How does Acts 26:14 reveal God's personal call in our lives today? Setting the Scene: Paul’s Damascus Road Moment • Acts 26:14 finds Paul recounting his conversion before King Agrippa. • Everyone is knocked down, but only Paul hears Jesus speak—highlighting a personal, targeted encounter. God Still Speaks Our “Language” • “I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic” (Acts 26:14). • The risen Christ chooses Paul’s heart-language. • Today: – God addresses us through Scripture, worship, conscience, and providence in ways we can unmistakably understand (John 10:3-4; Hebrews 3:7). – His Word, though ancient, meets us in our cultural setting without losing authority (Isaiah 55:10-11). Calling Us by Name • “Saul, Saul” shows divine specificity (cf. Exodus 3:4; Luke 19:5). • Personal names reveal that God initiates, not we (1 John 4:19). • No believer is an anonymous face; each is chosen and known (Jeremiah 1:5). Confronting Our Resistance • “Why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” • Goads = sharp sticks guiding oxen; resisting only injures the animal. • Present application: – The Spirit pricks the conscience when we oppose His will (Ephesians 4:30). – Obedience brings freedom; resistance breeds turmoil (Psalm 32:3-5). Conversion Begins with Revelation • Light, voice, and truth precede Paul’s repentance (Acts 9:3-6; 26:18). • Our new life likewise starts when God opens our eyes to Christ’s lordship (2 Corinthians 4:6). • Salvation is by grace, yet it demands a personal surrender (Romans 10:9-10). From Persecutor to Preacher • God transforms purposes, not just lives. • Paul becomes “a servant and witness” (Acts 26:16). • Every believer receives a unique assignment within the body (Ephesians 2:10; 1 Peter 4:10). God’s Call Is Both Personal and Missional • Personal: spoken in Paul’s language, naming him twice. • Missional: immediately includes a commission (Acts 26:17-18). • Today, the Lord still unites intimacy with purpose—He draws us close and sends us out (Matthew 4:19). Responding Today • Listen: prioritize Scripture; His voice is clearest there (Psalm 119:105). • Yield: stop “kicking against the goads.” Repent where conviction strikes. • Follow: embrace the assignment He gives, trusting His grace to empower (Philippians 1:6). |
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