The Rev. Herbert G. Hand
Faith Anglican Church
Cordova, Tennessee
April 22, 2007
Series: Characteristics of Believable Believers
Title: A Damascus Road Experience
Text: Acts 9:1-9a
I. Converting a Bear
A Roman Catholic priest, a Baptist preacher, and a Rabbi all served as college chaplains.
Two or three times a week they would get together for coffee and to talk about campus ministry.
One day, one of them made the comment, that converting college students wasn't as hard as most people thought. A real challenge would be to convert to a bear.
One thing led to another and they decided to do an experiment:
They would all go out into the woods, find a bear, preach to it, and attempt to convert it.
The Priest and the Bear
Seven days later, they got together to discuss their experiences.
Father Flannery, who had multiple bandages, had his arm in a sling, and was hobbling along on crutches, said,
"Well, I went into the woods to find a bear.
And when I found him I began to read the Catechism to him.
Well, that bear showed no interest at all, and he began to slap me around with his huge paws.
So I quickly grabbed my holy water and baptized him. Immediately, he became as gentle as a lamb.
The Baptist Preacher and the Bear
Pastor Billy spoke next.
He was in a wheelchair, with one arm and both legs in casts, and an IV drip.
He said,
"Well brothers, you know that we don't sprinkle! I went out and I found me a bear. And then I began to read to him from God's Holy Word!
But that bear showed no interest at all.
So I took hold of him and we began to rassle. We rassled down one hill, up another and down the other side, until we came to a creek.
So I quick dunked him and baptized his hairy soul. And just like you said, he became as gentle as a lamb.
The Rabbi
They both looked down at the rabbi, who was lying in a hospital bed. He was in a body cast and traction with IV's and monitors running all over the place. He was in bad shape.
The rabbi looked up and said,
"You guys don't know what trouble is, until you try to circumcise a bear."
II. True Conversion
True conversion to Jesus comes not through sprinkling, not through immersion, and not through circumcision.
Of course the sacraments and rituals we have and value, are wonderful aids:
To point us to Jesus and...
To mark the decisions we have made in response to Jesus’ calling.
But the sacraments and rituals in themselves, do not convert us.
So what is conversion and how does it happen?
Saul’s Conversion
Our reading from Acts chapter nine is the most famous conversion story in the entire Bible.
I believe Paul’s conversion outlines the pattern of all conversions, regardless if they’re gradual or sudden:
1. We start out hostile toward God and His people.
2. God allows hardships, to turn us to Him.
3. We need time for self-examination and repentance.
4. The Lord sends people to minister to us when we are ready.
5. God commissions the converted.
1. We Start Out Hostile Toward God and His People
Look at Acts 9:1-4.
1
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2and 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. 3As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"Acts 9:1-4 (NIV)
Saul, or Paul in Greek, was very very religious.
In Philippians chapter three, Paul said, he was:
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; 6as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.Philippians 3:5-6 (NIV)
Though he claimed to be serving God, in reality he was hostile toward Jesus and his followers.
Paul had even stood by, giving his approval as Stephen was stoned to death for affirming the divinity of Jesus (Acts 7:58).
Did you notice what Jesus said to Paul in verse four? He said,
"Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
By harassing and hurting the followers of Jesus, you are hostile toward God Himself.
A few weeks ago I spoke on being covenant partners with God. I said,
If you are a covenant partner with God, all His might and all His resources are available to you.
If anyone dares attack you – a covenant partner with God – the full military might of God, will eventually come down hard upon your attacker. Jesus will come to His covenant partner’s rescue.
Paul made the mistake of attacking God’s covenant partners. Jesus took it personally – "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
The truth is, each and every one of us has been to some degree like Paul –hostile toward God and His people.
As Romans 3:23 says,
"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"
Romans 3:23 (NIV)
The amazing thing, the wonderful thing is that in the midst of our hostility toward God and his people, God still loves us and still calls us to Himself.
A Teenager Hostile Toward God
As a 15 year old non-Christian, I was hostile toward God.
I remember well the day me and two friends drove through the mountains in an old beat up ’65 station wagon:
The emergency brake was broken.
The automatic transmission would not down shift.
The breaks had the old dangerous single cylinder system.
After we went through a dangerous section of hairpin curves, we came out into the valley.
A few minutes later, we realized the brakes had failed. If it had been two minutes earlier, we all would have died.
When we got to the service station. We had to throw it into park to stop the car.
Did we thank God for sparing our lives?
Sadly, no.
We cursed God for the delay in our trip.
Yet, in the midst of my hostility toward God, the very next night, God revealed himself to me as I gazed into the starry heavens on the Appalachian Trail. This was the first step in my conversion to Christ.
2. God Allows Hardships to Turn us to Him
Paul’s Blindness
Look at verse eight.
8
Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.Never once in the Gospels did Jesus ever blind anyone or make them sick.
In this instance with Paul, Jesus temporarily blinded him to aid in his conversion.
Miriam’ Leprosy
God did something similar with Miriam in Numbers chapter 12. Miriam and Aaron had begun grumbling against Moses – God’s appointed leader.
To get her attention and to bring her to repentance, God temporarily struck her with leprosy.
This temporary hardship – seven days with leprosy – helped turn her back to God and to submit to Moses’ Leadership.
The Prodigal Son
We see the same thing in the Parable of the Prodigal Son:
The father allowed the son to leave, to rebel, to squander his inheritance, and finally to live in unimaginable hardship.
But as soon as the son came to his senses and turned to his father, the father immediately ran out to greet him and threw a feast to welcome him home.
The same is true with our Heavenly Father.
At times our loving Heavenly Father allows hardships to come, to turn us to Him.
3. We Need Time for Self-Examination and Repentance
Look at verses eight and nine.
After Jesus blinded him,
8
Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.Acts 9:8-:9 (NIV)
Three long days without another word from God.
Three long days without a word from a minister of the Gospel.
Three long days in darkness, to come to grips with the reality of his hostility against Jesus and his disciples.
Years later, from First Corinthians chapter 11, St. Paul would say,
28
A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.
1 Corinthians 11:28-29 (NIV)
Paul spent three long days in self examination:
Identifying his sins.
Identifying his rebellion.
Identifying his need for Jesus.
Not only did he identify his sins, but he confessed them and repented of them.
The same is true for you and me:
Once God gets our attention, we need a time for self-examination and repentance.
The problem is, often we get so busy, we don’t take the time to examine our souls, so our sins remain un-identified and un-confessed.
Sometimes – through hardships – God forces us into a time of self-examination and repentance.
Believe me, it’s a whole lot better and easier, to periodically stop what you’re doing, and take the time to examine your soul with the search-light of the Holy Spirit.
4. The Lord Sends People to Minister to Us When We’re Ready
After three days of a total fast, no food or drink...
After three days of self examination and repentance...
Paul was ready to listen.
Let’s take a look at verses 10-16:
10
In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!""Yes, Lord," he answered.
11
The Lord told him,"Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."
13
"Lord," Ananias answered,"I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 14And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name."
15
But the Lord said to Ananias,"Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 16I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."
Acts 9:10-16 (NIV)
When we are ready to listen, then the Lord sends His people to minister to us.
In Ananias’ case, he went reluctantly, fearfully, but he went.
I know this has been true for me. Several times, God has sent certain people to minister to me, when I was finally receptive: Rusty C., Steve B., George S.
Who might Jesus be calling you to minister to?
Possibly someone who is hostile to the faith and hostile towards you.
5. God Commissions the Converted
Look at verse 17.
In great fear and trembling,
17
...Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said,17
"Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
18
Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and 19after taking some food, he regained his strength....Acts 9:17-19 (NIV)
In the following verses, we are told,
20
At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21All those who heard him were astonished and asked, "Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?" 22Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.Acts 9:20-22 (NIV)
God chooses, then uses, those who accept His call.
There are no second stringers on God’s team. There are no bench warmers.
God chooses, then uses, those who accept His call.
III. Conclusion – Trish
On Wednesday night, we heard testimony by Trish, who a year ago was in the depths of depravity, drug addiction, and deep deep depression.
Like Paul, she had been hostile toward God and his people.
Like Paul, the Lord allowed her to face hardships, hardships which caused her to cry out to God.
Like Paul, her time at Moriah House – a ministry of Memphis Union Mission – gave her time for self examination and repentance.
Like Paul, the Lord waited until she was receptive, to send gifted people to minister God’s love and healing and restoration.
Like Paul, God immediately commissioned her to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Where Are You?
Where are you on your Damascus Road experience?
Are you hostile toward God and his people?
Are you allowing a time of hardship to turn you to Jesus?
Are you in a season self examination and repentance?
Are you actively receptive to the ministry of others?
Or are you converted, commissioned, and exercising your ministry?
It is time to take the next step.