The Unstoppable Force, the Church 09

The Unstoppable Force, The Church

Acts 9:1-9 (NLT)

The Unstoppable Force, The Church 09 | Mick Veach | lead pastor | first aired on 08.01.2021

Read Scripture

Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.

As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”

“Who are you, lord?” Saul asked.

And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one! Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink. —Acts 9:1-9

1 ) Review

a. The Spirit has been granted to believers

b. The Church has started and is growing

c. Peter is leading the church

d. Miracles and signs and wonders are occurring

e. Opposition against the church grows

f. Stephen martyred

g. Persecution sends believers out to Judea & Samaria

2 ) God’s divine tapestry is beginning to be seen

a. The church is impacting the ancient world in powerful ways

b. He is preparing the church to go beyond the Jewish people

3 ) Do you feel as though your life aligns with God’s plan for you?

  • We must ask ourselves if not, why?

4 ) Biblical Verses that shows God has a plan for you

a ) Jeremiah 29:11 — For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future

b ) Esther 4:14 — You were born for such a time as this

c ) Romans 8:28 — We know that for those who love God all things work together for good

d ) Jeremiah 1:5 — Before I formed you in the womb I knew you and before you were born I consecrated you.

5 ) It is clear that God’s plan for the church includes us

a ) He began the church with this truth

b ) He will end the era of the church with this truth

6 ) This chapter brings us to a critical moment in the young church’s life

a ) Saul is called out by Jesus

b ) I believe he is also calling you out today

7 ) The Unstoppable church marches forward in spite of all the challenges

Three key events that empowered the church to move forward

I. Saul

Reveal Answer
Jesus — verses 1-9

A. Verses1-2 — Saul was on a mission to destroy the church and arrest as many Christians as possible

  1. Remember that he already witnessed approved Stephen’s murder

  2. In many ways, Saul resembles the forces that are out today to destroy the church around the world

  3. Not many or anyone would ever believe or think that he would become a Christian

B. Verses 3-4 — Saul has a supernatural encounter with Jesus

  1. Salvation is supernatural for everyone

  2. Saul’s is one of the most dramatic and not the norm

  3. Salvation is a power encounter in that we turn from the powers of this world to Jesus—I John 5:19

  4. Heaven opens up and Jesus speaks to Saul

C. John 6:44 — No one comes to me unless the Father who sent me draws him…

  • We can’t bring anyone to salvation, we can only point them to Jesus

D. Verses 5-6 — Jesus explains to Saul who He is

  • He is explaining to us daily who He is

E. Verses 7-9 — God blinds Saul for 3 days

!. To humble him and make him completely dependent

  1. Salvation is not possible without humility

F. Verses 10-19 — Ananias is God’s extension to help Saul

  1. To teach and baptize him

  2. Baptism switches his allegiances publically

  3. This is an example how over and over again God wants to use his people

G. Saul’s name is changed to Paul (Acts 13:9)

  1. When we experience Jesus we have a name change as a child of God

  2. Do you need salvation today?

Key Point: Salvation is offered to everyone - Romans 10:13


II. Saul is
Reveal Answer
by God — verses 20-32

A. Verse 20 — we learn from Saul as he began preaching immediately

  • We can all tell our story of what Jesus has done for us

B. V. 21-22 — People were amazed at his transformation

  1. It seemed impossible for this to occur

  2. Transformation is always a miracle

  3. It becomes apparent that he is appointed for this role as his preaching is powerful

C. Saul is moving toward the leader in the early church

  1. He has the education

  2. He has the leadership quality

D. It is important to note that he is an “all in” kind of guy

  • This enabled God to accelerate his impact

E. Verses 23-25 — God’s appointments are always met with challenge and opposition

  1. The religious leaders quickly notice his threat and have one goal kill him

  2. The church saved him

F. God’s time table will not be changed

  1. There is a time to live and a time to die

  2. Saul had a ministry to accomplish

G. Verse 26-28 - The apostles were afraid of him as he entered Jerusalem

  • They feared he was trying to trick them so that he could kill him

H. But Barnabas …

  1. I believe without Barnabas there would not be a Paul

  2. Paul becomes famous but Barnabas is the one who engaged him

  3. We all need a Barnabas in our life

  4. We can be a Barnabas to others—Hero maker

I. Verse 31 — What happens when the leaders are submitted to the Holy Spirit and there is unity

  1. Peace in the church

  2. The church became stronger

  3. Believers lived in fear

  4. Holy Spirit encouraged believers

  5. The church grew numerically

J. Saul was a key leader to help see this occur

Key Point — We are all appointed by God to serve and complete the mission


III. Peter’s
Reveal Answer
Ministry
Reveal Answer
the Gospel — verses 32-43

A. Verse 32 — Peter is an itinerant, going from town to town to encourage the believers

  • The church had grown so fast that there was a need for leadership and Peter was carrying this mantle

B. We see two different healings that rocked those in the towns that it occurred

  1. Jesus had healed many

  2. But now it was Peter that was praying over people

C. There are two things that you see in scripture dance well together

  1. Evangelism

  2. Miracles

D. Preaching was powerful when it was back by power of miracles and evangelism always follows

  1. Today the churches that are growing are the ones that have believed and asked for miracles for the purpose of Jesus’ mission

  2. We need to be a church that not only believes in God’s powerful miracles but allows moments for this to occur

E. Verse 33 — The need was great—a paralyzed man for 8 years

  • His muscles would be nonexistent

F. Verse 34 — Peter full of the Holy Spirit calls for his healing because

  1. He knows what the Father desires

  2. He was listening to the Father

  3. He was bold in his faith to call it out

G. Is instant healing possible today?

  • There answer is yes but we must first believe it

H. Verse 35 — The result of the healing

  1. Whole population turned to the Lord

  2. The church expands and the mission of Jesus moves forward

I. Verse 36-38 — A second healing to Dorcas

  • She was an incredible lady with a great heart for the poor

J. Verse 40-41 — Peter shows his complete reliance on Jesus

  1. He kneels and prays

  2. Tabitha—Get up

  3. Jesus also did this in Mark 5

  4. She is raised from the dead

K. Verse 42-43 — Again the whole town heard and many came to the Lord

Key Point: We must step out and ask for miracles so that Jesus will be made known and many will come to him

Call to Action

1. Ask yourself if you have had an authentic encounter with Jesus

2. Seek out His plan for your life

3. Begin to pray for God’s power to be demonstrated through your life

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