Sovereign
Surprises
2013-08-25
Act 9:29-35
29 And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they
were seeking to kill him. 30 And
when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him
off to Tarsus.31 So the
church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being
built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy
Spirit, it multiplied.32 Now
as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints
who lived at Lydda. 33 There
he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. 34 And Peter said to him,
“Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he
rose. 35 And all the
residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
Saul furthered gospel first by his opposition
and then by his conversion.
· The zeal he once had for persecution
now turned into a passion for proclamation. Act
9:22-26
Impression events happened quickly:
days, maybe 1-2 weeks.
· "many days passed" in Greek
denotes considerable time duration.
· Actually 3-years in Arabia before
Jer. 2 Cor 11:32, Act 9:22-26, Gal
1:15-22
· Left Damascus w/Moses, Psalms & Prophets
in his backpack.
o
After
communing/learning with the Lord in Arabia he understood Jesus Christ was the
key to unlock the whole Old Testament & he returned with Romans, Corinthians,
and other epistles in his heart.
Paul was invincible when his brilliant
mind was sanctified by the Holy Spirit & he was granted revelation from God.
· Jews, were unable to refute, so they
“conspired to kill him.” Act 9:26-30
o
Even
after 3 yrs Apostles were not convinced of Saul’s conversion.
§
vs
26 attempted & Afraid imperfect
tense = repeated action.
§
Where
for 3 yrs? Doing what? Wolf in sheep's clothing?
· God turns things around…those Saul sought
to kill saved his life.
o
Acts 9 - Saul from Jerusalem
(persecutor) >Damascus (Christian) >Arabia (3 yrs) > Damascus >Jerusalem
(15 days) > Caesarea > Tarsus (10 “silent/unknown yrs”)
Scene shifts from Paul back to Peter
for next 3 chapters. Act 9:32-40, Mk 2:10b,5:39-42
· Peter remembered and followed Jesus'
examples of healing & raising dead.
· These 2 miracles worked by Christ on
Christians thru Peter; confirmed the truth of the gospel, authenticated Peter
as God’s messenger, & served to further gospel.
o
What
do these 2 miracles & Paul’s “great escapes” teach us today?
To have hope that out of blue, thru either
practical or miraculous means, the omnipotent God can turn things around in the
world & in our lives.
· The Holy Spirit revealed the assassination
plans & Christians helped Paul escape. No miracle!
o
Respond
to the Spirit's promptings with appropriate practical action.
§
Give
God something to work with even though He doesn’t need help.
· These two miracles evidence of Christ’s
power & DESIRE to turn hopeless situations around for God’s glory. Act 9:35, 42
o
Not
just healing, but seemingly “impossible” things: unemployment, rebellious kids...
Dilemma: Difficult things come from
God, so asking for change may be viewed as complaining.
· This
quickly devolves into fatalism- Which is accepting the way it is because nothing is going to change it.
o
These
people pray for healing, spouse, salvation, etc.without expectation because “Prayer
is what Christians do.”
§
Many
pray like Eeyore (nothing will change, only get worse) not like Paul w/expectation
that God will work in & through them.
·
How
does faithless prayer bring glory to God?
o
Don’t
defend Eeyore prayer with religious “talking points”.
§
There
is a difference between presumption and a hopeful trust vs. a no faith prayer.
· Jesus has great and small surprises
for the world and for your life that you’ve never dreamed of.
o
God
unceremoniously rescued Paul & Prince Paul, miraculously healed Aeneas
& Dennis, raised Dorcas & restored Kyle’s relationship with his paternal
parents,
· Christ turns things around in His
way & in His perfect timing.
o
Wait
on the Lord….don’t give up in your heart.
o
Place
your hope in Jesus & live with the possibility that things are going to turn
around, perhaps when you least expect them to.
Rom 5:1-5, 15:13. Ps 50:15, Mk
9:24b
Pray: "Worry is not believing God
will get it right and bitterness is believing God got it wrong." Tim
Keller
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