"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT WHAT GOD WANTS TO DO IN EVERY UNSAVED PERSON'S LIFE"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT WHAT GOD WANTS TO DO IN EVERY UNSAVED PERSON'S LIFE"

Acts 26:18 "to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me."

Some explanatory thoughts/application/questions, and a prayer:

This verse is part of a testimony that Paul was giving before King Agrippa. The Jews who hated Paul for preaching that man can and only can be saved by grace through faith, and not by the works of the law of God, had acted in such a manner that Paul was now having to defend himself. And, in defending himself, he was witnessing to this King Agrippa, explaining how he had come to salvation on the road to Damascus, and how the Lord had called him to be a minister of the Gospel. And this verse, Acts 26:18 really gets to the heart of what our gracious God wants to do in the life of every person who is not yet saved. Here's the verse again, "to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me."

1. God wants to open their eyes.
Acts 26:18 "to open their eyes...

Men's eyes are not naturally open to the Lord. In fact, unsaved men's eyes are blinded to the things of God.
Here's how Paul put it in 2nd Corinthians 4:4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

Please notice that instead of saying "eyes" he says "minds" Essentially saying the same thing. Satan is not only the great liar, and destroyer, but he is the great blinder of men's eyes and minds. He has the power to blind, and does so to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel. He does not want them to see and know the truth, that's why he keeps them in the dark so to speak. But, God, and God alone can, and wants to open men's eyes to the wonderful good news of Jesus Christ.

2. God wants to turn them from darkness to light.
Acts 26:18 "to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light,

Here we see a further description of the need of unsaved man, and the desire of God towards unsaved man. An unsaved person is said to be not only in darkness, but darkness itself.

( 1) Believers are no longer of darkness.
1st Thessalonians 5:5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.

(2) Unbelievers are literally described as darkness.
Ephesians 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

But, the Lord wants to change all this, and He can. Most likely you who are reading this, are now saved, and in the light. If by chance you are not yet saved, please know that you can be. God will save you if you turn to Him, and ask Christ to save you.

3. God wants to turn them from the power of Satan to God.
Acts 26:18 "to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God,

Here we have more of what man is, and more of what God wants to do for man. Man is naturally in his or her unsaved state, under the power and control of Satan. But, the Lord wants to turn them from the power of Satan to the power of God.
And, He does this by convicting a person of their sin, and their turning to Christ for forgiveness.

Ephesians 2:1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,
Ephesians 2:2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,

Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
Ephesians 2:5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

4. God wants them to receive forgiveness of sins.
Acts 26:18 "to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me."

The list of blessings included in salvation, goes on and on. Here's another big one of course. The forgiveness of sins. So, not only are men's eyes opened, and they are turned from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to the power of God, but God forgives them of all their sins.

Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
Colosians 1:14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

5. God wants them to receive an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Jesus Christ.
Acts 26:18 "to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me."

Having said all that's been said so far, there is yet one more blessing that God wants to bring into the life of a person who is not saved. Looking forward, God wants to give to His children an inheritance along with all of His other children.

Our God is so gracious and extravagantly generous. He has an inheritance waiting for each one of His children. Praise the Lord.

Questions:

1. Can you remember when your eyes were first opened to the truth of Jesus Christ?

2. Do you remember what it was like when your life was changed when you put your faith in Jesus Christ?

3. How would you describe the impact that took place in your life, when you were released from Satan's power into God's?

4. And, how about forgiveness. Do you remember the first time you really recognized and understood your sins were gone?

5. Would you take just a moment right now to thank God for all that He has done for you?

6. And, would you pray that God might use you to bring these blessings into the lives of those who need it?

A prayer:

Father, what a blessing to read this story of Paul speaking before King Agrippa. Thank You for sharing what You did in Paul's life. You have brought Your gospel to so many down through the years. What Paul was commissioned to do, he did, and so have many others. It's our prayer that we might take this same calling, and go full steam ahead sharing Christ with all who need Him. Please give us the boldness to speak up when we have an opportunity. Please make us sensitive to the people we are around, and look for and pray for an opening to share Christ. May our demeanor's and our words, and the way we carry ourselves be a witness to the lost, that there is something about us that is impacting them. Use us Lord in these last days to share the Good news of Jesus Christ. In Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia