Suddenly/Turn Week 2

Pith’owm

Exaiphnēs

Acts 7:58-59

Then they cast him (Stephen) out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Acts 8:1 — And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 

Acts 9

1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 

2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 

3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 

4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 

5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 

6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 

7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 

8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 

9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 

11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 

12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 

13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 

14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 

16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 

17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 

18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized. 

Acts 22:16 — What are you waiting for? Get up! Be baptized, and wash away your sins by praying to the Lord. 

Acts 22:4 — I made trouble for everyone who followed the Lord's Way, and I even had some of them killed. I had others arrested and put in jail. I didn't care if they were men or women.

God stops Saul. 

Our society strives to avoid any possibility of offending anyone — except God.

God speaks to Saul.

Only God can change the heart of someone who is in rebellion against Him. No matter how logical our arguments or how fervent our appeals, our words will accomplish nothing unless God's Spirit prepares the way. 

— Billy Graham 

God saves Saul. 

Can anyone see that Saul isn’t the same person anymore? 

1 Corinthians 6

9 Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality,

10 or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.

11 Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

We should never underestimate what God can do between one day and the next.