Acts: Life On Mission – Week 11 – God is Sovereign

God is Sovereign: Embracing Transformation Through Surrender

In this message from the series Acts: Life on Mission, the teaching centers on the sovereignty of God and how He uses moments of brokenness to transform us, mirroring Saul’s dramatic encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus in Acts 9. Saul, later known as Paul, becomes a central figure in the New Testament and an example of God’s ability to turn a life around for His divine purpose. This narrative shows us that God’s control over every moment and His call to surrender are essential to finding purpose and power in Christ.

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Saul’s Encounter: An Invitation to Surrender

The story begins in Acts 9:1-4, where Saul, a devout persecutor of Christians, encounters Jesus. Blinded by a divine light, Saul hears Jesus say, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4-5). This powerful encounter marks the beginning of Saul’s transformation. God’s sovereignty reveals itself in Saul’s life by dismantling his pride and misconceptions about faith, challenging him to move from persecutor to follower.

Saul’s encounter teaches us that surrendering to God’s control, even when it challenges our beliefs and habits, is the first step toward transformation. As Pastor shares, this moment of breaking is often required to fully embrace God’s purpose: “Have you ever been surprised by your capacity to do wrong? We are all like Saul—we are all broken until God makes us whole.”

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The Brokenness that Leads to Healing

For three days, Saul remains blind, fasting and praying, symbolizing his complete dependence on God. In this period of darkness, Saul is transformed internally, his previous life dismantled. Pastor invites us to consider those moments when we, too, felt “blind”—when we couldn’t see the way forward until we surrendered control to God.

This place of brokenness aligns with Romans 12:2, which calls us to be “transformed by the renewing of our minds.” The message emphasizes that real transformation comes from a full surrender to God’s will. This isn’t about earning favor through our strength but through acknowledging our need for Him. Pastor explains, “Have you reached the point of saying, ‘God, I can’t do this alone?’ That’s the starting line of true transformation.”

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Worship as a Posture of Humility and Dependence

Worship, as Pastor explains, is more than singing; it is an act of humble surrender. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for worship, shachah, means to bow with one’s face to the ground, symbolizing complete submission. Similarly, Saul’s physical blindness leads to a spiritual revelation as he submits to God’s authority and guidance.

Through this perspective, worship is the acknowledgment that we are “animated dust,” humble creations loved and molded by God. Pastor challenges us to put our “heads below our hearts”—placing God’s will above our understanding or desire for control. As we lean into this act of surrender, we can find strength and purpose beyond what we can muster on our own.

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God’s Sovereignty Over Free Will

This message also addresses the tension between free will and God’s sovereignty. Pastor explains that sovereignty does not negate free will but rather shapes the outcomes of our choices. Acts 9:15-16 illustrates this balance, as God tells Ananias that Saul is His “chosen instrument” to proclaim the gospel. Although Saul freely chose his actions, God, in His sovereignty, used those choices for a higher purpose.

Ultimately, we have two options: join God’s plan or resist it. Pastor reminds us, “No one can stop God’s plan. We either choose to be on His team or not, but His plan is victorious.” When we align with God’s purposes, we move forward in strength and purpose, fulfilling His divine mission.

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Baptism as a Public Declaration of Faith

As Saul’s physical sight is restored, he is immediately baptized, symbolizing his new life in Christ. Baptism is a significant act of obedience and surrender. Pastor encourages those who haven’t yet taken this step of faith to consider the power of baptism as a public declaration of transformation.

Baptism is an outward testimony of the inward transformation that occurs when we surrender to God’s sovereign plan. By going under the water, we signify the burial of our old selves, and as we rise, we declare that we are “raised with Christ” into a new life. Romans 6:4 highlights this transformation, explaining that we are buried with Him in baptism and raised to “walk in newness of life.”

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Living Out Our Purpose in Christ

With his new identity in Christ, Saul becomes bold in his mission to share the gospel, showing that purpose comes not from within but from God. When we align ourselves with His sovereign plan, we discover strength, courage, and passion for the work He has called us to.

Pastor shares that Saul’s boldness was always part of his personality, but now, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, it’s used for God’s purposes. God does not erase our unique qualities; instead, He reshapes them to fit His mission. This is the beauty of surrender—God transforms us into our best selves, in alignment with His purpose.

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Responding to God’s Sovereignty: An Invitation to Surrender

This message challenges us to reflect on our lives and identify areas where we still cling to control. Pastor invites us to remember those times of brokenness, where surrender led to healing and transformation. In those moments, we are reminded of God’s grace, which meets us at our weakest points and fills us with His strength.

Through surrender, we are aligned with God’s will and empowered to fulfill His purpose. Pastor encourages each listener, “Return to that place of surrender. Trust God’s plan for your life, even when you don’t understand it.” As we worship and surrender, we find that God is indeed sovereign—His power and love are unmatched, His plan unstoppable, and His grace unfailing.

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Key Scriptures

• Acts 9:1-4 – Saul’s encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus.
• 2 Timothy 3:12 – Those who live a godly life will face persecution.
• Romans 12:2 – The transformation of our minds and lives through surrender.
• Matthew 5:14-16 – Being a light for others and living out our faith.
• Romans 6:4 – The symbolism of baptism as a new beginning in Christ.

Through the story of Saul’s transformation, this message in Acts: Life on Mission encourages believers to trust in God’s sovereignty and to live lives of courageous surrender and obedience. Whether in moments of brokenness or strength, we are invited to align our will with God’s and discover the fullness of His purpose for our lives.

 

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