Paul:God's Chosen Vessel (March 23, 2011)



ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS: PAUL – GOD’S CHOSEN VESSEL

March 23,  2011

ACTS 9:15-16 - “15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8kB6WvXX0c&feature=youtube_gdata_player

SAUL’s STORY

Saul was born in Tarsus, the Capital city of Cilicia and one of the great centers where trade from the East and West came together. Tarsus was famous for manufacturing of goats’ hair felt, which was used to make tent-cloth, blankets, clothing, belts, and saddles. Tarsus enjoyed the status of being a city free of Roman occupation and had the privilege of being governed by its own mayor but that alone did not make a Jew a Roman citizen. It is believed that Saul’s father’s Roman citizenship was purchased for a large sum of money or even more likely as a reward for services he gave to an influential Roman during the civil war. Therefore, Saul was a Roman citizen by birthright because of his father. Saul was his Jewish name and as a Roman citizen, his latin name was Paul. Growing up in a strict Pharisee home, the name Saul was the more fitting name to go by. But after being called on the road to Damascus to preach to the Roman Gentiles, He used his Roman name and became Paul, a name Gentiles were used to.

Every Jewish boy had to be taught a manual trade in addition to having a religious upbringing. Young Saul was taught the tent-making trade (Act 18:3). Saul was brought up in a strict Jewish home and was well educated and spoke many languages. At an early age, he was taught by Gamaliel, the high priest of the Jewish council and a very influential, honored and intellectual man of his day.

He was a Pharisee, one of the strictest and law-abiding sects of Judaism who stood firm by the traditions of the fathers and was held in high esteem by the people.  He was more zealous of the traditions of his fathers than most of his peers (Gal 1:14). He was a Pharisee of all Pharisees.

Before his encounter with Christ, Saul did all he could to oppose the name of Jesus. He had a part in putting Christians to death. He was there when Stephen was being stoned and had a vote in the execution (Acts 7:57-60). He was so obsessed with persecuting Christians that in his own words, would hunt them down in foreign cities (Acts 26:9-11). Sadly, Saul believed that what he was doing was in the name of God but later confessed he regrets in Acts 26:9.

On one of his authorized journeys to persecute continue to persecute Christians, he had an encounter with the light of the world and was forever changed.

WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS ENCOUNTER?

·         In order for our eyes to be opened to God’s truth, we must lose our earthly vision and gain a new vision from God (Acts 9:9; 17).

·         Not everything done in the name of religious law is of God.

·         God can call even those who strongly oppose Him to do His work (Acts 9:13).

·         Everything we’ve learned in our professions and in life is preparing and equipping us to do God’s work (Acts 9:15).

·         There’s no one better prepared to be a defender of the cross than Paul.

·         Sometimes, we have to sacrifice our own freedoms in order to win souls for Christ (1 Cor 9:19-23)

o        “…I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.” V 22

·         No matter how lost you think a person is, don’t under estimate God’s ability to use them in a special way.

FINAL WORD – WHAT CAN WE APPLY IN OUR OWN WALK FROM THIS ENCOUNTER?

This is not Jesus’ first encounter with a Pharisee. Two who stand out above the others were Nicodemus and the rich young ruler. They were both hard core Pharisees who were devoted to following all the laws of Moses, yet they did not have a personal relationship with Christ. Paul puts both of these devoted Pharisees to shame in his crusade to make sure the laws of the fathers is not trumped by the preaching of Jesus. This makes his encounter and conversion even more amazing. He went from being the ultimate persecutor of all who professed the name of Jesus to being the ultimate defender of the name of Jesus. There are no limits to God’s saving power. In Paul’s own words: 

·         “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8)

·         “…knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ … for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” (Galatians 2:16)

The same grace that worked a miracle in Paul’s life can work miracles in our lives today and do a complete 360 with us. Just as God used Paul, the sinner of all sinners, he can use all of us as well for His Glory. Let’s pray that our hearts are open and receptive to His calling.

Next Week: Encounters With Christ

Reference:

http://www.harvardhouse.com/paul.htm

http://www.suite101.com/content/who-was-saul-of-tarsus-a112299

http://www.padfield.com/acrobat/sermons/saul-of-tarsus.pdf

http://www.truthseekers.co.za/content/view/38/32/

http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1993/9301qq.asp