FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT - THE LIFE OF PAUL

ACTS 9:1-6

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. THE WAY TO GOD

1. SAUL HEARD THE GOSPEL [7:51-60]

2. SAUL HATED THE GOSPEL [8:1-3, Luke 6:22]

Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

3. SAUL HEEDED THE GOSPEL [9:1-6]

2 Thessalonians 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
Hebrews 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

II. THE WILL OF GOD

1. BE WILLING [Acts 9:6a, Luke 9:23]

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
John 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

2. BE OBEDIENT [Acts 9:6b-9]

3. BE WISE [Acts 9:10-11]

Note what God did NOT tell Saul and what He did tell him.

James 1:5-8 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

III. THE WORK OF GOD

1. DO WHAT YOU KNOW TO DO NOW! [v. 12-19]

2. BE WHAT YOU CAN BE NOW! [v. 20]

3. BE BECOMING WHAT YOU WILL BE [v. 21-30; 11:22-26; 13:2, 9, 13; 14:12]