Sermon Detail

Conversion: the process of changing from one belief to another.
· It’s what happens when a person determines to surrender their life to Jesus and begins to follow him.
· Some folks would call it “getting saved”
There have been millions of conversions in the history of the world…some of them quite famous and some of them quite shocking.
- For instance shock rocker Alice Cooper or Korn guitarist Brian (Head) Welch.
- Then there’s actress Jane Fonda and musician Moby
Surprisingly all of them converted. All of them saved.
But perhaps the most significant conversion in all of history was that of the guy with two first names. To some he was known as Saul and to others Paul.
· > ½ book of Acts about his life and work
· His three missionary journeys – forays into Asia Minor and southern Europe were the catalyst for the western spread of the kingdom of God.
· 13 books of the NT >1/2 attributed to him. Mostly copies of correspondence btw him and a church or an individual
o his letters have had an enormous influence on Christian thought.
o were so widely distributed and so popular that by the 4^th century some of them were determined to be authoritatively inspired by God himself.
The church exists today to a large degree because of the influence of this man. So, his conversion from Christ hater to Christ follower is huge. And, frankly, his conversion is weird. So weird that you gotta wonder what if anything practical we could take from it.
But we can. For despite the strange events surrounding his conversion…the actual appearance of Jesus, the explosion of light, and Paul’s temporary blindness there were some common things that happened to him that are true of all conversions.
All conversions to Jesus Christ are spectacular!

As we revisit this peculiar story, don’t get caught up in the oddities or it…look for commonalities. I’ll be pointing them out to you.
· Today I want to show you just how spectacular conversion really is and when we’re done you’ll know whether you have been saved or not.
So… Acts 9
Background on Saul/Paul
· Had two names one Hebrew – Saul and one Greek – Paul
· Born roughly around the same time as Jesus. (when we meet him he’s around 35 yrs. old)
· Grew up in a VERY Jewish family…one that could trace their tribal lineage way back…to the tribe of Benjamin.
· He was schooled well in the synagogue day school…was bilingual…and learned a practical trade – tent maker.
· Eventually, in his teens, he was sent to Jerusalem from his home town of Tarsus to study under the most famous rabbi in the history of Judaism- Gamaliel.
· The older he got the more fervent he became and in time joined the party of the Pharisees – the separatists.
· And not just a Pharisee but a militant one. And not just a militant Pharisee but an enforcer. A religious thug and terrorist.
· He hated Christians and hated Christ. Here are some samples from the scriptures of his religious terrorism.
Saul was there, giving approval to Stephen’s death.
Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
(Saul) went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believed in Jesus.
I put many of the believers in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.
So, imagine the shock in the religious world of his day when BOOM! …he saw the light and was converted…he got saved!
¹ Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest ² and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. ³ As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. ⁴ He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" ⁵ "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. ⁶ "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." ⁷ The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. ⁸ Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. ⁹ For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. Acts 9:1-9
· strange events these – explosion of light that left him blind and in shock and he heard the voice of Jesus…later claimed he actually saw Jesus.
· again this is so out of bounds, so off the hook, it would be easy to distance ourselves from it but here’s what I want you to see…
All conversions to Jesus Christ are spectacular!
And I want to tell you why…
Everyone who gets saved has been pursued and caught by Jesus.
· Jesus hounded Paul…he pursued him…and he caught him…And Jesus does that to every human being that has ever been born – even you.
Jesus as much as said that was what he was going to do… For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost. Luke 19:10
And he told a handful of stories to illustrate it in Luke 15: Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. ² But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." ³ Then Jesus told them this parable: ⁴ "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? ⁵ And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders ⁶ and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' ⁷ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. ⁸ "Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? ⁹ And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' ¹⁰ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Luke 15:1-10
· Jesus was saying – I am that shepherd. I am that woman.
In the late 1800s a man who had been plagued with addictions, poverty and depression to the point of suicide “saw the light” and surrendered to Jesus. Subsequently he wrote a poem about it that to this day is one of the most famous poems of all time. The Hound of Heaven – Francis Thompson
I fled Him, down the nights and down the days;
I fled Him, down the arches of the years;
I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways
Of my own mind; and in the midst of tears
I hid from Him, and under running laughter.
Up vistaed hopes I sped;
And shot, precipitated,
Adown Titanic glooms of chasmed fears,
From those strong Feet that followed, followed after.
But with unhurrying chase,
And unperturbèd pace,
Deliberate speed, majestic instancy,
They beat—and a Voice beat
More instant than the Feet—
The Hound of Heaven – Francis Thompson 1859-1907
Jesus is the hound of heaven and he will run you down.
All conversions to Jesus Christ are spectacular!
Here’s another reason….
Everyone who gets saved is forgiven of their sins.
…he appeared to me, as to one abnormally born. For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. 1 Corinthians 15:8-10
Years later he wrote this to believers in Rome: But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
· someone has said that “guilt is the gift that keeps on giving” another said “nothing is more wretched than the mind of conscious of guilt”
Of what are you feeling guilty? Something you did? …you said? …you didn’t do? it plagues you doesn’t it? Guilt is an emotional cancer.
Now here’s something spectacular: All sin, all wrongheadedness, all idiocy, all transgressions are absolved, pardoned, forgiven when you surrender your life to Jesus. STOP…and think deeply about that.
All conversions to Jesus Christ are spectacular!
here’s another reason why that is true:
⁷ The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. ⁸ Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. ⁹ For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. ¹⁰ In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord," he answered. ¹¹ The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. ¹² In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight." ¹³ "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name." ¹⁵ But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. ¹⁶ I will show him how much he must suffer for my name." ¹⁷ Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord--Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." ¹⁸ Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, ¹⁹ and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.
· …and in time became “the Man”…the greatest missionary of all time…arguably the second most influential person in history after Jesus himself.

· the same thing will happen to EVERY person who surrenders to Jesus.
Everyone who gets saved has a changed destiny.
Of course your post conversion destiny might not be as over the top as Paul’s but it will be equally world changing…because THIS is true:
For we are God's masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
When you get saved…your pre-birth destiny is activated. When you become “in Christ Jesus” your life calling is set in motion.
· before Christ you work a job and pursue a career
· after Christ you have the opportunity to discover and live into a life mission.
· Conversion initiates your destiny.
Listen the next time we do baptisms. Listen to the stories. And you’ll hear a common theme of life for them suddenly taking on new purpose. Everyone that gets saved has a changed destiny.
All conversions to Jesus Christ are spectacular!
And the final reason for this is maybe the most mind boggling…

Everyone who gets saved is forever possessed by the Spirit of God.
¹⁷ Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord--Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." ¹⁸ Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized…
The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. Romans 8:11 (New Living Translation)
What does this mean?
· you have a capacity to face life that others do not. God is not out there to be found…he is in here to be accessed.
· you have latent wisdom that others do not have. the mind of Christ.
· you have an “early warning system” on sin. A God inspired conscience that others do not have.
· you have power…power to do life, make an impact, change the world…you can do things Jesus never did!
· As the Genie in Aladdin said - Phenomenal cosmic power…in an itty bitty living space!
I’m telling you…All conversions to Jesus Christ are spectacular!

Everyone who gets saved has been pursued and caught by Jesus.
Everyone who gets saved is forgiven of their sins.
Everyone who gets saved has a changed destiny.
Everyone who gets saved is forever possessed by the Spirit of God.