What Happens When The Lord Changes A Life?
January 12, 2020 Speaker: Jim Toth
Topic: Heart Passage: Acts 9:1–20
We Learn that the Lord does what needs to be done for CHANGE.
We Recognize the need to TALK to Him.
We Realize that our CIRCUMSTANCES were chosen by Him for change.
We Will see the IMPACT on others.
ACTS 9:1-25 English Standard Version (ESV)
The Conversion of Saul
1 But Saul, still breathing threats and
murder against the disciples of the Lord,
went to the high priest
Acts 9:1 (ESV)
2 and asked him for letters to the
synagogues at Damascus, so that
if he found any belonging to the Way,
men or women, he might bring them
bound to Jerusalem.
Acts 9:2 (ESV)
3 Now as he went on his way, he
approached Damascus, and suddenly
a light from heaven shone around him.
Acts 9:3 (ESV)
4 And falling to the ground, he heard
a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul,
why are you persecuting me?”
Acts 9:4 (ESV)
5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?”
And he said, “I am Jesus, whom
you are persecuting.
Acts 9:5 (ESV)
6 But rise and enter the city, and
you will be told what you are to do.”
Acts 9:6 (ESV)
7 The men who were traveling with
him stood speechless,
hearing the voice but seeing no one.
Acts 9:7 (ESV)
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.
Acts 9:8 (ESV)
9 And for three days he was without
sight, and neither ate nor drank.
Acts 9:9 (ESV)
10 Now there was a disciple at
Damascus named Ananias.
The Lord said to him in a vision,
“Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”
Acts 9:10 (ESV)
11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go
to the street called Straight, and at the house
of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul,
for behold, he is praying,
Acts 9:11 (ESV)
12 and he has seen in a vision a man
named Ananias come in and lay
his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.”
Acts 9:12 (ESV)
13 But Ananias answered,
“Lord, I have heard from many
about this man, how much evil
he has done to your saints at Jerusalem.
Acts 9:13 (ESV)
14 And here he has authority
from the chief priests to bind
all who call on your name.”
Acts 9:14 (ESV)
15 But the Lord said to him,
“Go, for he is a chosen
instrument of mine to carry
my name before the Gentiles
and kings and the children of Israel.
Acts 9:15 (ESV)
16 For I will show him how much
he must suffer for the sake of my name.”
Acts 9:16 (ESV)
17 So Ananias departed and entered
the house. And laying his hands on
him he said, “Brother Saul, the
Lord Jesus who appeared to you
on the road by which you came has
sent me so that you may regain your
sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 9:17 (ESV)
18 And immediately something like
scales fell from his eyes, and he
regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized;
Acts 9:18 (ESV)
19 and taking food,
he was strengthened.
Acts 9:19 (ESV)
Saul Proclaims Jesus in Synagogues
For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.
20 And immediately he proclaimed
Jesus in the synagogues, saying,
“He is the Son of God.”
Acts 9:20 (ESV)
21 And all who heard him were
amazed and said, “Is not this the
man who made havoc in Jerusalem
of those who called upon this name?
And has he not come here for this purpose,
to bring them bound before the chief priests?”
Acts 9:21 (ESV)
22 But Saul increased all the
more in strength, and confounded
the Jews who lived in Damascus
by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
Acts 9:22 (ESV)
Saul Escapes from Damascus
23 When many days had passed,
the Jews[a] plotted to kill him,
Acts 9:23 (ESV)
24 but their plot became known
to Saul. They were watching
the gates day and night in order to kill him,
Acts 9:24 (ESV)
25 but his disciples took him by
night and let him down through
an opening in the wall,[b] lowering him in a basket.
Acts 9:25 (ESV)