Acts Chapter 9:1-18

Were supposed to be a part of God's plan to reach the world.

We are supposed to be a part of God's plan to restore gunnel seizure i.e. Minette Senior to India imitating hotels management killing Christians about putting me encourage you to serve in children's ministry may encourage you to serve and sparkling may encourage you to give because every time you do those things, helping to change the world and if you can just change one other life, you can begin the change will welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee. David is a senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina you know you are part of God's plan to reach the world's true and today Pastor David tells how you can be used change people's lives as he continues teaching the book of acts chapter 9. Now here's David McGee with part two of his teaching.

Who are you, Lord, turn with me to acts chapter 9 verse one reads then Saul still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord went to the high priest and ask letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any or all 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 them, from heaven, and he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me verse five Paul answers and he said who are you, Lord. Then the Lord said, I am Jesus whom you are persecuting is hard for you to kick against the goat so he talked about Saul trembling and astonished said, Lord, when 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 in a minute. Journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but saying no one is kind of interesting people there with Saul who heard the voice but into anything that may strike some of you is really not that bizarre you realize there's people here this morning that will hear, but they will see the hear me talking about coming to Jesus to be forgiven of their sin, but they will see him as their Savior will hear me talking about serving the Lord and in surrendering your life to him, but they will see it. The sad thing. I hope that doesn't describe you hope that you not only hear but see in verse eight. Then Saul arose from the ground and when his eyes were open he Saul no one but they let him by the hand and brought them in to Damascus and he was was three days without sight. Neither ate or drank, we see several people in the Bible. The they were given slight to so few people that site was taken from. I think it was to allow him some time to think about what just happened.

I think about. He was on his way to persecute the church on Sunday finds out that he's working and I forgot he's working against the unit standards can be a horrible mono for some people when they get to heaven stand in front of Jesus is not to be allowed in as a been persecuting Jesus in the name of God in the name of religion. Sad. I guess in a way towards other believers and followers of Jesus we need to be a little bit tolerant using that word. I am religiously tolerant about what the weather year are your Buddhist or your Baha'i or whatever you can all come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ that my definition of being religiously tolerant different than other people. Verse 10 is a certain disciple Damascus named Ananias and he and to him. The Lord said in a vision, Ananias said, here I am Lord.

Verse 11 said, Lord, send them arise and go to the street called straight and inquired at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus from the hole. He is praying. Verse 12 and in the vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him so that he might receive his sight me point out first in this part of the chapter, we got three main characters if you will. We have Saul we have Ananias and we have Judas the house of Judas.

These are interesting names are that these are not names that you think of when you think a spiritual great book of Samuel timeout Saul and how he just blew it over and over a few chapters ago in timeout. Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit and struck down, and then you got Judas.

It was the deceitful one who betrayed Jesus in here, and here we have these names popping up again but something wonderful is going on with these three people that can be by accident. That's my design. You know what God's in the redemption and things that have happened to you that are bad and negative and painful God was to redeem those things and God will actually use those things for his glory and the bless other people.

Now notice this exchange and there is exchange it's it's a dialogue. Ananias is having with award. That's important that your prayer time and just the monologue you telling God what you want but listen to that still small voice.

Probably not. I've never heard an audible voice, but I've heard the still small voice. Many want to Ananias and he said here I am Lord what you know something because we see it again. Ananias answers the call, then God tells him what he wants them to do. Ananias here I am that inference. There is here and what he will meet it God and say look want to do this that the other he said there I'm here I'm with you what you want me to do and then he tells them what to do. Notice it says disciple at Damascus disciple. See, God will find people that are willing to give of the lives to him and you will use them in incredible ways. But if you're holding back in your spectator on the sidelines and you wonder why God won't use it because you're not willing to pour yourself out for Lord I member years ago praying and I was at home praying the Lord filled me or just fill me with more and remember that still small voice, words, and you know it there's no more room in their pour yourself as you pour yourself out another form of self is like a cop. We only Ultima and if your life is filled with you only can be filled with the Lord. But as you do yourself. Jesus put it this way said if you're willing to live for me and die to yourself and be incredible, but if you try to hold on to your life as I can work. Many of the first hand the misery of trying to hold on to your life is very disappointing and is very disillusioning when you try to do that Jesus is you know what I'm willing exchange my life for your life who comes out on the short end of the stick. There I mean Jesus is willing to make that exchange for us.

Who wouldn't take that says disciple someone following the Lord is second Chronicles 16 ounces is for the house of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show himself strong in behalf of those who are is loyal to him. Looking even this morning even in this very room looking to okay who's forming who will step out in the ministry will begin to serve me. Who wants to see me do something incredible in there like he's looking at the talking end of that he's looking for people to do that well then and I'm up here so obviously he's fairly desperate about hillbilly here probably overqualified might be the problem.

Life lesson here, God will pour himself into someone who wants to pour themselves out for him, God will pour himself into someone who wants to pour themselves out for yourself out again. You can only hold so much is only maritime to you gets that for yourself out and watch what he does and how often are they just gets filled with stuff you look back on the data where the data in other than that, like 17 hours watching television. What happened to me because your day gets filled with you have to be conscious decision.

Lord, I want you to feel Monday. I don't want to be the thing that everything else orbits around. I want my life to orbit around you. I hope that doesn't describe your life. That is still orbits around you. You can tell, sometimes with the way your sentences, you say me and I find myself a whole lot warning sign.

But you find yourself going old and the Lord did this and learned that the Lord's doing that is a good son. This is a challenging thing that is told Ananias and Ananias is going to respond accordingly. Verse 13 then Ananias answered, Lord.

I've heard from many about this meant how much harm he has done to your Saints in Jerusalem.

This is the first place. Matthew 27 the Old Testament Hebrew Scriptures people are referred to think the first time that were referred to the church. The New Testament church is referred to say units that were referred to think you don't have to be canonize you go see the pope or anything where like that. The Bible says that if you come to Jesus and asking to forgive yourself.

You're saying Saint David, like bring up sink can sit over here hello and I mean St. and say your name. It sounds weird but that's what God says is when I look at you and feel stupid things today feel about things for same to say these amazement covered with the righteousness of my son and I don't get too excited now. The confusing thing is there's two people groups are saints who asked Jesus to forgive the mother said their centers who have yet to ask Jesus to forgive the mother sent the confusing part were saints, but we still sin. We still set we still mess up occasionally by we come to God's got forgiveness. Since your site. Don't know what your family God of Israel, is think I'm going out on a limb there, but God who matters the most is your same. You know the if you hear nothing else, it encourages you the latch on the well will be right back with more from David McGee on cross the bridge right now there's a word from associate pastor DA Brown. We want to take just a minute to pray for some cities in our listening audience specifically read support Roseburg Seaside Selma Sprague River in the Dallas and Oregon and also Hammett in Pennsylvania. Father, we thank you for the cities. We thank you for the people living in them. We pray that your Holy Spirit would pour out and draw many people until personal, intimate relationship with Jesus.

Father we pray that many people would be healed, who perhaps have had bad experiences in the past God that they would receive forgiveness and forgive those in their lives who have offended what we pray. Did you draw people in the Bible teaching church is that you get the pastor's wisdom and discernment father to love the flock to serve them well or we pray for all the city leaders that we would honor the respect that you give them wisdom and discernment, father, or that it might go peaceable with us will we love you we pray that you would bless the people living in the cities. In Jesus name, amen, amen.

Thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse verse 14 and here he has authority from the chief priest of five dollars caller name is an interesting conversation analyzes reminding God of things. I'm thinking he already knows I'm joking God already knows everything but the Lord send them why you're afraid and you freaked out a story about our two translations of Nazism is not very compassionate, very understanding the structures fears with gusset go go for he is a chosen vessel of mine to bear my name before Gentiles kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for my namesake Ananias and it's important understand this. Ananias is not like all suddenly got saved yesterday and now got a sent hate what I want to go talk to this guy's been out, kill and persecute and execute and imprisoned for the Christian, so as my fact. Look again it says in verse 10. Certain a certain disciple.

Ananias was a disciple. He was following the Lord and in the Greek that that word means somebody that still learning some way of continuing to follow but still learning. Understand you're still learning the moment you think that you've arrived and you've got nothing else to learn will your smart as you will ever be think far too often Christians think like that been digging in this Bible for 25 years to and in I like him only scratching the surface. I'm still learning and and again reach T it's a really important part of what goes on the teaching aspect. Here's one thing that might catch offguard because this is a little bit different.

We asked the kids 11 and under go to children's ministry. Why do we do that because we want to set up the environment in here that were all learning together understand that may be very different.

For some of you, but let me explain. For little while. We want to help you not necessarily be a parent if you will, but to just sit at the feet of Jesus and hear the word of God as we know how hard it is. And what's more, children's magic there set out for children. The lessons based on the same passage of Scripture, but their little different.

Why do we do that because we feel well. We know that they retain more in that environment.

They learn more and occasionally parapet women and I want my child here in well with you take him into the café but you know what happens. I can't take a number families have come here and I got a little tweak a little upset, but then they took their child over there once or twice. I was at their child never want to come back in here again right and we sing we clap. It's great but I understand many of us.

I was not brought up that way I was brought up in a church and I went to church and two older brothers in every service was almost the same in the sense that me and my brothers would fight you know I mean that's what brothers that you're looking at me I'm looking at me, touching me, don't touch me quit back and forth and then you know my dad had this big college ring and he would turn around and get our attention. You know, call myself a spoken when he spoken King and King James English you know you're in trouble and so and then you know is I get what you get out of service on a go ahead and follow my brother and I'm sure dad didn't get much why because he is Billy Bob and us to keep us quiet as a pastor was there was a way we've always done it doesn't mean it's right we want to set an atmosphere with little distraction so you can learn because that's what disciples do, and how many of us a second service, and there's a baby crying and the mother thinks it's a beautiful noise. I guess I don't know but you know everybody else's.

I can't hear what you say what you think. What I'm dancing on toes now so we want to set up an environment to encourage discipleship to what what once you realize it's it's different in your open it's just I've had so many people complain about that.

That was one thing I hate about this jerk off her shirt up and they'll love that we can sit through service and and and really get into the awesome things of God and and there's not a lot of distractions going now Ananias was afraid. With good reason. With good reason. Saul had done these things, but God didn't say will because you freaked out because you're scared you don't have to do any of these things got to go listen to blazing up and understand many of you that are serving now you had overcome your fear. To begin, serve, but you step outside of yourself and outside your fear that I am speaking right to some people right because your fear is not an excuse or reason not to do something for God to help you overcome your fear will walk you through that for far too often we think will really brave men they never feel fear all effort. Some of the bravest men in the world and they say no, I'm afraid I'm afraid, but I don't let that fear, control me. The key believer. Courage is not letting your fears beside your actions.

Courage is not letting your fears beside your action you're afraid to get hurt.

Understand that Freddie get you understand that. But Jesus still said pour yourself out, give yourself away scary go to church understand that stuff but get together forsake not the assembling together the book of Hebrews is lifeless and here we are to serve the Lord, even though we have fear, insecurity and anxieties. We are to serve the Lord. Even though we have fear, insecurity and anxiety.

We all have those understand that.

Don't let them rule your life to let them control your life looking Ananias, this guy had been killing Christians the admin imprisoning Christian and goddesses go tell here go pray with him.

Can you imagine if Ananias would not have went to said not gotta know you tell me to do this. I'm not doing it. What would the world look like today. I know you said their goal got probably would've sent Samantha you know that's a copout.

He told Ananias to do it. And chances are you really telling you to do some and what hinges on that. I don't know but probably more than you can imagine it, we see Paul Ananias in a weird way, was responsible for two thirds of the New Testament being written because he went to see Saul and he did copout one will you do what's in the balance family family members, their spiritual well-being, their salvation, their discipleship, friends, coworkers, we don't know. I don't know. Probably more ways in the balance and you could imagine. What is Ananias doing well as luck for 17 Ananias Went His Way and entered the house. He did what he solicited and laying his hands on him.

He said brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came a sent me that you might receive your site and be filled with the Holy Spirit little words are so important. He called him brother Saul. Here's this guy and again has been persecuting Christians beat them up stone and imprisoned in this guy walked in the room and says brother Brooke. That's a beautiful thing.

It's a beautiful thing to watch here is is is walls and those boundaries are broken down as people refer to each other's brother and sister saw something verse 18. Immediately there fell from his eyes. Something like scales and receive decided once and he arose and was baptized. It was interesting is when I get to hear of this Ananias again other than the retelling of the story and yet he played such an incredible part when you want your legacy to be what what you want to leave behind the here's the deal.

Everyone of us should Jesus Eric hundred percent of us are going to die what you want to be remembered for. He said he was going to start going to church with any that's what you want to be remembered for what he was born the lead.

He got saved he died me. I that's it.

You want that on your team so not me. Not me.

I want to change the world.

I'm not shy about that and maybe sooner go so overly ambitious. Jesus don't know that I'm stupid enough to think through us and what's amazing is now other people are having the same hallucination with me because this happened and all you have to do step out the God wants to use and see here's a here's a scary verse to me too much as been given much is required. God's an amazing thing.

Intermittent and he probably has great expectations. What this body will do for him. So we need to continue to pour out the were supposed to be a part of God's plan to reach the world. We are supposed to be a part of God's plan to reach the world. God wants to use you may not send you to India.

He may not tell you to go tell the management killing Christians about what he may encourage you to serve in children's ministry may encourage you to serve and sparkling may encourage you to give because every time you do those things happen to change the world and if you can just change one other life impact. One other life other than your own, you can begin to change the world but your world change starts with you doesn't start outside of you have to be willing to say will first of all your sitting here this morning and you you not sure if you've ever been forgiven of your sins are. You never asked Jesus to forgive you. Percent only give you that opportunity just but if you're in here this morning and you've already pray that prayer God wants to continue that work in God is encouraging each person to make that small step towards yeah you if you have a history making small steps for God at some point he has to make a big but it's after that he is been faithful. Small things will be found faithful in the big meeting her to begin your adventure with God now friend you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now only Jenna short, simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him.

God wants you to pray this prayer so much that he died to give you the opportunity and the ability to ask him to forgive you.

Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now. Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I could have a new life not done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry.

Please forgive me of all those things. Please give me the power to live for you. All of my days in Jesus name, amen it friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible you've been forgiven you've been born again. So congratulations free and you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you, if you prayed that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you visit, cross the bridge.com and click on God's plan for new life to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ.

God wants to bless you and encourage your relationships today. Whether you are married, considering marriage or engaged to be married. We have a resource for you pastor David wants to send you his four part video series allies stay friends.

Allow God to minister to your marriage through his word today. This was an unforgettable weekend that encouraged many marriages and you and your spouse can be encouraged to allies stay friends is our thanks for your generous gift today to help more people hear God's truth on this station and beyond, so they can cross the bridge from death to life.

Please visit cross the bridge.com today to give a gift of any amount and get your copy of allies stay friends ODA before we go. What are some ways that we can bless our listeners some days you can wake up with encouragement from Pastor Dave to the word of God with his email devotional life pleasant to consider a daily reading plan enough thought to meditate on throughout your day in the heart, but David McGee those are terrific and it's easy and it's free so folks sign up today@crossthebridge.com. Thanks again for listening and join us next time. As David McGee continued verse by verse through the book of acts