Chosen

Mission: Sent to speak & Respond to God’s work of redemption

Acts 9:1-25. If you are using the bibles provided and you’re not sure where to find the book of Acts it’s on page 917 in the bibles around the room. If you do not have a bible, that is our gift to you.

After Saul approved the execution of Stephen he continues persecuting the church.

Main Point- “God’s Work is our work” 

• Vs. 1-2
• But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. Acts 8:3
• Damascus – 140 mile walk. S. Here to Huntington Beach / N. San Miguel
  • 46-50 hour walk, 4-5 day journey

1. God’s work. vs. 3-4

• This is a clear intervention by our Lord Jesus. There is no alter call happening here. No winsome speaker sharing his faith. He was NOT looking to get saved. He thought he already was…
  • Is our salvation any different? Of course. Or is it?
    • True, most likely we didn’t get knocked over, but there is something that all salvation stories have in common and how we can relate to this story.
  • Jesus chose Saul, and Jesus chose you.
    • If you have believed in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, then he choose you too.  If you are hear and have yet to make that step of faith, then there is a good chance he chose you too. 
  • The same man who just got knocked over, Saul, now Paul, writes to the church in Ephesus. 

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. Ephesians 2:1-3

• Much like Saul, we were rebels, walking our own way, and maybe even, like Saul, believing we are doing right and are right with God.
  • Total depravity
    • Nature. All of us were walking away from God.
  • And if the scripture ended here… This is were we would stay.
• “Saul, Saul. Why are you persecuting me?” collecting wrath
  • Old testament so different than the new? No.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ- by grace you have been saved.  Ephesians 2:4-5

• Jesus chooses, does the work, but then invites us to participate. “Do you believe?” That said, when you truly understand your sin, and the great gift of Grace given… Some would say it’s irresistible!
  • This leads to extreme gratitude, humility, and freedom 

“So long as we imagine it is we who have to look for God, then we must lose heart. But it is the other way about: he is looking for us. And so we can afford to recognize that very often we are not looking for God; far from it, we are in full flight from him, in high rebellion against him.  And he knows that and has taken it into account. He has followed us into our own darkness; there where we thought we finally to escape him, we run straight into his arms.” Simon Tugwell

“God’s Work is our work”

2. Our Work 

• Jesus not only chooses us to believe and offers a Divine invitation to salvation, he also chooses others who believe to join in. 
• Read Vs. 10-12, Ananias.
  • Say What? No less than asking you to go witness to a terrorist.
    • For instance, imagine you are in prayer,
  • Leader of the Islamic State of Iraq & Syria, also know as ISIS and formally Al Queda.
  • But he choses Ananias for such a task.  How can we relate?
    • You may say, “God would never ask me for such a thing… I’m not sure I would.”  Welcome to the club, and even Ananias was there
• Read vs. 13-14
  • This is where the Christian adventure begins! We get to join in! We get to Play in the playground of the God’s kingdom! 
    • Imagine being in heaven, say what’s up to Peter as you walk through the pearly gates and you are greeted by someone. “Thank you”
    • If we can just get our eyes off our own selves for a minute, and pray, listen and obey!
  • WHY? BECAUSE YOU ARE CHOSEN! YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN A DIVINE INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GREATEST, MOST EPIC ADVENTURE OF ALL ETERNITY, (repeat)  SEEING SOMEONE’S DESTINY CHANGED. TO EXPERIENCE DARKNESS TO LIGHT, DEATH TO LIFE, BONDAGE TO FREEDOM.
• “God’s Work is Our Work”

Read vs. 15-17a

• I love that once he learns he is to suffer he’s like, “oh, OK”.
• What drew Ananias to obey?
• vs. 15.   “GO, FOR HE IS A CHOSEN INSTRUMENT OF MINE”
• It’s not just Ananias, it’s all who call upon His name.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Mat. 28:19-20

• Why? It’s who you are. It’s what you do that makes you who you are it’s who you are that causes you to do what you do.
• Read, vs. 17-20. The salvation of Saul…
  • He chose Saul, He chose Ananias, and now Saul proclaims the Gospel.
    • He chose you, for salvation
• He chose us to participate in the divine invitation of proclaiming the Gospel!
  • To pray, to listen, and to obey. WATCH WHAT GOD DOES!
• GOSPEL 
• Let’s now, today, commit to being on mission with him!

Please Join us next week and invite a friend as we look at how the Christian community responds to Saul and what we can learn about Biblical  Community!

PRAY

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