Worship

“Miracle in Me” by Red Rocks Worship

Scripture

“Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

“As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’

“And he said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’

“Then the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

“So he, trembling and astonished, said, ‘Lord, what do You want me to do?’

“Then the Lord said to him, ‘Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.’

“And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.” -Acts 9:1-9, NKJV

God’s Sovereign Plan Meets Us Where We Are

The last time we saw Saul, he was standing in authority and approval at the public execution of Stephen for his bold and courageous faith in Jesus. Anger and vehement determination to severely deal with the disciples of Jesus now brewed even deeper in Saul. Scripture doesn’t say what his murderous threats were, but we know the outrageous actions of persecution and imprisonment of God’s people based on Acts 8:3. With seething anger, he obtained letters from the High Priest to pursue Christians—who converted from Judaism—still meeting in synagogues in Damascus. Scholars believe there were between 30 and 40 synagogues in operation. There he went, marching down that desert trail with zeal for the traditions and religion of the Pharisees, looking to expand persecution well past Jerusalem and Judea. The Way was a problem and a menace that needed to be eradicated and silenced.

“The Greek word translated ‘breathing’ does not refer to breathing out, but to breathing in. Breathing in threats of murder and destruction may sound strange, but the idea is that Saul was so passionately determined to carry on his persecution against the nascent Christian community that he was like a wild beast that snorts before it attacks. Bulls paw the earth and snort before charging in the bullring, and in order to snort, they first have to inhale. That is the image Luke gives to describe the intensity of Saul’s fierce hostility as he made his way toward Damascus.” -R. C. Sproul, “Acts”

Read the description from Paul’s own words:

“For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.” -Galatians 1:13-14, NKJV

“‘Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.’” -Acts 26:11

And right when Saul was hot on the trail to persecute even more followers of Jesus, Jesus met Saul on the desert road. A light so radiant that it shined brighter than the sun (Acts 26:13) intercepted Saul and brought him to his knees. This was not a reaction of the awe of the Lord but rather a response of survival, terrified at the very presence and Person of Jesus—the One he was ultimately persecuting.

In an intensely personal way, Jesus repeated Saul’s name twice. Repetition like this happens 15 other times in Scripture, indicating a deeply personal encounter, not harshness or judgment. Jesus was meeting Saul in an entirely opposite manner to which Saul was marching to Damascus. However, Saul didn’t know whom he was speaking with. Jesus answered him with the truth that indeed He was the one Saul was persecuting. (This post-resurrection appearance of Jesus was key to the apostleship of Paul to the New Testament churches (1 Corinthians 9:1)!) When Jesus asked him, “’Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me (Acts 9:4b)?’” this very question would throw Saul’s life mission into question. Everything was on the table now.

Two Questions That Transform Our Walk with Christ

1. “Who are You, Lord?”

Saul would spend the rest of his life seeking the more complete answer to this question—a question spoken with humility and eagerness.

“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death…” -Philippians 3:10

2. “Lord, what do You want me to do?”

In God’s faithfulness and mercy, He woos His people to the place where their hearts are ready to receive and to walk in submission and obedience. Saul spent three days hungry, thirsty, and sitting in darkness and silence. God was doing something deep unto deep in Saul that would catapult him in an entirely different direction and pursuit. Just three days in the secret place, fasting with the Lord, and Saul came out a transformed man—transformed by the very gospel that he would proclaim the rest of his days!

“In the three days of blindness and deprivation, Saul was dying to himself. It would only be after the three days of dying that he would receive resurrection life from Jesus.” -David Guzik

Paul testifies of this encounter with the Lord in Galatians 1:11-12:

“… the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Blind, Saul ended up going to Damascus, but it would turn out for the purposes of God and not the plans of the enemy to persecute Jesus and His followers. There, he was told by Jesus to wait. There’s something so holy in the waiting.

Waiting as the Lord spoke the gospel.

Waiting as his heart was transformed.

Waiting to receive a deeper revelation of Jesus.

Waiting for his commissioning.

Waiting to be a light to the nations.

Just as Saul encountered Jesus, his questions beg to be answered in our own lives: Who are You, Lord, and what do You want me to do? Will we, like Saul, make it our pursuit to know Christ crucified and to say, “For to me, to live is Christ (Philippians 1:21)”? This moment changed Saul’s vision of God and released the vision God had for his life. And in this realization that Jesus was alive, repentance ensued—one of the most radical, humbling, and profound heart cries for a self-righteous pharisee. His spiritual eyes were opened and his heart was healed as grace crashed over his life!

Call to Action

Jesus asks of us the same questions Jesus asked His disciples: So who do you say I am (Matthew 16:15)? What do you want Me to do for you (Mark 10:51-52)? This is the deep place of intimacy with Jesus as your friend. This morning, He invites us to get heart-to-heart and face-to-face with the Lover of our souls.

Saul’s calling and commissioning awaited him, as does yours!

“‘Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.’” -Acts 9:6, emphasis added

A Few Key Notes

• Dallas Harvest Days are back! Love your neighbor and join us in sharing about Jesus with people in Dallas! We will teach you how to share the gospel and then go and evangelize together. Meet at La Victoria, 1605 N. Haskell Ave., Dallas, TX 75204, at 9 a.m. this Saturday, September 7. Tell us you’re coming by emailing [email protected].
• Join me and Alexandria Watkins for a four-week book study on “Living in the Daze of Deception” by Jack Hibbs. This book explores the many ways error is masquerading as truth and how you can discern the difference. We will meet at 7 p.m. on Thursdays beginning September 12 in the Castle Hills neighborhood in Lewisville. (I’ll send the exact address after you RSVP.) This study is free, but you will need to purchase your own book. RSVP by emailing me at [email protected].
• Join us on October 12 as we launch our Spanish Arise chapter, Levántate! We will enjoy brunch as our Spanish chapter leader, Flora, shares the heart and vision of Levántate. Tickets are free, but space is limited! RSVP today!