WEBVTT 00:00:00.220 --> 00:00:06.799 Thanks so much for reading, Kirsty. My name's Archie, as has been said. I'm the pastor in training here at Brunsfield. 00:00:06.900 --> 00:00:11.919 It's a pleasure to be with you this morning, a privilege to be bringing God's Word to you. 00:00:11.960 --> 00:00:17.440 Do keep your Bibles open in Acts chapter 9. If you haven't already got that open, please do have that open in front of you. 00:00:17.460 --> 00:00:20.859 That would be very useful for you and for me if you do that. 00:00:21.260 --> 00:00:26.140 We see there, don't we, in Acts chapter 9, just a very unlikely man. 00:00:26.140 --> 00:00:32.620 I wonder if you can think of someone who just seemed really unlikely for the job. 00:00:33.740 --> 00:00:37.659 And yet when they get to it, they were clearly just the right person for it. 00:00:38.600 --> 00:00:43.200 Dylan Hartley, sorry to use another rugby analogy, you'll be getting bored of these by now, I'm sure. 00:00:43.299 --> 00:00:45.659 But Dylan Hartley, he used to play rugby for England. 00:00:46.560 --> 00:00:50.620 And he had one of the worst disciplinary records in the modern game. 00:00:51.260 --> 00:00:55.500 60 weeks worth of bans in total he received for his ill discipline. 00:00:56.140 --> 00:01:01.399 And despite that record, he ended up being given the England captaincy. 00:01:02.320 --> 00:01:04.099 Such an unlikely man. 00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:08.180 And yet as captain for England, he really did do a phenomenal job. 00:01:08.280 --> 00:01:10.340 He was an extremely successful captain. 00:01:10.460 --> 00:01:15.200 Under him, England, they won the Grand Slam, an undefeated Six Nations tournament. 00:01:16.079 --> 00:01:19.560 They recorded their first series win away in Australia. 00:01:20.260 --> 00:01:24.060 Dylan Hartley was a very surprising choice for England captain. 00:01:24.060 --> 00:01:28.180 But it would seem he was just the right man for the job. 00:01:29.719 --> 00:01:35.620 We'll see this morning as we think about God's plan, about the explosion of the gospel, 00:01:36.219 --> 00:01:38.859 which is what we've seen as we've been working through this book together. 00:01:39.520 --> 00:01:44.159 We'll see how there's a surprising man to carry that plan forward for God. 00:01:44.159 --> 00:01:50.560 And despite being a very unlikely man, he is just the right man for the job. 00:01:51.719 --> 00:01:55.819 Last week, Alistair began with a famous A-team quote. 00:01:56.099 --> 00:01:59.219 I love it when a plan comes together, was the quote. 00:01:59.299 --> 00:02:00.199 Why did he start there? 00:02:00.319 --> 00:02:02.079 Well, we're in the book of Acts together. 00:02:02.219 --> 00:02:03.239 This is Luke. 00:02:03.420 --> 00:02:04.179 He's a doctor. 00:02:04.319 --> 00:02:05.159 He's a historian. 00:02:05.159 --> 00:02:12.539 And this is his account, his account of the early church growing, of the gospel spreading like wildfire. 00:02:12.539 --> 00:02:19.280 And in chapter one, verse eight, Jesus, after the resurrection, but before he ascends to heaven, 00:02:20.299 --> 00:02:23.000 Jesus gives the apostles a sort of mission statement. 00:02:23.139 --> 00:02:24.719 He's telling them what's going to happen. 00:02:25.659 --> 00:02:27.280 Chapter one, verse eight says this. 00:02:27.840 --> 00:02:31.819 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. 00:02:32.359 --> 00:02:38.599 And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth. 00:02:39.099 --> 00:02:40.519 That is God's plan. 00:02:40.520 --> 00:02:50.080 In our first series in Acts last year, we looked at the first seven chapters and we saw the church in Jerusalem grow, massively grow. 00:02:50.180 --> 00:02:56.920 But last week in chapter eight with Alistair, that mission, God's plan, was really starting to come together. 00:02:57.580 --> 00:03:04.640 As the gospel began to advance beyond the borders of Jerusalem, beyond even the borders of Judea, out into Samaria, 00:03:04.800 --> 00:03:09.240 we saw as Stephen carried the gospel, as Philip, sorry, carried the gospel there. 00:03:09.240 --> 00:03:14.860 And with the Ethiopian eunuch, we begin to see the gospel advancing to the ends of the earth. 00:03:16.040 --> 00:03:20.780 Following then some unlikely conversions to Christianity in the preceding chapters. 00:03:21.080 --> 00:03:25.600 In our chapter this morning, we get yet another very unlikely conversion. 00:03:26.520 --> 00:03:27.980 But this one isn't just unlikely. 00:03:28.180 --> 00:03:29.820 It's also very unusual. 00:03:29.819 --> 00:03:34.139 And it's recorded as unusual for a reason. 00:03:34.900 --> 00:03:44.159 As he chooses Saul to carry out his purposes, unlikely as we'll see that is, he's just the right man for the job. 00:03:45.139 --> 00:03:48.620 This is God's plan through God's man. 00:03:48.620 --> 00:03:53.539 And just as we begin, I want to say God does have a plan. 00:03:53.640 --> 00:03:59.879 He has a plan in the book of Acts and he has a plan today for the growth of his gospel. 00:04:00.000 --> 00:04:08.159 As we look around the world around us, I wonder, can we be asking ourselves this morning, does God really have a plan? 00:04:08.159 --> 00:04:16.620 As we read through the book of Acts and see God's plan worked out there, do we believe that God has a plan today? 00:04:17.920 --> 00:04:20.600 Are we prepared to be surprised by him? 00:04:22.300 --> 00:04:25.600 On the world stage, there's climate change. 00:04:25.719 --> 00:04:27.040 We're still talking about COVID. 00:04:27.219 --> 00:04:28.159 The restrictions are easing. 00:04:29.040 --> 00:04:32.579 There's apparently war looming, right, in Russia and Ukraine. 00:04:32.800 --> 00:04:34.720 Political scandals here in the UK. 00:04:35.439 --> 00:04:36.920 Rising utility costs. 00:04:36.920 --> 00:04:39.439 It all looks like a bit of a mess, doesn't it? 00:04:39.460 --> 00:04:41.199 Maybe even slightly closer to home. 00:04:41.819 --> 00:04:46.540 The church here in Scotland seems to be shrinking, certainly very divided. 00:04:48.180 --> 00:04:54.300 And I guess if we'd look at our own selves too, in our own lives even, if we're honest, it's a bit of a mess. 00:04:54.740 --> 00:04:55.879 There's mess out there. 00:04:56.360 --> 00:04:58.680 There's mess all around us. 00:04:58.980 --> 00:05:00.139 There's mess in here. 00:05:00.220 --> 00:05:02.720 Aren't we asking, does God have a plan in this? 00:05:02.720 --> 00:05:09.200 Well, are we prepared to be surprised by him and his goodness? 00:05:09.199 --> 00:05:16.539 In this passage this morning, God's plan is a surprising plan for a surprising man. 00:05:17.259 --> 00:05:19.959 So let's dive into it together and be encouraged, shall we? 00:05:19.979 --> 00:05:24.259 As we zoom in on Saul, let's see first the man that he was. 00:05:24.319 --> 00:05:25.919 The man that Saul was. 00:05:26.019 --> 00:05:28.099 See in verse 1, have a look at verse 1. 00:05:28.219 --> 00:05:32.300 Saul was breathing out, still breathing out murderous threats. 00:05:32.300 --> 00:05:35.120 Now we've met this guy before, Saul, in chapter 7. 00:05:35.280 --> 00:05:37.560 He was there as Stephen was stoned. 00:05:37.660 --> 00:05:38.960 He was there at that murder. 00:05:39.939 --> 00:05:44.500 In chapter 8, he began ravaging, destroying, persecuting the church. 00:05:44.500 --> 00:05:45.680 And he's relentless. 00:05:45.879 --> 00:05:48.360 This guy, he's literally murderous. 00:05:49.300 --> 00:05:51.060 Into verse 2, see what he does? 00:05:51.100 --> 00:05:59.540 He goes to the high priest to ask for letters, the authority to drag the Christians in Damascus away as prisoners to Jerusalem. 00:05:59.540 --> 00:06:01.120 Do you see who this guy is? 00:06:02.300 --> 00:06:05.740 He's gone to the highest religious authority in the land. 00:06:06.199 --> 00:06:11.939 He's been given the stamp of approval to literally go down and hunt those belonging to the way. 00:06:12.540 --> 00:06:18.879 In other words, just Christians, those who follow Jesus, the man who said that he was the way, the truth and the life. 00:06:18.980 --> 00:06:22.519 They're in the way and Saul wants to get them out of the way. 00:06:23.120 --> 00:06:28.720 It's like he's the top agent of the secret police with all the weight of that authority behind him. 00:06:28.720 --> 00:06:35.120 This is the man, a murderous, anti-Jesus fanatic. 00:06:36.720 --> 00:06:39.100 But we will see that he's chosen by God. 00:06:39.100 --> 00:06:46.960 If you're here this morning and you don't know Jesus, if you've come to believe for whatever reason that you've gone too far, 00:06:47.020 --> 00:06:51.080 that you couldn't possibly be a Christian, that you'd never be acceptable, 00:06:51.920 --> 00:06:54.960 that you've walked too far in the wrong direction, 00:06:54.959 --> 00:07:04.439 would you see that this man recognize how anti-Christian he was, a murderer and yet chosen. 00:07:06.299 --> 00:07:13.479 And for us as a church, as Christians in the room, those folks that we've maybe just completely written off for whatever reason, 00:07:13.480 --> 00:07:16.860 they've decided that they'll never accept Jesus. 00:07:17.780 --> 00:07:20.480 Maybe they're very anti-religion themselves. 00:07:20.640 --> 00:07:23.220 Maybe we've tried to share the gospel with them in the past. 00:07:23.780 --> 00:07:25.240 Maybe they grew up in church. 00:07:25.319 --> 00:07:30.480 Some of them maybe even grew up here, sitting under the word of God in this very room, 00:07:30.600 --> 00:07:33.240 hearing the gospel proclaimed and yet they've walked away. 00:07:34.960 --> 00:07:36.700 Maybe the lifestyle that they're living, 00:07:36.819 --> 00:07:39.720 you just know that there's no way they're going to give that up and follow Jesus. 00:07:39.720 --> 00:07:45.460 Friends, can I say, please, please, please don't give up on those people. 00:07:47.620 --> 00:07:51.620 I'm sure we can all think of at least one friend or family member like that. 00:07:52.560 --> 00:07:54.960 And I challenge you to reach out to them today. 00:07:55.640 --> 00:07:59.760 Just send them a text, give them a phone call, see how they're doing and pray. 00:07:59.760 --> 00:08:08.940 Pray earnestly for gospel opportunities to share Jesus with them and be prepared to be surprised by this good God. 00:08:09.720 --> 00:08:10.760 You see this man? 00:08:11.020 --> 00:08:12.980 He's the most unlikely of converts. 00:08:14.800 --> 00:08:15.900 But look at this too. 00:08:15.980 --> 00:08:17.620 There's another angle on Saul here, I think. 00:08:17.660 --> 00:08:19.580 Another reason that he's so unlikely. 00:08:20.560 --> 00:08:23.140 Very often we think about people becoming Christians, 00:08:23.400 --> 00:08:27.320 people who just obviously need Jesus because they've hit rock bottom. 00:08:27.700 --> 00:08:30.380 Seems that their world is crashing down around them. 00:08:30.420 --> 00:08:32.560 And in their moment of need, they turn to him. 00:08:32.559 --> 00:08:35.139 It's a wonderful and familiar story that I think. 00:08:36.279 --> 00:08:38.759 But we have no reason to think that about Saul. 00:08:40.739 --> 00:08:42.779 Remember who he goes to in verse two? 00:08:43.239 --> 00:08:44.319 It's the high priest. 00:08:44.519 --> 00:08:48.439 Saul was a powerful man in a powerful religious community. 00:08:48.439 --> 00:08:52.399 He's got unrivaled credentials, unrivaled qualifications. 00:08:52.399 --> 00:08:55.559 He describes himself as a Pharisee of Pharisees. 00:08:55.559 --> 00:08:57.439 He's got access to the high priest. 00:08:58.679 --> 00:09:03.119 We have no reason to believe that this man would feel that he might need Jesus. 00:09:04.099 --> 00:09:08.179 In fact, he's got nothing to gain and everything to lose. 00:09:09.599 --> 00:09:12.000 Maybe you're here this morning and actually that's more like you. 00:09:12.079 --> 00:09:14.399 If you're really honest in your heart of hearts, 00:09:14.399 --> 00:09:17.299 you've decided that you actually just don't really need Jesus. 00:09:17.299 --> 00:09:22.859 Or there's too much at stake, too much that you don't want to give up, 00:09:23.299 --> 00:09:27.279 too much of your identity that you know that Jesus would challenge. 00:09:28.519 --> 00:09:30.959 If that's you this morning, you're in very good company. 00:09:31.939 --> 00:09:34.059 See the man that Saul was. 00:09:34.959 --> 00:09:36.620 He is such an unlikely man. 00:09:37.879 --> 00:09:40.719 But God chooses unlikely people. 00:09:41.740 --> 00:09:45.079 Wherever you're at this morning, can I urge you to look at this guy, 00:09:45.080 --> 00:09:48.680 the man that he was, this man was not just anti-Jesus. 00:09:48.840 --> 00:09:53.220 He was literally a murderer, hunting down Christians. 00:09:53.620 --> 00:09:57.560 His identity tied to his Jewish anti-Christian-ness, 00:09:57.780 --> 00:10:00.820 to his position as a Pharisee, to his lifestyle. 00:10:01.040 --> 00:10:02.340 This is the man that he was. 00:10:02.420 --> 00:10:04.300 And this is the man that God chose. 00:10:05.120 --> 00:10:07.259 Because God had a plan through this man. 00:10:08.420 --> 00:10:10.560 Even this man. 00:10:12.360 --> 00:10:14.300 So that's the man that Saul was. 00:10:14.299 --> 00:10:18.219 But everything changes as we look next at the man that he met. 00:10:18.439 --> 00:10:19.639 Have a look at the man that he met. 00:10:19.759 --> 00:10:20.259 Verse 3. 00:10:21.079 --> 00:10:22.399 On his way to Damascus. 00:10:22.519 --> 00:10:25.000 On his way to persecute the Christian there. 00:10:25.419 --> 00:10:26.240 The Christians there. 00:10:26.379 --> 00:10:28.419 Suddenly, it says in verse 3, doesn't it? 00:10:28.459 --> 00:10:30.240 Suddenly, a light from heaven. 00:10:30.759 --> 00:10:33.559 Straight away, we see that this is an unusual story. 00:10:34.319 --> 00:10:36.740 And then in verse 4, Saul hears this voice. 00:10:37.179 --> 00:10:39.839 Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? 00:10:40.699 --> 00:10:43.299 Again, this is a very unusual story. 00:10:43.299 --> 00:10:46.059 This sort of audible voice out of nowhere. 00:10:46.259 --> 00:10:47.179 It's not normal. 00:10:48.379 --> 00:10:49.939 Whose voice is this? 00:10:50.099 --> 00:10:52.120 Do you see Saul asks the same question? 00:10:52.299 --> 00:10:54.740 And the answer comes, look at verse 5 with me. 00:10:56.079 --> 00:11:00.279 I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 00:11:00.279 --> 00:11:07.379 Just notice before we move on, the way Jesus associates himself so closely with his followers here. 00:11:07.860 --> 00:11:12.779 That to persecute them, to persecute his church, is to persecute him. 00:11:14.120 --> 00:11:16.199 And don't miss what that means for us this morning. 00:11:16.259 --> 00:11:17.819 Because this is a wonderful truth. 00:11:17.899 --> 00:11:23.779 If you're here today and you're facing struggles in life, as I'm sure we all are. 00:11:23.779 --> 00:11:27.799 Maybe especially if you're feeling the squeeze of persecution for your faith. 00:11:27.899 --> 00:11:34.959 But in whatever challenges you face in life, know that Jesus associates himself so intimately with you. 00:11:35.319 --> 00:11:39.980 If you're a Christian here this morning, you're so thoroughly united to him that he says to you, 00:11:39.980 --> 00:11:42.039 Your suffering is my suffering. 00:11:43.279 --> 00:11:45.680 Your pain is my pain. 00:11:46.460 --> 00:11:48.639 Your persecution is my persecution. 00:11:48.860 --> 00:11:49.980 I feel it with you. 00:11:51.000 --> 00:11:52.840 I walk it with you. 00:11:52.960 --> 00:11:55.060 This is the man that Saul meets. 00:11:56.039 --> 00:11:58.560 And in many ways it's a very unusual encounter. 00:11:58.700 --> 00:11:59.840 The sudden bright lights. 00:12:00.060 --> 00:12:01.480 The audible voice. 00:12:01.879 --> 00:12:05.940 Now I don't think we should expect to see Jesus in this way today. 00:12:06.039 --> 00:12:07.560 To hear him audibly like this. 00:12:07.559 --> 00:12:09.079 I wouldn't want to write that off. 00:12:09.139 --> 00:12:10.399 Let me be clear about that. 00:12:11.359 --> 00:12:13.419 But it's certainly not normal. 00:12:14.759 --> 00:12:19.279 I grew up in the kind of churches that put a massive emphasis on this sort of thing. 00:12:19.459 --> 00:12:24.000 Around people who would often talk about hearing Jesus' voice audibly like this. 00:12:24.659 --> 00:12:26.619 Asking me if I ever had. 00:12:27.379 --> 00:12:30.899 And I don't know about you, but that just made me feel like a second class Christian. 00:12:32.199 --> 00:12:33.879 Even like a bit of a fake. 00:12:33.879 --> 00:12:39.460 If you're here this morning and you're worried that your Christian experience isn't real. 00:12:40.899 --> 00:12:46.100 That you can't be a real Christian because you've not had a Damascus Road experience like this. 00:12:46.419 --> 00:12:49.919 You need to know that this sort of experience isn't normal. 00:12:51.460 --> 00:12:53.899 And it's definitely not necessary to knowing Jesus. 00:12:54.399 --> 00:12:56.139 To knowing him in faith. 00:12:56.139 --> 00:13:03.519 Having said that, there is also a pattern here that is evident in the story of every real Christian, isn't there? 00:13:03.699 --> 00:13:05.759 This is the man that Saul met. 00:13:05.980 --> 00:13:08.639 And he is the man that we all need to meet. 00:13:09.480 --> 00:13:13.139 It's essential that we would hear and see Jesus for ourselves. 00:13:13.779 --> 00:13:16.039 I think it's unlikely that it would be in this way. 00:13:16.039 --> 00:13:21.860 But just very normally, we're able to do that as the Holy Spirit works in our hearts. 00:13:21.860 --> 00:13:26.599 As we approach his word, the Bible, and see Jesus revealed to us there. 00:13:26.659 --> 00:13:29.539 As we hear the good news proclaimed, we meet him. 00:13:30.699 --> 00:13:31.740 We hear him. 00:13:32.879 --> 00:13:41.539 But I think more than that, I don't think we should even necessarily be expecting single moments like this in people's lives. 00:13:41.539 --> 00:13:42.719 That can happen. 00:13:43.199 --> 00:13:48.240 But even when Saul recounts his conversion himself, he does that twice in this book. 00:13:48.339 --> 00:13:51.439 We'll dive into those in more detail further down the line. 00:13:51.519 --> 00:13:56.099 But in two different speeches, once in chapter 22 and again in chapter 26. 00:13:56.419 --> 00:14:01.779 And there in chapter 26, Paul uses, or Saul uses, a strange phrase. 00:14:02.719 --> 00:14:04.039 Maybe you know the phrase. 00:14:04.139 --> 00:14:06.000 He says it as Jesus speaks to him. 00:14:06.379 --> 00:14:08.259 Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? 00:14:08.259 --> 00:14:12.159 It is hard for you to kick against the goads. 00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:15.299 Maybe you've heard that strange phrase before, kick against the goads. 00:14:15.340 --> 00:14:16.080 What does that mean? 00:14:16.439 --> 00:14:17.860 Well, it's a farming image, really. 00:14:18.639 --> 00:14:20.600 Imagine an ox pulling a plow. 00:14:21.179 --> 00:14:25.860 The goad then is like the stick that the farmer uses to guide the ox. 00:14:26.720 --> 00:14:28.019 So what is Jesus saying? 00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:33.439 I think he's saying that Saul has been up to this point resisting that guidance, 00:14:34.000 --> 00:14:36.779 kicking out against him like an obstinate ox. 00:14:36.779 --> 00:14:41.860 What that means is that Saul must have already encountered Jesus in some way. 00:14:43.559 --> 00:14:48.100 Now, of course, this is his first encounter with the risen Jesus in this miraculous way like this. 00:14:48.159 --> 00:14:52.439 But I think there is at least a suggestion here that God, that Jesus, 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:57.120 by the prodding of his Holy Spirit, has been guiding Saul in this sort of direction. 00:14:58.819 --> 00:15:01.980 Indeed, we know that Saul and Jesus were more or less contemporaries. 00:15:01.980 --> 00:15:05.659 This is conjecture, but we might imagine them in the temple together. 00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:12.639 Perhaps Saul was one of the Pharisees that Jesus called out during his ministry, challenged him. 00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:14.960 He certainly would have heard Jesus's teachings. 00:15:15.019 --> 00:15:16.840 It's why he's persecuting his followers. 00:15:17.960 --> 00:15:21.120 And we've seen, haven't we, just a couple of chapters before this, 00:15:21.159 --> 00:15:23.000 that he was there at Stephen's speech. 00:15:23.000 --> 00:15:27.200 As Stephen proclaimed the word of God, as he preached the gospel, 00:15:28.080 --> 00:15:32.720 perhaps even there, Saul was feeling that uncomfortable conviction. 00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:35.519 Perhaps even there, he was beginning to be humbled, 00:15:36.519 --> 00:15:41.399 to see that despite who he was, he desperately needed Christ's mercy. 00:15:41.399 --> 00:15:47.879 I know there are some of you here this morning, perhaps those watching online, 00:15:48.480 --> 00:15:52.899 exploring this church thing or rediscovering it after some time away. 00:15:53.199 --> 00:15:56.759 And you know that uncomfortable prodding of the Holy Spirit. 00:15:57.860 --> 00:16:02.679 Maybe you're beginning to see that whatever you felt before, you might really need Jesus. 00:16:03.819 --> 00:16:08.539 And here he offers you himself mercy and grace. 00:16:08.539 --> 00:16:10.980 He says, will you bring down your walls of pride? 00:16:12.559 --> 00:16:15.039 Are you prepared to follow him in humility? 00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:19.339 There's no better time to do that than right now. 00:16:20.079 --> 00:16:21.059 Would you come to him? 00:16:22.799 --> 00:16:26.339 So yes, this is chapter nine of this book. 00:16:26.419 --> 00:16:28.360 It is a remarkable moment. 00:16:28.959 --> 00:16:33.599 As Saul meets the risen Jesus, as he finally bows to him. 00:16:34.299 --> 00:16:38.179 But I do think it's helpful to realize that this probably isn't his first encounter 00:16:38.179 --> 00:16:43.120 with the good news, because very often this is how people come to follow Jesus. 00:16:44.439 --> 00:16:47.719 Last week, Glenn Scrivener, he's a pastor down in England. 00:16:47.819 --> 00:16:49.719 He posted something fascinating on Twitter. 00:16:50.379 --> 00:16:54.019 He asked his followers to picture an evangelist. 00:16:54.819 --> 00:16:58.159 When I say evangelist, what sort of person comes to mind? 00:16:59.599 --> 00:17:03.279 Sure, for most of us here, we probably have a Billy Graham sort of figure, 00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:07.319 whether a charismatic man or a woman on stage sharing the gospel. 00:17:07.440 --> 00:17:08.839 That's an evangelist. 00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:12.920 Next, he asked another simple question. 00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:16.980 Can you picture the person or the people that led you to Jesus? 00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:25.920 And for most of us, I'm sure those folks were defined not as the charismatic man or woman on stage. 00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:32.080 Those moments can be significant, but very often it's people who are marked by their honesty, 00:17:33.080 --> 00:17:39.660 by their integrity, by their love, by their persistence, 00:17:40.380 --> 00:17:43.800 and their willingness to walk with us through the hard questions of life. 00:17:45.360 --> 00:17:48.820 And so as we reach out with the gospel, might we be the same? 00:17:49.420 --> 00:17:52.960 Marked by our integrity and honesty and love and persistence, 00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:59.880 never giving up, continuing to hold out this gospel as we do our best to take our opportunities to point people to Jesus. 00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:05.360 Because this is the man that Saul met. 00:18:05.840 --> 00:18:09.000 And he's the man that we all need to meet. 00:18:09.860 --> 00:18:14.100 Because actually, God's plan is really always accomplished through this man. 00:18:15.500 --> 00:18:16.340 Through Jesus. 00:18:18.539 --> 00:18:22.340 Before we move on, you might have noticed that Saul met another man. 00:18:22.339 --> 00:18:26.399 So let's just see this other man that Saul met, Ananias. 00:18:27.159 --> 00:18:30.319 Notice his willingness to be used by Jesus in verse 10. 00:18:30.399 --> 00:18:32.720 How does he respond to the Lord calling him? 00:18:33.019 --> 00:18:34.220 What does he say in verse 10? 00:18:34.379 --> 00:18:35.259 Yes, Lord. 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:38.639 Otherwise translated, here I am, Lord. 00:18:39.199 --> 00:18:43.240 The prophets of the Old Testament, Samuel, Isaiah, others like them, 00:18:43.299 --> 00:18:47.339 they respond in exactly that way to God's call. 00:18:47.500 --> 00:18:48.299 Here I am. 00:18:48.299 --> 00:18:53.119 It's a response that says he is willing to be used by God. 00:18:54.680 --> 00:18:57.839 And yet, see how reluctant he is when he's given the assignment. 00:18:58.740 --> 00:19:01.799 In verses 11 and 12, Jesus sends him to Saul. 00:19:01.899 --> 00:19:03.940 And see his response in verse 13? 00:19:04.919 --> 00:19:08.619 He's basically saying, Saul, are you serious? 00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:13.440 The guy who's trying to destroy the church, the persecutor of the way, are you kidding? 00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:21.620 And then yet, with some encouragement, as Jesus commands him to go, Ananias trusts Jesus. 00:19:21.779 --> 00:19:22.740 He finds Saul. 00:19:22.860 --> 00:19:25.660 And look how he greets Saul in verse 17. 00:19:26.779 --> 00:19:27.320 Brother. 00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:29.559 Brother Saul. 00:19:30.259 --> 00:19:35.860 This guy, the enemy really, the guy who would have had Ananias quaking in his boots. 00:19:35.859 --> 00:19:42.219 He grasps him and he calls him brother because he's met Jesus. 00:19:43.500 --> 00:19:47.659 And so now, regardless of who he was, he's become a follower of the way. 00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:49.379 He's become a brother. 00:19:50.959 --> 00:19:54.039 Don't miss the significance of this encounter for us this morning. 00:19:54.199 --> 00:19:57.759 Notice that Saul is not left to navigate the way on his own. 00:19:57.759 --> 00:20:05.259 As Ananias comes alongside him, so as we commit to one another as a community of believers, 00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:09.759 I wonder what would it look like for us to disciple one another? 00:20:09.920 --> 00:20:15.119 You know, recovery programs, they're well known for their 12 steps to help heal addiction. 00:20:15.819 --> 00:20:19.819 One of the core steps in that program is the responsibility to help others, 00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:23.779 to draw alongside those suffering on the same path that you're walking. 00:20:23.779 --> 00:20:29.019 You know, I suspect they probably pinched that principle from healthy churches. 00:20:29.899 --> 00:20:32.899 Would we walk alongside one another in this way? 00:20:34.119 --> 00:20:36.759 I wonder who might you be able to play this role for? 00:20:36.839 --> 00:20:39.660 Even in this room, is there a brother or a sister, 00:20:39.839 --> 00:20:42.980 someone that you might be able to gently and naturally disciple, 00:20:43.099 --> 00:20:47.839 not to force this on them, but to draw alongside one another? 00:20:49.399 --> 00:20:51.379 But it's not just one-to-one like that, is it? 00:20:51.379 --> 00:20:53.599 I wonder if you noticed, did you see in verse 19? 00:20:54.519 --> 00:20:56.839 Saul spends several days with the disciples. 00:20:57.039 --> 00:20:58.619 That's other followers of the way. 00:20:59.059 --> 00:21:04.079 And friends, it is so important for us to be meeting with a community of believers like this. 00:21:05.500 --> 00:21:08.960 Understand that these were the people that Saul was hunting. 00:21:09.220 --> 00:21:11.819 He hated them, and now he is their brother. 00:21:13.379 --> 00:21:19.720 And for us then, even when it's hard, it can be awkward, it can be difficult meeting together. 00:21:19.720 --> 00:21:21.700 But it's why we do it on a Sunday. 00:21:21.819 --> 00:21:26.079 Maybe if you're online at this stage, if it would be possible for you to join us at all, 00:21:26.140 --> 00:21:27.640 let me encourage you to do that. 00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:35.319 Because we don't meet simply to learn or to enjoy a good sing song or to sort of consume the content. 00:21:35.440 --> 00:21:38.140 It's much more significant than that, what we're doing here today. 00:21:38.140 --> 00:21:43.940 As we come together like this, it's to be built up and encouraged by one another in faith. 00:21:44.600 --> 00:21:51.180 Pointing each other to Jesus as a community of those helping one another on the way. 00:21:51.180 --> 00:21:55.539 So we've seen the man that Saul was. 00:21:55.680 --> 00:21:57.039 We've seen the man that he met. 00:21:57.140 --> 00:21:59.120 Well, two men, but think about Jesus really. 00:21:59.240 --> 00:22:00.620 We've seen the man that he met. 00:22:01.740 --> 00:22:04.259 And as we finish, let's see the man that he became. 00:22:04.400 --> 00:22:05.740 The man that Saul became. 00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:09.180 In verse 9, we see he's blind. 00:22:09.660 --> 00:22:11.519 Having encountered Jesus, he's blind. 00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:13.620 He's not eating or drinking. 00:22:13.820 --> 00:22:15.460 This isn't a punishment for Saul. 00:22:15.539 --> 00:22:17.000 I don't think we should think of it like that. 00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:19.019 But more like a time of reflection. 00:22:19.019 --> 00:22:23.240 See in verse 11, as the Lord appears to Ananias in that vision. 00:22:23.460 --> 00:22:27.799 And at the end of verse 11, he tells him that he'll find Saul doing what? 00:22:29.379 --> 00:22:29.859 Praying. 00:22:30.440 --> 00:22:30.839 Praying. 00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:31.639 He's praying. 00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:33.660 This is his initial response. 00:22:33.779 --> 00:22:38.099 As he reflects on what he's experienced in the darkness of his blindness. 00:22:38.299 --> 00:22:40.220 It's prayer and fasting. 00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:42.900 See the sort of man that he's become. 00:22:43.859 --> 00:22:46.400 And let's take a closer look in verse 15. 00:22:46.980 --> 00:22:48.779 See what Jesus says about him. 00:22:49.019 --> 00:22:57.740 This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 00:22:58.079 --> 00:23:01.700 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name. 00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:05.279 Do you see God has a plan through this man? 00:23:05.819 --> 00:23:08.339 And that plan is precisely what happens. 00:23:08.420 --> 00:23:10.039 It's precisely what Saul does. 00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:13.240 Firstly, see how he proclaims Jesus's name. 00:23:13.579 --> 00:23:14.619 See in verse 20. 00:23:14.619 --> 00:23:20.119 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the son of God. 00:23:20.479 --> 00:23:22.439 And then at the end of verse 27. 00:23:22.439 --> 00:23:23.459 Look there with me. 00:23:23.839 --> 00:23:26.439 He preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 00:23:26.440 --> 00:23:28.500 And in verse 28. 00:23:28.500 --> 00:23:31.160 Speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 00:23:32.200 --> 00:23:36.460 Saul immediately begins to be used by God to preach his word. 00:23:36.539 --> 00:23:38.660 To proclaim the name of Jesus. 00:23:39.360 --> 00:23:42.640 And so we see not only does God choose unlikely people. 00:23:42.779 --> 00:23:45.160 He also uses unlikely people. 00:23:45.160 --> 00:23:49.060 This is such an unlikely man. 00:23:49.960 --> 00:23:52.680 And in a sense, I don't think that should be a surprise to us. 00:23:52.740 --> 00:23:54.940 The sort of people God uses all through scripture. 00:23:56.220 --> 00:23:57.420 Noah was a drunk. 00:23:58.040 --> 00:23:59.100 Jacob was a liar. 00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:00.460 Rahab a prostitute. 00:24:00.600 --> 00:24:02.519 David an adulterer and murderer. 00:24:02.880 --> 00:24:04.400 Jonah ran away from God. 00:24:04.800 --> 00:24:08.320 Peter denied Christ three times in his moment of need. 00:24:08.319 --> 00:24:11.879 God uses unlikely people. 00:24:14.279 --> 00:24:17.179 Are you prepared to say, here I am. 00:24:17.919 --> 00:24:20.839 And be surprised by how he might use you. 00:24:22.939 --> 00:24:25.399 Notice too, just as Jesus said he would. 00:24:25.399 --> 00:24:30.679 Saul also begins to suffer as Jesus uses him to proclaim the gospel. 00:24:30.839 --> 00:24:33.339 See how they respond to his preaching in verse 23. 00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:38.759 After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him. 00:24:39.779 --> 00:24:41.099 Right away, he's suffering. 00:24:42.319 --> 00:24:46.720 And there's much more of that to come, as we'll see in Luke's narrative through Acts, 00:24:46.779 --> 00:24:49.559 as the persecutor becomes the persecuted. 00:24:51.819 --> 00:24:57.619 Now, as we finish, let's not lose sight here of what Luke really wants to convince his readers of. 00:24:57.619 --> 00:25:03.659 Because for him, what he's saying is that Saul is the real deal. 00:25:04.479 --> 00:25:09.579 As he shows us God's plan, he wants to show us that Saul is God's man. 00:25:10.119 --> 00:25:11.839 Notice again in verse 27. 00:25:12.759 --> 00:25:16.319 Barnabas took him, that Saul, and brought him to the apostles. 00:25:17.279 --> 00:25:22.239 He told them how Saul had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him. 00:25:22.240 --> 00:25:30.539 When the apostles in chapter 1 appointed Matthias to replace Judas so that there would still be 12 apostles, 00:25:30.660 --> 00:25:33.859 if you remember this, I appreciate it was almost a year ago that we were there together. 00:25:34.519 --> 00:25:38.940 But the criteria for an apostle there was that they had been with Jesus, 00:25:39.599 --> 00:25:43.799 that they had seen and heard and been a witness to his resurrection. 00:25:44.500 --> 00:25:49.000 The word apostle really just means messenger, but here it means something more. 00:25:49.000 --> 00:25:51.920 It's a title, apostle with a big A, if you like. 00:25:52.920 --> 00:25:55.339 And so as we journey through the rest of Acts, 00:25:55.380 --> 00:25:58.920 and as we see Saul carry the gospel beyond the Jewish nation, 00:25:58.920 --> 00:26:01.519 as we see him share and point to Jesus, 00:26:01.740 --> 00:26:04.420 Luke wants us to remember this unusual encounter, 00:26:05.220 --> 00:26:10.019 to remember then the authority with which Saul is able to speak. 00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:14.339 And for us, the authority with which he writes as an apostle. 00:26:14.339 --> 00:26:18.639 Most of the New Testament this man wrote under the name Paul, of course, 00:26:18.679 --> 00:26:21.299 which is just the Greek version of the same name. 00:26:22.459 --> 00:26:26.819 He's writing and it is the authoritative word of God. 00:26:27.559 --> 00:26:29.019 And so we can trust it. 00:26:30.059 --> 00:26:36.259 As Peter, one of the other apostles, says of Paul in his letter to Peter in chapter 3, verse 16, 00:26:36.259 --> 00:26:40.140 he says, his letters contain some things that are hard to understand, 00:26:41.099 --> 00:26:43.660 which unstable and ignorant people distort, 00:26:44.019 --> 00:26:48.599 as they do the other scriptures to their own destruction. 00:26:49.559 --> 00:26:52.000 See what Peter says about Paul's letters? 00:26:52.220 --> 00:26:53.539 Yes, they're very challenging. 00:26:54.359 --> 00:26:58.640 And there are some people today who would point us to Jesus and tell us to ignore Saul, 00:26:58.720 --> 00:27:00.519 but see what Peter says about his letters. 00:27:00.640 --> 00:27:01.579 They are scripture. 00:27:02.539 --> 00:27:03.519 They're God's word. 00:27:03.519 --> 00:27:06.480 We do not need to distort them and we can trust them. 00:27:07.900 --> 00:27:11.079 Friends, this morning, let's not forget how unique Saul is, 00:27:11.460 --> 00:27:13.639 how unique his experience has been. 00:27:14.119 --> 00:27:16.740 And yet, surely there's a word for Christians here too. 00:27:17.680 --> 00:27:19.859 Of course, not that since we've met Jesus, 00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:22.680 we might now start calling ourselves apostles with a big A, 00:27:23.279 --> 00:27:25.799 claiming to speak with God's authority. 00:27:26.799 --> 00:27:29.279 Not even do I think that there's a sort of, 00:27:29.339 --> 00:27:31.879 that we might all become preachers as soon as we meet Jesus. 00:27:33.519 --> 00:27:36.359 And yet we do all have a story to tell, don't we? 00:27:36.859 --> 00:27:38.539 If you're a Christian in the room today, 00:27:38.980 --> 00:27:43.700 your life has been transformed by the wonderful grace of God in Christ. 00:27:44.920 --> 00:27:46.960 God doesn't just choose unlikely people. 00:27:47.059 --> 00:27:48.500 He uses unlikely people. 00:27:48.579 --> 00:27:52.680 And so I wonder, who might you be able to share your story with? 00:27:52.680 --> 00:27:56.700 Who can you come alongside like this and just encourage them? 00:27:56.740 --> 00:27:59.740 I've been walking with this guy called Callum for a while now, 00:27:59.779 --> 00:28:01.320 just a wonderful example of this. 00:28:02.120 --> 00:28:05.500 I met him a few years ago whilst I was working for Christians in sport. 00:28:05.560 --> 00:28:08.980 He's a footballer and he was at university in Sterling. 00:28:09.100 --> 00:28:11.640 And when I met him, he'd really just encountered Jesus. 00:28:11.980 --> 00:28:15.060 He'd grown up in the church, but he'd walked away 00:28:15.060 --> 00:28:18.440 and he'd been living that kind of classic university party life. 00:28:18.519 --> 00:28:19.840 He'd been having lots of fun. 00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:21.619 He was good at football. 00:28:21.980 --> 00:28:23.539 He was doing well at uni. 00:28:24.220 --> 00:28:25.939 He seemed to have everything sorted. 00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:28.159 He didn't really think he needed Jesus. 00:28:28.399 --> 00:28:32.639 But literally that week, a friend of his encouraged him 00:28:32.639 --> 00:28:34.559 to have another look at Jesus, 00:28:35.279 --> 00:28:37.439 to pick up his Bible and give it a crack. 00:28:37.539 --> 00:28:40.039 And as he did that, in his words, in Callum's word, 00:28:40.139 --> 00:28:42.019 Jesus just walked right off the page. 00:28:43.000 --> 00:28:46.559 And as he read about him, he saw who he really was. 00:28:46.559 --> 00:28:51.859 He heard him speak through the gospel and he was totally transformed. 00:28:52.019 --> 00:28:53.159 And see what happened next. 00:28:53.279 --> 00:28:56.559 His teammates at the football club, they just couldn't believe it. 00:28:57.319 --> 00:29:00.960 His friends, the way he slowly started to live differently, 00:29:01.619 --> 00:29:05.659 but really it was his willingness to share that story of how he met Jesus. 00:29:07.000 --> 00:29:09.879 Just very normally, nothing. 00:29:10.079 --> 00:29:11.079 He wasn't on a stage. 00:29:11.079 --> 00:29:13.759 It was just drawing alongside his friends in normal conversations, 00:29:14.480 --> 00:29:17.859 telling them what had happened and what was happening in his life. 00:29:19.779 --> 00:29:21.919 I wonder, could we do the same sort of thing? 00:29:23.220 --> 00:29:24.720 So where have we been this morning? 00:29:25.399 --> 00:29:26.960 See the man that Saul was. 00:29:27.919 --> 00:29:31.559 And that means that you, even you, no matter who you are, 00:29:31.619 --> 00:29:34.559 no matter what's in your past or in your future, even you, 00:29:34.559 --> 00:29:39.980 it also means that they, those you've written off for the gospel, 00:29:40.940 --> 00:29:43.039 it's a wonderful good news for everyone. 00:29:43.240 --> 00:29:48.779 No one is beyond God's mercy in Jesus, even you, even them. 00:29:50.279 --> 00:29:56.200 See the man that Saul met, only him, only Jesus. 00:29:56.419 --> 00:29:57.819 There is no other way. 00:29:57.960 --> 00:30:00.379 He is the way, the truth and the life. 00:30:00.380 --> 00:30:06.540 Seek him, encounter him in his word, that we would follow him. 00:30:07.900 --> 00:30:09.700 And see the man that Saul became. 00:30:10.680 --> 00:30:15.360 Again, that means that you, even you, and they, even they, 00:30:15.500 --> 00:30:18.380 can come to Jesus and be transformed. 00:30:19.340 --> 00:30:21.940 Joining this community of believers on the way, 00:30:22.080 --> 00:30:24.620 seeking to hold out the gospel to a watching world. 00:30:26.180 --> 00:30:27.500 But this is where we land. 00:30:27.500 --> 00:30:30.920 Remember Dylan Hartley, an unlikely man, 00:30:31.480 --> 00:30:33.500 chosen and the right man for the job. 00:30:34.460 --> 00:30:35.980 We've seen the man that Saul was. 00:30:36.079 --> 00:30:37.359 We've seen the man that Saul met. 00:30:37.460 --> 00:30:39.599 We've seen the man that Saul became. 00:30:39.700 --> 00:30:46.099 All this to say, this is God's plan through God's unlikely man. 00:30:47.519 --> 00:30:48.619 Shall we pray together? 00:30:49.140 --> 00:30:49.680 Let's pray. 00:30:49.680 --> 00:30:55.740 Heavenly Father, we thank you so much for your word. 00:30:57.320 --> 00:30:58.900 We thank you for Jesus. 00:31:00.820 --> 00:31:04.500 We thank you for this wonderful encounter that we read of 00:31:04.500 --> 00:31:07.620 as Saul meets Jesus on the road to Damascus 00:31:07.620 --> 00:31:09.440 and his life is transformed. 00:31:09.440 --> 00:31:16.539 And I pray for each of us here today that we might meet Jesus too. 00:31:17.720 --> 00:31:20.299 That as his word has been proclaimed, 00:31:20.980 --> 00:31:25.460 and as we go away and as we open your Bible 00:31:25.460 --> 00:31:27.940 and see what you have to say to us in it, 00:31:28.720 --> 00:31:32.299 I pray that your Holy Spirit would be revealing Jesus to us. 00:31:32.299 --> 00:31:35.879 that for each of us, he would walk right off the page 00:31:35.879 --> 00:31:40.119 and we would meet him and be transformed. 00:31:42.700 --> 00:31:44.139 We pray in Jesus' name. 00:31:44.859 --> 00:31:45.259 Amen. 00:31:45.259 --> 00:31:45.359 Amen.