Powerful week ahead, my friends! The series for this week is called “Glowstick People,” talking about those who have been broken in life but have found purpose and light through their experiences. God has a plan for everyone, even in times of brokenness – Lean into your faith during these times.
Show Notes:
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Transcription:
Something interesting about a glow stick is that you can’t use it until you break it. Once you break it, suddenly you’ve got light around your neck or around your wrist. You know those fun bracelets and necklaces. You’ve got something to see by. Welcome to the Bible for Busy People. I’m Erica, your host, and there is such a thing as glow stick people. Indeed, I’m one. Your one. At some point in life we’ve been broken. Our hearts break. Our spirits break. Sometimes the breaking is our own fault. Sometimes it’s based on the choices we’ve made. Sometimes God allows us to be broken, but only because he has a divine purpose behind it. I want you to know that there is nothing that happens to you that doesn’t pass through the nail scarred hands of Jesus first. He is love, and if he allows you, or he allows me, to be broken by something, it is for a reason. Isaiah, the prophet, talks about how his ways are higher than our ways. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts, but there isn’t a thing he can’t use for our good and his glory. There is always a plan with God, it’s like Plan B, C, D E, F… He is so good. So, let’s always remember that. Let’s set the foundation of this series with the fact that God is good and there is a plan. And so often after the breaking, there is a breakthrough, and it is mighty. Today you and I are going to be hanging out with the Apostle Paul before people called him the apostle Paul. Before he was sent (That’s what the word apostle means), he was Saul. He was murdering Christians. He was a Pharisee, a religious person who believed that Jesus was not the Messiah, and he was persecuting those who believed that Jesus was. But he’s about to be broken and just like when you break a loaf of bread and people are fed, the breaking of Saul will result in his own breakthrough, and the breakthroughs of so many. Join me now in Acts chapter nine, beginning in verse one.
Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. 2 He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there.
By the way, that’s what they called Christianity at the beginning, the way. Jesus said he was the way, the truth and the life. It’s still so fitting. Alright.
He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains. 3 As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” 5 “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! 6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
I find it so interesting that Jesus called his name twice, and I feel like there’s so much there. I’m not a theologian, but there’s something about when you hear your name, it’s almost as if it draws you closer to the person who you’re talking with. There’s something very special about your name, and I want you to know today that God knows your name. He created you in your mama’s womb, and he has a plan for your life. If you’re in a season of brokenness right now, I just want you to lean into that. The God who named each star, and there are trillions, He knows your name and he knows everything that’s going on in your life. He’s aware of the brokenness and he already sees the breakthrough that’s coming. Okay, verse seven, now, here we go.
The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one! 8 Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. 9 He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink.
Imagine how broken Saul felt in these moments. Verse 10 now.
Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!”
Again, the Lord calls this person by name.
“Yes, Lord!” he replied. 11 The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. 12 I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.” 13 “But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem! 14 And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.” 15 But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. 16 And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.” 17 So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. 19 Afterward he ate some food and regained his strength. Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days. 20 And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!”
What a breakthrough, right? There was the breaking, I’m sure, Saul experienced moments of darkness and he wept with his eyes that couldn’t see, but then he began to really see God illuminated his heart and his mind, and he understood the truth. Verse 21, now.
All who heard him were amazed. “Isn’t this the same man who caused such devastation among Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem?” they asked. “And didn’t he come here to arrest them and take them in chains to the leading priests?” 22 Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn’t refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.
Wow, what a 360, right? Only Jesus could do a work like that in a man’s life, and he can do work like that in yours too. Okay? Until next time when you and I study another breakthrough story in the Bible, remember, you are so loved.
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