13.
The Lord has told him
to go and lay hands on him
that he might regain his sight.
In verse 13,
Ananias answered,
Lord, I have heard
from many about this man
how much evil he has done
to your saints in Jerusalem.
That's his initial reaction.
And that would probably be our reaction
if we were in his shoes as well.
Think about it in this way.
Every year,
the Christian organization
open doors.
They work highlighting
where Christians are persecuted
around the world.
And they produce
a world watch list
every year.
the top 15 countries
where Christians face persecution,
the most extreme persecution.
The top three countries
in the world
are North Korea,
Somalia,
and Yemen.
And you can see the list
for yourselves online.
And they recorded
that last year,
4,476 Christians
were killed
for their faith.
Imagine being asked
to go to one of these places.
To North Korea,
Somalia,
or Yemen.
And being told
to go and speak
to one of the main people
who have been
persecuting
those of the Christian faith.
And to say to them,
I have a word
from God for you.
Would you go?
Would you go
immediately?
You would be hesitant,
I'm sure,
same as myself.
There would be that fear,
that natural fear.
And that's the natural fear
that Ananias has here.
He has heard
about Saul.
He's heard
what he's doing.
And he's told
to go and see him
and lay hands on him.
And he's saying
almost to the Lord,
are you sure?
I have heard
about this man.
And yet,
Ananias here
is one of those
special people
who almost just
steps onto the scene
of the Bible
for a few moments
and then quickly
disappears again.
But so important.
One of these unsung
heroes of the faith.
But Ananias
is a picture
of what faith does.
It trusts God.
Faith trusts God.
And in verse 14,
we see,
and here he has authority,
so he's still speaking
about how he's come
to arrest the people.
But the Lord said to him,
go,
for he is a chosen
instrument of mine.
And so with these words
from the Lord,
Ananias goes.
And look at the way
he describes
Saul then.
He departed,
and it says in verse 17,
and entered the house,
this is where Saul was,
and laying his hands
on him,
he said,
brother Saul.
Not just
at a distance,
carefully,
saying Saul,
but laying his hands
on him,
saying,
brother Saul.
Acknowledging the work
of God's grace.
that he is accepted
by God.
Ananias
is calmed
by the grace
of God,
and Saul
is transformed
by the grace
of God.
And God
is able
to tame.
And that's the wonder
of everyone's testimony.
Whether it's the
quiet testimony,
still with the fear
and anxiety
and an element
of how am I
going to go on.
Or whether it's
those who are brought
from a background
of very publicly
disrespecting
or cursing
the Lord.
Turning your back
on the Lord
that the Lord
is able
to tame.
There's two examples
here.
Ananias,
the one who knows
and loves the Lord,
and Saul,
breathing out
murderous threats
against the Lord.
And yet we see
the wonder
of the grace
of God.
And so it reminds us
how we are to deal
with one another.
How we are to look
at one another.
And to see that
God is able
to change
anyone.
God is able
to take the vilest
of sinners
and make them
a new creation.
salvation.
And we are challenged
by Jesus himself
when we look at
Matthew chapter 16.
Chapter 6,
verse 14 and 15.
And this is at the end
of the Lord's prayer
where it says,
For if you forgive
others their trespasses,
your heavenly Father
will also forgive you.
But it goes on to say,
if you do not
forgive others
their trespasses,
nor will your Father
forgive your trespasses.
And there's an example
for us here
of that in Ananias,
where he's saying
initially,
I've heard
about this man.
I've heard
the things
he has done
against his people.
but he is able
to forgive
and to call him
Brother Saul,
to see that the
Lord's grace
is a powerful thing.
So we are to
forgive others.
Because if we're
not able to,
it says,
your Father
will not be able
to forgive
your trespasses.
So there's that
serious warning.
God tames
his people.
And we're shown
just how he does
it with Saul.
How does
he change?
Well, we see
three things
very briefly here.
We see Saul
is praying
in verse 11.
And the Lord
said to him,
rise and go
to the street
called straight.
And at the house
of Judas,
look for the man
of Tarsus
named Saul.
For behold,
he is praying.
Immediately,
Saul is praying.
He is looking
to God.
He knows
he can come
into that
relationship
with God.
As Gordon
was preaching
on the last
couple of weeks,
the importance
of prayer
in our personal
and our corporate
life.
Here it is
shown to us,
Saul immediately
is praying.
You see,
Saul is humble
before the Lord.
Saul would have
gone on and said,
I can do it
myself previously
and everything,
but now he can
receive that help
from Ananias.
us.
And so we are
to be humble
before the Lord
ourselves as well,
to humble ourselves
under the mighty
hand of God.
That's what we
need to do.
And you see then
also,
Saul is living
for Christ.
A transformation
has come
in his life.
He's baptized.
He has fellowship
with the disciples.
And then he goes
on to proclaim
Jesus in three
verses,
18,
19,
and 20.
What a dramatic
change.
Baptized,
fellowshipping,
and proclaiming
Jesus.
And it leaves
people amazed.
He has been
transformed.
He has been
tamed by the
grace of God.
And so what is
God saying
to you today?
Do you believe
in miracles?
Do you believe
that God is
able to save
you?
He can save
anybody
if we but
look to him,
if we ask
him for help.
Saul
and Ananias,
two very
different kinds
of people,
but both
under the
grace of
God,
used in
amazing ways.
And so
can you be.
Every one
of us
can be used
by God
by coming
to put
our trust
in the
Lord Jesus
Christ.
And what
makes the
difference
here?
Well,
the second
thing we
see here
is the
tamer.
I just
want to
think
briefly
on this.
The
tamer.
What
made the
difference
to Saul?
What
made the
difference
to Ananias?
Why
was
Saul
so
changed?
Why
was
Ananias
in his
fear
able to
go to
Saul
and put
his hands
on him
and say,
Brother
Saul,
well,
it was
all of
God.
You see,
testimony,
it's not
about us.
Ananias
wouldn't go
and say,
oh,
well,
I got
strength in
myself to
go and
speak to
Saul,
look at
me.
No,
he would
testify to
God.
God spoke
to me.
He said,
I have
this man
Saul,
but he
is an
instrument
of mine
to carry
my name.
It's
all about
God.
And the
same with
Saul.
Saul,
in his
pre-conversion
life,
had believed
Jesus was
dead and
his mission
was to
destroy any
lingering thought
that this
religion,
this Christian
faith,
would go
anywhere.
He was
going to
get rid
of it.
But now
he's an
instrument in
God's
hand.
The
tamer is
God and
God is
able to
use in
them to
proclaim the
wonder of
this Christ
far and
wide.
God had
other
plans.
And the
Bible is
full of
these chosen
instruments in
his hands.
People who
were brought
from different
backgrounds,
people who
others would
have looked
down on,
yet the
Lord used.
Because if
we start
comparing
ourselves with
others, we
always end up
in difficulty.
Because we
always end up
thinking, I'm
not as good
as that
person.
I can't
be used
like that
person.
And yet
many of us
have different
personalities,
different
characteristics,
and the
Lord can
use them
all for
his glory.
What we
see as a
weakness,
God can
use as a
strength.
And Paul
goes on to
speak about
that in his
letter to
the Corinthians.
1 Corinthians
chapter 1
verse 26,
he says,
For consider
your calling,
brothers.
Not many of
you were
wise according
to worldly
standards.
Not many
were powerful.
Not many
were of
noble birth.
But God
chose what
is foolish
in the world
to shame
the wise.
God chose
what is
weak in
the world
to shame
the strong.
God
can tame.
He's the
one who
has power
and the
one who
uses
his people.
Because God
is in the
business of
taking people
and using
them in
ways they
never imagined
possible.
When you
look through
scripture,
you find
that again
and again.
You think
of Esther
in the Old
Testament who
had set off
for such a
time as
this.
She was
an instrument
in God's
hand who
saved her
people at
that time.
You think
of how God
used an
unknown
shepherd boy
called David
to become
one of the
greatest kings
of Israel.
You think
of how God
used a
blind beggar
named
Bartimaeus
begging at
the side
of the
street and
yet who
cried out
for help
to God
and taught
the disciples
in a large
crowd such a
powerful
lesson,
an instrument
in God's
hand.
You think
of the
Samaritan
woman who
was rejected
by many
who Jesus
met at a
well one
day, an
instrument in
God's hand
who went
back into
her town
and told
people that
she had
met this
Messiah,
the Christ.
Could this
be the
Christ?
You think
of the
disciples who
were called
by God,
various walks
of life,
and yet it
was said
these men
have turned
the world
upside down
because they
were instruments
in God's
hand.
There's a
book with
the title
Ordinary
People,
Extraordinary
God.
It's a
book that's
told of the
hundred year
history of
the church
in Roskeen,
the free
church in
Roskeen.
Ordinary
People,
Instruments
in God's
Hand,
an
extraordinary
God who
can do
great
things.
And
shouldn't
it be
exciting
for us
to think,
well,
what can
God do
with me?
If we
were to
put our
lives,
our hearts
into the
hands of
God,
what can
he do
with me?
Instead
of thinking,
but I'm
weak,
I've got
nothing to
offer,
God is
able.
Ordinary
people,
extraordinary
God.
Formerly,
Saul had
a mission,
but it
was all
about
self,
persecuting,
eliminating
the people
of God.
He was
advancing,
as he
says in
Galatians,
advancing
beyond many
of his
contemporaries.
He was
on the
ladder to
success as
he saw
it,
but he
was brought
down
and to
realize
that that
was nothing
compared to
the surpassing
worth of
knowing Christ
Jesus my
Lord.
And what
does Paul
put this
down to?
The work
of God.
You see
Paul,
Saul,
sharing his
testimony
throughout the
book of
Acts.
In chapter
26 of
Acts,
verse 14,
again we're
told some
more of
Paul's
testimony
there.
When we
had all
fallen to
the ground,
I heard a
voice saying
to me,
in the
Hebrew
language,
Saul,
why are
you
persecuting
me?
It is
hard for
you to
kick
against
the
goads.
It's
reminding
us there
of the
tamer,
how God
is able
to tame
because that
word
goads,
or as in
another
translation it
says,
kicking
against the
pricks,
it's all
about what
is used
to direct
animals,
the stick
that is
used to
push them
in the
right
direction.
You hear
that phrase
goading
them on.
That's
what it
means,
it just
means pushing
you,
prompting
you on
in a
certain
direction.
And
Saul
is
fighting
against
it.
The
Lord is
goading
him,
but he's
fighting
against it.
And he's
saying to
him,
why are
you kicking
against
me?
Is that
you today?
Are you
feeling these
goads,
the Lord's
prompting you
in a certain
direction,
and you're
trying to
fight against
it,
you're trying
to push
in a
different
direction,
but the
Lord is
still
pushing you.
Is it
time to
stop
kicking
against
him?
Is it
time to
stop
fighting
against
that and
just say,
Lord,
help.
Lord,
help.
The
bravest
thing we
can say
is,
Lord,
help.
I've
done it
long
enough,
going
against
you.
Help.
Help me
go in
the right
direction.
Paul was
fighting,
but he
still
a chosen
instrument
in the
hands of
God.
Maybe you
are today
too,
but it's
time to
stop kicking
against him
and just
to let him
come and
have your
life and
live for
him.
Paul would
see himself
as weak,
and so do
we,
but that's a
good thing,
God.
Because it's
only then
we see
the strength
of God.
Charles
Spurgeon
put it like
this,
grow in
the root
of all
grace,
which is
faith.
Believe
God's
promises
more firmly
than ever.
Allow your
faith to
increase in
its fullness,
firmness,
and simplicity.
Don't
over
complicate it,
but by
grace,
grow
through
faith.
believe.
Stop
kicking
and believe
and be
an instrument
in God's
hand that
your testimony
would be,
not look
what I've
done,
but look
at what
God has
done to
me and
to many
more,
and give
glory to
him.
Let us
pray.
Lord,
our
gracious
God,
we do
thank you
that you
are one
who is
patient
and
merciful.
You
know,
as we
think of
Saul
kicking
against
the
goads,
and how
often we
find
ourselves
like that
too,
when we
are just
kicking
out
against
you,
turning
into
our
own
ways,
but yet
by your
grace,
by your
love,
you guide
us,
you help
us,
and we
pray that
you will
continue
to do
that,
and to
help us
to give
that testimony
of glory
to your
name,
as we
ask all
with the
forgiveness
of our
sin,
in Jesus'
name,
Amen.
We'll
conclude by
singing to
God's
praise in
Psalm 73
in the
Scottish
Psalter
version,
page
316,
we'll
sing from
verse 23
to 26.
And this
is a
psalm where
you see
the psalmist
initially
questioning
the Lord,
but then
you see
this great
change
in verse
23,
nevertheless
continually,
O Lord,
I am
with thee,
thou dost
me hold
by my
right hand
and still
upholdest
me,
thou with
thy
counsel
while I
live,
wilt me
conduct
and guide
and to
thy glory
afterward
receive me
to abide.
Let's sing
these four
verses to
God's
praise.
miracle.
my right hand, and still thou holdest me.
Though it I counsel while I live, will be conduct and guide,
and to thy glory afterward receive me to abide.
Whom have I in the heavens high, but thee, O Lord, alone,
and in the earth through my desire, besides thee there is none.
My flesh and heart doth paint and fill, but God doth fail me never.
For of my heart, God is the strength and portion forever.
After the benediction, I'll go to the door to my right.
We'll close with the benediction.
Now may grace, mercy, and peace from God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
rest upon and abide with you all now and forevermore.
Amen.