According to the calendar today is “Easter” – one of the “high days” of the religious year. This is one of those few Sundays when non-church-going people, for whatever reason, go to church. Now, I may be mistaken in this, until last Friday, but in conversation with people for the last week, and over-hearing the conversations of others, I have not heard the word “Easter” a single time. I have seen it in print as in “We will be open from 10 to 4 on Easter Sunday,” but I have not heard the word. On the other hand, I have heard several folk speak of today as “Resurrection Sunday.” I don’t know if this is a trend, but the truth is, I like this designation better than “Easter.”
I do not know why the Holy Spirit has lead in this way – Perhaps it was simply poor planning on my part, but we are in the midst of a series of lessons on the conversion of the Apostle Paul. I this was not the case, it is quite likely I would have a message for you on the resurrection of Christ. But perhaps not, because just a few months ago, we spent weeks looking at the resurrection in our study of the Book of Matthew. And besides that we are not like most churches because for us the resurrection of Christ comes up in messages far more often than in the liturgical churches.
And a case in point is our current series. Saul, the central figure in our study, was an authorized and official persecutor of the early Christians. Without a doubt he had been denying Jesus’ resurrection, repeating the lie that the disciples had stolen His body from Joseph’s tomb. And when Deacon Stephen said “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man (Jesus Christ) standing on the right hand of God. Then (Saul and his cohorts) cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears” – lest they should hear any more of that kind of blasphemy. As he died, Stephen said he could see the resurrected Christ alive in the presence of God the Father. Later, as Saul was traveling to Damascus in order to shut the mouths of the believers in that city also, HE was arrested by the power of God. “And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.” The conversion of Saul from Judaism to Christianity; from unbelief to faith in Jesus Christ, from rebel to supplicant, hinges on the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave.
For us – today is not this year’s “Easter” or “Resurrection Sunday” – every Sunday is “Resurrection Day.” The resurrection of Christ is not a once a year subject in our church. It is not a minor consideration, which pops up from time to time, or according to the calendar. The resurrection is one of our cardinal doctrines, and it colors everything else that we believe and preach.
God sovereignly interposed His will on the young rebel from Tarsus. Saul was stopped, knocked down, blinded and forced to listen to the voice of the resurrected Son of God. Instantly the blinded man asked for clarification, “Who art thou Lord?” That “who” question was answered, while the “why” and “what” were temporarily ignored.
I pointed out last week that, like a surgeon, God never hurts people without having a purpose in it. At times we have no idea why we have been blinded, but the Lord knows why, and He has a reason. As omniscient and omnipotent, His hand must be on everything done this world – directly or indirectly. And even if it is Satan who blinds us, or wounds us God has absolute veto powers. Not only is there a reason when the pain ARRIVES, but there is also a reason when there is healing. God doesn’t take away our blindness just to make us happy. Everything in this world, even the good, occurs as another step in an higher purpose. Every drop of rain which falls, every fallen sparrow, ever beam of sunshine is a cog in the machinery that will bring final and ultimate glory to Jehovah. To the natural man there may appear to be dozens of accidents throughout our lives. But there are no such things to the sovereign God.
That means there was a very high purpose for the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. Clearly, there was no accident involved when Saul fell to the road outside of Damascus. He didn’t trip and fall; his transportation didn’t throw a shoe or blow a tire. He was blinded for a reason, and he was physically healed for a reason. Furthermore, he was healed spiritually for a reason greater than both.
Of course when a person is redeemed there are immediate benefits to the new babe in Christ. He now is freed from the guilt of his sin, and he may have an humble confidence before Lord. From this ought to come boldness, peace, joy and a host other blessings. He has been put now into a new company of associates, other brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. There can now be victory over the temptations and the sins which flow from them. There is now no condemnation, no fear of death and there is life more abundant.
And then there are more important things than these – there are consequences before the Lord. There can be no higher glory brought to God, than a fallen wretch saved from the guilt of his sin. If God were to resurrect every Lazarus in world, there would be less glory to God than in the salvation of a of single soul. If the Lord made the bread and fish multiply until there was never another hungry belly, it would be nothing compared to the conversion of a single Saul, Samuel, or Samson. The Lord redeems and converts souls for His glorification – not ours.
But then too, there are other lesser reasons and consequences to conversion. Sometimes they seem almost petty, even as we see with the conversion of Saul. But again, there is nothing petty in the plan of God’s power. We need to understand these things, accepting and assimilating those which can further glorify the Lord. Let’s think about some of these which we see in the life and conversion of Saul.
First there was the Apprehension Ananias.
“And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.”
It is easy to see that the apprehension of Ananias was well justified. If Kim Jong-un, the dictator of North Korea came to church this morning, wanting to join our congregation wouldn’t you have doubts about accepting him? What if Stephen Hawking somehow drove his little power chair up into the auditorium, would you wonder what he was doing here? If Kyle Odom, the man who shot that minister in Coeur d’Alene, came in wearing a backpack would you keep an eye on him? Isn’t it easier to believe in the resurrection of Christ than to believe that Saul is among the prophets? We began this series messages pointing out similarities between in the first and second Sauls in the Bible. Neither one was seeking God – they were rather searching for donkeys and disciples. One similarity which I didn’t mention is that they both began prophesying for Jehovah. And when they did, the spectators just couldn’t believe their eyes and ears.
Something else which may have lay behind the reticence of Ananias may have been a bit anger. We rejoice in the child coming to Christ, but what about the murderer and persecutor? “Lord, I’ve been looking forward to seeing Saul simmer in Hell – just as he deserves.” “Lord, you said that Ninevah would be destroyed in forty days, but now you have saved it.” “God, it is just not fair – it’s just not fair for you to save whomever you choose.” Christian, don’t let this sort of thing become a part of your attitude. There is good reason to be careful when a known sinner comes seeking church membership. But at same time, to imply this person could not possibly be saved may destroy a future apostle. It is not our ministry to judge the working of God – or another man’s servant. You and I cannot tell if a soul is truly redeemed or not. If fruit is there, even if it is small and not fully ripe, we must assume there is life in this tree. A negative, critical attitude in the heart of a Christian should not be harbored.
But Ananias wasn’t alone. No, there was the amazement of the people.
“And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?” This verse, of course, is not referring to the people of the church, but to the Jews of the synagogue. There were quite likely Christians among this number, but it primarily refers to unbelievers. They were amazed at Saul, but what was it specifically about Saul?
What this pre-apostle was doing at this point was what he would soon be doing as the Apostle to Gentiles. Paul was putting his hand to the plow and there is no looking back for any reason. Saul of Tarsus has been truly converted; there was no place in the road for him to turn around. Saul has taken up the Scripture to prove that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. The One who was crucified by the Romans at the behest of the Jews, is indeed the Messiah. And three days after His death and burial, He freely exited Joseph’s tomb. “Jesus Christ, our Lord… (was) declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” Flesh and blood had not revealed this to Saul, but the Son of God who was then in Heaven. Where once Saul said that Isaiah 53 was speaking of the Jewish nation, he now knew that it is the Christ, and Jesus of Nazareth is that Christ. Saul recounted what had happened just south of Damascus in the brightness of the noon-day sun. “I heard a voice; I saw Heaven’s glory; my heart was changed; I have been converted to Christ.” “Whereas once I was blind but now I see.” “Come see a man who told me all things; we have found the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth.” “And whereas He was dead, He is dead no longer. I have spoken with Him.” The people of the synagogue heard the message, recognized the preacher and were astounded. “Isn’t this the destroyer, the persecutor, the heir to throne of Caiaphas or Gamaliel?”
There is no greater preacher than the one who knows nothing about preaching. With time and practice, the simple witness often becomes the preacher, but the preacher evolves into the orator, and the orator forgets how to witness. B. H. Carroll told the story of a Baptist preacher who had an appointment in a distant Texas town. Two men met him on the highway, sent by others to stop him from speaking of the resurrected Christ. The man of God said that he had the Lord’s orders to go into town – even if it meant a beating. Carroll said that it was a terrible fight, and the bullies were beaten, however the preacher was so bruised and broken that he couldn’t stand or talk without great pain. When he finally reached the meeting house, he tried to preach but couldn’t. Then he saw a young man who still bore the glow of Calvary fresh on his newly redeemed face. “Young man, come up here and share with these people the gospel of Christ.” After some genuine reluctance, the young man agreed and came forward. He tried to preach, imitating the voice and manners of an evangelist, but he failed miserably. Then the beaten pastor told him to simply tell the crowd how Christ met him in the way. That was all it took – the meeting was a great success. The city often knows its sinners, and when they are converted the community sits up and takes notice.
If there is anything that Christianity needs today it is the amazement of Satan’s people. And they will be amazed when the wicked are converted and begin to display the holiness of God. They will be amazed when with zeal and passion Christians can speak about the resurrected Christ.
Another natural reaction to this is the Anger of God’s enemies.
“And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him.” The bully never likes to be beaten, and there never has been a bigger bully than Satan. He is smart enough to know that Saul is the most dangerous man in Damascus. That man must be stopped, and the zeal of Saul says that death is the only way. He is not going to be diverted intellectually, politically or in any other acceptable way.
But please be assured that the anger of the evil one is nothing but anemia to the omnipotence of Jehovah. Satan, Screwtape, Wormwood and the whole host of hell can not touch the man God has hedged about. The animals in the ark were in more danger than Saul was in Damascus. Let them be angry, let them be furious, let them attack the man of God, but Christ will be glorified. I wonder if Saul ever escaped from the vision of Stephen’s suffering and blood. Did he think that soon his own blood would mingle there with Stephen’s? “If by my death I can glorify the One, who has given me eternal life – I am willing to make that sacrifice.” “I am in a strait having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better” than to remain here with you. “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” “Whether we live we live unto the Lord, and whether we die, we die unto the Lord, whether therefore we live or die we are the Lord’s.”
It might not be a bad thing if the people of Post Falls got a bit angry with Calvary Baptist Church. If their blood begins to boil, if they hate us, it means we going about God’s business. Paul was thrown into Phillipi’s jail because he was serving the risen Christ. And through that jail he preached the gospel to the jailor and the man became a believer.
A fourth consequence to Saul’s conversion was the amity and association of Barnabas.
“But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.” “Amity” and “enmity” may sound almost alike, but they are completely opposites. “Enmity” speaks of warfare, while “amity” speaks of peace. In the world Saul had enmity, but in Barnabas he found amity.
Barnabas appears to be the first real friend that Saul had after his conversion. Barnabas is typical of what every new convert desperately needs – a Christian mentor – a nurse. Every baby needs a warm hands, soft laps, cuddles and nourishment. And so do new babes in Christ. It is a hard world out there for kittens, puppies, kids and new Christians. There are new adventures, new emotions, new pains and a new life. Every saint needs and deserves a special friend, or friends to learn from, lean on and to be loved. One reason why some churches claim to have hundreds converted, but they never grow is that there is no nursery in the church. I refer not to the nursery where the congregation is spared from crying infants. But to the place and atmosphere where new converts can be nurtured.
Barnabas saw that Saul was on the verge of major disappointment. The Jerusalem church was about to throw him out into the street. If he was not physically murdered there, he would at least see his zeal die forever. So Barnabas befriended and saved the young convert a second time. Barnabas will receive high praise and reward in glory, almost as high as Stephen’s.
This is a ministry in which every saint of God can participate if our lives are right before God. Friendship in this world is very rare – almost a forgotten skill. But it comes less naturally with each passing generation. Parents aren’t teaching their children what takes to be a good friend. Churches aren’t preaching the subject. Scripture says: “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly.” Let me encourage you to be exactly that, especially among those of household of faith.
The conversion of Saul was one of the most important events in history. It comes not far below the resurrection of Christ. That resurrection became a major part of Saul’s message. And like Saul, we should freely and willingly share what we know of Christ and how He, by His grace, saved us from the effects of our sins.
Have you been converted to Christ? Is there evidence in your life, as there was in Saul’s, that you are a child of God? Repent before the Lord, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. He died, shedding His blood as an atonement for sin, and He rose again from the grave, proving that He accomplished His work of salvation.