DON”T BE LIKE SAUL BUT RATHER PAUL

SUNDAY 26 AUGUST, 2012 SERMON

BY EMMANUEL DANQUAH

Main Text: ACTS 9:1-5

WHO IS SAUL AND WHO ALSO IS PAUL?

It is only one person that had both names but each name had its own story.

Saul hated God but in what way did he hate God? He persecuted the disciples of Christ from preaching the word of God thereby killing all those  who believed and followed Christ or believed in the word of God

One day he took permission from the High Priest to go to the Synagogues of Damascus and bring the followers to the High priest in Jerusalem. But on his way, he met the Lord Jesus Christ. He suddenly fell down when light from heaven shone on him. After the falling, he heard a voice saying unto him, “Saul, Saul why do you persecute me.” There Saul asked who called and he was answered, “I the Lord Jesus Christ whom you Persecute.” And from there he became blind so he realized there is Power that is stronger than what he has. Thereafter, someone held his hand to Damascus but due to his disability, he neither ate nor drunk. Therefore we disciples or believers of Christ should be careful we don’t do anything to hurt our Lord. Else his light will shine on us one day as he did to Saul when he persecuted the disciples.

So God revealed to Ananias to go and pray for Saul and after the prayers the Holy Spirit filled Saul and changed Saul who persecuted God to become Paul who loves God.

After you received Jesus Christ as your Saviour what changes have you made/can be seen in your life? Do you still hate God or Love Him?

When we meet Jesus, we neither longer live for ourselves nor pride ourselves with things like money, houses, positions attained, cars and your clan/tribe or affiliations.

In Philippians 3:4-6, If we were to speak of the worthy things, Paul was one who can boast of all those things listed there.

Also in Philippians 3:7-8, Paul after receiving Jesus Christ, should have boasted about these things, but rather ignored them because he saw those things as irrelevant for the sake of Christ whom he has seen and believed.

Why did Paul see all those things irrelevant? Because he always allowed the Holy Spirit to teach him and fill him so he saw Christ as the Lord over all things.

When we cast our minds on the church these days, how do we rely on the Holy Spirit? Or do we do things without the help of the Holy Spirit thinking we know all things due to our status/position.

Any one or church that forsakes the Holy Spirit appreciates worldly things and does not understand Jesus Christ.

Paul had wished to protect their services to God to please the High Priest but rather ended up persecuting Jesus Christ; So don’t be like Saul but rather Paul.

In all of Paul’s work he stood and told them to look at him and serve God by saying “I have fought a good fight, and ran the race. I am left with the crown of success to be given to me.” So as Christians, Disciples or believers we should not do things that prevent or persecute the work of God but rather look to Christ in every aspect of our lives whether good or bad, knowing that Christ has power over the things of this world. So that at the end we can confidently say that “We have fought a good fight and ran a good race and also left with the crown of success, to be given to us.

Amen!