I Need Another Damascus Road Experience! (or at least I want one for someone else...)

 “The Original Damascus Road Experience”

(Acts 9:3-9, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, January 8, 2012)

3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus,

Saul of Tarsus was a man zealous for the God of the Jews, yet His zeal was without knowledge. Years later he would write of his people who were still the way he used to be. He wrote,

“My heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.” (Romans 10:1-3)

This is the way he was as he approached Damascus. He had a zeal, but not according to knowledge. He was ignorant of the righteousness of God. He thought that he knew all about God's Law, just like all the leading Pharisees. But He underestimated God's righteousness. He had placed too much weight on the Rabbinic interpretation of the Torah, seeking the answer this question: “How can I be sure that I have kept the Law of God?” All the rules that Jewish tradition added on top of the Bible seemed to make everything more strict, but we all look for the easy rules to obey; the outward areas of ceremonial observance that allow a person to be sure that He has kept the Law. But had the Pharisee loved God with all His everything? Had he loved his neighbor as himself? Paul and the whole Pharisaic movement were ignorant of God's righteousness. That bad misstep led to another. “How can I establish my own righteousness apart from God?” The Pharisees had the answer to that. Men like Saul considered themselves blameless because they were very scrupulous in following the outward traditions of man-made righteousness. This satisfaction in their own holiness led to their most serious error. When God came in person, they rejected Him. They would not submit to Jesus, who is God's righteousness and the only begotten Son of God who came to live for us and to die for us.

This zeal without knowledge filled Saul's heart, and sent him forth with papers from leaders in Jerusalem to go and clean up the synagogues in other lands. How? By arresting and putting in chains Jews in those synagogues who were followers of Jesus Christ. He wanted to cleanse all the synagogues of the followers of the Lord Messiah. They could stand trial before the religious court in Jerusalem just as Jesus had stood trial there. That court had determined that Jesus was a blasphemer who deserved death, handing Him over to the Romans to be crucified. That court had tried to silence the apostles, demanding that they not preach or teach in the Name of Jesus. That court was involved in the murder of the preaching Deacon, Stephen. That court approved of the persecution of Jews who believed that Jesus was the Son of God, both in Jerusalem and in other cities where there were synagogues. In all of their efforts to silence the messengers of good news and to stop the church, they had failed miserably. Their solution was to try harder. But they would fail again. Not only had they played their part in the events that led to the cross, their latest efforts to stop Jesus would further the publication of His Name to other lands.

and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

But now one of there own number, one of the most intelligently ignorant and zealous Pharisees, Saul of Tarsus, was about to become a follower of the Way that He hated. How would that happen? God would meet him. Suddenly a light from heaven was shining around him, and he fell to the ground. This proud man was worshiping in fear what he did not yet understand.

The voice that he heard was very revealing. “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” Saul had been arresting followers of Jesus Christ. But this voice took this persecution of the church very personally. He said that to harass His followers was to persecute Him.

5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?”

Yet Saul still did not know who He was. Wasn't it obvious? He did not know who it was that was taking offense at his efforts to serve God by cleansing synagogues of those who believed that Jesus was the Christ. Jesus Christ is Lord. The church is His body. If you mock or hurt the church, then you attack the body of Jesus Christ. Not safe. Jesus will not stand for that forever.

Saul thought that He was a careful follower of God and of God's rules. But God's first rule is this: If I send my Son to live for you and to die for you, don't despise Him. If you claim you love Me, you should get to know who my Son is. If my Son speaks to you, through His church, you should recognize His voice. Saul did not know the voice of Jesus when Stephen preached.

And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”

But the voice of God, Jesus Christ, is a gracious voice. He reveals His Name. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” Oh.

Now what? Am I going to die? I might have expected that. Saul certainly deserved to die. So did all of us for as many years as we have ignored the voice of the Lord when He was speaking to us; all those years when we thought we had a better way to be right with God than His Son.

This is just as true for all who ignore the voice of God after we have acknowledged Jesus as Lord. How many years have you been hearing that Voice without any real acknowledgment with your life that God is telling you what you are to do? How long have you underestimated the authority of the Voice that called you out of darkness into His wonderful light? How long have you been ignoring the voice of the Lord? Hasn't it been long enough?

It was long enough for Paul when he was stopped right in the middle of his intelligent hostility to the true righteousness of God in Jesus Christ. It was long enough when God said to him, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” Are you listening to the Lord? He will show you what to do next. But do obey Him.

7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

God does not do the original Damascus Road event for everyone. This first one provided important historical evidence for everyone to consider. What in the world happened to Saul of Tarsus? But you may feel that you or someone else you know needs something like this. Do not wait for that experience in order to come to your senses about the authority of Jesus Christ over your life. Even the people who were with Saul did not get that same experience. Saul got what he needed, but then he was a hard case. How hard a case are you? How gently and persistently has God been calling you to Himself? Make the most of what He has done to call you.

Paul lost his sight on the day when he was finally able to see the truth about Jesus. Interesting. A proud Pharisee had to be led by the hand into Damascus. Has God taken something from you for a season? Perhaps it is only for a season after all. Everything He does for you is an expression of His grace. Remember He will restore and heal. He will make all things new. He does want you to see Him. He does want you to hear His voice again. He will lead you home by His own hand.

1. What happened to Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus?

2. What is Jesus doing in this encounter?

3. What was the immediate impact of this experience on Saul?

4. What is the significance of a “Damascus Road” experience?

OT Passage: Psalm 131