Sermon Notes 09-21-08

September 21st 2008 “God Can Use Anybody”
“Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2and 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. 3As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
Acts 9:1-4

1. The Book of Acts records the beginning and the life of the church.
· Things went well for a while then a persecution broke out against the church.
· When the persecution started the church was scattered and a man named Saul of Tarsus began to do everything he could to destroy the church.

2. Every time I read this story, I stand amazed at the great grace of God.
· I see the Lord take this man Saul, save him by grace, and transform him into the great apostle to the Gentiles and then I realize that there is hope for people like you and me to be used by God.
· The truth is, Saul was a very unlikely candidate for kingdom service.
· He was on a rampage, doing everything in his power to destroy the church.
· Yet, God reached down in grace and took this man from where he was and used him to change the world.
3. Could God use us to change the world like He did with Saul?
· I imagine we all feel inferior and unworthy, but I am here today to tell you today that Jesus can and will use us if we will just make ourselves available.

Points To Ponder:
1st Our Past Condition Is No Obstacle!

Acts 9:1 ““Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.”
1. He was arresting them and putting them into prison.
2. He was guilty of doing everything in his power to put Christianity to death.
3. Saul says of himself in Acts 22:4, 4 I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison.”
Saul was a fanatic, a maniac! He was zealous for the traditions of his fathers.
He even consented to the death of Stephen—Acts 8:1 1
And Saul was there, giving approval to his death.
Saul was a murder and yet he was a leader in the Jewish church—he says: “I was a Pharisee of Pharisees!” He had studied at the feet of Gamalia!
4. Saul was a wicked man, but here’s the good news, his wickedness was NO obstacle to the grace and saving power of God.
5. Here’s the good news: “My past and your past will not prevent us from being used by God.”

Points To Ponder:
1st Our Past Condition Is No Obstacle!
2nd Our Past Circumstances are No Obstacle!

Acts 9:2 “Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2and 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.”
1. Paul was on his way to Damascus to arrest Christians and to take them to their deaths.
2. He was filled with hatred and wanted nothing more than to completely destroy anyone or anything connected with the name of Jesus Christ.
3. Yet, in spite of all this, the Lord was able to change this man and to use him for the glory of God.
You may be sitting here and be saying: “Can God Do It Again?”
Moses was 80 years old when the Lord called him into the ministry.
a. He wasn’t very eloquent.
b. He was filed with fear.
c. He was totally opposed to the Lord’s plan for his life.
· Yet, despite all this baggage, God was able to use this man for His glory.
The Gadarene Demoniac.
1. Do you remember him?…running around the tombs breaking his chains…he was considered a mad man, crazy!
2. God took him where he was and used him for God’s glory.
3. What I want us to see this morning is that our present circumstances have not caught the Lord by surprise!
· He knows everything there is to know about us.
· He knows where we are spiritually,
· He knows what is going on in our lives right now.
· But He can still use us if, and only if, we yield ourselves to Him.

Points To Ponder:
1st Our Past Condition Is No Obstacle!
2nd Our Past Circumstances are No Obstacle!
3rd Our Past Sins Are No Obstacle to God!

Acts 9:3 “3As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

God used a young Jewish girl by the name of Esther to save her nation! Esther 4:14 “And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”
· For such a time as this—sounds to me like maybe someone who is running for Vice President!

God used a young boy by the name of Joseph to save his nation!
God used a young boy by the name of David—even though God knew that David would kill a man so he could marry his wife!

Our past Sins Are No Obstacle to God! Acts 9:3 “3As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

· It doesn’t matter to God—your past, what you’ve been into, what your problems are, what you personality quirks are, what your level of educations isn’t or is, what your level of acceptance of others is, GOD CAN AND WILL USE YOU RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE!

God isn’t looking for spiritual powerhouses; He is looking for people who have nothing more than faith and a desire to cling to Jesus.
4He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

The secret lies in one word - Surrender! Acts 9:5 “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.”

Saul did exactly what Jesus asked him to do: v8 “8Saul got up from the ground” First Step is—Get Up!

It is no obstacle to God—God had a plan in Damascus; God was preparing for a Miracle to happen to Saul: v10In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. 11The 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. 12In 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. 14And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”15But 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. 16I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

God will make a way when there seems to be no way!
v17 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 did what all those before him had done to be saved.
1. He believed in Christ.
2. He repented of his sins.
3. He confessed his name.
4. He was baptized for the forgiveness of his sins.
What about you, Christian?
1. Are you fully surrendered?
2. Are you holding anything back?
3. Are you available for God to use?
4. Are you willing to be used by God?

Points To Ponder:
1st Our Past Condition Is No Obstacle!
2nd Our Past Circumstances are No Obstacle!
3rd Our Past Sins Are No Obstacle to God!

“God Can Use Anybody”