(Read Acts 9:26-31)
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing to learn more about the amazing life of the Apostle Paul. Yesterday we learned how Paul attempted to preach Christ in Damascus immediately after his conversion experience, and how it almost got him killed. He had to be lowered down the city wall, from a window, in a basket, in order to avoid the men who were waiting to kill him at the city gate. Paul was ready to preach Jesus and while he was reaching some, there were far too many who had been hurt by Paul’s past actions to believe that he was sincere in his conversion.
So Paul, still referred to as Saul by this point, took off to Jerusalem. Once in the mother city Saul attempted to meet with the believers there, but the believers were all afraid of him. They did not believe he had truly become a believer! Then Barnabas, who would become instrumental in the life of Paul, brought him to the Apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them that Saul had preached boldly in the name of Jesus in Damascus. The Apostles had seen Jesus perform greater miracles, so they believed in Saul’s conversion and they allowed the former persecutor to stay with them. Saul remained with the Apostles and went all around Jerusalem with them, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. Saul debated with some Greek-speaking Jews, but the debate quickly escalated and they tried to kill him. Afterwards, the Apostles thought it best for Saul to go his own way. They took him down to Caesarea and sent him to Tarsus, his hometown. The Bible says that after Saul left, “The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers.” It is obvious that while Saul had good intentions, he was more of a distractor than a benefit.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. God’s Grace is available to all men. Think of the most ardent opposer of Christianity in the world and that is the picture people saw when they thought of Paul prior to his conversion experience. One of the reasons Paul was not initially received is because people saw him as ‘too bad’ of a person to be a preacher of the Gospel. But therein lies the power of the message. No one is ‘too bad’ because, actually, none of us is good. No one is beyond the saving power of Jesus’ blood. Paul was the worst the world had to offer, as far as the church in his day was concerned, and God saved him. If Paul was not beyond saving, no one is. The power of the Gospel message lies in the fact that all men can be saved by the power of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection — not because they deserve it or earned it, but because God freely offers salvation by Grace!
2. The message is often not received when the messenger is not believed. The message Paul had was great. People did not have a problem with the message, they just could not get past the messenger. And while I would like to decouple the message from the messenger, the reality is that both are intertwined. Those who do not accept you will have a hard time accepting what you say, even when what you are saying is the truth.
3. The right thing, at the wrong time, becomes the wrong thing. I cannot say that Paul was wrong for preaching the Gospel. Preaching the Gospel message is a great thing and Paul was certainly called to preach. But Paul was not ready to preach and the people were not ready to receive what he had to say. When he finally left, the church experienced peace. While he was in Damascus and Jerusalem, attempting to preach before his time, Paul caused unnecessary turmoil. The point is that you must hear from God for the “what,” but also for the “when.”
4. Grace does not exonerate you from the requirement to be prepared. Paul was called by Grace, but he was not prepared. It was not until after he spent three years alone with God, in preparation for his assignment, that he was able to be used of God for his purpose. While Grace is free, your preparation is not. You may be called, but have you put in the work to get prepared? Don’t make the mistake of thinking that if God called you to be a business owner, that you won’t have to do any work. Or if God called you to lead Soldiers in the military, that you won’t need to develop your leadership. Or if God called you to preach, that you won’t need to study. No, there is a calling, but the calling does not mean you can forego the preparation. Paul was not ready and he caused nothing but trouble attempting to do what he was called to do before he put in time, energy and effort to get ready. While you can’t earn your purpose (it was given to you by Grace), don’t think that you will maximize it without any effort on your part. Paul accomplished more than any of the other Apostles and Paul was quick to give God the credit and acknowledge His Grace, but Paul also also acknowledged the fact that he worked harder than the other Apostles (see 1 Cor 15:10). The message is this: don’t think that Grace means you don’t have to do anything! If you look at the people God used mightily in the Bible you will find that none of them were lazy.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for Your amazing, unyielding and unsearchable Grace. Your Grace is available to all men. No one is beyond the reach of Your saving power. The cleansing Blood of Jesus, Your Son, is freely made available to all men, regardless of what they have done. No one is too bad for salvation, because none of us is actually good outside of You. You saved me by Grace and along with my salvation You called me to my purpose in life. You have given me a message, but I know the message will not be received if the messenger is not believed. So I declare, by faith, that I will do my part in my development. I submit to Your Kingdom plans and purposes for my life. I yield to Your will for me. I submit to the process of being prepared for my assignment. I know I am called, but I also know that I must be prepared. By faith I put in the work required to help prepare me for my purpose. I work diligently, I prepare tirelessly, and I shall be used powerfully! I am Your son/daughter, called by Your name, submitted to Your plans, and I am a tool in Your hands. Use me Father for Your glory! Not because I have earned it, but because of Your Grace! Not because I am so good, but because You are. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
