My New Life Forward Part 1

Pericope: Acts 9: 1 – 9

Sermon Text: Acts 9: 6 - Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

Sermon Title: My New Life FORWARD Pt 1

Introduction:

In the text we find one of the best examples of a change of direction in the bible. Paul was going as hard as humanly possible in the wrong direction. He was convinced his way was the right way and it would get him the results he wanted. He was smart, so he was not going in the wrong direction out of ignorance. He was well learned in the word so he wasn’t going in the wrong direction due to little knowledge in the word. Paul loved God but that didn’t keep him from going in the wrong direction. Paul had a great reputation so he wasn’t going in the wrong direction due to lack of influence. Paul had done all the right things in life up to this point, but he was still going in the wrong direction. Paul is proof you can be in the church, in God, well learned and still going in the wrong direction. Paul is full proof you can be completely ignorant that you are going in the wrong direction while thinking you are going in the right direction.

Paul’s new life forward begin on the Road to Damascus. Interestingly enough he is on a journey which turns out to be the journey of his life. We too are on a journey in 2016 and it is the journey of our lives. We have to make the right decisions so we can go in the right direction. In order to do so we have to do at least four things on our 2016 journey. Revelation. Consecration. Subjugation. Confirmation.

Point 1: Your New Life FORWARD has to have REVELATION vs. 3 – 5 (3) …suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. (4) He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul… (5) Who are you, Lord?” “I am Jesus”

Point 2: Your New Life FORWARD has to have CONSECRATION vs. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

Point 3: Your New Life FORWARD has to have SUBJUGATION vs. 8…So they led him by the hand into Damascus.

Point 4: Your New Life FORWARD has to have CONFIRMATION

vs. 17 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…

Life Application:

1.  Change direction

2.  Do the 40 Day Consecration

3.  Attend a small group