August 1,
2021
WHAT HAS CHANGED YOUR LIFE?
ACTS 9:1-31
Starting a couple
of weeks ago we saw a man by the name of Saul emerge as one of those who is
seeking to destroy the early church. Saul gave his approval for the stoning of
Stephen. Saul then turned his attention to the church that remained in
Jerusalem, even going door to door rounding up both men and women to throw them
in jail or even worse. We read this morning that Saul is determined to follow
these Christians wherever they go with the intention of arresting them and
throwing them in jail, just like in Jerusalem. Saul asked the high priest for
papers that would allow him to go to Damascus with the plan to terrorize the
men and women who were followers of Jesus Christ there. Clearly, Saul got what
he wanted, so off to Damascus he went, but something happened to Saul while he
was still a little bit from getting to Damascus. Saul had an encounter with
Jesus the risen Savior. There was a light that flashed that I believe was so
bright it blinded him and then he heard a voice calling out to him. As we saw
from what we read this morning, it was Jesus talking directly to Saul. Jesus
point blank asked Saul, “Why are you persecuting me?” Saul did not want to
believe it could have anything to do with what he was doing to the church so he
asked the very simple question. “Who are you, Lord?” You have to believe he
really was not ready for the answer. “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.”
Then Jesus gave him instructions on what he was supposed to do. “Go on in to
Damascus and you will be told what to do."
We read
others were traveling with Saul and while they heard noises, they were not
allowed to understand what was going on or where the sound came from. Saul told
his travelling companions to lead him to Damascus and that is what they did. In
the meantime, Jesus spoke to one of his followers, Ananias, who lived in
Damascus. Ananias was told exactly where to go and that he would find Saul of
Tarsus there. Saul was well known among the believers by now and Ananias asked
Jesus, “Do you really want me to go there? He is out to arrest all of us
believers.” Jesus assured Ananias that it would be alright and that he had a
plan for Saul. Ananias faithfully did as Jesus asked, went to the house Saul
was staying, placed his hands on Saul’s eyes, prayed for his healing and Jesus
honored Ananias’ faithfulness by healing Saul right then and there. Immediately
Saul was filled with the Holy Spirit, got up, and was baptized and in more ways
than one Saul could see lots of things more clearly.
Saul then
moved about with some of Jesus’ other followers in Damascus preaching about
Jesus in of all places, the synagogues. While many in the church in Damascus
were skeptical of Saul more and more, they could see the commitment and power
Saul displayed and they began to accept him. In fact, in a very short space of
time Saul went from being the most feared man the church had to deal with, to
the man the Jewish leadership most hated and wanted to get rid of. The Jews in
fact plotted to kill Saul because he was beginning to persuade Jews about who
Jesus was. All of a sudden Saul became public enemy number 1 to the priests and
Jewish leadership. Closing out what we read this morning, we see at this time
the church experienced a degree of peace from persecution and their numbers
continued to increase.
Saul had a
truly life-changing encounter with the risen Savior on the road to Damascus.
This morning the question I would like each of us to answer is what was that
moment like that changed your life and mine? Many of us may have grown up going
to church from an early age. Others though may not have started attending a
church until later in life. I believe the fact remains that at some point we
each went from attending church to truly accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and
Savior. You cannot speak for me and I cannot speak for you. This is a very
personal decision and moment that may be different for each one of us. Is it
possible some of us here today or some of you watching on Facebook have never
officially taken that leap of faith and accepted Jesus as your personal Lord
and Savior? I would have to say yes that could be possible. You and you alone,
as well as the Lord, are the only ones who really know. I am not claiming to
know with absolute certainty where anyone of you stand in relation to the Lord,
just as you do not know for absolute certain about me. Some of us may have had
just about as dramatic an encounter with the risen Savior as Saul did. For
others of us, maybe not quite as dramatic.
The thing
that is exciting to me is that God is still transforming lives. Bringing hope to
the hopeless, joy to those who at times struggle to find joy and bringing
healing to those who need God’s special touch. Saul’s story is like many others
who have come after him. In Saul’s case, he did not really know he was headed
down the wrong path, but Jesus came and helped to change him at just the right
time. What that shows us is God knows what we need at times long before we
realize it. I hope God has used Saul’s example this morning to get us to look
at what it is, and what it was, that brought us to the point of realizing we
needed a Savior. Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, is still meeting
all who will welcome him in to that place where we are changed forever.
Thank you,
Father God, for loving us enough to still change lives and to help us be the
best husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, moms, dads, children, we possibly can
be. To God be all praise, honor and glory. Amen.
Pastor Larry
Announcements:
Bible Study 9:30 Tuesday
We are looking for help with the regular adult
Sunday School class. If you are willing to take a turn teaching, please sign
the sheet on the east bulletin board.
August 11 7:00 p.m. Executive Committee
August 14 4:30 Oakley Brick Church Pork Chop Supper
October 2 All church wiener roast sponsored by Women’s
Fellowship—stay tuned for details.
Offering plates are in the back of the sanctuary. Thanks
to everyone for your faithful giving!
Thanks to those who are keeping our church lawn
mowed!
Donation Box: AC Bills
First Sundays: food donations for food banks
Pastor Larry Traxler- (217) 454-2362
To
keep up on Church of the Brethren news:
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Keep
in Your Prayers
Sarah Rudelick; Sydney
(Nancy Gorrell’s niece); David Roe; Tera Runyan; Tim and Betty Sue Laird; Carl
and Wilma Cable; Mike Gentry; Larry Albro; Mike McCleery; Sherry Wright; Mike
and Carol Seidenstricker; Sonna Hall; Brittany Wright; Evelyn Eads; Anna Gentry
Thompson; Clyde and Nancy Fansler; Adiline Young; Kim Lehmann; Dylan Junior;
Doug Fansler; Liza Yore; Candy
Dobson; Anna Rose Larrick; Gary Jesse; Norm & Marge Starr; Shawn Cain;
Robert Cripe; Mayo & Darlene Hanaver; Zola Copeland; Patty Cripe; Lauren
Gross; Stacie Warren; Nancy Gorrell; many unspoken requests; Coronavirus
crisis; healthcare workers and first responders; the families of the 600,000+
people who have died from COVID-19; those who are ill from the virus; the
unemployed; school teachers, staff, and students; victims of disasters; victims
of shootings; nursing home residents; the Nigerian church; victims of the
volcano in Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda
Military and Other
Services and their families
Brethren Volunteer
Service workers; Disaster project workers
Church
of the Brethren vision statement:
Together, as the Church of the Brethren, we will passionately
live and share the radical transformation and holistic peace of Jesus Christ
through relationship-based neighborhood engagement. To move us forward, we will
develop a culture of calling and equipping disciples who are innovative,
adaptable, and fearless.
Our
Mission Statement:
Love God, grow with others, serve faithfully, reach the lost, find peace
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