Have you ever seen those online videos where a grown man is acting like a cat? He lies on the top of the couch no matter who is already sitting on the couch. He sits on top of the refrigerator and stares at his wife as she comes in the house. He walks into the kitchen and rubs his head on his wife’s arm. He climbs across the couch and stretches out across his wife’s lap while she is trying to work on her laptop. It is truly disturbing to watch. I sat there thinking, why is this so weird to me, but 188,000 people have already watched this video? I believe the problem for me was mostly because the grown man was never meant to be a cat. In fact, he was created to be a man. Although at first this was briefly funny (chuckle), but with the confusion in society today, it became quickly disturbing.
Although I am sure this particular video was created for a laugh, it became very awkward very quickly. Everything was out of order. In today’s society, we are encouraged to call people animals, as teenagers and young adults dress up like “furries.” We are told to call a woman a man and a man a woman. We are told that looting and setting buildings on fire is the public’s right to express their dissatisfaction of a court ruling or an act of injustice. The outcomes of this confusion are staggering. According to the National Library of Medicine, 82% of transgender individuals have considered committing suicide and 40% have attempted suicide. According to Psychology Today, Furries are 7 times more likely to identify as transgender than the general populous. Society has been attempting to normalize confusion for decades – and we are now seeing the outcomes of their successes. It’s not a pretty picture. A January 2020 gallup poll made a shocking discovery: Americans reported the lowest percentage of overall happiness in 71 years! We hear shootings, riots, arson, mobs, and public bullying of complete strangers are all on the rise. Confusion has not led to peace.
The church can be guilty of embracing confusion as well. We can call immodesty modesty. We can call stealing “borrowing,” and we can call an insult “a joke.” We can call a bad temper “being tired” and we can call talking negatively about someone behind their back “sharing a prayer request.” To unravel the confusion of God’s standard, the church must be the first to step forward and embrace truth! We must choose to live who we are and what we are in Christ! Let’s look at 3 Transforming Truths of the gospel.
1. The gospel changes our speech. (9:20)
“Straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues”
Saul literally went from a hot pursuit of stamping out Christianity to joining the following of Jesus! He went from hate speech to preaching the love of Jesus Christ. The transformation of his words was profound! Saul’s words were distinctly reflective of Christ. How was this possible?! Saul made a crucial exchange of lies for truth. When he became convinced of truth, it was the Spirit of truth that turned his selfish proud motives to humility and love. This is clearly a Divine change of heart!
After a stormy season in Marshfield, our yard had a lot of sticks lying on the ground. The Lord had done some natural pruning of our trees in a significant way! So, my wife had asked some of our kids to pick up the sticks in the yard. To help motivate their work, she told them she would pay them something like a nickel for every stick they gathered. At first, I got a little nervous. I thought, “But honey, what if they come in and say, Verily I hath gathered 5 MILLION sticks this morn, mother. Now pay me mine wages and I shall be free!” It turned out I had no cause for such worries. All worked out and the laborers were well motivated.
What motivates your speech? Is it the lifting up of self so you acquire what you long for or receive the recognition you seek? Or is it the lifting up of Jesus that motivates your words? Is it souls saved, people pointed to Jesus, and a love of Jesus that motivates you?
Saul’s conversion was clear, genuine, and “all-in”
Saul’s attentions are now centered on the Lord
Saul couldn’t keep from telling others of Christ
2. The gospel changes our story. (9:21)
“But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?”
When Saul starts preaching the gospel, he immediately begins revealing how his story has changed. He is no longer the man that came from Jerusalem. He is no longer the one who is intent on destroying Christians or binding Christians to bring them to the chief priests. This is not accidental! Saul is making a conscious, consistent, and motivated choice that changes his story forever! Saul wastes no time declaring who He is in Christ.
Michael Oher not only dodged the hopelessness of his dysfunctional inner-city upbringing, but he became the first-round NFL draft pick for the Baltimore Ravens in 2009. At a recent fund-raiser, Sean Tuohy noted that the transformation of his family and Michael all started with two words. When they spotted Michael walking along the road on a cold November morning (the movie depicts it as nighttime) in shorts and a T-shirt, Leigh Ann Tuohy uttered two words that changed their world. She told Sean, “Turn around.” They turned the car around, put Michael in their warm vehicle, and ultimately adopted him into their family. Those same two words can change anyone’s life. When we turn around, we change directions and begin an exciting new journey. (Source: In Other Words)
Saul’s story becomes distinctly reflective of Christ. The day you got saved you “turned around.” You were headed to destruction, and some of us didn’t even know it! That day you turned from judgement to reward, from bondage to freedom, and from horror to paradise. That day Jesus Christ changed your story. If you have not “turned around” yet, it is not too late. Come to Jesus and live!
Maybe you did turn around years ago. Perhaps you accepted God’s glorious gift of salvation a long time ago, but somewhere along the way you made a wrong turn – today, you need to turn your eyes back on Jesus!
3. The gospel grows our strength. (9:22)
“But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.”
Saul increased in spiritual strength. He became more convinced every day of the teachings of Jesus – convinced of the truth. Barnes Notes says, “His moral strength and boldness increased.” Saul’s spiritual muscle became increasingly reflective of Christ. Saul had so confounded the Jews in their discussions with him that the gatherings could be described as tumultuous. Saul presented strong and convincing arguments that Jesus was truly the Messiah. This frustrated the church leadership beyond words. Their key spokesman against Jesus is now a follower of Jesus!
The gospel is transforming. God used a bright light, temporary loss of sight, and a waiting period to begin a work in Saul – but it is the gospel that saves and that transforms us all!
So, we must not only learn the gospel, but we must also live the gospel – and then share the gospel to all who will hear!
Several years ago, in Long Beach, California, a fellow went into a fried chicken place and bought a couple of chicken dinners for himself and his date late one afternoon. The young woman at the counter inadvertently gave him the proceeds from the day-a whole bag of money (much of it cash) instead of fried chicken. After driving to their picnic site, the two of them sat down to open the meal and enjoy some chicken together. They discovered a whole lot more than chicken--over $800! But he was unusual. He quickly put the money back in the bag. They got back into the car and drove all the way back. Mr. Clean got out, walked in, and became an instant hero. By then the manager was frantic. The guy with the bag of money looked the manager in the eye and said, "I want you to know I came by to get a couple of chicken dinners and wound up with all this money. Here." Well, the manager was thrilled to death. He said, "Oh, great, let me call the newspaper. I'm gonna have your picture put in the local newspaper. You're the most honest man I've heard of." To which they guy quickly responded, "Oh no, no, don't do that!" Then he leaned closer and whispered, "You see, the woman I'm with is not my wife...she's uh, somebody else's wife." Charles Swindoll, Growing Deep in the Christian Life, p. 159-60.