23 Submitting to Christ

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Hymns: RHC 14 Send Out Thy Light and Thy Truth 268 Lord, I’m Coming Home 334 Sweet Peace, the Gift of God’s Love

Acts 9:1-11

1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. 10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

Submitting to Christ

OUTLINE

  • The Rebellious Life (v1-2)
  • The Subduing (3-9)
  • The Restored/Return Life (v10-11)

INTRODUCTION

In April 1904, some missionaries and Indian pastors gathered together for prayer at Sialkot in Punjab. They were distressed by the low spiritual ebb of the Christian Church in the state, the worldly and indifferent Christians, the slack ministers and Christian workers, the want of evangelistic fervour and zeal.[1]

The news about the revival in Wales, then taking place, filled them with hope. They decided that they would not leave the place until they knew definitely from God what they should do to meet the situation in the Punjab.

In that meeting the Punjab Prayer Union was formed. Those becoming members pledged themselves to set apart at least half an hour every day to pray for a spiritual awakening.

Before the year closed, on December 18, 1904, God revealed Himself through a vision of Christ to a Sikh boy of 15 years old named Sundar Singh. This boy sought for peace by the study of the scriptures of India and by the practice of Yoga. He had sat at the feet of Hindu religious teachers. But he had not found the peace for which his soul craved. The vision of Christ which he now saw revealed to him that Christ was the living Saviour of mankind and he should follow Him. This he did and found the peace for which he had hitherto striven in vain. On September 3, 1905, he was baptized and joined the Christian Church. 

We need to ask whether this is a mere coincidence – the earnest prayer of missionaries and Indian pastors and the vision of the living Christ, which was granted to Sundar Singh, I cannot but believe that God in answer to the prayers of his people raised up from an unexpected quarter a witness to His power and love.

Sundar Singh began immediately preaching Christ to others. His influence for good steadily increased and in the course of the years spread through the world. Sundar Singh passed away in 1929. 

Twenty-three years later in 1927, God called another man in China. These two men, I believe was instrumental to the spiritual awakening in Asia in the last century of which we are the fruit of their ministry:

John Sung was also being called by God in a personal encounter with Christ as he testified in the book by Rev Dr Timothy Tow, John Sung My Teacher, “That night of nights, Feb 10th, 1927, was the birth of new life in me after forty days of wilderness struggle. I shall never forget. The same night I received our Lord’s commission to go into all the world to be His end-time witness. The Lord changed my name to John that I should be a forerunner to Him in this age, like John the Baptist in His first coming. The Lord is coming very soon. He needs heralds before His return. Our Lord’s Second Coming is different from his First Coming. He requires many forerunners, not one, today. We are to preach, “The Lord is at hand. Christ is coming very soon.”[2] The Lord revealed to John Sung that he has fifteen years of ministry that the Lord has granted him. Having known the limited time he has for service, he burned out for Christ.

In the steps of the Apostle Paul, John Sung (1901-1944) evangelised China and Southeast Asia, in the words of Timothy Tow, “whereby several hundreds thousands were saved and hundreds more called to full-time ministry.”[3] Timothy Tow in his time evangelised Southeast Asia and beyond carrying the torch of revival blazing the Far East in a twentieth century Reformation, caught the spirit of biblical separation in Faith Theological Seminary from Carl McIntire in a Chapel Hour message to found the Bible-Presbyterian movement in 1950.[4]

The secret of power that is begotten for church growth and missions, observed Tow Siang Hwa, “Church Growth is simply the work of the Holy Spirit through obedient men and women heeding the Lord’s command to go into all the world and preach the Gospel. It is the founding of Bible-believing God-honouring churches, standing on the Word of God against the floodtide of the end time apostasy now sweeping around the world.”[5]

The Apostle Paul’s conversion more than 1900 years later was a testimony to the truth of the living Christ, resurrected from the dead, still alive. Men and women who put their faith in Him will find salvation – true peace and joy in their hearts.

The Apostle Paul testified after he was saved on the road to Damascus that he retreated into Arabia for three years to prepare himself to fulfil the call of Christ recorded in Galatians 1:15-17:

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. 

The need to cultivate faith through the work of the Holy Spirit, “taking time, discipline, patience, much humble waiting in the presence of God, an abiding in Christ and an absorbing interest in the Word of God.” 

1 Corinthians 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

He further cited the example of Paul:

It is no surprise that Paul spent three years in Arabia soon after his conversion, and somewhat later, five to seven years in Tarsus. He needed time and solitude for theological orientation, biblical solidification, as well as spiritual maturation before he became the greatest missionary of the Christian era.

This is his story that we present you today from our text in Acts 9:

  • The Rebellious Life (v1-2)
  • The Subduing (3-9)
  • The Restored/Return Life (v10-11)

(1) The Rebellious Life (v1-2)

1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 

The call of God separates a man to salvation. The call of God also separates a man for Holy service for His Lord. 

The Apostle Paul was saved and commissioned by Christ, he met Christ on His eleventh and final appearance recorded in Acts 9:1-6 and 1 Corinthians 15:8 “And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time”, on the road to Damascus persecuting the early church two years after the Ascension (Acts 1:9).

He confessed receiving the call to be the last Apostle of Christ and his unworthiness in 1 Corinthians 15:9 “For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” He was a fierce persecutor of the early church. He witnessed the martyrdom of Stephen, for Saul, his Jewish name, was consenting unto Stephen’s death (Acts 8:1). 

Truly, salvation comes by the grace of God. The encounter of Saul with Christ was dramatic and altered the entire course of his life from henceforth.

In the Apostle Paul’s own words, he described salvation as a gift of God in Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” 

He himself testified salvation is by God’s grace and His good pleasure in Galatians 1:15-16 “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:” 

This is the picture of the pitiful, fallen man, rebellious, uncontrollable, uncontrolled and the love of God who met him on that divinely appointed day, to bring him to submission to the truth for his own eternal good.

This is a picture of man under the sun, lived with God, disoriented, disturbed in the mind and disgruntled. 

(2) The Subduing (3-9)

3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

Oftentimes, God sent humbling situations to our lives to help us see that we are on the broad way to destruction and arrest us by His fear that we cannot order our lives. We are told in verse 9 that Saul fasted and prayed for three days.

It can be a sickness, a job loss, an estranged relationship that challenges our wisdom leading us to seek God and God reveal His Son to us through His Word, the Bible. 

And we begin to exercise faith to prove the Word of God and find it faithful to help our lives.

But before that process, we are a law to ourselves, living without the fear of God in our hearts, we denounce all authority, we become an authority in ourselves through self-righteousness.

God humbled this man Saul just like He humbled the king Nebuchadnezzar, the man who built the hanging gardens of Babylon, reputed in the ancient world, before the invention of air-con, to be the Eden of the ancient world, unparalleled even as we see compare it with the two domes at the Gardens by the Bay, to live like an animal for 7 years until he acknowledged the God of heaven.

Daniel 4:31-37 While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. 32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. 33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws. 34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: 35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? 36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellers and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. 37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

Jesus vindicated Himself by appearing personally to Saul by a bright light from heaven (Acts 26:13) confronted Paul “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.” 

He saw the resurrected Christ, he had no excuse for in 2 Corinthians 4:6 the Apostle Paul described his salvation vividly “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 

Saul realized that by persecuting Christians, he was persecuting the Lord and standing in the way of what God is accomplishing in fulfilment of Old Testament promises. It was a shattering realization! Living and realized that life lived as a mistake.

He fasted and prayed. We witnessed here his deep contrition, true repentance, and genuine consecration.

Jeremiah 31:18 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God.

Jeremiah 31:19 Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.

It is men whose conversion is deep and thorough that make strong Christians and earnest workers. [Thomas Walker]

Truly, it is wondered if the Apostle Paul has some weakness of the eyes as a reminder. Remember after a shipwreck, he was cast on an island and he was starting a fire and a poisonous snake bit him. He could not see it coming. Could it be that weakness of the eye?

Ever since he saw the dying Stephen, there is a nagging reminder of the glory of that innocent face, the testimony of a spirit-filled man, dying so willingly for Jesus and saying that he could see Jesus standing at the right hand of God to receive him. There was that nagging unrest in his conscience that is giving him no rest.

John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

A bright light literally shone at mid-day upon him to arrest of his drunken stupor, rebellion, lost condition as it were like a mad man persecuting the church in Acts 9:1 is described the climax of his zeal to persecute the church “And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest.” 

He had lost his senses. These are the people of God. Can he not see that they are a peaceable people, doing good to others? Why persecute them? This is from the ethical point of view, the Christians were exercising kindness did they do any wrong things? 

Now, he trembling and astonished said, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (v6)

Here Paul was converted. His rebellion is over. He calls Jesus Lord. He willingly offers to do whatever the Lord Jesus commands! Paul is to go into the city of Damascus and there receive further instructions. Some of the Lord’s instruction are not told here, but Paul did tell them before Agrippa Acts 26:16-18.

The Lord Jesus Christ also revealed to the Apostle Paul his life mission in the heavenly vision that he received as his personal testimony before King Agrippa in Acts 26:16-18:

But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

We see this man blinded, humbled, but believing and surrendered, Saul of Tarsus becomes Paul the Christian. When Ananias comes to see him, he will call him “Brother Saul” (v17) for he is now a Christian. He has trusted Christ.

So, they led him by the hand to Damascus.

(3) The Returned/Restored Life (v10-11)

10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 

He was blinded. The fear of God arrested his heart. He was shaken to the core. His pride and scholarship were reduced to dust when he realised that he has been going against the God whom he claimed to serve. 

How do we know a person is physically alive? He breathes. How do we know a person is spiritually alive? Our Lord Jesus gave this litmus test to Ananias of Damascus. He asked Ananias to arise and go into the street called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus for “behold, he prayeth” (Acts 9:11). 

How do you know that a baby is alive? The baby cries. By the cry of the baby, we know that the child is alive and kicking! Similarly for the child of God, how do you know if he is spiritually alive? He prays. Prayer is communion with God. 

Ananias is a Jew living in Damascus who has put his faith in Jesus the Messiah based on the preaching of Jewish Christians who come to the city prior to Saul. Today, in the city of Damascus, there is a chapel baring the name of Ananias. The tradition that this chapel marks the site of Ananias’ home dates to the Byzantine times. Based on the location, the actual house of Ananias may have been situation directly on the wall.

It is interesting Ananias was asked to go to the street “Straight”, all the crooked streak in this man Saul has been straightened. All the rebellion subdued. He was quiet before God. He has learned to submit to God, to let God be God and realize that he is not. God restored order to Saul’s life. The name “Paul” means “little”. He learned to live humbly under God. And God will use him for His glory.

Calvin aptly wrote, “the work of opening the eyes of the people belongs to the Holy Spirit. The Spirit empowers God’s servants to preach the gospel and grants them the joy of seeing the effect of their preaching”[6]

For the Apostle Paul, his conversion was unique, He met the risen Christ personally for the tremendous task that the Almighty God has entrusted upon him was surely unique, but the opening of his eyes was like a picture of the salvation in his heart the Holy Spirit has wrought. It is the work of the Holy Spirit that changes the heart of man turning him away from the darkness to see the light of God’s Word. The Apostle Paul literally saw the risen Son of God so that he was a true witness of the resurrected Light. The commission was revealed to Ananias, a certain disciple in Damascus (Acts 9:10), who prayed for the Apostle Paul to receive his sight, in Acts 9:15 “But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:” Ananias was told by the Lord that the Apostle Paul was to be a chosen vessel of suffering for His name sake (Acts 9:16). 

Saul said many a long prayer before the Lord met him on the way to Damascus as a Pharisee of Pharisees. But it was not till his heart was opened that the Lord said, “he prayeth” (Acts 9:11). Indeed, a testimony of a person’s conversion is that he prayeth for the Lord Jesus showed Ananias this true test. 

Saul searched his heart and examined his life and behaviour with brokenness of heart for three days when he was without sight having met Jesus face to face. Just days before, he was filled with destruction and murder for the Jesus’ disciples. These three days was a time of deep searching and re-orientation of his mind, a work that is not possible with man except by the Holy Spirit.

Remember verse 1 tells us that Saul was breathing our threatenings, God breathed life into him through the Holy Spirit. Now, he is spiritual alive and breathing.

Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.  

He communicates with His Creator. There is a vibrant relationship with the living and true God.

CONCLUSION

  • The Rebellious Life (v1-2)
  • The Subduing (3-9)
  • The Restored/Return Life (v10-11)

[1] “The Real Life” published by the Christian Literature Society in 1965 with the permission from The Sadhu Sundar Singh Trust.

[2] Timothy Tow, John Sung My Teacher, (Singapore: Christian Life Publishers, 1985), 73.

[3] Timothy Tow, Pattern for Church Growth and Missions, (Singapore: Life Book Centre, 1996), 3.

[4] Timothy Tow, Son of A Mother’s Vow, (Singapore: FEBC Bookroom, 2001), 125.  

[5] Timothy Tow, Forty Years on the Road to Church Growth, (Singapore: Christian Life Publishers), 153.

[6] John Calvin, Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles, (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1966), 276.