This is my story: Saul

Acts 9:1-9

 

Opening Words: The Master has touched each one of our lives. Each one of us has a different story. Some stories are quite dramatic, like the Apostle Paul‘s on the Damascus Road. Some stories are quite simple, like mine. This is the truth. The details of the story really doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is that at point in your life you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. On this fifth Sunday of Lent we hear the story of the greatest missionary the church has ever known, Saul or Paul. It is a story of true grace. My question for you today is, do you really understand grace? May God give you ears to hear these words from the first nine verses from the ninth chapter of Acts.

 

Acts 9:1-9 1Meanwhile, 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?" 5"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. 6"Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." 7The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8Saul 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.

 

Fiorello LaGuardia was mayor of New York City during the worst days of the Great Depression and all of WWII. He was known for his unorthodox style of leadership. He would ride the New York City fire trucks on a way to a fire, raid speakeasies with the police department, take entire orphanages to baseball games, and whenever the New York newspapers were on strike, he would go on the radio and read the Sunday funnies to the kids.

 

One bitterly cold night in January of 1935, the mayor turned up at a night court that served the poorest ward of the city. LaGuardia dismissed the judge for the evening and took over the bench himself. Within a few minutes, a tattered old woman was brought before him, charged with stealing a loaf of bread. She told LaGuardia that her daughter's husband had deserted her, her daughter was sick, and her two grandchildren were starving. But the shopkeeper, from whom the bread was stolen, refused to drop the charges. "It's a real bad neighborhood, your Honor." the man told the mayor. "She's got to be punished to teach other people around here a lesson." LaGuardia sighed. He turned to the woman and said "I've got to punish you. The law makes no exceptions--ten dollars or ten days in jail." But even as he pronounced sentence, the mayor was already reaching into his pocket. He extracted a bill and handed it to the old woman. He said, "Here is the ten dollar fine which I now remit; and furthermore I am going to fine everyone in this courtroom fifty cents for living in a town where a person has to steal bread so that her grandchildren can eat. Mr. Bailiff, collect the fines and give them to the defendant." So the following day the New York City newspapers reported that $47.50 was turned over to a bewildered old lady who had stolen a loaf of bread to feed her starving grandchildren, fifty cents of that amount being contributed by the red-faced grocery store owner, while some seventy petty criminals, people with traffic violations, and New York City policemen, each of whom had just paid fifty cents for the privilege of doing so, gave the mayor a standing ovation.

 

That is a story of grace. What is grace? It is when you receive something of value for doing nothing. Could it be you have forgotten that you are saved by grace and by grace alone? The precious blood of Jesus as made you white as snow! And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

 

One of the highlights of this Lenten season for me is our Monday night book study. We are looking at Adam Hamilton’s 24 Hours that Changed the World. The book is about the 24 hours in Christ’s life between the last supper and the cross. The book and the discussion has challenged the way I have been looking at that sacred period of time. During our last session the topic of grace came up. Adam Hamilton said in the book we live in a time when people really don’t value grace. Most see themselves as good people who deserve to go to heaven. There is no need for grace because they are not that bad. I believe what he says is true and I believe the research supports it. 99% of all Americans believe they are going to heaven? It is part of my job is to correct your theology. If you think you can get to heaven without a Savior then you couldn’t be more wrong. Basic Christian theology don’t believe in works righteousness, basic Christian theology believes in grace. Jesus did all the work. The Master died on the cross for your sins yet he is offering you eternal life for free.

 

Today we look at a story of grace. If there was anyone who didn’t deserve grace then it was Saul. It is a story of prevenient grace, Jesus pursued Saul. In Saul’s story we find three divines truths that accompany grace. If you understand the value of grace then you will understand these three points. So if you are ready to explore grace with me say, “Amen!”

 

Jesus knows your potential

Shortly before his death George Bernard Shaw was interviewed by a reporter. The question was asked, "Mr. Shaw," asked a reporter, "if you could live your life over and be anybody you've know, or any person from history, who would you be?" "I would choose," replied Shaw "to be the man George Bernard Shaw could have been, but never was." In other words, he wanted to be himself, only better. It isn’t just true of George Bernard Shaw. It is true of you and me. No one here is perfect. Everyone can do better. The Wesleyan tradition says, “We are striving for perfection.” Is anyone here perfect?

 

If you understand grace then you understand that Jesus knows your full potential. Look at the text with me. If you believe the phrase, “You one have one chance to make a good first impression!“ Then we must admit it. Saul made a horrible impression because Saul was a horrible man. When we first hear his name mentioned in the Bible he is at the execution of an early church leader by the name of Stephen. Acts 8:1 says he, Saul, approved of this man’s death. Even his second impression isn’t so great. The first verse of our story for today says, “Saul was breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.” How deep did Saul’s hatred for the early believers run? The text tells us that Saul was on his way to Damascus when he experienced Jesus. Damascus was the first major city outside of Palestine. The distance between Jerusalem and Damascus is 150 miles, a four day trip on foot. And each and every step of the way he is breathing out murderous threats against the early believers. I can not say this too strongly. Saul was a horrible man! However, this is the great thing about the story. Jesus was not really interested in who was to that point in his life. Jesus was interested in what he could become. Jesus knew Saul could do better. Jesus knows you can do better.

 

When Pablo Casals reached 95, a young reporter threw him a question: "Mr. Casals, you are 95 and the greatest cellist that ever lived. Why do you still practice six hours a day?" And Mr. Casals answered, "Because I think I'm making progress." Are you making any progress? Are you striving for perfection or are you happy with your present state? Are you becoming a little more like Jesus everyday? Jesus sees your full potential! And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

 

Jesus knows you personally

Less then two weeks ago I found myself in Washington DC. Kathryn and I took a small group of international students to visit our nation’s capitol. It is fun to look at all the sites through their eyes. We saw all the usual spots. We saw the Lincoln and Washington memorials, Capitol building and the White House. We saw the Vietnam and Korean War memorials. We went to the Arlington National Cemetery and saw the tomb of the unknown soldier. It was while we were in a crowd at Arlington that I almost embarrassed myself. I was standing in a crowd of people when I heard a young voice call out, “Dad!“ It was like a reflex. I stuck out my hand and turned my head to respond. I almost said, “What do you need?“ It was only at that moment I discovered the voice came from a little girl standing next to me. However, she wasn’t talking to me. She was calling to her father. Has that ever happened to you? Someone calls your name but they are not speaking to you? When you call out someone’s name you are singling them out because you are trying to get their attention. That is what happened to Saul!

 

If you understand grace then you understand that Jesus knows you personally. Look at the text with me. It says that while Saul is traveling among the road to Damascus Jesus spoke to him. It is almost sounds like a surprise attack. Verse four says Saul is more then a little surprised. He fell to the ground when Jesus spoke to him. He fell on the ground for two reasons. First, he heard the Lord’s voice. Second, he heard the Lord speak his name. The most personal thing you own is your name. It is significant that Jesus called him by name. Jesus did not say, “Hey Buddy!“ He did say, “Hey you with the fancy robe!“ He didn’t even quote scripture. Jesus did something more powerful. He called him by his name, Saul! When Jesus called his name everything changed. It isn’t just true of Saul, it is true for you. Jesus knows you personally.

 

I say it every week because everyday I am humbled by the fact that the God of the what to have a relationship with me. Just think about it. The God who holds the whole world in His hands knows your name. God knows your dreams and your nightmares. He knows how to fire you up and how to calm you down. He knows what will make you laugh and cry. God knows you personally. If you find some comfort in these divine words say, “Amen!”

 

God knows your purpose.

On March 11, 2009 Jim Dancy of Kalamazoo, Michigan won $10,000 in the Michigan Lottery's Club Keno game. What would you do with an extra $10,000? Dancy gave his winnings to his local United Way. He decided others needed it more than him. He said, "The needs in the community are great right now, so for me it was the right thing to do. I feel very good today, knowing I could help a little — probably my 'best day' in a long time.” Is this the best day you have had in a long time? If not, sacrifice for someone you don’t know.

 

If you understand grace then you understand your purpose for living. Look at the text with me. It is safe to say that Jesus has Saul’s attention. Jesus tells him to get up and go into Damascus. The end of verse six is significant. Jesus tells Saul he will receive further instruction once he is in the city. In other words, Saul was saved for a purpose. Tradition tells us Saul or Paul died at the hands of the evil Roman Emperor Nero in the year 67. He was tortured and beheaded but not before he had spread the Gospel message to the known world.

 

The Westminster Confession of Faith was written in 1646. It says the purpose of life is to glorify God. If you understand grace then you will want to glorify God. You are going to heaven because of the sacrificial works of Jesus on the cross. It is the greatest gift you will every receive. You don’t have to do anything but you will want to do something because you are a person of integrity. How do you thank God for saving your soul? The best way to thank God is to help someone who is in need. There is no shortage of need in this world, there is no shortage of need in our area. How are you going to help? How are you going to thank God for saving your soul? And when you do you will be just like Jim Dancy, who had his best day in a long time because he helped others. Is anyone here ready to have a great day? The purpose of life is to glorify God. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!” Let me end with this story.

 

Two great preachers from yesteryear were Charles Spurgeon and Joseph Parker. Both men served churches in London in the 19th century. On one occasion, Parker commented on the poor condition of children admitted to Spurgeon's orphanage. It was reported to Spurgeon however, that Parker had criticized the orphanage itself. Spurgeon blasted Parker the next week from the pulpit. The attack was printed in the newspapers and became the talk of the town. People flocked to Parker's church the next Sunday to hear his rebuttal. "I understand Dr. Spurgeon is not in his pulpit today, and this is the Sunday they use to take an offering for the orphanage. I suggest we take a love offering here instead." The crowd was delighted. The ushers had to empty the collection plates 3 times. Later that week there was a knock at Parker's study. It was Spurgeon. "You know Parker, you have practiced grace on me. You have given me not what I deserved, you have given me what I needed. Let there be no doubt about it. We are in need of grace. We are save by grace and by grace alone. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”