Paul’s Testimony Pt. 2
2014-09-07
Acts 26:12-18
12"In this connection I journeyed to Damascus
with the authority and commission of the chief priests.
13 At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from
heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed
with me. 14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to
me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard
for you to kick against the goads.'
15 And I said, 'Who are you, Lord?' And the Lord
said, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.
16 But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have
appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to
the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to
you, 17 delivering you from your people
and from the Gentiles— to whom I am sending you
18 to open their eyes, so that
they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that
they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified
by faith in me.'
Paul, before the whole Jewish
legal council & the three highest Palestine political officials, defends himself
against false accusations, in part by sharing his Christian testimony.
·
Testimonies are stories
told by Christians about what God has done and is doing in their lives.
o
Every Christian
has a testimony of life-changing work of Jesus in their life.
·
A testimony is an
eyewitness account - not arguing anyone into heaven!
3 components to a testimony:
Before Christ (4-11), Conversion (12-18), and after Conversion (19-23)
·
My goal: Is to help
you organize your thoughts so you can present your testimony clearly & concisely
anytime.
o
Last weeks point-
1:Before Christ (4-11), today’s is point 2: Conversion (12-18),
Outside the cross and resurrection
of Jesus, Paul’s conversion may be next most important New Testament event. Act
26:12-15
·
Paul is explaining
what happened the day God changed his life forever.
o
Notice that conversion
is connected to Before Christ theme: Jesus interrupted the persecuting activity
against Christians.
·
Whereas Before Christ:
General, fluid, multifaceted, hints of seeking.
o
Conversion is a specific
event connected to Before Christ handle with Jesus Christ and/or the Gospel as the
focus.
§
Specific event: Damascus
Road, bright light, heard voice.
·
Keep it simple…you
don’t need every detail. Act 9:3-9
How specifically did you
receive the gift of salvation?
·
Include Gospel
here & at end…..use Christ’s name.
o
Some have very clear
event. My testimony.
o
Others: were raised
in Christian homes, and regularly exposed to Gospel or saved at early age so are
sometimes unsure of the exact events/timing.
§
I suggest
planting a “marker”. Lew’s test.
Evangelism/Missions isn't something
someone else does somewhere else;
·
It's what God
has sent you to do wherever you are. 1
Pet 2:9
o
Saved out of darkness
not to be out of world but to be sent back into world.
Like Paul, what Christ aims
to do through your testimony is open eyes of spiritually blind; to turn them
from darkness to light. Act 26:16-18,
Jn 3:19, Lk 1:78-79, 1 Jn 1:5-6
·
Piper: Darkness isn’t
strange for blind. It’s their “normal”.
o
Lost are blind
to & are at home in the darkness of sin: it is their natural state
·
Unless a God-wrought
miracle happens they will remain spiritually blind.
The Holy Spirit uses testimonies
with the Gospel to open men's eyes.
·
And not just open
eyes, but turn from darkness to light…conversion.
o
Resulting in a new
creation and a complete transformation.
·
Today, remember
when Jesus saved you & freed you from power of Satan so we can glorify
God & celebrate Lord’s Table with a greater gratitude and joy.
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