3/9/2025 Becoming Jesus and in His Power
/Acts Sermon 46 -
Date: March 9, 2025
Title: Becoming Jesus and in His Power
Scripture: Acts 9:15-22 (NIV)
Acts 9:15-22 (NIV)
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.
16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
17 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.”
18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,
19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.
20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.
21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”
22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
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Acts 9 records an extraordinary transformation: Saul, a young man who was once the leading persecutor of the church and a rising figure in Judaism, switches sides to stand with the very people he had been attacking.
Considering that Paul would go on to write much of the New Testament, this event is one of the most pivotal moments in church history.
Last week, we examined how Saul, despite being deeply knowledgeable in Scripture and zealous in practicing his faith, had actually become an enemy of God. His spiritual blindness had left him unable to recognize the truth.
What were the two issues that blinded Saul’s eyes?
1. Stubbornness
2. Rebelliousness
We discussed how these two factors can also blind our own spiritual vision, preventing us from encountering the Lord even when reading Scripture or attending church.
God is not just an impersonal force, like the magnetic fields or light that flow through the universe. He is a person. And when people encounter a perfect person, the natural response is conversation.
A Personal Relationship with God Through Dialogue
2 Samuel 5:19 (NIV)
“So David inquired of the Lord, ‘Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?’ The Lord answered him, ‘Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands.’”
Here, we see David asking a question and God responding directly. This is what prayer looks like for those who have a personal relationship with Him.
When I first came to the United States and attended an English language school, I found myself in a small classroom filled with students from every continent and background. Among them, I was particularly intrigued by the Muslim girls wearing hijabs.
One day, I struck up a conversation with a diligent and kind Muslim student and asked her,
“What have you been praying about to God lately?”
She looked confused, so I rephrased my question:
“When you pray, what does God say to you?”
At that, she gave me a look of disbelief and firmly responded, “That’s not how prayer works!” She then turned away from me.
For Muslims, prayer is something offered up to Allah, and they believe Allah speaks exclusively through the Quran, which they consider his direct revelation.
Most religions have prayer rituals, but what sets Christianity apart is the concept of a personal, two-way communication with God.
However, history shows that whenever Christianity becomes too institutionalized or ritualistic, believers often reduce prayer to a one-way practice, much like in Islam or Buddhism.
Instead of listening for God’s voice, they replace it with simply reading Scripture in a routine manner.
The Special Prayer of Christians
Just as Ananias conversed with the Spirit of Jesus, those who are born again through the Holy Spirit can communicate with God and live in intimacy with Him.
This is called being filled with the Holy Spirit, and Scripture commands Christians to be filled with the Holy Spirit as both a privilege and a duty.
When Saul lost his sight and was staying in Damascus, Jesus appeared to Ananias, a leader in the church, and gave him a command:
“Go to him and lay hands on him so that he may regain his sight.”
Ananias, unable to understand this command, questioned the Lord.
Acts 9:13-14 (NIV)
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem.
14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
The news of Saul’s arrival must have caused confusion and fear among the Christians in Damascus. Saul was already notorious as a destroyer of the church and a murderer. Ananias could not comprehend the Lord’s command.
How could he go and pray over the leader of their enemies—the one who was actively arresting the Lord’s disciples? Moreover, Saul had official authority to capture believers, including Ananias himself.
Although Ananias was a man of deep faith and had a close personal relationship with the Lord, he honestly expressed his concerns when given an incomprehensible command.
Jesus did the same.
Matthew 26:39 (NIV)
39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
There is something significant to note about Jesus’ prayer:
There is no recorded response from the Father.
Yet, Jesus understood God’s will.
Similarly, in the Psalms, David often cries out to God, but in many cases, there is no record of what God said in response. However, David’s cries of distress often turn into praise.
Psalm 13:1-6 (NIV)
1 How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?
3 Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
4 and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing the Lord’s praise,
for he has been good to me.
In verses 1-4, David is almost arguing with God, crying out with intense expressions. But suddenly, in verse 5, he declares joy in God’s love and salvation.
What happened between these verses?
Personally, I experience this process every day—many times a day.
Though I may not always cry out in despair, I never hide my frustrations or sadness from the Lord. I openly share my heart with Him multiple times a day.
Just a few days ago, I went through something deeply painful. In that moment, I opened my heart to the Lord, seeking Him in my loneliness and brokenness.
And when I do this, the Lord covers my heart in a way that is beyond human language—
in a way that does not even require words.
A mysterious warmth and peace fill my soul.
Of course, when I praise the Lord on joyful days, that joy overflows into every part of my being.
Jesus prayed more than anyone else, and through prayer, He relied on God’s power to accomplish His ministry. He also taught His disciples to do the same.
I Have Set You an Example
John 13:15 (NIV)
“I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”
The reason Jesus lived humbly on earth, as one of the least among men, is crystal clear:
“You should live this way too!”
We don’t all need to become carpenters or wandering rabbis,
but we can live as ‘Jesuses’ in this world.
God sent Jesus so that we might live like Him,
and Jesus showed us how by setting an example!
As a preacher,
and as someone whose every action is seen by my family,
I sometimes feel the temptation to say:
“Well, of course, Jesus lived that way—He is the Son of God.
But we are sinners, so there’s no way we can truly follow Him.
We are just sinners living by grace…”
But if we set aside our stubbornness,
if we look humbly and honestly at the Bible,
the truth of Jesus will become clear.
Hebrews 13:7 (NIV)
“Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you.
Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.”
Here, the writer of Hebrews tells us to carefully observe the lives of those who lead and preach the Word and to imitate their faith.
1 Peter 5:2-3 (NIV)
2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;
3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
Peter also teaches that those who lead the church should not do so for personal gain,
but willingly and eagerly.
They should not rule over others harshly but lead by example.
Philippians 3:17 (NIV)
“Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters,
and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.”
Did these early church leaders ever say,
“I am just a sinner saved by grace… Don’t look at me, just look at Jesus!”?
This March marks five years since I became a pastor—
which means I am still a rookie pastor.
And right when I was ordained, the world entered the COVID-19 pandemic,
forcing churches to stop gathering.
For an inexperienced pastor facing an uncharted world,
this was an enormous challenge.
Yet, at the same time, it was an opportunity—
a chance to see everything with fresh eyes, free from biases.
I began to understand why many preachers avoid certain messages.
From a human perspective, it makes complete sense—
preaching this kind of message places a heavy burden on the preacher.
So, most tend to take one of two approaches:
1. The Korean church model:
Pastors strictly hide their personal lives behind a veil of secrecy.
2. The American church model:
Pastors emphasize the “priesthood of all believers” and argue that
since everyone is a priest, no one should hold them to a higher standard.
But looking at Scripture, don’t both approaches miss the mark?
If pastors must set an example,
but they hide their lives completely,
should we follow their secrecy?
As a young pastor, I feel deep sorrow
when I see the modern church filled with spiritual infants
due to these unhealthy practices.
At the same time,
I feel a sense of shame that I struggle to say, “Follow my example.”
That’s why I have been thinking about what I can do best
to serve the church in my current state.
One of my solutions is our Spiritual Reading Group.
Through this group, we read books written by faithful spiritual mentors,
drawing close to their thoughts, struggles, and experiences.
In doing so, we follow their examples,
and I, as a pastor, continue to grow alongside the congregation.
One day,
I hope to be someone who can truly set an example for others.
For now, I believe that walking this journey—
even as an imperfect pastor—
is the best way I can serve the church.
A Church That Sets an Example for the World
What is the church?
It is not a gathering of perfect people,
but what if it is a place where we grow together—
becoming gentler, more faithful, and more loving
while fulfilling our mission to spread the gospel and care for one another?
What would the church become in this world?
What if, as Scripture promises,
Christians actually became more beautiful and admirable as they aged?
What would happen?
2 Corinthians 4:16 (NIV)
“Therefore we do not lose heart.
Though outwardly we are wasting away,
yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”
But why does this not always happen?
Is Scripture speaking empty words?
Or is the problem with us?
The power of Jesus, the life of Jesus,
is revealed when we strive to live like Him.
The joy of heaven and the peace of abiding in Christ
naturally come when we go where Jesus calls us
and live the way He teaches.
Isn’t that exactly what the Lord promised?
But following Jesus does not happen automatically.
It does not come easily or naturally.
That is why we must look at the next verses
to understand how this daily renewal actually takes place.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV)
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
“Our light and momentary troubles”—this is the key!
Raising children has taught me something:
You cannot raise a child properly through praise alone.
Children grow not in a sterile, greenhouse environment,
but through disappointments and hardships.
Think about the people we admire most.
Did any of them live without suffering?
Most of them endured unimaginable hardships.
The same is true for the figures in Scripture.
That is why Jesus told Ananias about the future of Paul’s life:
Acts 9:16 (NIV)
“I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
Isn’t this a bit harsh for a new convert?
Shouldn’t Jesus have said,
“I will show him how many blessings await him!”?
Yet the Lord said the opposite.
We call ourselves Christians,
but how much of our thinking resembles the world rather than God?
We need to open our eyes to see how often we think and act contrary to God’s ways.
The Greek word for “how much” in Acts 9:16 is “hosos”,
which means both “many” and “this much”—
as if Jesus were stretching out His arms and saying,
“This much suffering awaits him.”
Scripture repeatedly teaches a truth:
There is a minimum amount of suffering that even Christians cannot escape.
But this is not meant to make us afraid.
Rather, it gives us peace,
because it means that suffering is not unlimited,
and that it is never meaningless.
God, in His love, has set boundaries around our pain.
When I entered seminary, the enrollment rate in the U.S. was already at its lowest.
Yet, because of that, those who did enroll were deeply serious.
As I got to know my classmates, I noticed a common theme—
each of them had endured deep suffering.
Henri Nouwen’s book “The Wounded Healer” states:
“Our wounds are not something to be ashamed of.
Rather, they can become a tool to reveal God’s love and grace.”
The Japanese author Ayako Miura, known for her novel Freezing Point,
experienced incredible suffering:
• Diagnosed with tuberculosis at 24
• Suffered from severe tuberculous spondylitis, spending 13 years bedridden
• Endured 10 years of chronic coughing and high fever
• Lost the ability to walk due to spinal damage
• Lived through deep pain, depression, and despair
Yet, she left behind this faithful confession:
There is a prayer I could not have prayed unless I suffered.
There is a word I could not have heard unless I suffered.
There is a sanctuary I could not have entered unless I suffered.
There is a holy face I could not have lifted my eyes to unless I suffered.
Ah, without suffering, I could not even be human.
Haven’t we all suffered?
Then we understand these words.
There are prayers we can only pray in suffering.
There are words from God we can only hear in suffering.
There is a sanctuary we can only enter in suffering.
It is His embrace.
Suffering and pain humble us and restore us to our rightful place—
the place where we realize:
“Without the Lord, I am nothing.
But with the Lord, I have everything.”
I have never met anyone who encountered Jesus personally
while laughing in perfect comfort with no troubles at all.
In her book Even in This Earthen Vessel, Ayako Miura writes:
“I am nothing but a clay vessel, yet God has poured countless blessings into my life. For that, I give thanks.”
The late Tim Keller, one of the most influential pastors of our time,
planted Redeemer Church in New York, wrote over 40 books,
and profoundly impacted the modern church.
After being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, he made this confession:
**“It may sound exaggerated,
but my wife and I never want to return
to the prayer life and spiritual life we had before cancer.
Through this illness, we have truly experienced Psalm 90:14:
‘Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.’”**
This is a man who had already written one of the most famous books on prayer.
Yet, after suffering, his prayer life was transformed—
so much so that he said,
“It is so good, I would not want to go back.”
When Saul met Jesus and became Paul,
his life became a path of suffering.
First, he became the #1 target of the Jews who once stood with him.
At the same time, the church itself did not welcome him.
The Hellenistic Jews, the brothers of Stephen, also sought to kill him.
Saul had given up everything—his status as an elite Jew—
to follow Jesus.
Yet, it only led to greater suffering.
Why?
As we continue through Acts,
we will follow his journey and see what God was doing through it all.
At the Time of My Departure
Then, did Paul’s life end in failure?
Did he feel resentment and blame God?
In his final letter to Timothy, his beloved spiritual son, he wrote:
2 Timothy 4:5-8 (NIV)
5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near.
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
A drink offering was a liquid sacrifice poured out before God.
Paul knew that his life was meant to be an offering,
and he willingly walked that path.
If, at the moment of my last breath,
I could leave these words to my children,
and to all those I have loved through the church…
“I have fought the good fight,
I have finished the race,
I have kept the faith.”
If I could say this and close my eyes in peace—
would there be any greater success in life?
Would there be a greater legacy to leave behind for those who remain?
Perhaps the things we will regret the most on that day
are the opposite of the things we are chasing after now.
So what if, as an evangelist for the kingdom of the Lord,
we choose the path of willingly bearing small sufferings for the church—
the way of the cross, just as Jesus did?
What if, with souls in mind,
we open our homes and welcome others?
What if, with Jesus’ heart,
we go out to share the gospel,
or join a short-term mission trip?
Aren’t these all ways of voluntarily stepping onto the path of small sufferings?
Isn’t this the narrow road?
If a set amount of suffering is already determined for us,
wouldn’t it be better to embrace it willingly
rather than keep running from it?
Doesn’t something deep inside us resonate with this truth?
To be an example to even one person—
isn’t that the true purpose of our lives?
And if that is the most precious thing,
then the things we must give up for it—
aren’t they not so precious after all?
That is what it means to live as Jesus.
To carry our small crosses and follow Him.
This is the most normal life of a Christian.
And when we do,
the heartbeat of Jesus will pulse within us.
The power of Jesus will be revealed in us.
Just as a bird is freest when soaring in the sky,
we will find the greatest joy, the deepest peace,
and finally, true freedom—
when we live as Jesus.
Let us pray.
