Participants: Tony Moore
Series Code: IFP
Program Code: IFP000003
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01:36 In our previous video we encountered Saul trying
01:40 to grew out the Galilean heresy. 01:43 After the stoning of Stephen he left the city 01:46 of Jerusalem with letters bound for Damascus, 01:50 to arrest the believers here in this city, 01:54 drag them in chains back to Jerusalem. 01:57 We traced his footsteps from Jerusalem 01:59 down to Jericho, then up the Jordan valley 02:03 to the Sea of Galilee, here well in the western 02:06 edge of the Sea of the Galilee where it met 02:08 the great trunk road, the International 02:10 Highway of the day. That road would pass 02:13 through Capernaum where Saul would have probably 02:16 stopped and celebrated the Sabbath. 02:18 From there he made the journey on up into 02:21 the foothills of the Golan Heights. 02:24 Finally, he would come to the crust of the ridge 02:27 overlooking the city of the Damascus. 02:30 It will be a beautiful sight, 02:31 a spectacular sight. The Emerald Green City, 02:35 an oasis floating in the midst 02:37 of the Syria Desert. When they reached this sight 02:41 he was thrilled, he was here, 02:43 he was on a mission for God, 02:46 he paused on the ridge overlooking the city, 02:48 contemplating the work that was before him, 02:50 and while he was there all of a sudden 02:54 a light brighter than a noon day sun began 02:57 to shine up on him in all of its brilliance, 02:59 it stunned him, he fell down to the ground 03:02 as though he were a died man. 03:04 He was overwhelmed, Saul laying on the ground 03:08 heard a voice saying. 03:09 "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? 03:13 It's hard for you to kick against the goads." 03:17 Saul was totally overwhelmed 03:19 by this theophany. He didn't understand 03:23 what it meant? He heard a voice but didn't 03:26 see anyone and then he asked the voice 03:29 to identify itself. Lord, who are you? 03:35 I'm Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 03:39 Jesus? Impossible! Jesus! Could it be that 03:44 he had been wrong all along. 03:47 Saul had been completely overwhelmed 03:50 by this vision that took place and the voice 03:53 that he heard, he fell on the ground as though 03:56 he were a dead man, the men traveling 03:59 with him also heard the voice but 04:01 they didn't see anything. Saul was overwhelmed 04:05 but he must have been relieved from the 04:08 tremendous spiritual struggle he had been 04:11 going through, he had been fighting 04:13 and resisting the Holy Spirit each step 04:15 of the way and now he surrounded to the 04:18 Lordship of Jesus. Act chapter 9, verses 8 and 9 04:23 says "But when Saul opened his eyes, 04:26 he could see nothing. So they led him by 04:29 the hand into Damascus. 04:30 For three days he was blind, 04:33 and could not eat or drink anything." 04:37 Isn't it amazing that the men who left Jerusalem, 04:40 filled with anger and venom and authority 04:43 to I destroy the church of Jesus Christ 04:46 in Damascus enters the city groping 04:49 in the dark. How different was his entry into 04:52 this city then what he had anticipated 04:55 blind and submissive he's led by the hand 04:58 to the Inn of Judas on Straight Street. 05:02 Today this street millenniums old connects 05:05 the eastern and the western gates of the 05:07 old city of the Damascus. 05:09 This is the oldest continually inhabited 05:12 city in the world. This is a city to which Abraham 05:17 and Sarah stopped on their way 05:19 to the promised land. Sarah shopped in the 05:22 markets here in this city and Abraham would 05:26 have bought his servant Eliezer here in Damascus. 05:32 Many people wonder if this is the same 05:34 Straight Street that was here in Saul's day, 05:37 indeed it is. Every Roman city had a street 05:40 running from east to west with gates 05:43 on each end. This street still has wonderful 05:47 shops offering goods along the Straight Street 05:50 running through the city. As a matter of fact 05:52 it is still called Straight Street even 05:55 by its Arabic name. 06:00 Saul was brought into this city to the house 06:03 of Judas on Straight Street 06:04 and there he settled on the darkness 06:06 wondering what would happen next. 06:09 He was there praying, asking God's forgiveness 06:12 for his hardheartedness, seeking God in repentance 06:16 and in faith. Isn't it amazing that Saul 06:19 lost his sight and yet now for the very first 06:22 time he could truly see. He could see 06:25 in the eye of his mind, Stephen his face lit up 06:29 like an angel, he could hear 06:31 Stephen saying Father, forgive them for what 06:34 they're doing. He heard Stephen say, 06:36 I see the son of man standing at the right hand 06:39 of the Father's throne, as Saul sat alone 06:43 in the darkness, fasting and praying, 06:45 he saw Jesus and was encouraged. 06:49 But the darkness of his sins were constantly 06:51 before him. Being a good Pharisee he probably 06:54 sort an answer to his dilemma but 06:55 how could he make this right? 06:57 How he could give life back to Stephen? 06:59 How could he undo the damage he had done 07:02 to countless believers in Jerusalem, 07:05 as he sat in the darkness depression began 07:07 to settle upon his mind, but what could he do. 07:13 The believers in Damascus heard that 07:15 Saul was coming and embraced for the storm. 07:19 When whispering of his Mountain-top experience 07:22 began to filter through the community 07:23 they didn't believe it. They were afraid, 07:26 that it was a shrewd ploy to get them to identify 07:29 themselves and then he would take off his mask, 07:32 arrest them and haul them off to 07:34 Jerusalem in chains. And so no one would go 07:38 and talk with Saul, who was there in the 07:41 Inn on Straight Street. There were afraid that, 07:45 they would be arrested and hauled 07:47 off to Jerusalem, everyone stayed back 07:50 including the leader of the Christian 07:51 community here in Damascus. 07:54 The Lord revealed to the man, 07:57 Ananias, this is my servant Saul, 08:01 go to him and pray for him that his 08:04 eyes maybe opened. "Then Ananias went to 08:08 the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, 08:12 he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, 08:14 who appeared to you on the road as 08:16 you were coming here has sent me so that 08:18 you may see again and be filled the Holy Spirit. 08:22 Immediately, something like scales fell from 08:25 Saul's eyes, and he could see again. 08:28 "He got up there and was baptized. 08:30 And after taking some food, 08:32 he regained his strength." 08:34 And in response to the vision Ananias went 08:37 to the Inn on Straight Street. 08:39 The Inn of Judas where he found Saul's 08:41 sitting lone in the darkness. 08:43 He went over and conformed yes Saul, 08:47 Jesus has called you and He has now ask me 08:49 to come and pray with you that your sins 08:51 maybe forgiven and you can be filled 08:53 with the Holy Spirit. He prayed over Saul 08:56 and scripture says immediately something 08:59 like scales fell from Saul's eyes 09:02 and he could see. Saul had sight all of his life 09:07 but he had not been able to really see, 09:09 but now he had been touched spiritually 09:11 by Jesus and he had both physical 09:14 as well as spiritual sight. Now that he had 09:18 received a sight, he could take 09:21 physical nourishment, he ate some food 09:23 and was strengthened by it. 09:26 Later in Acts chapter 22, 09:29 Saul will recount additional details 09:32 of what Ananias told him, 09:34 "The God of our Fathers has chosen you to know 09:38 his will and to see the Righteous One 09:40 and to hear words from his mouth. 09:43 "You will be his witness to all men of what 09:45 you have seen and heard. 09:47 And now what are you waiting for? 09:50 Get up and be baptized and wash away your sins 09:53 calling on his name." what a relief these words 09:59 were to Saul? Even though he had given 10:02 witness to Stephen's martyrdom, 10:05 Jesus was accepting him. He could be forgiven 10:10 through the very name that he had come 10:12 to Damascus to destroy. 10:16 "Saul, arise and be baptized, washing away 10:22 your sins, calling on the name of the Lord." 10:26 Yes he was a good Pharisee and as a good 10:29 Pharisee he knew that Gentiles were to be 10:32 baptized to be immersed, to be born again 10:35 but now he's to be born again. 10:37 And he's to testify of it by being baptized. 10:41 Yes, Ananias took him just a few meters from 10:44 here out to be a Abana River that used to 10:47 run in full stream pass this house. 10:51 And he baptized him in the most sparkling 10:54 waters of the Abana River. 10:57 Isn't that amazing that a Jewish rabbi 11:00 leaves Jerusalem, crosses the Jordan River 11:03 and comes into Syria where he has told 11:06 to be baptized in the Abana River to wash 11:09 away his sins. I think of Captain Naaman 11:14 who lived in the city. The Syrian General 11:18 who was impressed by the words of the little maid, 11:22 he had leprosy and she encouraged him to go 11:24 and see Prophet Elisha over in Israel 11:28 and so he went. And there the Prophet told him 11:31 to go and wash in the Jordan River 11:34 and he would be healed, cleansed of his leprosy. 11:38 Captain Naaman refused, he was insulted, 11:40 we have a much cleaner river in Damascus 11:43 the Abana River, but finally his colleague said, 11:49 if he told you to do something hard, 11:50 to pay a lot of money you would do it. 11:53 And so, Captain Naaman went and dipped 11:57 into the dirty Jordan River. 12:00 And the spots of his leprosy were washed 12:03 away from his skin. Saul, the Jewish rabbi 12:09 filled with hatred and venom towards the sect 12:13 called the way, left Jerusalem, 12:16 crossed the Jordan, came here to Damascus. 12:20 And washed in the Abana River 12:23 and the spots of his sins were washed away 12:27 from his soul. He went to the Synagogues 12:31 and immediately began preaching about Jesus, 12:35 being the Christ, the Messiah let me read 12:38 to you from the Bibles it's a thrilling story. 12:41 "At once he began to preach in the synagogues 12:44 that Jesus is the Son of God." 12:46 All those who heard him were astonished 12:48 and asked, Isn't he the man who raised 12:51 havoc in Jerusalem among those who call 12:54 on his name?" And hasn't he come here to take 12:57 them as prisoners to the chief priests?" 13:00 what an incredible story, the very man sent 13:03 from Jerusalem to destroy the name of Jesus 13:06 in this city now is proclaiming that name. 13:10 The people of Damascus must have been baffled, 13:13 the Jews had send a request from this city, 13:16 send us help, send the exterminator to come 13:19 and take care of this dreaded sect away. 13:22 And so Jerusalem sends it's brightest mind, 13:26 it sends it's finest mind, Saul is dispatched 13:30 from Jerusalem to come to Damascus, 13:32 but when he arrives in the city, 13:34 he goes into the Synagogue and instead of 13:36 condemning the name of Jesus, 13:38 he uplifts it, he tells how Jesus had touched 13:42 his eyes, how Jesus had forgiven his sins. 13:46 Jews in Damascus are totally baffled, 13:49 they cannot believe what has happened 13:51 their champion has become their foe. 13:55 Now Saul uses all the rabbinical training 13:58 that he received under Gamelio. 14:01 To focus on his arguments in support 14:05 of Jesus being the Messiah, 14:08 no one in Damascus can refute his arguments; 14:11 no one can stand against what he is saying. 14:14 Yes, he was a Pharisee. All of his life he had 14:18 placed his hope in the resurrection of the dead. 14:21 Now he understood how that resurrection 14:25 would take place. For Jesus, the one who 14:29 appeared to him out there on the ridge 14:31 overlooking the city of Damascus, 14:33 Jesus had died, submitted to the grave, 14:36 gone down into Hades, and yet He had come 14:39 back to life, He had destroyed the very 14:42 bands of death, he had destroyed 14:44 that very power of death. 14:45 He had defeated that ultimate in any death. 14:48 And He come back to life, and now he offered 14:53 that new life to Saul. 14:56 "Yet Saul grew more and more powerful 14:59 and baffled the Jews in Damascus by proving 15:01 that Jesus was the Christ." 15:04 Yes, the exterminator turn preached focus 15:07 his teaching and his arguments about Jesus 15:09 being the Christ. The word Christ is the Greek 15:12 word anointed one, which means Messiah 15:16 in the Hebrew. He came proving to the Jews 15:19 that Jesus was the Messiah. 15:21 This is the long awaited one, this is the one that 15:24 we have long looked forward to, 15:26 and this is the one that our scriptures 15:28 have portrayed and prophesied about. 15:31 This Jesus has now come, he is the messiah, 15:35 he is the anointed one, and he is the Christ. 15:40 Yes, Damascus was ablazed with what had happened, 15:44 the Jews were baffled, they were angry, 15:47 the Devil was angry. Let's notice what happens next. 15:51 "After many days had gone by, 15:54 the Jews conspired to kill him, 15:56 but Saul learned of their plan. 15:58 Day and night they kept close watch on the city 16:01 gates in order to kill him. 16:03 But his followers took him by night 16:05 and lowered him in a basket through an opening 16:07 in the wall." The Jews could not refute 16:11 his arguments, so they attempted to silence him. 16:15 They attempted to take his life. 16:20 This would be the first of many attempts 16:22 upon his life. But there is a period of time, 16:26 it doesn't happen immediately, 16:29 if we read carefully in verse 19 and in verse 23 16:32 we've see that there are two separate periods. 16:36 Acts chapter 9, verse 19 it says, 16:41 "Saul spent several days with the 16:43 disciples in Damascus." Verse 23 says, 16:48 "After many days had gone by, 16:50 the Jews conspired to kill him." 16:53 There's actually two different periods here 16:55 and they're separated by a longer period time. 17:00 How do I know that? Well, I know that 17:02 because he tells us in Galatians chapter 1, 17:06 "I was advancing in Judaism beyond many 17:08 Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous 17:12 for the traditions of my fathers. 17:14 But when God, who set me apart from birth 17:18 and called me by his grace, was pleased 17:20 to reveal his Son to me so that I might preach 17:22 him among the Gentiles, I did not consult 17:25 any man, nor did I go to Jerusalem to see 17:29 those who were apostles before me, 17:32 but I went immediately into Arabia and later 17:36 returned to Damascus. Then after three years, 17:39 I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted 17:41 with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days." 17:44 But we might wonder why did Saul go out into 17:48 the desert of Arabia. Well he left Damascus 17:51 for two reasons at least, 17:53 one was it was hot here, not the mercury 17:56 in the thermometer but the anger of the Jews, 17:59 the one that they had brought to wipe out the 18:02 sect called away is now it's strongest 18:05 proponent in the city. They were angry 18:08 and so he left to let things cool down. 18:12 The second and perhaps even more important 18:15 reason was that he needed time, 18:18 time away from the hustle and bustle 18:21 of Damascus or any city to be able to meditate 18:26 and contemplate and study the scriptures. 18:29 Yes, he didn't trained by the great Rabbi Gamelio, 18:33 he had a sharp rabbinical mind, 18:35 he needed time to focus upon the scriptures 18:38 and the new light of Jesus being the Messiah, 18:41 the long awaited one that had been prophesied 18:44 in Hebrews scripture and so he went out into 18:46 the desert of Arabia to spend time in meditation 18:50 and prayer and in study, where he did go? 18:54 Well there are two logical places that he might 18:59 have gone. One was down to the Petra, 19:01 that rose red city half as oldest time. 19:05 It was along the Kings' high way 19:07 and the Southern Part of Jordan. 19:10 The beautiful cliffs of Petra would have 19:13 provided a wonderful sanctuary for Saul 19:16 to go and spend time in contemplation 19:19 and in study of scripture or perhaps he went out 19:22 to Palmyra. About hundred and fifty miles 19:26 east of Damascus. This fabulous oasis out in the 19:30 desert was a major caravan stop on the road 19:34 going on from Damascus to Persia 19:36 and on into the orient. This time it was the 19:40 second richest city in the Roman world. 19:45 We don't know where Saul went in Arabia, 19:47 it could have been to Palmyra, 19:49 it could have been to Petra. 19:50 But we do know that he return 19:52 to the city of Damascus. And here he began 19:55 to preach Jesus as the Christ or as the Messiah. 19:58 The Synagogue was going crazy they didn't know 20:01 how to silence this preacher. 20:04 Acts chapter 9 verses 23. 20:07 "After many days had gone by, 20:09 the Jews conspired to kill him, but Saul learned 20:12 of their plan. Day and night they kept close 20:15 watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 20:18 But his followers took him by night and lowered 20:20 him in a basket through an opening in the wall." 20:24 Yes, they want to try and take his life, 20:27 they've put on all points bulletin to close 20:29 all the gates, to watch carefully as he would 20:32 go through one of the seven gates around 20:34 the city of Damascus. 20:37 The guards stationed at the gates 20:39 were on the lookout, but inspite of this 20:43 God provided for the emergency. 20:45 The Bible says that Saul was lowered in a basket 20:50 through a window that was in the city wall. 20:53 This seems strange to our modern ears 20:55 but if you're familiar with the masonry practices 20:58 of the ancient world, it makes perfect sense. 21:02 You see walls were a maybe defensive 21:04 protection major. People tended to live outside 21:07 the walls during times of peace, 21:09 but they would come inside the city 21:11 during times of war or during times of conflict. 21:16 Walls had to be very thick to prevent 21:18 battering rams from knocking them down 21:21 and piercing through, however this was a great 21:23 waste of space, so walls tended to be left 21:27 hollow in the middle, rooms could be 21:29 build in them. And this would provide living 21:32 space during the time of crisis rubble would be 21:36 filled in the rooms and the wall would become 21:39 solid but during times of peace and security 21:43 people could actually live inside of them. 21:46 Do you call the story of Rehab the harlot? 21:49 Yes, Rehab there in Jericho, she lived inside 21:52 the walls of the city and she let two spies 21:56 that Joshua had sent in to spy out the land 21:59 of Jericho out through a window in the wall 22:02 of the city. David also escaped from the city 22:07 through the window of his wife's house that 22:10 was built in the wall of the city. 22:13 I'm standing here beside the old 22:17 walls of Damascus, behind me is the traditional spot 22:22 that is pointed to as the wall from which Paul 22:25 was lowered. It's about forty meters down from 22:29 the gate of the city and here Paul was led down 22:34 in a basket to the ground escaped the notice 22:38 of the guards and left the city. 22:40 Now you might wonder Tony, is this real window, 22:44 it's look like an aluminum frame window to me. 22:47 Well indeed it is, it's recently been replaced, 22:50 the masonry here is actually, 22:52 Ottoman masonry, we can see the small stones 22:56 it's very different then these large stones. 22:59 The large stones are from the Roman period. 23:02 This would have been the city wall in Paul's day. 23:05 The Ottoman's came along in the sixteen century 23:08 and built the modern wall around the city 23:11 on the foundation of the old walls. 23:14 So of course this would not be the original window 23:18 that Paul came down from, 23:20 but it would be in this, this vicinity. 23:24 It's amazing that Saul is delivered by the very 23:28 people he came to Damascus to destroy. 23:31 Yes, they delivered him by lowering him from 23:34 a window in this wall in a leather basket. 23:38 Once outside the walls of the city, 23:41 Saul made his way for Jerusalem but he was not 23:44 prepared for the reception, he would 23:46 receive in the Holy City. 23:49 "When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join 23:52 the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, 23:55 not believing that he really was a disciple. 23:58 But Barnabas took him and brought him 24:00 to the apostles. He told them how Saul 24:03 on his journey had seen the Lord 24:05 and that the Lord had spoken to him, 24:07 and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly 24:10 in the name of Jesus. So Saul stayed with them 24:13 and moved about freely in Jerusalem speaking 24:16 boldly in the name of the Lord." 24:19 After three years the believers in Jerusalem 24:22 were still skeptical of Saul's conversion story 24:26 when he arrived in the city, 24:28 they did not welcome him with open arms, 24:31 instead their expressed doubt and skepticism 24:34 about his story, they shunned him until 24:37 one man named Barnabas stepped forward, 24:40 listened to his story and then went before 24:43 the believers and vouched for Saul. 24:46 Yes, it was a tremendous story the man who had 24:49 left Jerusalem to go to Damascus, 24:51 to stamp out the name of Jesus had been baptized 24:55 in the name of Jesus. And now returns to the city 24:58 of the Jerusalem proclaiming that 25:01 Jesus Christ is Lord, the church is thrilled 25:05 by this tremendous turn of events. 25:08 Saul is sharing that Jesus Christ is Lord 25:11 in the synagogues, but his stay would be 25:13 cut short. According to Galatians chapter 1, 25:16 verses 18 and 19 he stays only fifteen days 25:20 during which time and he meets with James 25:23 and Peter and John. Acts chapter 9, verse 29, 25:27 "He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, 25:30 but they tried to kill him. When the brothers 25:32 learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea 25:35 and sent him off to Tarsus." 25:38 Paul was misunderstood. When you think of how 25:41 he escaped from Damascus by the skin of 25:44 his teeth they were trying to kill him 25:46 and as he journeyed to Jerusalem he must have 25:48 expected a wonderful celebration that the 25:51 former persecutor is now a believer, 25:54 but he gets there and they don't trust him. 25:57 He arrives in the city and they shun him, 26:00 perhaps that happens to you in life, 26:02 even by believers who should know better. 26:05 It happened to Saul. So we shouldn't be 26:07 discouraged, but I love the fact 26:10 that there is a man named Barnabas who steps 26:13 forward and trusts Saul, who believes in him. 26:17 You know Barnabas was not really his name at all. 26:20 His real name was Joseph. 26:22 Joseph from the island of Cyprus. 26:24 You see according to Acts chapter 4 26:26 he had sold a field and he brought the money 26:29 and laid it at the Apostles feet. 26:31 They were so thrilled by this, 26:33 they were so encouraged that 26:34 they gave him a nickname. No longer he would called 26:36 Joseph now he will be called Barnabas, 26:39 a son of encouragement. Oh my friend, 26:42 I wanna be a son of encouragement, 26:43 don't you? I wanna be a son of encouragement. 26:47 I want to have daughters of encouragement 26:50 around me. I think of the tremendous difference 26:53 that Barnabas made in the life of Saul. 26:56 And I think of the tremendous difference 26:58 that you and I can make in the lives of others. 27:02 When by God's grace our lives are touched 27:05 like Barnabas life was touched and we can 27:08 believe in others and encourage others too. 27:12 Now join me as we pray together. Eternal God, 27:14 I thank you for the tremendous way that 27:16 you worked to touch the life of a 27:19 persecutor like Saul. We thank you for the story 27:22 of how the scales fell away from his eyes 27:25 and he can see Jesus, how a Rabbi indeed 27:27 discovered the gospel in the city of Damascus. 27:30 Lord, I pray that each of us might be able 27:32 to see you and as we see you that we might 27:34 become like Barnabas to be an encourager 27:37 to make a difference in the lives of others. 27:40 Yes, Lord Jesus, this is our prayer 27:42 in your precious name, amen. 27:45 The church of Jerusalem sends Barnabas 27:47 up to Antioch, where the church is exploding 27:50 in that great city. Barnabas asked Saul to 27:54 comedown from Tarsus and to join him 27:57 and to help him teach there. 27:58 They teach for over a year when the Holy Spirit 28:01 comes upon the community and says set these two men 28:05 apart from me and send them out to distant 28:07 lands bringing light to the Gentiles 28:10 and that will be the focus of our next teaching. |
Revised 2014-12-17