The road you came down
Preaching Outline on Acts 9:17 – “And Ananias went and entered the house, and laid his hands on him, and said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road on which you were coming, has sent me, that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Introduction to Acts 9:17
Life is a journey, and we are all walking along some path. Some paths lead us closer to God, while others take us away from Him and His Holy Spirit. The story of Saul, who became Paul, is a powerful example of how an encounter with Jesus can completely change the direction of our lives.
On the road to Damascus, Saul was full of certainties. He knew where he was going and what he wanted: to persecute Christians, arrest those who followed Jesus and put an end to what he considered a threat to his religion. But in the middle of that road, he had an encounter that transformed his life. Jesus appeared to him, and everything changed.
Today, we’re going to reflect on the road you came down. What was your path before you met Jesus? And where are you going now?
Development
1. The road to Damascus: A milestone in Paul’s life
The road to Damascus marked two moments in Saul’s life:
- The path he came from: a path of persecution, hatred and religiosity.
- The path he was on: a path of transformation, love and mission.
Before his encounter with Jesus, Saul was under the orders of the council of elders. He carried letters that gave him the authority to arrest and kill Christians (Acts 22:5; 26:10). He was on the road to death, but Jesus intercepted him and put him on the road to life.
This radical change is what we call conversion. Conversion is not just a change of religion or habits; it is a complete transformation of life. It’s like being born again, as Jesus told Nicodemus (John 3:3). Jesus’ faithful church is made up of those who have experienced this transformation.
2. The road you came down
We all have a path on which we came. For Saul, that path was marked by:
- Religiosity: He was a convinced Pharisee, full of zeal for the law and traditions.
- Tradition and Law: He believed he was serving God by persecuting Christians.
- Human Authority: He had letters from the chief priests, which gave him the power to act.
- Man Power: He was a Roman citizen, which gave him status and influence.
But despite all this, Saul was lost. He was on the wrong path, even though he thought he was right. How often are we like that too? Walking towards what we think is right, but far from God’s will.
3. The meeting that transforms
On the road to Damascus, Saul had an encounter with Jesus. A light shone around him and he heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4). At that moment, he fell to the ground, blind and broken.
This encounter changed everything. Saul, who had previously persecuted Christians, would now become one of them. He, who killed in the name of God, would now preach the Gospel of grace. He, who had been spiritually blind, would now receive God’s sight.
The encounter with Jesus is like this: he takes us out of the darkness and into the light. He takes us out of the path of death and puts us on the path of life. The Gospel of Christ changes the trajectory of human life!
4. The road to where we are going
After his encounter with Jesus, Saul was no longer the same. He didn’t just change his name, he changed his life. He left behind the path of religiosity, tradition, human authority and the power of men. Now he was walking in the way of Jesus.
Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). The way we came no longer matters. What matters is where we are going. And that way is Jesus.
5. Ananias’ mission: Restoration and sending out
Ananias was sent by Jesus to lay hands on Saul and restore his sight. He called Saul brother, a sign that he was already part of God’s family. He also said: “The Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road on which you were coming, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 9:17).
This is the church’s mission: to restore, encourage and send. We all need an Ananias in our lives, someone to help us see clearly and be filled with the Holy Spirit. And we can all also be an Ananias to someone else, helping others to find their way to Jesus.
Conclusion of Acts 9:17
Saul’s story reminds us that it doesn’t matter which way we came. What matters is where we are going. Jesus is the way that leads to life, truth and eternity.
Perhaps you are on a path of religiosity, tradition, human authority or the power of men. Maybe you’re looking for meaning and purpose, but haven’t found it yet. Jesus is on your path, ready to transform your life.
Today, He is calling you to leave behind the path you were on and follow His way. He is calling you to be born again, to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to live a life of purpose and mission.
What about you? Are you willing to leave the path you came from and follow Jesus? The decision is yours. The invitation is there. The way is open. All you have to do is take the first step.
Preaching Outline on Acts 9:17 – “And Ananias went and entered the house, and laid his hands on him, and said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road on which you were coming, has sent me, that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
More Preaching Outlines
- Filled with the Holy Spirit – Acts 9:17
- Acts 9:1-5 – Saul’s conversion
- A chosen vessel – Acts 9:15-17
