A Wild Animal Tamed

We'll turn back to a reading in Acts chapter 9.

Acts 9 · chapter mention

As we look here at the conversion of Saul,

! We're going to focus mainly on verse 10 down to verse 20.

! I just want to read again at verse 15.

But the Lord said to him, he was saying to Ananias,

Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name

before the Gentiles and kings and the children,

of Israel.

He is a chosen instrument of mine.

We hear the word testimony used in church,

and particularly maybe as we approach a communion season,

we hear people talking about their testimony.

But what does it mean?

Perhaps many of us know what a testimony is.

Maybe we've told our testimony.

Maybe we've heard others sharing what we call their testimony.

But perhaps we're not sure just what it means.

The word testimony itself has two real meanings.

One can be, and they're both related to evidence.

One is when you think of a testimony given in court.

So in a legal setting, someone will give a testimony.

That's an account of something that they've maybe done,

or something that they may be seen happening.

So they give a testimony.

It's spoken.

It's giving evidence.

But the other testimony is speaking about the Christian's experience.

And again, it's making something public.

And it's speaking about evidence.

It's speaking about something that's happened.

But it's the work of God's grace in our lives.

So instead of when we're giving evidence in court,

we're looking maybe at the accused, or maybe at ourselves.

That's giving testimony to a person.

When we're thinking of the Christian's testimony,

it's not just looking at ourselves,

although it's telling about our experience,

but it's looking to God,

and telling of the wonder of what God has done in our lives.

So what's your testimony today?

When you think of the two ways that we can give a testimony,

one is kind of giving evidence about ourselves.

That is a testimony of some,

where the focus is on what we're doing,

or what we've done in life.

Is that your testimony today,

when the focus is on what you are doing?

Or is your testimony today to the experience

and the work of God's grace in your life?

That you're able to say that the Lord has helped me,

that the Lord has been with me,

that the Lord has taken me from the mighty clay

and put my feet on that rock that is Jesus Christ.

That he's taken me from darkness into his marvelous light.

Is that your testimony today?

And is your testimony a public one?

Is it one that you are delighted to show to others?

Whether you think of the selfish way we can boast in ourselves,

or whether it's a public way we're able to profess Christ

as our Lord and as our Savior.

Well, every testimony of God's grace

is a reason to rejoice.

It doesn't matter who it is.

It doesn't matter what they've done.

Young or old, male or female, boy or girl.

It doesn't matter.

It doesn't matter what kind of conversion it's been.

Whether it's been a dramatic one.

Whether it's been a major change,

as we see here with Saul.

Or whether it's just the quiet way that God has worked.

Maybe from your childhood,

you've always known and loved the Lord.

And then you come to a point where you make that a public profession.

A testimony is a wonderful thing.

It's a beautiful thing to hear and to see

the way the Lord works in so many people's lives.

But what do we do when we hear of someone becoming a Christian?

When someone gives their testimony,

do you rejoice?

And do you give thanks to God for that work?

Or do you maybe begin to question it?

Is it real?

Is it true?

Can it really be right that that person is converted?

Well, think of the conversion of Saul here,

the testimony of Saul.

What do you see?

We think of Saul, who became known as Paul.

We think of him and all that he did for the Lord.

And all the letters that he wrote to the churches,

the places he went.

And we think of him as a great evangelist in the New Testament,

going out proclaiming the wonders of Jesus Christ.

But what was he before he came to that?

Before he came to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Well, all you have to do is look at the first verse of Acts chapter 9.

Acts 9 · chapter mention

And you see what he was.

But Saul still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord.

This is what he was.

He was a persecutor of the church.

And the more we look at the scriptures,

the more we see the wonder of God's grace.

Saul's conversion is one of these high points in scripture,

where we see the wonder of grace towards one who was literally killing Christians,

arresting them, having them put to death.

And the history of the church and the change that would come through his conversion,

it's remarkable.

And we think of Saul here.

But there's another name mentioned,

just as important in the midst of Saul's conversion.

Not as well known,

little is known of him,

but this man,

Ananias.

He is mentioned here too.

And as a reminder to us,

yes,

there's dramatic conversions,

and the wonder of Saul's conversion.

But there's also the way God works through all his people.

Ananias being one.

God is able to transform anyone.

And here we're looking at Saul.

And really,

he was like an animal,

and a wild animal.

But God tamed him.

John Calvin uses that kind of illustration

in his commentary on Acts.

He says,

Luke tells how the Lord not only brought him under control

when he was like a wild animal,

but made him a new person.

It wasn't like taming an animal and putting him in a cage

because they were still dangerous,

but this wild animal was a new creation.

Saul, who was breathing out murderous threats,

is now going out,

proclaiming the wonder of the grace of God.

He's a new person.

He ever tried to tame a wild animal?

I'm sure many have had pet lambs over these last months.

They're not exactly wild animals,

but by nature,

they want to go and do their own thing.

But you can.

You can feed them,

and they can come very close to you.

The closest I ever came

was catching two baby rabbits out in the garden.

Again, not exactly wild creatures,

but by nature,

they just want to be out.

But I thought I could look after them.

I thought I could care for them

and make them love me.

But the first opportunity they got,

they were away.

They ran away.

And that's just the way we are.

We are by nature a people

who God needs to tame.

But by nature,

we are a people who run away.

And it's amazing when you see

truly wild animals tamed.

Lions and those who can work with them

and get alongside them.

But the worst of sinners

in the hands of God

can be changed and tamed

and made into new creations as well.

And this is what this passage reminds us of.

The power of God to change.

And that God is in control.

And that when we trust him,

he is able to help us.

When we think of that thing

that we need to do

as we're talking about

with the children,

the bravest thing we've ever said,

help.

That is what we need,

to say help to the Lord.

And there's just two things

I want us to look at this passage,

two headings we want to look under it.

And the first is looking at

the taming that takes place.

And then secondly,

we're going to look at the tamer,

the one who does it.

So first of all,

we see the taming.

So we think of Saul

breathing out murderous threats.

He's like a wild animal.

So what changed?

Do you believe in miracles?

You might say yes,

because we see them in the Bible.

We read about miracles

that Jesus performed in the Bible.

We read about the miraculous works of God

throughout the scriptures.

But what about today?

Do you believe that God does miracles today?

There's a psalm, Psalm 77, verse 14.

Psalms 77:14

In the St. Sam's version,

it says,

you are the God of miracles,

whose power the nations view.

Other translations use the word wonders,

but it means the same thing.

You are the God of miracles.

And today we still view God in that way,

that he is the God of miracles,

because God still does wondrous works.

God still takes people

from darkness to light.

God still takes people

from anger and a rage against God

to love the Lord.

He is the God of miracles.

But we can be scared

of what God is doing as well.

Think about it for yourself.

Maybe you've been out on a walk,

walking around the castle grounds, perhaps,

and you're on a narrow path

and coming towards you

is someone with a dog

and the dog is kind of

straining at the leash

to come towards you.

And if you're a little bit scared of dogs,

you're quite hesitant

to go towards them.

But the owner very often

will say something like,

don't worry,

it won't bite you.

But you're still not sure,

are you?

You're still a little bit wary,

especially if they start barking.

You're still a little bit wary

and sometimes rightly so.

Well, think about Saul here then.

He's like a wild animal.

He was ravaging the church,

breathing out murderous threats.

But now the grace of God

has taken hold of him

and he's a new creation.

He is tamed.

Now, had you heard

or known of Saul at this time,

what would your reaction be?

Especially if you're told,

go and see him.

Go and speak to him.

Well, we see it with Ananias here

how he responds in verse 13.

The Lord has told him

to go and lay hands on him

that he might regain his sight.

In verse 13,

Ananias answered,

Lord, I have heard

from many about this man

how much evil he has done

to your saints in Jerusalem.

That's his initial reaction.

And that would probably be our reaction

if we were in his shoes as well.

Think about it in this way.

Every year,

the Christian organization

open doors.

They work highlighting

where Christians are persecuted

around the world.

And they produce

a world watch list

every year.

the top 15 countries

where Christians face persecution,

the most extreme persecution.

The top three countries

in the world

are North Korea,

Somalia,

and Yemen.

And you can see the list

for yourselves online.

And they recorded

that last year,

4,476 Christians

were killed

for their faith.

Imagine being asked

to go to one of these places.

To North Korea,

Somalia,

or Yemen.

And being told

to go and speak

to one of the main people

who have been

persecuting

those of the Christian faith.

And to say to them,

I have a word

from God for you.

Would you go?

Would you go

immediately?

You would be hesitant,

I'm sure,

same as myself.

There would be that fear,

that natural fear.

And that's the natural fear

that Ananias has here.

He has heard

about Saul.

He's heard

what he's doing.

And he's told

to go and see him

and lay hands on him.

And he's saying

almost to the Lord,

are you sure?

I have heard

about this man.

And yet,

Ananias here

is one of those

special people

who almost just

steps onto the scene

of the Bible

for a few moments

and then quickly

disappears again.

But so important.

One of these unsung

heroes of the faith.

But Ananias

is a picture

of what faith does.

It trusts God.

Faith trusts God.

And in verse 14,

we see,

and here he has authority,

so he's still speaking

about how he's come

to arrest the people.

But the Lord said to him,

go,

for he is a chosen

instrument of mine.

And so with these words

from the Lord,

Ananias goes.

And look at the way

he describes

Saul then.

He departed,

and it says in verse 17,

and entered the house,

this is where Saul was,

and laying his hands

on him,

he said,

brother Saul.

Not just

at a distance,

carefully,

saying Saul,

but laying his hands

on him,

saying,

brother Saul.

Acknowledging the work

of God's grace.

that he is accepted

by God.

Ananias

is calmed

by the grace

of God,

and Saul

is transformed

by the grace

of God.

And God

is able

to tame.

And that's the wonder

of everyone's testimony.

Whether it's the

quiet testimony,

still with the fear

and anxiety

and an element

of how am I

going to go on.

Or whether it's

those who are brought

from a background

of very publicly

disrespecting

or cursing

the Lord.

Turning your back

on the Lord

that the Lord

is able

to tame.

There's two examples

here.

Ananias,

the one who knows

and loves the Lord,

and Saul,

breathing out

murderous threats

against the Lord.

And yet we see

the wonder

of the grace

of God.

And so it reminds us

how we are to deal

with one another.

How we are to look

at one another.

And to see that

God is able

to change

anyone.

God is able

to take the vilest

of sinners

and make them

a new creation.

salvation.

And we are challenged

by Jesus himself

when we look at

Matthew chapter 16.

Matthew 16 · chapter mention

Chapter 6,

verse 14 and 15.

And this is at the end

of the Lord's prayer

where it says,

For if you forgive

others their trespasses,

your heavenly Father

will also forgive you.

But it goes on to say,

if you do not

forgive others

their trespasses,

nor will your Father

forgive your trespasses.

And there's an example

for us here

of that in Ananias,

where he's saying

initially,

I've heard

about this man.

I've heard

the things

he has done

against his people.

but he is able

to forgive

and to call him

Brother Saul,

to see that the

Lord's grace

is a powerful thing.

So we are to

forgive others.

Because if we're

not able to,

it says,

your Father

will not be able

to forgive

your trespasses.

So there's that

serious warning.

God tames

his people.

And we're shown

just how he does

it with Saul.

How does

he change?

Well, we see

three things

very briefly here.

We see Saul

is praying

in verse 11.

And the Lord

said to him,

rise and go

to the street

called straight.

And at the house

of Judas,

look for the man

of Tarsus

named Saul.

For behold,

he is praying.

Immediately,

Saul is praying.

He is looking

to God.

He knows

he can come

into that

relationship

with God.

As Gordon

was preaching

on the last

couple of weeks,

the importance

of prayer

in our personal

and our corporate

life.

Here it is

shown to us,

Saul immediately

is praying.

You see,

Saul is humble

before the Lord.

Saul would have

gone on and said,

I can do it

myself previously

and everything,

but now he can

receive that help

from Ananias.

us.

And so we are

to be humble

before the Lord

ourselves as well,

to humble ourselves

under the mighty

hand of God.

That's what we

need to do.

And you see then

also,

Saul is living

for Christ.

A transformation

has come

in his life.

He's baptized.

He has fellowship

with the disciples.

And then he goes

on to proclaim

Jesus in three

verses,

18,

19,

and 20.

What a dramatic

change.

Baptized,

fellowshipping,

and proclaiming

Jesus.

And it leaves

people amazed.

He has been

transformed.

He has been

tamed by the

grace of God.

And so what is

God saying

to you today?

Do you believe

in miracles?

Do you believe

that God is

able to save

you?

He can save

anybody

if we but

look to him,

if we ask

him for help.

Saul

and Ananias,

two very

different kinds

of people,

but both

under the

grace of

God,

used in

amazing ways.

And so

can you be.

Every one

of us

can be used

by God

by coming

to put

our trust

in the

Lord Jesus

Christ.

And what

makes the

difference

here?

Well,

the second

thing we

see here

is the

tamer.

I just

want to

think

briefly

on this.

The

tamer.

What

made the

difference

to Saul?

What

made the

difference

to Ananias?

Why

was

Saul

so

changed?

Why

was

Ananias

in his

fear

able to

go to

Saul

and put

his hands

on him

and say,

Brother

Saul,

well,

it was

all of

God.

You see,

testimony,

it's not

about us.

Ananias

wouldn't go

and say,

oh,

well,

I got

strength in

myself to

go and

speak to

Saul,

look at

me.

No,

he would

testify to

God.

God spoke

to me.

He said,

I have

this man

Saul,

but he

is an

instrument

of mine

to carry

my name.

It's

all about

God.

And the

same with

Saul.

Saul,

in his

pre-conversion

life,

had believed

Jesus was

dead and

his mission

was to

destroy any

lingering thought

that this

religion,

this Christian

faith,

would go

anywhere.

He was

going to

get rid

of it.

But now

he's an

instrument in

God's

hand.

The

tamer is

God and

God is

able to

use in

them to

proclaim the

wonder of

this Christ

far and

wide.

God had

other

plans.

And the

Bible is

full of

these chosen

instruments in

his hands.

People who

were brought

from different

backgrounds,

people who

others would

have looked

down on,

yet the

Lord used.

Because if

we start

comparing

ourselves with

others, we

always end up

in difficulty.

Because we

always end up

thinking, I'm

not as good

as that

person.

I can't

be used

like that

person.

And yet

many of us

have different

personalities,

different

characteristics,

and the

Lord can

use them

all for

his glory.

What we

see as a

weakness,

God can

use as a

strength.

And Paul

goes on to

speak about

that in his

letter to

the Corinthians.

1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 1:26

chapter 1

verse 26,

he says,

For consider

your calling,

brothers.

Not many of

you were

wise according

to worldly

standards.

Not many

were powerful.

Not many

were of

noble birth.

But God

chose what

is foolish

in the world

to shame

the wise.

God chose

what is

weak in

the world

to shame

the strong.

God

can tame.

He's the

one who

has power

and the

one who

uses

his people.

Because God

is in the

business of

taking people

and using

them in

ways they

never imagined

possible.

When you

look through

scripture,

you find

that again

and again.

You think

of Esther

in the Old

Testament who

had set off

for such a

time as

this.

She was

an instrument

in God's

hand who

saved her

people at

that time.

You think

of how God

used an

unknown

shepherd boy

called David

to become

one of the

greatest kings

of Israel.

You think

of how God

used a

blind beggar

named

Bartimaeus

begging at

the side

of the

street and

yet who

cried out

for help

to God

and taught

the disciples

in a large

crowd such a

powerful

lesson,

an instrument

in God's

hand.

You think

of the

Samaritan

woman who

was rejected

by many

who Jesus

met at a

well one

day, an

instrument in

God's hand

who went

back into

her town

and told

people that

she had

met this

Messiah,

the Christ.

Could this

be the

Christ?

You think

of the

disciples who

were called

by God,

various walks

of life,

and yet it

was said

these men

have turned

the world

upside down

because they

were instruments

in God's

hand.

There's a

book with

the title

Ordinary

People,

Extraordinary

God.

It's a

book that's

told of the

hundred year

history of

the church

in Roskeen,

the free

church in

Roskeen.

Ordinary

People,

Instruments

in God's

Hand,

an

extraordinary

God who

can do

great

things.

And

shouldn't

it be

exciting

for us

to think,

well,

what can

God do

with me?

If we

were to

put our

lives,

our hearts

into the

hands of

God,

what can

he do

with me?

Instead

of thinking,

but I'm

weak,

I've got

nothing to

offer,

God is

able.

Ordinary

people,

extraordinary

God.

Formerly,

Saul had

a mission,

but it

was all

about

self,

persecuting,

eliminating

the people

of God.

He was

advancing,

as he

says in

Galatians,

advancing

beyond many

of his

contemporaries.

He was

on the

ladder to

success as

he saw

it,

but he

was brought

down

and to

realize

that that

was nothing

compared to

the surpassing

worth of

knowing Christ

Jesus my

Lord.

And what

does Paul

put this

down to?

The work

of God.

You see

Paul,

Saul,

sharing his

testimony

throughout the

book of

Acts.

In chapter

26 of

Acts,

verse 14,

again we're

told some

more of

Paul's

testimony

there.

When we

had all

fallen to

the ground,

I heard a

voice saying

to me,

in the

Hebrew

language,

Saul,

Saul,

why are

you

persecuting

me?

It is

hard for

you to

kick

against

the

goads.

It's

reminding

us there

of the

tamer,

how God

is able

to tame

because that

word

goads,

or as in

another

translation it

says,

kicking

against the

pricks,

it's all

about what

is used

to direct

animals,

the stick

that is

used to

push them

in the

right

direction.

You hear

that phrase

goading

them on.

That's

what it

means,

it just

means pushing

you,

prompting

you on

in a

certain

direction.

And

Saul

is

fighting

against

it.

The

Lord is

goading

him,

but he's

fighting

against it.

And he's

saying to

him,

why are

you kicking

against

me?

Is that

you today?

Are you

feeling these

goads,

the Lord's

prompting you

in a certain

direction,

and you're

trying to

fight against

it,

you're trying

to push

in a

different

direction,

but the

Lord is

still

pushing you.

Is it

time to

stop

kicking

against

him?

Is it

time to

stop

fighting

against

that and

just say,

Lord,

help.

help.

Lord,

help.

The

bravest

thing we

can say

is,

Lord,

help.

I've

done it

long

enough,

going

against

you.

Help.

Help me

go in

the right

direction.

Paul was

fighting,

but he

still

a chosen

instrument

in the

hands of

God.

Maybe you

are today

too,

but it's

time to

stop kicking

against him

and just

to let him

come and

have your

life and

live for

him.

Paul would

see himself

as weak,

and so do

we,

but that's a

good thing,

God.

Because it's

only then

we see

the strength

of God.

Charles

Spurgeon

put it like

this,

grow in

the root

of all

grace,

which is

faith.

Believe

God's

promises

more firmly

than ever.

Allow your

faith to

increase in

its fullness,

firmness,

and simplicity.

Don't

over

complicate it,

but by

grace,

grow

through

faith.

believe.

Stop

kicking

and believe

and be

an instrument

in God's

hand that

your testimony

would be,

not look

what I've

done,

but look

at what

God has

done to

me and

to many

more,

and give

glory to

him.

Let us

pray.

Lord,

our

gracious

God,

we do

thank you

that you

are one

who is

patient

and

merciful.

You

know,

as we

think of

Saul

kicking

against

the

goads,

and how

often we

find

ourselves

like that

too,

when we

are just

kicking

out

against

you,

turning

into

our

own

ways,

but yet

by your

grace,

by your

love,

you guide

us,

you help

us,

and we

pray that

you will

continue

to do

that,

and to

help us

to give

that testimony

of glory

to your

name,

as we

ask all

with the

forgiveness

of our

sin,

in Jesus'

name,

Amen.

We'll

conclude by

singing to

God's

praise in

Psalm 73

in the

Scottish

Psalter

version,

page

316,

we'll

sing from

verse 23

to 26.

And this

is a

psalm where

you see

the psalmist

initially

questioning

the Lord,

but then

you see

this great

change

in verse

23,

nevertheless

continually,

O Lord,

I am

with thee,

thou dost

me hold

by my

right hand

and still

upholdest

me,

thou with

thy

counsel

while I

live,

wilt me

conduct

and guide

and to

thy glory

afterward

receive me

to abide.

Let's sing

these four

verses to

God's

praise.

miracle.

my right hand, and still thou holdest me.

Though it I counsel while I live, will be conduct and guide,

and to thy glory afterward receive me to abide.

Whom have I in the heavens high, but thee, O Lord, alone,

and in the earth through my desire, besides thee there is none.

My flesh and heart doth paint and fill, but God doth fail me never.

For of my heart, God is the strength and portion forever.

After the benediction, I'll go to the door to my right.

We'll close with the benediction.

Now may grace, mercy, and peace from God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

rest upon and abide with you all now and forevermore.

Amen.

Amen.