Auburn SDA Church
A Brand Plucked from the Fire
  • All Glory, Laud, and Honor
  • Open My Eyes, that I May See
  • Jesus Saves
  • All Creatures of Our God and King

      • Luke 19:10NKJV

      • Zechariah 3.1-2NKJV

  • A woman was asked by a co-worker, “What is it like to be a Christian?”
    The co-worker replied, “It is like being a pumpkin. God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. Then he cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc., and then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see.”
    It is not always
    easy
    or comfortable
    when God cuts in
    scoops yucky stuff out.
    Today,
    we study about
    rapid conversions.
    But first,
    I said I would ask
    about your list.
    Who wrote 5 people
    pray for each day?
    Your list.
    Think about people.

    Stages of Conversion

    Review Chart
    explain stages
    Each person can
    progress forward/backward
    along the line at
    different periods in life.
    Each person may
    progress rapidly
    progress slowly.
    During rapid progression
    seeming to jump steps.
    Our Job is to
    Encourage next Step.
    Some are tempted to
    think of soul-winning as
    1 person mentoring other
    through every step.
    This rarely happens.
    Paul said:
    1 Corinthians 3:6 ESV
    I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.
    Different people
    involved in different
    stages of conversion
    for individuals life.
    Lessons From Stages of Growth
    Mentor Usually Involved
    Focus on Next Stage
    Conversions are typically
    slow and methodical.
    Last week we focused on
    Christ’s method of
    Friendship Evangelism.
    Day-to-day ministry.
    Sermon today
    is focused on those
    stories of rapid progression.
    Sermon Today:
    Paul
    Philippian Jailer
    The Thief on the Cross
    Peter
    Healing of Blind Man
    Each story has a miraculous experience.
    Some very bad...
    Some very good...

    Paul

    Begin Story
    Acts 9:1–2 ESV
    But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
    Paul is
    in what stage?
    -10
    Highly antagonistic to Christianity.
    He also is:
    very “spiritual”
    very passionate
    following his convictions
    highly respected.
    Many people like this...
    antagonistic to Christianity
    living in alignment with personal values
    not a hypocrite
    anti-christian.
    Muslim
    Wicca
    Unbeliever (“good person”)
    Why?
    poor upbringing
    legalistic upbringing
    life hardship
    (angry at God).
    Don’t write them off.
    God loves passionate people.
    Passionate for Satan.
    Passionate for Christ
    Hot or Cold.
    Continue Story:
    Acts 9:3–6 ESV
    Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”
    Lesson:
    God usually reaches
    people like this through
    miraculous experiences.
    Each story is similar
    supernatural occurrence.
    For your friends
    passionate and antagonistic.
    pray for supernatural experience.
    I believe God
    loves to answer
    prayers like this.
    Acts 9:8–9 ESV
    Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
    Question:
    This was a miracle
    but for Paul,
    was it a “good miracle?”
    In other words,
    did Paul’s life
    get immediately better?
    NOOO!!!
    For many,
    in this category
    passionate and antagonistic
    God answers our prayers
    for the supernatural
    by something negative.
    This often involves
    bad things!
    My friend, “Jacob”
    mostly antagonistic
    Atheist
    Agnostic
    Anti a Loving Creator.
    Very open to prayer
    3 times in life:
    Two Girls Left Him
    Baby Dying
    Marriage Issues.
    Notice,
    receptive to God
    when bad things happen!!!
    My prayer:
    “Do whatever it take to save them.”
    Even if it is
    “negative”
    “bad”
    “consequences”
    “pain”.
    This is when
    we are ready
    to listen to change.
    Paul’s story continues:
    Acts 9:11–12 ESV
    And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.”
    I mentioned that
    conversions don’t happen
    in a vacuum.
    They virtually always
    involved someone else
    to mentor them
    along the journey.
    Ananias did not want
    to go to Paul.
    Scared
    Anxious
    Resentful.
    God needed to
    connect Paul with
    body of Christ.
    I don’t know who
    Jesus has in your life.
    You may not even like them.
    Remember...
    To them,
    you are Ananias!
    You are the one sent
    to love them
    mentor them
    support them
    lead them
    toward Christ
    and His body.
    I met “Jack and Jill”
    in a filthy mobile home.
    Went to visit
    non-active SDA family.
    Jack and Jill dating
    trouble youth.
    Soon, found out
    Jack was back in jail
    on meth again.
    While in jail,
    clear minded
    wanted different path
    genuinely receptive
    wanted to liv for God.
    He would get out
    be back in same group
    back on meth.
    Last interaction with them
    had a baby
    baby tested positive for
    some drugs after birth.
    Baby taken from them,
    tried to re-connect family
    too high to be parents.
    They were almost converted
    Jail
    Child Protective Services
    almost woke them up
    through hardship.
    I was ready
    poised for support
    addiction counseling
    spiritual counseling
    friendship
    truth.
    Last I knew
    still meth addicts.
    Let’s look at
    different story.

    Philippian Jailer

    Persecution of Paul and Silas
    Acts 16:22–24 ESV
    The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
    How do you think
    Paul and Silas felt?
    Angry at God
    Resentful
    Upset at persecutors?
    No!
    Acts 16:25 ESV
    About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,
    Lesson:
    People are watching us.
    Especially during hardship.
    Acts 16:26–27 ESV
    and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.
    Once again,
    conversion created by
    supernatural experience.
    Once again,
    is the miracle
    good or bad
    for the jailer?
    All of prisoners were
    immediately loosed.
    Prisoner is responsible
    his life for their life
    if they escape.
    What is his plan?
    Commit suicide.
    Before public execution.
    What happens next?
    Acts 16:28–29 ESV
    But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas.
    Why was he trembling?
    Miraculous earthquake.
    They were happy after beating.
    They cared for their captor.
    Lesson:
    The miracle itself
    does not convert the person.
    They were converted by
    discipleship of love
    through the trial.
    What were the next words
    seemingly forced from lips”
    Acts 16:30 ESV
    Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
    Jailer
    Antagonistic toward God.
    Converted by
    miracle
    loving example.
    Greg’s conversion
    Raised in church
    that I pastored.
    Left faith decade before.
    Grandparents
    Patriarchs of close family
    spiritual leaders in family
    finally dying in 90’s.
    I did both funerals.
    I made a call
    during the funeral.
    “Be ready for 2nd Coming.”
    Greg, deeply convicted
    during funeral lunch
    came and talked with me.
    Life was fun and games
    Until staring death
    in the face.
    Next Story:

    The Thief on the Cross

    Luke 23:39–42 ESV
    One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
    Two thieves.
    criminals
    living without God.
    One of them is
    hardened in sin.
    Other
    good person
    with bad friends.
    Both of them
    show their true colors
    during the most
    difficult time in their life.
    They are experiencing
    the death penalty
    slow and painful
    persecution by Romans.
    Once again,
    conversion occurs through
    hardship and pain.
    Once again,
    because of example of
    other person suffering with
    peace and hope.
    Lessons:
    God coverts quickly
    Those who are antagonistic
    through supernatural events
    often very negative ones
    through loving compassionate
    example during crisis.
    Do you have
    family
    friend
    co-worker.
    You want to see saved.
    Pray for Miracle
    Pray for Pain.
    Get ready
    to experience some
    pain yourself!!!
    Next Story
    Not Pain.
    But Blessing!

    Peter

    Peter’s story is different
    now we see
    a conversion through
    positive miracle.
    Luke 5:4–5 ESV
    And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”
    Peter calls him: “Master”.
    This clear.
    He was already disciple.
    He was already believer.
    He was already follower.
    But he was not
    with Jesus full-time.
    He was married.
    He had a job.
    He was still working.
    Jesus was going
    to call him to
    be a disciple full-time.
    This would take
    a lot of faith.
    What about his business?
    What about his work?
    What about his wife?
    What about his bills?
    How could he follow
    Jesus full-time?
    Luke 5:6–7 ESV
    And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.
    Fishing in day.
    Biggest catch
    they had ever seen.
    Clearly impossible!
    Clearly a miracle!
    Clearly God’s work!
    What happens next?
    Luke 5:8–10 ESV
    But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” ... And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”
    Lesson:
    God also performs
    rapid conversions
    through blessings
    not just hardships.
    Notice differences,
    Peter was already
    somewhat believer.
    somewhat disciple.
    somewhat committed.
    In fact,
    virtually all of the stories
    in the Bible
    I could think of.
    If they were
    rapid conversion
    that came through blessings
    usually someone
    who already kind of believed.
    Stories
    Ethiopian Eunuch
    Naaman
    Numerous Healing Conversions
    Paralytic
    Lepers
    Father of Demon Possess Child
    Etc.
    They all came
    because they all
    already kind of believed.
    They experience
    deeper conversion
    through a blessing
    rather than a curse.
    But they already believed.
    In the case of
    those antagonistic
    to the truth,
    most conversions occur
    through very bad situation.
    Let’s review
    one of the healing stories.
    Story of friends conversion through blessing.

    Healing of Blind Man

    Story is about
    a man born blind:
    John 9:6–7 ESV
    Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.
    Suddenly able to see.
    Never saw the face
    of his healer - Jesus.
    The man is
    banned from worshiping
    at the synagogue.
    Jesus finds him.
    To affirm his faith.
    John 9:35–38 ESV
    Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.
    This man was already
    believer in God
    blind and wanting healing
    heard of Jesus and hoping.
    He was not
    antagonistic to truth.
    He was converted
    through blessing.
    Even in case of healings
    (conversion through blessing)
    The blessing was preceded
    by a terrible trial
    (the illness).

    Summary

    Each story has a miraculous experience.
    Some very bad...
    Some very good...
    For those who are
    negative category
    antagonistic, skeptical, apathetic
    the miracle is usually bad.
    As believers,
    it is our job to pray
    for God’s intervention
    (good or bad).
    We must be ready to act
    when we see God moving.
    God is in the business
    of transforming lives.
    Tina Miller
    Asking the children in my Sunday School class, “If I sold my house and my car, had a big garage sale and gave all my money to the church, would I get into Heaven?” “NO”! the children all answered.
    “If I cleaned the church every day, mowed the yard, and kept everything neat and tidy, would I get into Heaven”? Again, the answer was “NO”!
    Well,” I continued, “then how can I get to Heaven?” In the back of the room, a 5 yr. old boy shouted out, “You gotta be dead”!
    It is true
    you’ve got to die
    spiritually to sin.
    That takes great motivation.
    Pray for you friends
    to be motivated to die.

    Appeal

    Make a list
    intentional friendships
    pray for each day!
    What is our part?
    Cultivate Friendship
    Watch and Pray
    For Divine intervention.
    Be prepared to
    be with them through
    life changing moment
    that is about to happen.
    Life moments:
    Bad:
    A illness.
    A family death.
    Relationship issues.
    Job Loss.
    Financial Instability.
    Good:
    Pregnancy.
    Neutral:
    A move.

      • 1 Corinthians 3:6NKJV

      • Acts 9:1–2NKJV

      • Acts 9:3–6NKJV

      • Acts 9:8–9NKJV

      • Acts 9:11–12NKJV

      • Acts 16:22–24NKJV

      • Acts 16:25NKJV

      • Acts 16:26–27NKJV

      • Acts 16:28–29NKJV

      • Acts 16:30NKJV

      • Luke 23:39–42NKJV

      • Luke 5:4–5NKJV

      • Luke 5:6–7NKJV

      • Luke 5:8–10NKJV

      • John 9:6–7NKJV

      • John 9:35–38NKJV

  • Be Thou My Vision
  • The Nativity Song
  • Away in a Manger
  • Sing for the King
  • Starlight - Children's Christmas Song
  • If I Were There
  • Prince of Peace Song
  • Let There Be Peace On Earth
Auburn SDA Church
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