1 00:00:04,500 --> 00:00:05,900 Thank you for listening to the river. 2 00:00:05,900 --> 00:00:09,300 Bend Church podcast Reverb in church exists to leave all 3 00:00:09,300 --> 00:00:12,700 people to know love and live New Life in Jesus Christ. 4 00:00:13,100 --> 00:00:15,000 We hope that you enjoy this message. 5 00:00:18,900 --> 00:00:22,200 Welcome to church. Tell the person on your right 6 00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:24,800 that you're glad they're here. Go ahead. 7 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:31,000 Tell them. tell it, tell it, tell the person on your left 8 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:36,100 that they're actually your favorite and say you matter, 9 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:39,800 just tell him you matter. I like that. 10 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:46,800 Wow, welcome to church, everybody. 11 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:51,000 My name is Jared. I've been here for several weeks 12 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:52,800 and I'm going to be here for several more. 13 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:56,100 But as we get in the summer here, we're kind of taking turns 14 00:00:56,100 --> 00:01:00,100 with, who's up here leading from the table. 15 00:01:00,100 --> 00:01:02,500 The that it's not a Pulpit. That's what we used to say. 16 00:01:02,500 --> 00:01:05,000 You know what? I was growing up, the pulpit, we 17 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:08,000 don't have those anymore, they call this the countertop, that's 18 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:11,000 what they make, fun of me because I like it to be higher 19 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:14,000 and they don't they say it's not a table, it's countertop. 20 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:18,400 So we're preaching from the countertop today but don't worry 21 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:22,000 because we got Taylor Guthrie in the back and he's the real MVP 22 00:01:22,100 --> 00:01:24,400 and I've never seen somebody follow better than Taylor. 23 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:28,600 Got three right there on the screen and speaking of speaking 24 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:32,700 of Taylor we're going to be in Acts chapter 9, verses 1 through 25 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:35,200 9 today. And he's going to have it up on 26 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:38,000 the screen for us and I'm so excited to dive in. 27 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:41,800 We're starting a new series and unfamiliar Road. 28 00:01:42,500 --> 00:01:45,900 An unfamiliar road is, is where we're going to walk through the 29 00:01:46,300 --> 00:01:50,200 conversion of Saul. The Apostle Paul who wrote the 30 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:54,700 majority of our New Testament, and he was encountered. 31 00:01:56,100 --> 00:02:00,100 With almighty God on the Damascus Road, it was 32 00:02:00,100 --> 00:02:02,800 unfamiliar. And we're going to look at just 33 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:05,500 how unfamiliar it was. And we're going to also look at 34 00:02:05,500 --> 00:02:08,000 all that God is teaching us through it. 35 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:12,900 I'm so excited to jump into it with you all Oakwood. 36 00:02:12,900 --> 00:02:14,400 We're grateful that you're with us to. 37 00:02:14,900 --> 00:02:18,100 I know we got a lot of friends over there today. 38 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:22,100 A lot of friends here and there that are out on vacation and we 39 00:02:22,100 --> 00:02:25,100 love you too. If you're watching online, we 40 00:02:25,100 --> 00:02:26,900 love the ones. In the room just a little bit 41 00:02:26,900 --> 00:02:29,700 more today, but that's okay. We still love you with a little 42 00:02:29,700 --> 00:02:31,800 bit of love. And we're grateful that you're 43 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:36,600 all joining us today as we dig into this new series inside of 44 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:42,600 Acts chapter 9. We're going to find three very 45 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:46,100 important questions that are asked. 46 00:02:46,100 --> 00:02:49,900 The first one is asked by Jesus and then the other two are asked 47 00:02:49,900 --> 00:02:55,400 by Saul and the last question is going to actually be found later 48 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:56,400 in the book. Kovacs. 49 00:02:56,400 --> 00:03:00,400 But we know that he said it in this scene here in Acts chapter 50 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:03,200 9 because he later told us about it. 51 00:03:03,300 --> 00:03:06,500 In Acts chapter 22. I'll explain all of that later, 52 00:03:06,500 --> 00:03:08,900 but I just wanted to tell you. There's three very important 53 00:03:08,900 --> 00:03:11,800 questions that we're going to unpack together today. 54 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:15,700 Let's look at Acts chapter 9. Starting in verse 1. 55 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:23,400 But Saul still breathing threats and murder against the Disciples 56 00:03:23,700 --> 00:03:29,100 of the Lord. Breathing threats and murder 57 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:32,200 against the Disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 58 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:34,800 and ask the high priest for letters to the synagogues at 59 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:37,500 Damascus. So that if he found any 60 00:03:37,500 --> 00:03:41,900 belonging to the way, men or women, he might bring them bound 61 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:46,300 to Jerusalem. And now as he went on his way, 62 00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:50,100 he approached Damascus and suddenly light from Heaven Shone 63 00:03:50,100 --> 00:03:52,500 around him and falling to the ground. 64 00:03:52,500 --> 00:03:58,900 He heard a voice saying to him. Saul Saul, why are you 65 00:03:58,900 --> 00:04:01,400 persecuting me? That's the first question. 66 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:05,400 And he responded, who are you, Lord? 67 00:04:06,900 --> 00:04:09,900 And the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, but 68 00:04:09,900 --> 00:04:13,600 rise and enter the city and you will be told what you are to do. 69 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:17,399 The men who were traveling with him, stood speechless, hearing 70 00:04:17,399 --> 00:04:21,700 the voice, but seeing no one and saw Rose from the ground. 71 00:04:21,700 --> 00:04:25,000 And although his eyes were open, he saw nothing. 72 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:29,300 He was blinded and so they let him by the hand and brought him 73 00:04:29,300 --> 00:04:33,100 into Damascus. And for three days, he was 74 00:04:33,100 --> 00:04:39,300 without sight and neither eight. Nor drank three days. 75 00:04:39,500 --> 00:04:43,200 He was blinded. This light from heaven was 76 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:48,500 all-consuming and it fell on the the Caravan that was traveling 77 00:04:48,500 --> 00:04:52,600 to Damascus. Saw was there and saw a fell 78 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:55,200 blind. This great man. 79 00:04:55,300 --> 00:04:59,600 That the leader of the of the party here that a Pharisee of 80 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:04,600 Pharisees. Is now being led by the hand 81 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:08,400 into Damascus because he couldn't see. 82 00:05:10,100 --> 00:05:12,000 Let's start with our first question that we're going to 83 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:16,500 look at today. And we find that question in 84 00:05:16,500 --> 00:05:21,400 verse 4. Saul Saul, why are you 85 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:25,800 persecuting me when they would repeat a name twice? 86 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:29,100 They were adding emphasis in the Hebrew language. 87 00:05:29,100 --> 00:05:32,300 This was a way to add emphasis but it's deeper than just 88 00:05:32,300 --> 00:05:35,500 emphasis. It's also portraying intimate 89 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:42,200 knowledge, close knowledge. Saul Saul? 90 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:46,000 If you look in the Bible, you will find several times where 91 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:49,800 people's names are mentioned like the in this way, repeating 92 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:54,500 the name twice. If we go back to Mount Moriah 93 00:05:54,500 --> 00:05:57,800 when Abraham was about to sacrifice his son, Isaac on the 94 00:05:57,800 --> 00:06:01,300 altar, as God told him to do, and he's got his, his blade in 95 00:06:01,300 --> 00:06:04,600 the air. And he's about to do the act and 96 00:06:04,600 --> 00:06:07,500 he hears a voice from heaven. And and what is the voice? 97 00:06:07,500 --> 00:06:17,000 Say, first, Abraham, Abraham? We go to the burning bush scene, 98 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:20,700 with Moses when God is calling him from the burning bush 99 00:06:20,700 --> 00:06:23,900 miraculous scene and and wouldn't, what is the voice? 100 00:06:24,100 --> 00:06:25,400 What is the voice? That Moses? 101 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:28,600 Here's say first. The voice says Moses. 102 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:34,200 Moses Jesus on the cross, when he's hanging on the cross, which 103 00:06:34,500 --> 00:06:39,100 he quotes Psalm 22, right? When he, when he says my father, 104 00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:42,800 my father Why have you forsaken me? 105 00:06:42,900 --> 00:06:48,000 This was a common way. To attribute, intimate. 106 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:52,500 Personal knowledge on a subject in the Hebrew tongue. 107 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:58,200 So God here, speaking from Heaven to saw, he says Saul so 108 00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:01,300 he this is a personal touch from Heaven. 109 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:10,400 Saw I know you, I see you. I know what you're doing. 110 00:07:11,200 --> 00:07:14,900 I know what you've done. I know what you're going to do 111 00:07:14,900 --> 00:07:22,400 and I love you. Saul Saul? 112 00:07:23,800 --> 00:07:30,400 Why are you persecuting me? You remember in first John in 113 00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:33,200 this is love. Not that we have loved God, but 114 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:39,200 that he first, loved us and sent his son as an atoning sacrifice 115 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:43,600 for our sins, saw wasn't looking for God at all. 116 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:52,900 He was going on his way, the opposite direction to murder 117 00:07:53,500 --> 00:07:59,400 God's people. But this is our God even when 118 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:03,900 Saul was against Jesus, Jesus was still for Saul. 119 00:08:03,900 --> 00:08:06,300 This is Grace. This is Mercy. 120 00:08:06,300 --> 00:08:09,100 This is Love. This is undeserved 121 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:15,300 uncomprehensible Love as Saul was breathing out threats. 122 00:08:15,300 --> 00:08:19,600 Full of rage towards God's people persecuting Christ's 123 00:08:20,300 --> 00:08:24,700 body. And what does Jesus do? 124 00:08:27,100 --> 00:08:30,400 If you ever thought, like, when I read sections like this, I get 125 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:34,500 into it. And I like, what stopped God 126 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:37,299 from raining. Down fire from heaven. 127 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:41,000 On saw in this moment and just wiping wiping the whole company 128 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:44,600 out. We've seen him, do it in, Sodom 129 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:47,600 and Gomorrah. We've seen the great flood come 130 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:51,000 and wipe away the Earth and Purge the Earth of wickedness. 131 00:08:53,300 --> 00:08:57,900 We What stopped him from doing that, you know, he could have 132 00:08:57,900 --> 00:09:02,100 saved the church by just knocking him out right there. 133 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:08,300 Look at First Timothy 1:12 through 16. 134 00:09:08,300 --> 00:09:13,900 This is Paul's account of his own life and what God had done 135 00:09:13,900 --> 00:09:18,000 for him and I can't help but think that he had this very 136 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:20,400 scene in mind. When he wrote these words, I 137 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:23,100 thank God who has given me strength Christ. 138 00:09:23,100 --> 00:09:27,700 Jesus, our lord because he judged me faithful appointing me 139 00:09:27,700 --> 00:09:33,000 to his service though formerly. I was a blasphemer. 140 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:39,000 I was a persecutor and insolent opponent. 141 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:49,000 I was opposed to God. Paul said, but I received Mercy. 142 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:54,400 Maybe this is your story too. I was totally opposed to God, 143 00:09:55,100 --> 00:10:02,100 but He showed me. Mercy, look at verse 14 and the 144 00:10:02,100 --> 00:10:07,400 grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that 145 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:09,900 are in Christ. Jesus this saying is trust 146 00:10:09,900 --> 00:10:13,100 worthy and deserving of full acceptance that Christ Jesus 147 00:10:13,100 --> 00:10:16,600 came into the world to save Sinners of whom. 148 00:10:16,700 --> 00:10:19,800 I am the foremost. Paul said. 149 00:10:21,700 --> 00:10:23,700 I might take some exception with that. 150 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:30,800 Some of you might be in here and say, well, Man killed anybody. 151 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:34,600 So maybe I'm not the foremost, but if I'm honest, most days I 152 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:43,000 feel like the foremost of sinners That I have received 153 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:47,000 Mercy. I didn't deserve it. 154 00:10:47,100 --> 00:10:51,600 I didn't earn it. My path was leading to 155 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:54,600 destruction. Maybe this is your story too. 156 00:10:56,200 --> 00:10:58,400 Why did God do this to, for Paul? 157 00:10:59,100 --> 00:11:04,800 He tells us right here for this reason that in me, as the 158 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:10,000 foremost, Jesus Christ might display, his perfect patients, 159 00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:14,700 as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal 160 00:11:14,900 --> 00:11:18,100 life. Why did why did God show Palmer? 161 00:11:18,100 --> 00:11:21,400 See, why did God show me, mercy? Why did God show you? 162 00:11:21,400 --> 00:11:25,700 Mercy for this reason for others, to believe in him for. 163 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:30,200 Turtle life that they might see through the example of your life 164 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:33,900 and the transformation that God caused. 165 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:47,100 His perfect patience. His perfect patience towards me. 166 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:51,600 What is Mercy? You know, would it? 167 00:11:51,700 --> 00:11:53,800 We talked about these words and we throw them around like, we 168 00:11:53,800 --> 00:11:56,400 know what we're saying. Sometimes it's, these are church 169 00:11:56,400 --> 00:12:00,900 words Mercy where it's not just a church word, but sometimes in 170 00:12:00,900 --> 00:12:04,600 church, if you notice, we say words that we've heard for years 171 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:08,300 and expect everybody to really understand what it means, What 172 00:12:08,300 --> 00:12:12,500 is Mercy? Let's pretend that you owe me. 173 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:19,200 $100. But you already spent it and you 174 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:24,800 don't have it to give to me and but I'm still owed a hundred 175 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:29,200 dollars if I forgive you, the hundred dollar debt. 176 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:37,500 I have lost 100 dollars. I can't make you a hundred 177 00:12:37,500 --> 00:12:41,400 dollars richer with the hundred dollars that you owe me. 178 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:46,200 Without becoming a hundred dollars poorer myself. 179 00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:52,300 She said, I'm saying it because if it's a real debt, it must be 180 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:57,700 paid. So if I show you Mercy, I must 181 00:12:57,700 --> 00:13:01,200 pay the debt. That's why Christ died. 182 00:13:03,100 --> 00:13:07,900 God didn't say forget it. God said, forgive it. 183 00:13:09,300 --> 00:13:13,600 And he paid it. He went all the way to the point 184 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:18,700 of death and even death on a cross to pay for it himself. 185 00:13:18,700 --> 00:13:24,100 That's the ultimate form of mercy and now we are alive to 186 00:13:24,100 --> 00:13:31,000 tell the story. Of how he's Grace overflowed on 187 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:38,200 us and his patients was perfect. And he has given us eternal 188 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:40,100 life. But when you sink into this 189 00:13:40,100 --> 00:13:44,700 reality and you really remember what he's done and how 190 00:13:44,700 --> 00:13:49,900 undeserved you are of that, does it not produce a response of 191 00:13:49,900 --> 00:13:56,300 just how can it be? How can it be that a sinner? 192 00:13:56,300 --> 00:14:04,000 Like me can be pardoned and set free forgiven not having to earn 193 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:07,400 it anymore. How can it be? 194 00:14:08,200 --> 00:14:12,000 The answer is Jesus. Paid It All. 195 00:14:15,800 --> 00:14:18,100 That all who trust in him would be forgiven. 196 00:14:19,900 --> 00:14:23,500 She saw was a giant of a man, not physically. 197 00:14:24,300 --> 00:14:28,900 But stature like with the people reputation he was a giant of a 198 00:14:28,900 --> 00:14:30,800 man. Like they looked up to, he was a 199 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:37,000 leader of leaders, a Pharisee of Pharisees and he believed that 200 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:42,200 he was absolutely right. He was proud of his Conquest, he 201 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:46,100 had great power and authority. The high priest gave him the 202 00:14:46,100 --> 00:14:49,500 authority to if you see anybody belonging to the way. 203 00:14:49,600 --> 00:14:53,500 Which is a Christian, you have the authority to persecute to 204 00:14:53,500 --> 00:14:59,200 even kill. This great man. 205 00:15:00,300 --> 00:15:06,300 Riding High. How quickly the Lord Jesus 206 00:15:06,300 --> 00:15:12,000 brought him down. In from the ground, he asked a 207 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:15,300 very important question which is our second question that we're 208 00:15:15,300 --> 00:15:19,900 looking at today. Who are you? 209 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:22,800 Lord. Who are you? 210 00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:28,200 Lord find it in verse 5. Who are you? 211 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:34,200 This is the Gateway question. It said it's the beginning of 212 00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:37,100 Paul's, Christian Journey, his conversion. 213 00:15:37,100 --> 00:15:44,300 He did to ask who are you two? It's the gateway to knowing god. 214 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:52,100 And in this moment of humility, Paul has a desire to know God. 215 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:59,400 You know, it must begin with the desire, a willingness, a hunger. 216 00:16:03,400 --> 00:16:07,200 Do you have a desire today? To know him. 217 00:16:08,100 --> 00:16:12,800 I'm challenged by this this week, like do I desire to know 218 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:18,300 God or would I rather get to know something or someone else? 219 00:16:21,800 --> 00:16:25,200 Acts 4:12 reminds us that there's only one name under 220 00:16:25,200 --> 00:16:28,800 Heaven given among men by which we must be saved. 221 00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:31,400 Only one name that the search is over. 222 00:16:31,400 --> 00:16:35,900 If there's just one name. Do I desire to know him? 223 00:16:38,900 --> 00:16:42,300 John 3:17 God did not send his son into the world to condemn 224 00:16:42,300 --> 00:16:45,000 the world but in order that the world might be saved through 225 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:51,700 him. Do I desire to know him This is 226 00:16:51,700 --> 00:16:55,800 the gateway to life. This question, who are you? 227 00:16:55,800 --> 00:16:59,200 Lord John 17:3 Jesus prayed in the garden. 228 00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:04,400 He said, in this is eternal life that they know you and Jesus 229 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:08,000 Christ, whom you have sent. He said, this is eternal life. 230 00:17:08,099 --> 00:17:13,500 This is the gateway to life eternal knowing the one true 231 00:17:13,500 --> 00:17:16,099 God. And Jesus Christ. 232 00:17:16,500 --> 00:17:19,200 Whom you have sent do we want to know? 233 00:17:20,300 --> 00:17:24,000 God. Look at what Paul wrote in 234 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:27,900 Philippians, 3, starting in verse 4, though. 235 00:17:27,900 --> 00:17:30,700 I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh. 236 00:17:30,700 --> 00:17:35,200 Also, if anyone else thinks, he has reason for confidence in the 237 00:17:35,200 --> 00:17:37,800 flesh. I have more, you may say well 238 00:17:37,800 --> 00:17:40,800 that sounds pretty prideful. That sounds pretty arrogant. 239 00:17:40,800 --> 00:17:48,900 Paul He's making a point that in this life, all of the accolades 240 00:17:48,900 --> 00:17:51,700 that were set before him he accomplished. 241 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:54,800 He climbed the ladder of success. 242 00:17:55,500 --> 00:17:58,800 He gained Authority, he gained power. 243 00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:03,600 He did what the world with the religious tradition taught him 244 00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:07,800 to do. Circumcised on the eighth day of 245 00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:10,700 the people of Israel of The Tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of 246 00:18:10,700 --> 00:18:14,800 Hebrews as to the law a Pharisee, as to Zeal, a 247 00:18:14,808 --> 00:18:18,700 persecutor of the church as to righteousness under the law 248 00:18:18,800 --> 00:18:20,400 blameless. He's saying, I did it. 249 00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:30,200 All right, I'm blameless. but, Whatever gain. 250 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:35,900 I had I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 251 00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:40,000 Whatever gain I had, I thought I was doing it. 252 00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:43,500 Rightly I thought I was climbing the right ladder, I thought I 253 00:18:43,500 --> 00:18:45,700 was earning my way to something more. 254 00:18:45,700 --> 00:18:50,300 I that was told and I taught and I learned and I taught other 255 00:18:50,300 --> 00:18:52,500 people to learn that, this was the way. 256 00:18:53,600 --> 00:18:56,600 But whatever gain I had I counted as loss. 257 00:18:57,000 --> 00:19:02,500 Why for the sake of Christ? Indeed, I count everything as 258 00:19:02,500 --> 00:19:08,300 loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. 259 00:19:08,300 --> 00:19:21,700 Jesus my Lord the surpassing worth of knowing, Who are you? 260 00:19:21,700 --> 00:19:27,200 Lord this, where it all began. Who are you? 261 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:33,500 Jesus, who are you really? He's reminding us here. 262 00:19:34,900 --> 00:19:41,100 That nothing can compare to the worth of knowing Christ as Lord. 263 00:19:45,700 --> 00:19:49,100 This question was the beginning of Saul's conversion but he 264 00:19:49,100 --> 00:19:52,700 didn't stop asking it. He continually search The Riches 265 00:19:52,700 --> 00:19:55,900 of Christ, and this is why this question is so important for us 266 00:19:55,900 --> 00:20:00,100 today as well, because it's not just the gateway to eternal 267 00:20:00,100 --> 00:20:02,800 life. It, it's a question to be asked 268 00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:05,900 daily. Who are you? 269 00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:08,500 When we come to the Bible, who are you? 270 00:20:09,500 --> 00:20:13,200 Because when we know who he is, the confidence that we have to 271 00:20:13,200 --> 00:20:17,100 face life is entirely strengthened. 272 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:26,200 In Acts 22 Paul stood before the rulers in Jerusalem and shared 273 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:32,400 his testimony. And in this account, we find 274 00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:35,700 that third question that I was telling you about in Acts 22 275 00:20:35,700 --> 00:20:39,100 verse 6. The third and final question 276 00:20:39,100 --> 00:20:42,400 that we'll look at today. Paul's talking about the same 277 00:20:42,400 --> 00:20:46,100 experience that we read in Acts chapter 9, as I was on my way 278 00:20:46,100 --> 00:20:49,900 and Drew near to Damascus about noon, a great light from Heaven. 279 00:20:49,900 --> 00:20:54,300 Suddenly Shone around me, fun fact, it was high noon that the 280 00:20:54,300 --> 00:20:58,000 sun was at the highest point of the Middle Eastern sky and God's 281 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:03,800 light. Outshined it And I fell to the 282 00:21:03,808 --> 00:21:08,200 ground and heard a voice saying to me Saul Saul, why are you 283 00:21:08,200 --> 00:21:11,000 persecuting me and I answered who are you? 284 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:14,000 Lord and he said to me, I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are 285 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:16,400 persecuting. Now those who are with me, saw 286 00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:18,900 the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was 287 00:21:18,900 --> 00:21:23,200 speaking to me. And I said, third question, what 288 00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:27,600 shall I do? Lord. 289 00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:34,100 What shall I do? In other words, what do you want 290 00:21:34,100 --> 00:21:40,500 me to do? I love this question. 291 00:21:41,500 --> 00:21:44,400 This is such a hard question for us to ask if we're honest. 292 00:21:46,500 --> 00:21:49,700 What do you want me to do? Look at two things about this 293 00:21:49,700 --> 00:21:51,300 question. The first thing is Paul's 294 00:21:51,300 --> 00:21:58,800 willingness to obey is immediate Who are you? 295 00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:00,900 Lord. I'm Jesus of Nazareth. 296 00:22:00,900 --> 00:22:04,000 Whom you are persecuting. Conviction. 297 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:08,700 Fell on Saul and immediately. He says what do you want me to 298 00:22:08,700 --> 00:22:14,900 do? Thomas a kempis in the imitation 299 00:22:14,900 --> 00:22:18,700 of Christ said, this instant obedience is the only kind of 300 00:22:18,700 --> 00:22:23,300 obedience there is delayed. Obedience is disobedience. 301 00:22:27,400 --> 00:22:29,500 I thought about not putting that in there because I didn't really 302 00:22:29,500 --> 00:22:33,600 like reading it to be honest. Delayed obedience. 303 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:41,100 His disobedience. I give me a day. 304 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:46,800 Give me a week to kind of get through some stuff and then I'll 305 00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:50,200 do what I hear you telling me to do God. 306 00:22:51,700 --> 00:22:54,200 Give me a day. Just give me some time. 307 00:22:55,400 --> 00:23:01,700 I'll lay that down. I'll lay that down. 308 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:06,200 Once I get my feet under me a little more on this other thing 309 00:23:06,300 --> 00:23:11,100 or maybe the other side of how we negotiate with him, if you'll 310 00:23:11,100 --> 00:23:17,700 just give me then I'll never do again. 311 00:23:19,600 --> 00:23:23,400 If you just give me that girl for the rest of my life, I will 312 00:23:23,400 --> 00:23:29,000 never ever, ever say that four letter word ever again, you just 313 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:34,000 give her to me. Delayed obedience is 314 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:39,100 disobedience. Now here's the good news, God is 315 00:23:39,100 --> 00:23:43,700 merciful and gracious through it all, and he's still leading us 316 00:23:43,700 --> 00:23:47,100 on as we're delaying our obedience, but if you're like 317 00:23:47,100 --> 00:23:51,400 me, you are constantly finding a way to sort of delay. 318 00:23:51,400 --> 00:23:53,700 The obedient was that really God? 319 00:23:54,400 --> 00:23:58,600 Who said, was that really what he told me to do? 320 00:24:05,300 --> 00:24:08,700 His willingness to obey was immediate. 321 00:24:10,100 --> 00:24:12,600 The second thing I want you to notice about this question is, 322 00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:15,200 how Paul made it personal to him? 323 00:24:16,400 --> 00:24:20,300 He said what must I do? Lord. 324 00:24:21,100 --> 00:24:23,900 What shall I do? What do you want me to do? 325 00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:27,500 You see it's really easy to ask for others? 326 00:24:30,300 --> 00:24:32,900 What do you want us to do? I'll go tell them. 327 00:24:35,300 --> 00:24:37,100 Paul didn't do that. He made it personal. 328 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:43,800 He said. I take responsibility for me. 329 00:24:44,900 --> 00:24:51,500 And I'm willing to obey now. Real change happens when you 330 00:24:51,500 --> 00:24:58,300 take responsibility. Saw looking into heaven. 331 00:24:58,300 --> 00:25:00,600 He saw this bright light. He was blinded. 332 00:25:00,700 --> 00:25:04,700 Jesus was there, and Jesus convicted him of his sins sauce. 333 00:25:04,700 --> 00:25:06,600 All I know you. I love you. 334 00:25:07,300 --> 00:25:13,300 Why are you persecuting me? And in that conviction, saw it 335 00:25:13,300 --> 00:25:17,200 immediately owned his responsibility to obey. 336 00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:21,900 This is a model for us. It's a challenging model 337 00:25:22,600 --> 00:25:26,500 listening to the voice of God and when you hear it it produces 338 00:25:26,600 --> 00:25:28,600 action. How many of you know, that you 339 00:25:28,600 --> 00:25:31,100 don't have to, don't have to respond to raise your hand 340 00:25:31,100 --> 00:25:37,200 because this this is hard, but you can quench his voice in your 341 00:25:37,200 --> 00:25:41,400 life by continually either delaying or outright disobeying. 342 00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:48,700 Gratifying the flesh, rather than walking by the spirit. 343 00:25:49,500 --> 00:25:53,500 This is a model for us to obey and not only obey, but obey 344 00:25:53,500 --> 00:25:57,800 immediately Look at his quote from David Platt, just to give 345 00:25:57,800 --> 00:26:01,600 you one more, you know, devastating challenge, right 346 00:26:01,600 --> 00:26:05,400 here. God beckons storm clouds and 347 00:26:05,400 --> 00:26:09,700 they come he tells the wind to blow and the rain to fall and 348 00:26:09,700 --> 00:26:15,900 they obey immediately he speaks to the mountains, you go there. 349 00:26:15,900 --> 00:26:20,400 And he says, to the Seas, you stop here and they do it. 350 00:26:21,100 --> 00:26:24,900 Everything and all creation responds in obedience to the 351 00:26:25,600 --> 00:26:31,400 Stir until you get to you and me we have the audacity to look God 352 00:26:31,400 --> 00:26:41,400 in the face and say no. Everything in Hawk the 353 00:26:41,400 --> 00:26:45,400 mountains, listen. The oceans. 354 00:26:46,600 --> 00:26:50,000 Have you seen what happened to that sub? 355 00:26:50,400 --> 00:26:55,800 That was trying to look at the Titanic 15,000 feet below sea 356 00:26:55,800 --> 00:27:05,300 level and the pressure. the strength of our oceans is no 357 00:27:05,300 --> 00:27:13,400 match for God's voice, but we Have the audacity to look at him 358 00:27:13,400 --> 00:27:18,600 who commands the sea. Nah. 359 00:27:21,600 --> 00:27:25,600 It's not really going to work for me. or maybe I'll get to it, 360 00:27:25,600 --> 00:27:28,300 but just let me make sure that this is you 361 00:27:39,700 --> 00:27:42,800 Sometimes he speaks in a gentle voice. 362 00:27:44,700 --> 00:27:47,800 In a still Small Voice, like we see in the Old Testament. 363 00:27:47,800 --> 00:27:53,700 And he sometimes it's a whisper, its gentle, sometimes it's 364 00:27:53,700 --> 00:27:57,100 through other people, sometimes it most of the time, it's 365 00:27:57,300 --> 00:28:00,700 jumping out at us from this word and speaking. 366 00:28:03,400 --> 00:28:08,100 Most of the time he doesn't speak like he did on the road to 367 00:28:08,100 --> 00:28:10,700 Damascus. Most of the time he doesn't drop 368 00:28:10,700 --> 00:28:14,700 his glory down in a bright light to Blind you in a moment and 369 00:28:14,700 --> 00:28:22,100 turn you around and 180. But make no mistake, he's the 370 00:28:22,100 --> 00:28:25,700 same God, no matter how he expresses himself. 371 00:28:26,500 --> 00:28:30,800 And I wonder if sometimes we take for granted his mercy and 372 00:28:30,800 --> 00:28:34,900 we forget that the god of the gentle whisper is the same God 373 00:28:34,900 --> 00:28:38,400 that wiped out the Earth with a great flood. 374 00:28:46,300 --> 00:28:48,500 Just thinking about this this week a lot. 375 00:28:48,500 --> 00:28:52,900 I was thinking about my own life and my own obedience in my own 376 00:28:52,900 --> 00:29:00,000 listening to God. I just got overwhelmed. 377 00:29:00,000 --> 00:29:09,400 I just thought how how could God be so merciful To stoop down and 378 00:29:09,400 --> 00:29:12,800 and nudge me from behind like almost with his hand on my 379 00:29:12,800 --> 00:29:16,800 shoulder like a, like I would do with my son. 380 00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:21,800 Come on, come on. Is this way? 381 00:29:23,400 --> 00:29:26,600 Just keep going. Just take another step. 382 00:29:26,600 --> 00:29:30,000 I have more for you. I know, it might hurt for now. 383 00:29:30,100 --> 00:29:32,900 You might be challenging for now, but I'm here. 384 00:29:34,200 --> 00:29:36,700 How could God be so more and the whole time? 385 00:29:36,700 --> 00:29:39,700 I'm trying to do my own thing and he's just not Jared right 386 00:29:39,700 --> 00:29:44,600 here, right here, Jarrod How could he be? 387 00:29:44,600 --> 00:29:47,300 So merciful, not to just strike me down. 388 00:29:51,600 --> 00:29:54,700 Have I taken his Mercy for granted. 389 00:29:56,000 --> 00:29:59,600 If I taking his grace for granted, have I forgotten that 390 00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:03,100 he's the same God of the road to Damascus? 391 00:30:10,400 --> 00:30:14,300 We're going to spend a few moments here because I'm way 392 00:30:14,500 --> 00:30:20,800 ahead of my clock. Ricky coach in Oakwood. 393 00:30:23,400 --> 00:30:25,400 We're going to take a few moments here and I want us to 394 00:30:25,400 --> 00:30:28,100 consider those three things that we talked about today. 395 00:30:28,100 --> 00:30:30,700 We talked about him in the form of a question, but let me put 396 00:30:30,700 --> 00:30:34,700 them in the form of a statement. Now, three things number one, 397 00:30:35,600 --> 00:30:40,600 God's pursuing you If you're here, you're still breathing. 398 00:30:40,800 --> 00:30:45,300 There's still a chance and his love is pursuing. 399 00:30:48,700 --> 00:30:53,400 Saul Saul, why are you persecuting me Jared Jared? 400 00:30:53,400 --> 00:30:56,100 Why are you continuing to go that way? 401 00:30:57,400 --> 00:31:02,100 He's still pursuing number two, he wants you to know him. 402 00:31:03,700 --> 00:31:08,800 You imagine that he wants you to know him as her we started 403 00:31:08,800 --> 00:31:13,800 today. He wants you to know him and 404 00:31:13,800 --> 00:31:18,900 number three, he wants your immediate obedience, he wants 405 00:31:18,900 --> 00:31:30,200 your obedience but he wants it. Now. and I want us to take a few 406 00:31:30,200 --> 00:31:36,500 moments to to really consider this together, not together, but 407 00:31:36,500 --> 00:31:41,100 with God, Maybe it's in your chair. 408 00:31:41,100 --> 00:31:44,000 Maybe it's in the psalter wherever you are in Oakwood, 409 00:31:44,000 --> 00:31:47,900 wherever you need to get to consider these things. 410 00:31:48,600 --> 00:31:52,500 Just you and God, maybe you need to go find somebody. 411 00:31:54,400 --> 00:32:02,700 To talk to das questions with. pray with We're going to give 412 00:32:02,700 --> 00:32:06,800 some time for that. Pastor Greg's there in Oakwood. 413 00:32:06,800 --> 00:32:08,700 He's gonna take it from here, we love you all. 414 00:32:08,700 --> 00:32:11,600 So very much have a great rest of your Sunday. 415 00:32:16,200 --> 00:32:19,300 As we consider these three things, remember the questions 416 00:32:19,300 --> 00:32:22,500 that's all asked and I want to encourage you today to ask these 417 00:32:22,500 --> 00:32:26,000 questions as well. I want you to those two 418 00:32:26,000 --> 00:32:29,600 questions that Saul asked. Don't forget, who are you? 419 00:32:29,600 --> 00:32:32,800 Lord was the first one and the second one was, what do you want 420 00:32:32,800 --> 00:32:35,600 me to do? Who are you? 421 00:32:35,600 --> 00:32:37,700 Lord, show me. Who you are. 422 00:32:38,000 --> 00:32:44,700 Reveal yourself to me? And then, what shall I do? 423 00:32:46,200 --> 00:32:48,100 I'm going to get out of the way. I'm going to pray first. 424 00:32:48,200 --> 00:32:50,500 I'm going to get out of the way and I want us all to consider 425 00:32:50,500 --> 00:32:52,800 these things with God just alone with God. 426 00:32:53,900 --> 00:32:57,400 Who are you show me who you are? What do you want me to do? 427 00:32:57,600 --> 00:33:01,300 Help me to be courageous and step out in faith with how 428 00:33:01,300 --> 00:33:02,900 you're leading. Father God in heaven. 429 00:33:04,400 --> 00:33:07,000 We're here for you. We're here for you only. 430 00:33:07,000 --> 00:33:12,800 We are overwhelmed by your mercy and your grace for us. 431 00:33:12,800 --> 00:33:16,600 We do not deserve it, but still you love us. 432 00:33:16,800 --> 00:33:21,000 And as we come before you got, as we open up our hearts, we 433 00:33:21,000 --> 00:33:24,100 open up our minds. We open up our hands. 434 00:33:24,700 --> 00:33:32,400 We asked you to show us more of who you are and we ask for you 435 00:33:32,408 --> 00:33:36,000 to give us courage. To act on what you're doing and 436 00:33:36,000 --> 00:33:43,200 what you're saying? Help us to be ambassadors for 437 00:33:43,200 --> 00:33:47,200 you. Move the things out of the way 438 00:33:47,200 --> 00:33:50,600 in our hearts. So that you can take your 439 00:33:50,600 --> 00:33:56,100 rightful place as king as Lord. It's in Jesus name, we pray. 440 00:33:56,800 --> 00:34:01,100 Amen. Thank you for listening to the 441 00:34:01,100 --> 00:34:02,700 river. Bend Church podcast. 442 00:34:02,800 --> 00:34:05,500 Learn more about who we are as a church and how to connect you 443 00:34:05,500 --> 00:34:08,600 can head over to our website Riverbend Church dot life.