HE IS THE LORD! He is the Lord and He reigns on high He is the Lord Spoke into the darkness, created the light Who is like unto Him, never-ending in days And He comes in power when we call on His name Looking at Acts 9

Show Your power, Oh Lord our God Show Your power, Oh Lord our God, Looking at Acts 9

Your Gospel oh Lord is the hope for our nation You are the Lord It's the power of God for our salvation We ask not for riches but look to the cross And for our inheritance give us the lost Looking at Acts 9

THERE IS POWER IN THE NAME OF JESUS There is power in the name of Jesus We believe in His name We have called on the name of Jesus We are saved! We are saved! At His name the demons flee At His name captives are freed For there is no other name that is higher Than Jesus! Looking at Acts 9

There is power in the name of Jesus Like a sword in our hands We declare in the name of Jesus We shall stand! We shall stand! At His name God's enemies Shall be crushed beneath our feet For there is no other name that is higher Than Jesus! Looking at Acts 9

JESUS, HOLY AND ANOINTED ONE Jesus,  Jesus Holy and anointed One Jesus Jesus,  Jesus Risen and exalted One Jesus Your name is like honey on my lips Your Spirit like water to my soul Your Word is a lamp unto my feet Jesus,  I love you,  I love you Looking at Acts 9

O LORD MY GOD 1. O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder Consider all the works Thy hands have made, I see the stars, I hear the rolling/mighty thunder, Thy pow'r thru-out the universe displayed! Chorus: Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee: How great Thou art, how great Thou art! Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee: How great Thou art, how great Thou art! Looking at Acts 9

2. When thru the woods and forest glades I wander And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees, When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze, (Chorus) Looking at Acts 9

3. And when I think that God, His Son not sparing, Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin! (Chorus) Looking at Acts 9

4. When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart! Then I shall bow in humble adoration And there proclaim, my God, how great Thou art! (chorus) Looking at Acts 9

OVERWHELMED BY LOVE Overwhelmed by love Deeper than oceans, high as the heavens Ever-living God your love has rescued me All my sin was laid On your dear son, your precious one All my debt he paid Great is your love for me Looking at Acts 9

No one could ever earn your love Your grace and mercy is free Lord these words are true So is my love for you Looking at Acts 9

ALL I ONCE HELD DEAR All I once held dear, built my life upon, All this world reveres and wars to own; All I once thought gain I have counted loss, Spent and worthless now compared to this. CHORUS: Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You There is no greater thing. You're my all, You're the best, You're my joy, my righteousness, And I love You Lord.. Looking at Acts 9

Now my heart's desire is to know You more, To be found in You and know as Yours, To possess by faith what I could not earn All surpassing gift of righteousness CHORUS Looking at Acts 9

Oh to know the power of Your risen life, And to know You in Your sufferings; To become like You in Your death, my Lord, So with You to live and never die CHORUS Looking at Acts 9

Saul and Jesus: A brief encounter Looking at Acts 9

Introducing “a young man named Saul” Acts  7: 57 “The witnesses [to Stephen’s blasphemy] laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.” This has the appearance of a tribunal where the witnesses are the first to cast stones (as in John 8). They took off their outer cloak for freedom of action (as in John 21). 8:1 “And Saul was there, giving approval to his death.” The clothes at his feet and the mention of “approval” suggests that Saul was in a semi-official position, perhaps as a representative of the Sanhedrin. 8:3 “ Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.” Saul’s determination to do right led him into pro-active jihad. Looking at Acts 9

The road to Damascus Evidently the news had spread far and wide Saul undertakes a six day journey of 136 miles A long time to stay angry! “Breathing out” means “snorting like an animal” (Acts 9:1). Note that those who “belonged to the Way” were to be found in synagogues He’s determined to wipe out this infection from the body of Judaism Looking at Acts 9

Saul sees the light “As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"  "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked.    "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."  The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.” Looking at Acts 9

A light flashed around him A voice Why do you persecute me? An identification: the Lord is Jesus! The one who thought he saw everything clearly can see nothing The one who would make prisoners is himself led by the hand Looking at Acts 9

God’s available army of ordinary people   “In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!"       "Yes, Lord," he answered.  The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."  "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name."  But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” ” Looking at Acts 9

A few notices… Notice the word “saints” for believers who “call on your name”? Notice the place of miracles in the earliest church?… it’s just doing what Jesus did. Notice how gossip may prevent the work of God? “”I have heard many reports” Notice the call on Saul’s life: This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name." Looking at Acts 9

The obedience of Ananias  Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.“ Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength Looking at Acts 9

He needed to be filled with the Holy Spirit He needed to be baptized Saul needed to see A physical restoration A spiritual revelation: Jesus is the LORD He needed to be filled with the Holy Spirit He needed to be baptized And it turned his life upside down Looking at Acts 9

What is the Lord saying to you? You might say: “Well, nothing dramatic like that ever happened to me.” But, in one sense, it must…. Following Jesus turns your whole life around Repentance means rethinking everything No ambition, no dreams, schemes of your own… Jesus is either LORD or nothing to you Are you baptized? Are you filled with the Spirit? Do you see clearly? Are you ready to be available? Looking at Acts 9

Praise God from whom all blessings flow Praise him all creatures here below Praise him above you heavenly host, Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost         Give glory to the Father, give glory to the Son, Give glory to the Spirit while endless ages run. ‘Worthy the Lamb,’ all heaven cries to be exalted thus; ‘Worthy the Lamb,’ our hearts reply for he was slain for us. Looking at Acts 9