Saul was persecuting Christians and seeking to harm the church. One day, Saul had a vision of Jesus speaking to him, and Jesus said "why do you persecute me?". This experience left Saul trembling and astonished. Jesus instructed Saul to go to the city, where he would be told what to do. Saul went on to become the apostle Paul, one who spread the gospel of Christ.

1. Stop It!!! You’ll Only Hurt Yourself
Acts 9:1-6
Maud church of Christ
by Jim Bradshaw
Sunday Morning, March 10, 2013

2. You Mean it is BAD for You?

3. What about adults:
1. Drugs
2. Alcohol
3. Fornication
4. Adultery
5. Cursing
6. Forsaking the assembling
7. Failing to read and study the
bible.
8. Etc., etc.

4. Act 9:1-2 NKJV Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against
the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest (2) and asked letters
from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who
were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound
to Jerusalem.
Act 7:57-58 NKJV Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their
ears, and ran at him with one accord; (58) and they cast him out of the
city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the
feet of a young man named Saul.

5. Act 9:1-2 NKJV Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against
the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest (2) and asked letters
from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who
were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound
to Jerusalem.
Act 8:1 NKJV Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a
great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and
they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria,
except the apostles.
Act 8:3 NKJV As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering
every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to
prison.

6. Act 9:4-5 NKJV Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying
to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" (5) And he
said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you
are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads."
The church cannot be separated from Christ.
Eph 1:22-23 NKJV And He put all things under His feet, and gave
Him to be head over all things to the church, (23) which is His
body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Read Eph. 5:23-27; 30-32

7. The church cannot be separated from Christ; just like marriage.
Gen 2:23-24 NKJV And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones
And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was
taken out of Man." (24) Therefore a man shall leave his father and
mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
Mat 19:4-6 NKJV And He answered and said to them, "Have you not
read that He who made them at the beginning 'MADE THEM MALE
AND FEMALE,' (5) and said, 'FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL
LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS
WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH' ? (6) So
then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has
joined together, let not man separate."

8. Jesus takes it personal when we harm the church.
Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 22, 25-27
Read again and substitute “body” with “church.”
Are you harming the church?
1. If you cut off your pinky finger would it hurt?
2. What about participation, attendance, etc. in the church?
3. Actions in the world can bring harm upon the church.

9. Act 9:5 NKJV And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord
said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to
kick against the goads."
1. Saul recognized Jesus as One of heavenly authority;
Matt. 28:28
2. There is only One way to salvation; Acts 4:12
3. Imagine the thoughts of Saul at this moment.

10. 1. Saul did all with a good conscience;
Act 23:1 NKJV Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said,
"Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God
until this day.”
1Ti 1:13-15 NKJV although I was formerly a blasphemer, a
persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it
ignorantly in unbelief. (14) And the grace of our Lord was
exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.
(15) This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

11. 2. Having a good conscience not enough.
1Pe 3:20-21 NKJV who formerly were disobedient, when once the
Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was
being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved
through water. (21) There is also an antitype which now saves us—
baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer
of a good conscience toward God), through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ,

12. 3. Kicking a sharp pointy thing.
4. Trembling and Astonished.
Act 9:6 “So he, trembling and
Astonished…”
Act 22:9-10 NKJV "And those who were with me indeed saw the
light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who
spoke to me. (10) So I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord
said to me, 'Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told
all things which are appointed for you to do.'

13. Washed in His Blood
Act 9:6 NKJV So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what
do You want me to do?" Then the Lord said to him, "Arise
and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.“
Similar reaction Acts 2:36-37
Romans 1:16

14. Washed in His Blood
Act 26:16-18 NKJV But rise and stand on your feet; for I have
appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a
witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things
which I will yet reveal to you. (17) I will deliver you from the
Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send
you, (18) to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to
light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive
forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are
sanctified by faith in Me.'

15. Why are You Waiting?
Act 22:16 NKJV And now why are you waiting? Arise and be
baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
Ephesians 1:7; Romans 6:3-5
1 John 1:7-9