The Triumph of Grace

God's call can be still small voice. Sometimes it needs to be a little more intense. Here's Dr. Michael.

Some of us, God has 2 x 4 to give optic is God new that this was not the kind of man who would respond, "God knew that God knew that Saul of Tarsus is such a surprising method confrontation.

Have you been welcome to leading the way between teaching the pastor, author and international Bible teacher, Dr. Michael you sent Saul of Tarsus ultimately known as Paul the apostle was a man bent on destroying Christianity. He sought out Christians beat imprisoned even killed them.

That is, until Jesus called him out on the road to Damascus today are leading the way. The incredible grace that God showed to Paul. It's the beginning of a look into his experiences and how his life can inspire and encourage you here now is Dr. Michael Yousef to begin a message called the triumph of grace.

How many of you like surprises you don't like surprises, but those when the fathers used to wait in the waiting room when the babies are being born back in those days there were in the hospital in Minnesota but were three fathers in the waiting room waiting and the nurse come out and said to the first one, and set them good news you have twins and he said that's ironic. I for the Minnesota Twins and then the nurse comes in. She looked to the second manager said you have great news. You have templates for said that's unbelievable I want for the freedom company upon which the third man began to sweat, and about the fate's face turns white machine in the gym around what's wrong. Can we help you is that I work with the 7-Eleven I'm out of here. The truth is when you walk closely with God.

When you develop with God when you delight yourself in the Lord you going to discover that far from being surprised and seeing surprises are threatening or disconcerting or unsettling. You gonna rejoice in the surprises of the grace of God far from seeing surprises is something you want to avoid at any price. You will learn to revel in the surprises of the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. If you look at Christian history. You gotta find there are so many surprises of the grace of God I mean really surprises, but that's how God works for who was a college professor by the name of Aurelius confronted by the grace of God becomes the great sent August as slave trader knew nothing but degradation nothing but debauchery. A man by the name of John become the great preacher and the author of amazing Grace John Newton, Barbara by the name of Mel. This man was so devoid of anything that is decent because of his addiction to alcohol that when his little girl died, he stole the shoes and what she was to be in order that he might warning them to get some money for a drink to become meltwater, the founder, one of the largest chains of rescue missions that extend from Boston to San Francisco. That is the grace of God, but perhaps there is no greater surprise and there is no greater surprising story of the grace of God than the story of Saul of Tarsus there no greater transformation than that of Saul of Tarsus no trust formation that had greater impact upon world history than Saul of Tarsus. I want to share with you briefly for surprises that God's grace reveals to us in acts chapter 9 verses 1 to 31. Surprising man verses 1 to 3. Secondly, surprising method, verses 1 to 9.

Thirdly, surprising mentor versus 10 to 25 and finally surprising mates versus 2631. Surprising man. You see Saul of Tarsus was a Jew. So were Jesus and his apostles Saul of Tarsus was trained in the pharisaic school.

So Jesus and his apostles. But this is where all commonalities in this is the end of what they have in common Saul of Tarsus was a Roman citizen, Saul of Tarsus was educated in Greek Saul of Tarsus was not born in Israel, like the rest of them, but he was born in the city of Tarsus which is where the modern day Turkey and Syria meet, but far more important than any of this is that Saul of Tarsus was a persecutor of the church of Jesus Christ know he was a persecutor of Jesus himself, like many others who have come after him, Saul of Tarsus thought that he could stamp out Christianity, but he not only failed everybody who followed him who had this idiotic thought they'll infect Luke uses the word here that's really very significant uses the word to describe Saul of what Saul was doing to the church infect that word is so unique. It is used to describe how our wild boar devastates a vine.

That's how he uses that magnificent word. Luke said that Saul wanted to devastate the church. Saul wanted to destroy the church.

Saul wanted to ravish the church of Jesus Christ.

So he got permission from the high priest and from Jerusalem to go to Damascus to stamp out Christians in that city.

Now Damascus is about hundred and 20 miles north of Jerusalem. I mean, this is probably the fathers that church is meeting imagine the incredible seal.

This is a long journey. This is not only a long journey. It's on the road is a dangerous trip, but it shows you the incredible commitment that Saul of Tarsus had in his desire to destroy the believers you have anyone suggested Saul of Tarsus just before he left Jerusalem. Had anyone suggested to him as it Saul. By the time you get to Damascus again become a Christian, love your head off. Don't forget Paul was a vicious man don't think we talk about St. Paul and we forget that he will Saul of Tarsus one and the same may Christian how can I be a Christian.

I'm out to get those rascals arrested. I'm going to kill as many as I can. That is why he was not only a surprising man. He was a surprised man. Not only that he was converted to Christ so thoroughly, but he became the greatest preacher in the New Testament, surprising man. But second, there is a surprising method. Look at verses for all the way to nine. I'm not going to ask you to raise your hand, but I know the some of us, God has to use the 2 x 4 to get our attention, seek God new that Saul of Tarsus was not the kind of man who would respond to the gentle voice. God knew that God knew that Saul of Tarsus is such a stubborn man that only a surprising method of confrontation is going to get his attention at all after he falls off his high horses. The Jesus speaks to him. Have you been there. You see, there are many times when we are so full of our own importance. Even God is having a hard time getting there are times when we are so full of our pride and arrogance that even God has a hard time reaching its there are times when we are so adamant about point of view that even God has to knock us down off a high horses in order to get attention for our own good.

And Jesus said to Saul who said the why are you persecuting me my beloved friend I want to tell you something. Don't forget this. If you are persecuted. If you are harassed simply because of your righteousness simply because of your desire to walk with God simply because your desire to live a godly life. Let me tell you, those who are harassing you.

Those are persecuting you they are not harassing you and persecuting you there persecuting Jesus Christ. In fact, when Saul was confronted by the risen Christ all he could say was, who are you, Mark. Who are you not please him right on this one. This is important because I believe with all my heart.

You've heard me say this. I know it. I know it because I've experienced it that the reason why many Christians live a defeated and made a good life is because they never asked who are you, Lord, if you understand if you can comprehend and you can only do that with the spirit of God.

If you are not I could comprehend the awesomeness of our revelation of being called the children of the King. We would never miss worship we would never take worship for granted we would never take worship likely if you ever understand if you could ever comprehend who God is and who called you to have a relationship with him. You would not go around doing nothing and ignoring his word. In fact, later on in the book of acts 2614, Paul said God told Jesus when he appeared and he said it is hard for you to kick against the goads. It's hard for you to kick against the goads. How many of you know what a goat is a goat is a sharp object and it is used in order to break in a new pool is not designed for human beings is designed for bullheaded bulls.

What did Jesus say to say, refusing to surrender to the voice of God is like being plotted and with a sharp object.

Jesus, not knowing that you are doing that by refusing to listen to his voice. What what is goads that Saul of Tarsus was kicking against one was that she Paul obviously knew deep down that Jesus was the Messiah, but he wouldn't admit it blocking that voice to keep blocking that voice. He didn't want to hear. If you want to hear. He tried to silence the voice the second guard was Stephen infect you see that coming out in Paul's writings later on when Saul heard Stephen testifying to the resurrected Jesus Christ deep down, Saul knew that what Stephen is saying is the truth, but he refused to believe it and he chose to be stubborn and his chose to silence the voice and nonetheless he actually guarded the close of those who stoned Stephen to death. Beloved from the material, something, something, I hope you'll never forget something. I hope the last beyond this day and beyond this week and beyond this month and beyond. This year, when you are fighting against the conviction of the Holy Spirit you are hurting baby you might be 200 pound with your baby when you're fighting against God's conviction of sin in your life. Deep down you are hurting man you are hurting woman dividend give it up today. The grace of God taught us a surprising man. The grace of God introduced us to a surprising method. Further, the grace of God produces a surprising mentor. The Lord told Saul to get to the house of Judas in Damascus and then God goes to one of the leaders of the church of Damascus by them of Ananias and he says Ananias I want you to go and meet Saul of Tarsus.

I honestly try to put myself in the nicest place that'll probably I would be more scared than he was mean. Ananias did not want to question the Lord, but the poor man who said Lord you know what you talking about the Lord with all due respect, you want me to do what we talked about the same Saul here. The Saul of Tarsus.

Do you know what this man has done. Lord, you know what this man is coming here to do more if you will die, will you please kill me because you be more merciful this man's reputation as a writer spreading to Damascus in his on his way and he was not going there for a tour. Here is another tourist is not there for sightsee is not there on vacation. He was coming to drag and into prison and to kill the Christians. This poor guy was scared to death. I can imagine his knees were shaking.

So what I would do whatever you want. But no, not this one guts is not a nice know you don't understand all you just don't understand of the lies you don't understand God's all wrong Ananias listen you are talking about. So all three days ago about Saul today. It's amazing what God can do in three days visit with Dr. doing three seconds is the problem is we fail to believe that someone said Ananias is a forgotten hero of the Christian church and I agree with. He was called to mentor a notorious murder when I ask you something. Has God ever called you to do something that seems to be so insurmountable. Has God ever asked you to do something that seems to be impossible. I wanted to remember this when he does ask you it is because he has already ahead of you and he prepared the way it is because he's already gone out ahead of you, and took care of all the kinks. He picked out all the bugs in the system.

In this case, God had already taken care of Saul of Tarsus is already knocking down off his high horses and he already converted his heart.

Listen to what I'm going to tell you, please what ever your Saul of Tarsus for you that is frightening.

You what ever your Saul of Tarsus for you that is causing you worry.

What ever your Saul of Tarsus is that is causing you anxiety. I want you to know this, that he or she or it is already been tamed by the great time of the universe. The truth of the matter is Saul actually has not been able to shut up talking about Jesus. Look at verse 20 and 21, 22 week and see if this is immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, proclaiming that he is the son of God. What a transformation. What a transformation. What a surprising act of grace.

The prosecutor has now become persecuted, so much so that he had to be lowered from a little hold.

Christians already knew where the holes are in the walls of Damascus, so the little opening under pushing through allowing him down to get outside of the city and get out of Damascus alive, then we are told that he went to Arabia. Why because the exits and all of the city of Damascus were sealed all the exits in the city of Jerusalem was sealed people looking out from the want to kill him and so he had to go to this liberty, and kingdom and what's modern-day Jordan, why did he go there.

Why did God lead him why the Holy Spirit taken after this incredible conversion after this incredible encounter with the living resurrected Christ takes into place for three years is my second Battalion is more than three years to meditate, to pray the high because you see we only not have a surprising man would have surprising method, and we have a surprising mentor, but fourthly, there is a surprising Knights to say Paul's fellowship with the apostles as a surprise is an understatement. It really is.

Verse 26 of acts nine Saul came to Jerusalem to try to associate with the disciples. There was scared of him and his reputation did not go down a forgotten in those three years, but thank God for the Barnabas's of this world, bless God for the Barnabas's of this world who understand the grace of God. The Barnabas is who value the trophies of grace. The Barnabas is who understand that God saves from the God of the animals. The Barnabas us who understand that God specializes in saving sinners. The Barnabas is who understand that God delights in the repentance.

Barnabas takes Paul by the hand vouches for him and he becomes accepted to the apostles and we know again.

From later on that he spent two weeks with Peter, but let me tell you this is a conclude after three years in Arabia.

Saul went to his hometown of Tarsus for approximately seven years. Again, Galatians, the last of chapter 1 in the beginning of chapter 2 fills in the details so you say this is about roughly 10 years. 10 years 10 years.

That's a long time. Some of you waiting for the Lord to answer your prayer year 234567 and some of you have given up. Pray 10 years since the time Paul encountered the risen Christ and both mistakes and by the hand and says to the apostles. This is God's man 10 years a forgotten man for 10 years becomes the most influential man in the entire New Testament. What God was doing.

He was training him. He was training him. God was preparing him listen when you waiting for God to answer your prayers.

The devil wants you to give up. God is not an answer your prayer. You know how often Jesus would look at somebody said your face what is wrong about his talk about absolute persistence are not going to give up. You think Paul wondered about that encounter with the risen Christ during those 10 years you think at some point since Lord's going on here. You think you question what happened. What all of his writings noted two events God's way, not always in God's timing is not our time.

You have prayed for somebody to be savored a husband, wife, son, daughter, relative, friend person is not been saved. Worst thing you could do is give way because you do not know what God is doing behind the scenes is orchestrating events, orchestrating circumstances, people, it is amazing to see how God grew and matured Paul in preparation for an easy length of service you listening to leading the way with Dr. Michael you sent and the website is LTW.org in a leading the way is more than teaching by Dr. you sent from the Church of the apostles as part of vision 2025. That's an initiative to expand the reach of the gospel over the next few years. Leading the way, has developed additional content encouraging people to began to grow deeper in their faith journey and one that's grown to reach more than ever imagined. His candid conversations with Jonathan, you set yes Jonathan is the youngest son of Dr. Michael you sent also called to the ministry.

Jonathan is served in multiple roles on multiple continents with a passion to reach the world for Christ and especially impact up-and-coming generations of families in each episode of candid conversations with Jonathan UNICEF. Jonathan tackles topics, sometimes with aghast sometimes just opening God's word that challenges you to view cultural issues through the lens of the Bible.

No topic is out of bounds. He's brought some pretty edgy topics to the table to including suicide education, sexuality and more to listen.

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