God’s Chosen Instruments (Acts 9:1-19) 10/27/2024
Eternal Answer of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd RUTC:
God’s Chosen Instruments (Acts 9:1-19) 10/27/2024
The entire world is difficult. The Bible talks about endless disasters and wars, and the attacks of the darkness will be deep. There will be people who suffer failures, there will be betrayal and hatred, and people will face unspeakable suffering.
The sure conclusion is that God has promised us true victory, and He will ultimately change everything into evidence. One of the things our church must be thankful and joyful for is that today, a Chinese pastor who has been trained for the past 13 years will be ordained. It says that even if one soul repents and receives salvation, there will be a feast of joy in heaven (Luke 15:7). Today, and evangelist who will save the Chinese speaking population and the world will be anointed as a pastor. On this blessed day, we want to share the Word through the scriptures that we will all hold onto together.
What kind of person was Paul from the passage? He confessed himself that he was “the worse” of the sinners (1Timothy 1:15). He led many people to death, being at the forefront of destroying the churches. He led the stoning of deacon Stephen, who was proclaiming the gospel (Acts 8:1), and he was in Damascus to destroy the local churches. There are many people in the Bible who were used for evil deeds. There are some that do not know what they are doing, and others who claim to do it for the righteousness of God and the justice of the world. Looking back, much of Paul’s actions opposed God.
Why is that? There is one reason. It is because he did not know the gospel, did not realize the gospel, and did not enjoy the blessings of the gospel. What is the gospel? Because we could not solve the problems of our lives, God sent his son. He solved the problem of mankind’s original sin, our sinful nature, curses and destiny that flows through individuals and family lines, and eternal judgment of hell. Including many Jews, Paul in the scriptures rejected this gospel and persecuted evangelists and churches that proclaimed the gospel.
It was because there was no space for the gospel to fit inside them. First, it was their arrogance that brought their self-righteousness (Romans 3:10, Romans 3:20). Second, it was spiritual ignorance of Satan (Job 1:6, Zechariah 3:1-3, Revelation 12:10 “accuser”, 2Corinthians 4:20, 2Corinthians 4:4 “the blinded”, Matthew 25:41 “cursed into eternal fire”). Third, it is the ignorance of God’s love (John 3:16, Romans 5:8, Romans 8:35-39). There is something we must hold onto here. It is a message for all of us – the pastor being raised and believers in the congregation alike.
- The God that came to Paul and made him realize his ignorance and raised him up as a servant of the Lord. This is why God flashed a strong light onto Paul so that he could not see on the road of Damascus.
1) We must open our eyes to see three things. This is the start to realizing the gospel.
① Eyes to see myself. We cannot go a single moment without God’s grace and forgiveness. We have no choice but to lower ourselves.
② Eyes to see Satan. Satan exists, and with our efforts, diligence, and deeds without the gospel, we cannot overcome Satan.
③ Eyes to see the love of God. He chose us, who are full of shame and sin. He chose Paul, who was so evil. If we do not realize this, we do not save others but criticize, condemn, demand, and oppose.
2) God says to “go and save people like yourself” (15). This is the mystery to enjoying the gospel.
① This is the reason God chose us before creation, made us righteous in Christ, and made us His children (Ephesians 1:3-10).
② Sometimes he allows for our failures and weaknesses to make us stand before people like ourselves (Luke 22:31-32).
③ Ultimately, God will change everything into blessings to raise us up as witnesses (Romans 8:28, Acts 1:8). This was the conclusion of Moses, who by chance became a murderer and lives his entire life as a fugitive (Deuteronomy 34:7). This is the conclusion of David, who failed and was betrayed by his son (1Chronicles 29:28).
3) There are three resolutions that Paul confessed throughout his entire life. This is the conclusion of someone who has the gospel.
① He enjoyed grace all his life, he resolved to live confessing that grace, and with those blessings he saved the age (1Corinthians 15:10).
② He resolved to not even fear death for the sake of proclaiming the gospel of grace (Acts 20:24). However, everything (suffering, crisis, persecution) along his way became evidence that saved the field and the age (Acts 27:20-25).
③ All his life, he fought against himself, against Satan, and against the future to become the witness of spiritual victory (2Timothy 4:7). “I face death every day” (Galatians 5:24, 1Corinthians 15:31). He proclaimed only Christ, and people afflicted by evil spirits were revived (Acts 16:!6-18, Acts 19:11-12). Through Paul, future leaders like Timothy, Titus, and Onesimus were raised.
- According to God’s will, Ananias was the one that accepted and raised Paul, who was chosen to be used by God. This is why God came to Paul in Damascus and broke him down.
1) It was because Ananias, who could uplift Paul who was a persecutor and failure, was in Damascus. Ananias knew of Paul through reports (13). But because God said Paul was “His chosen instrument,” Ananias was obedient to God’s will.
2) How was this possible? There are disciples that are chosen and raised for the servants of the Lord. Ananias was a disciple that prayed (11). As Ananias was in deep prayer, God sent Paul to him. When we pray, the Holy Spirit allows us to know the deep things of God and allows us to experience His works of grace (1Coriinthians 2:10-12).
3) Change all meetings and incidents to lifelong blessings that you will enjoy.
① Do not become ministers or leaders that judge, blame, or condemn, others based on your standards for someone’s weaknesses, failures, and lacking.
② When someone if going through difficulties, quietly heal them, help them, and raise them up. How precious were the people around David, who was in favor of God’s heart and was used preciously by God? There was Samuel, who anointed David with oil. There was Nathan, who guided David in building the temple. They allowed David to realize his failures and also blessed him (2Samuel 12:24-25). There were 400 men who helped David when he was being chased (2Samuel 22:2). There was Shimei, who cursed and threw stones at David when he was running away after his mistakes (2Samuel 16:5-6). But there was also Barzillai, who took compassion on David and helped him (2Samuel 17:27-29). Later on, we know the blessings that Barzillai and his descendants enjoyed (2Samuel 19:31-39).
- The people who supported Paul up to his final conquest of Rome.
1) They are the main figures of Romans 16. They are names recorded in the Bible, and they are names that God has remembered. Their precious titles (protector, coworker, supporter, loved ones, family) became their eternal reward.
2) We must help the servants of the Lord to be used as the witnesses of America evangelization, the Rome of this age, and enjoy the same blessings. Simon, who was passing by, was forced to carry the cross (Mark 15:21). We know the blessings his wife and son enjoyed (Romans 16:13).
Conclusion – Today is not a day where one person becomes a pastor. May today become a time of holding onto the covenant of a new beginning of the greatest blessings and answers for all of us. We are all God’s chosen instruments.
10.27.24 God’s Chosen Instruments