A sermon developed by Dr. Terry W. Dorsett based on Acts 22:6-18.
Introduction:
- Many years ago Paul's name was Saul and he persecuted Christians.
- Paul had a dramatic conversion experience that led him to become a Christian missionary.
- So many people responded to the Christian message through Paul's ministry that some people became jealous and upset.
- Paul realized that his ministry was about to come to an end so he traveled back to Jerusalem under the leadership of the Spirit.
- While in Jerusalem he tried to make peace with his opponents by taking part in a Jewish religious ritual.
- However, his opponents used the ritual against him and got him arrested for something he did not do.
- In this passage we find Paul standing on the steps to the jail about to give a defense of his actions.
- Of all the types of defense that Paul could have given, he chose to share his testimony of how he became a Christian.
- When things are going bad in our lives, sometimes need to remember our testimony.
- We may not be where we want to be, but praise God we are not where we once were.
- Paul's testimony started with bright lights flashing from heaven while he was still an unbeliever.
- Our testimony may be a bit less dramatic, but our story is still powerful and begins when we were still unbelievers.
- When sharing our testimony, we should tell how we realized we needed Christ.
- In Paul's story, he got knocked off his horse and ended up in the dirt.
- Lying in the dirt, he heard Christ speak to him for the first time.
- Many times our own story begins with us getting knocked off our "high horse."
- Many of us came to Christ in a time of crisis or difficulty in which we had to admit that we could not continue on without help.
- It was often in those moments of crisis that we began to hear the Spirit speak to us in ways we had never heard before.
- Even for those who did not come to Christ in a time of crisis, it is often a crisis that forces us to get serious and grow in our faith.
- Notice that Christ said that Paul (Saul) was persecuting, or hurting him.
- Paul did not realize that every time he sinned, it was like driving another nail in the hands or feet of Jesus.
- Have we come to realize this in our own lives yet?
- The people who were with Paul when he had this amazing experience could see the light, so they knew something big was happening.
- But they did not understand the voice of God that was speaking to Paul.
- When we give our lives to Christ, people around us will know something has changed.
- But they do not always understand what it is.
- Paul asked the Lord what he was supposed to do. This indicated Paul was not just making an intellectual decision; he was also making a change of behavior and lifestyle.
- When we become a Christian, it should cause a change of behavior in our lives.
- What behaviors have changed in our lives?
- When Paul was first converted, someone had to hold his hand and walk him through the experience because he was overwhelmed.
- When we first become Christians, sometimes we are confused by the Bible and all the "church stuff" and we need someone to walk with us until we begin to understand.
- Paul was assisted by a man named Ananias.
- Ananias was a strong and respected Christian.
- We all need a spiritual mentor to help us in our early Christian experience.
- Have we found a mentor yet?
- If we have been a Christian awhile, have we become a mentor to anyone yet?
- Ananias helped Paul understand that God had chosen Paul.
- Ananias helped Paul understand God's will for his life and how to hear the word of God.
- Spiritual mentors help us find purpose in life and help us learn to hear from God.
- Once we find purpose and learn to hear from God, then we "graduate" from the mentoring process and should start mentoring someone else.
- Have we graduated yet? Or are we still in spiritual kindergarten?
- Part of Paul's purpose was to become a witness to others of what God had done.
- This is part of each of our purposes.
- We are not saved from sin so we can sit and soak up the love of Jesus.
- We are saved from sin so we can serve the Lord by sharing His message of hope with others.
- This does not mean that we all have to become pastors as our "job."
- But it does mean that we should all look for people to whom we might minister.
- One reason we need to know how to share our testimony is so that we can fulfill this part of our purpose.
- Our testimony is the story of God's work in our lives. When was the last time we shared?
- Ananias asked Paul what he was waiting for.
- Sometimes we just need to "do it!"
- Paul also needed to make his commitment to Christ public through baptism.
- If we have not yet been baptized AFTER our conversion experience, this is something we should do soon.
- Make sure we have called on Jesus for salvation.
- Make sure we have been baptized as an outward sign of our inner commitment.
- Find someone, ANYONE, that we can share our testimony with.
- Find a mentor to help us discover our purpose and learn to hear God's voice.
- Become a mentor to someone else.
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