Get up and enter the city (Acts 9:1-31)
Have you noticed that the Lord never uses manipulation on anybody?
God would rather have an active enemy than a passive follower. The Lord would rather you be a rebel than a weak-willed sycophant. God wants obedient sons with stout hearts, men and women who delight to do his will. His commands are clear so that we have clear choices.
Obedient sons become partners in the family business. At some point in the process of growing up, while enduring trials of faith, those men and women who have internalized their Father's character and cause become entrusted with his possessions.
At that transition point, we move from being slaves who have no choice, beyond being children who only enjoy benefits, to being active co-laborers-- partners with God.
This is what happened when the Father's voice spoke from heaven concerning Jesus, "This is my Son- listen to him!" He'd reached the point of affirmation and promotion.
There comes a time when God approves of those whom he has previously called. There comes a moment when the Lord empowers, vindicates, and deploys his workers and warriors. Until that time occurs, our vision is mere potential, our calling is still limited, and our authority to act in his name remains restricted.
When we have encountered Christ, become instructed in the right ways of God, when our character has been tested, and the fruit of the Spirit is evident in us, then and only then, does the Lord send along his Barnabas to take hold of us. Doors open. Key associations occur. We get quickly carried into the plan of God. We get included in the Lord's purposes on the earth. We feel our destiny propelling us along.
When we are introduced to Jesus and incorporated into his ministry team-- whether laboring in the word or as an ambassador in the marketplace-- our lives will never be the same thereafter.
Acts chapter nine begins with Saul of Tarsus as an enemy of Jesus and a persecutor of the Way. He hurt people who loved Jesus. He typifies religious fury. The only way to make good people behave like the devil is to get them intoxicated with religious rage. Here is a prime example in Saul the Pharisee, a Jewish zealot. Remember, he was a happy witness when Stephen was stoned.
In the news headlines today, we see this same spirit of murder motivating Islamic fanatics. It motivated Christian crusaders in the Dark Ages. Jesus said if we want to kill people because of religion, we have become offspring of the devil.
Saul was moving in anger on a journey to jail believers when suddenly he had a Damascus road encounter with this Jesus he didn't believe in. That's the thing about Jesus: He is there whether you believe in him or not. Just because you don't like him, won't make him go away. He is real, he is alive, and he is involved in this world. And he may have an appointment to confront you along your way.
The party traveling with Saul heard the voice, but saw no man. They didn't understand the words clearly like the Paul the future apostle did. It was a message for him alone. It wasn't a nice word. Very few people are rebuked personally by the risen Lord, but Saul was. Have you heard Jesus' voice? Caution: at times of commissioning, his words may not be smooth. I would rather be rebuked by God than never have him speak at all.
In this encounter, Saul was suddenly given the ability to repent and have faith. He didn't seek it: it came as a gift of grace. He was told of things he would suffer and given directions for his life's mission. Saul, instantly humble, was blinded by the light of Christ's glory. Fasting for three days, he was led into Damascus where a no-name disciple named Ananias came to him, sent by the Jesus, to pray for his sight to be restored and to impart the gift of the Holy Spirit to him. No seminary degree, just activation by the laying on of lowly hands.
Thus begins the decades-long training program for a passionate zealot to be transformed into an apostle of grace. After stirring up trouble by arguing with Greek-speaking Jews (later to become his primary target audience), Saul was sent away to his home town. His wilderness experience began. A unique crucible of hardship was shaping his future ministry.
Jesus initially told him, "Get up and enter the city." To thousands of apostles-in-process today, our Lord Jesus Christ is saying the same thing: Get up and enter your city. Jesus is saying, "You've waited long enough. You've doubted your calling long enough. You've tarried long enough. You've suffered long enough. The place I've prepared for you is crying out for you. The fulfillment of your calling awaits you. Get up and go."
There's more to this story than an exciting new super-star arising on the religious scene. In fact, forget religion. This is kingdom stuff! Jesus didn't come to create a new religion- men have done that. Jesus came to announce and inaugurate a new kingdom.
Saul of Tarsus was not immediately put to work by the church. In fact, tremendously talented though he was, he was still a novice in the work of the kingdom. His zeal, his knowledge of the Scriptures, his ability to preach and persuade, were still inadequate.
Two things had to yet occur: he had to be broken of religious ambition, and he had to be bonded with brothers in Christ. When God was finished with him, he never wanted to minister alone again but repeatedly chose to be part of a team with yoke-fellows.
Many years after his call, after Saul had endured seasoning through terrible tribulations in his hometown of Tarsus, Barnabas went to retrieve him from the shelf in God's pantry. He brought him to Antioch (see Acts 11:19-30; 13:1-4; 14:14). There, teaming up with other prophets and teachers while waiting on God, the Holy Spirit through a prophetic word set apart and sent out Saul of Tarsus to take the gospel to the Gentiles.
Thank God, there was a prophet in the house! How about your church? Is there a prophet in the house? I won't stay long in a church where the Spirit of the Lord isn't heard, where the voice of God is kept silent. The church's leaders in Antioch agreed with what God said by the Spirit. Saul became known as Paul "the sent one" (Acts 14:14), which is what the word apostle means. It isn't an office- it is a job description.
Without apostles, the church remains in a pastoral maintenance mode, not an apostolic mission mode. Apostles advance the cause of the kingdom and move the church ahead.
Stationary apostles are a departure from the norm. Most apostles in the Book of Acts were mobile, concerned with more than one city or more than one church. Later, some did settle down. An apostle may risk losing his cutting-edge anointing unless he is continuously sending out sons or preparing a team to pioneer a new work.
Like Paul and Barnabas, apostles become more powerful when they are sent away (Acts 14:3). They stay focused on their original call and mission. When they are sent out, they find themselves getting back to the basics of the gospel and evangelizing other cities to establish colonies of heaven's kingdom for Christ.
Get up and enter the city © 2007 by Ron Wood. Visit www.touchedbygrace.org. We are touched by grace to touch the world! You may write to us at rewood1@cox.net.
God would rather have an active enemy than a passive follower. The Lord would rather you be a rebel than a weak-willed sycophant. God wants obedient sons with stout hearts, men and women who delight to do his will. His commands are clear so that we have clear choices.
Obedient sons become partners in the family business. At some point in the process of growing up, while enduring trials of faith, those men and women who have internalized their Father's character and cause become entrusted with his possessions.
At that transition point, we move from being slaves who have no choice, beyond being children who only enjoy benefits, to being active co-laborers-- partners with God.
This is what happened when the Father's voice spoke from heaven concerning Jesus, "This is my Son- listen to him!" He'd reached the point of affirmation and promotion.
There comes a time when God approves of those whom he has previously called. There comes a moment when the Lord empowers, vindicates, and deploys his workers and warriors. Until that time occurs, our vision is mere potential, our calling is still limited, and our authority to act in his name remains restricted.
When we have encountered Christ, become instructed in the right ways of God, when our character has been tested, and the fruit of the Spirit is evident in us, then and only then, does the Lord send along his Barnabas to take hold of us. Doors open. Key associations occur. We get quickly carried into the plan of God. We get included in the Lord's purposes on the earth. We feel our destiny propelling us along.
When we are introduced to Jesus and incorporated into his ministry team-- whether laboring in the word or as an ambassador in the marketplace-- our lives will never be the same thereafter.
Acts chapter nine begins with Saul of Tarsus as an enemy of Jesus and a persecutor of the Way. He hurt people who loved Jesus. He typifies religious fury. The only way to make good people behave like the devil is to get them intoxicated with religious rage. Here is a prime example in Saul the Pharisee, a Jewish zealot. Remember, he was a happy witness when Stephen was stoned.
In the news headlines today, we see this same spirit of murder motivating Islamic fanatics. It motivated Christian crusaders in the Dark Ages. Jesus said if we want to kill people because of religion, we have become offspring of the devil.
Saul was moving in anger on a journey to jail believers when suddenly he had a Damascus road encounter with this Jesus he didn't believe in. That's the thing about Jesus: He is there whether you believe in him or not. Just because you don't like him, won't make him go away. He is real, he is alive, and he is involved in this world. And he may have an appointment to confront you along your way.
The party traveling with Saul heard the voice, but saw no man. They didn't understand the words clearly like the Paul the future apostle did. It was a message for him alone. It wasn't a nice word. Very few people are rebuked personally by the risen Lord, but Saul was. Have you heard Jesus' voice? Caution: at times of commissioning, his words may not be smooth. I would rather be rebuked by God than never have him speak at all.
In this encounter, Saul was suddenly given the ability to repent and have faith. He didn't seek it: it came as a gift of grace. He was told of things he would suffer and given directions for his life's mission. Saul, instantly humble, was blinded by the light of Christ's glory. Fasting for three days, he was led into Damascus where a no-name disciple named Ananias came to him, sent by the Jesus, to pray for his sight to be restored and to impart the gift of the Holy Spirit to him. No seminary degree, just activation by the laying on of lowly hands.
Thus begins the decades-long training program for a passionate zealot to be transformed into an apostle of grace. After stirring up trouble by arguing with Greek-speaking Jews (later to become his primary target audience), Saul was sent away to his home town. His wilderness experience began. A unique crucible of hardship was shaping his future ministry.
Jesus initially told him, "Get up and enter the city." To thousands of apostles-in-process today, our Lord Jesus Christ is saying the same thing: Get up and enter your city. Jesus is saying, "You've waited long enough. You've doubted your calling long enough. You've tarried long enough. You've suffered long enough. The place I've prepared for you is crying out for you. The fulfillment of your calling awaits you. Get up and go."
There's more to this story than an exciting new super-star arising on the religious scene. In fact, forget religion. This is kingdom stuff! Jesus didn't come to create a new religion- men have done that. Jesus came to announce and inaugurate a new kingdom.
Saul of Tarsus was not immediately put to work by the church. In fact, tremendously talented though he was, he was still a novice in the work of the kingdom. His zeal, his knowledge of the Scriptures, his ability to preach and persuade, were still inadequate.
Two things had to yet occur: he had to be broken of religious ambition, and he had to be bonded with brothers in Christ. When God was finished with him, he never wanted to minister alone again but repeatedly chose to be part of a team with yoke-fellows.
Many years after his call, after Saul had endured seasoning through terrible tribulations in his hometown of Tarsus, Barnabas went to retrieve him from the shelf in God's pantry. He brought him to Antioch (see Acts 11:19-30; 13:1-4; 14:14). There, teaming up with other prophets and teachers while waiting on God, the Holy Spirit through a prophetic word set apart and sent out Saul of Tarsus to take the gospel to the Gentiles.
Thank God, there was a prophet in the house! How about your church? Is there a prophet in the house? I won't stay long in a church where the Spirit of the Lord isn't heard, where the voice of God is kept silent. The church's leaders in Antioch agreed with what God said by the Spirit. Saul became known as Paul "the sent one" (Acts 14:14), which is what the word apostle means. It isn't an office- it is a job description.
Without apostles, the church remains in a pastoral maintenance mode, not an apostolic mission mode. Apostles advance the cause of the kingdom and move the church ahead.
Stationary apostles are a departure from the norm. Most apostles in the Book of Acts were mobile, concerned with more than one city or more than one church. Later, some did settle down. An apostle may risk losing his cutting-edge anointing unless he is continuously sending out sons or preparing a team to pioneer a new work.
Like Paul and Barnabas, apostles become more powerful when they are sent away (Acts 14:3). They stay focused on their original call and mission. When they are sent out, they find themselves getting back to the basics of the gospel and evangelizing other cities to establish colonies of heaven's kingdom for Christ.
Get up and enter the city © 2007 by Ron Wood. Visit www.touchedbygrace.org. We are touched by grace to touch the world! You may write to us at rewood1@cox.net.
