Acts 9:1-9 Saul was blinded by the light of Jesus when he was on the way to Damascus to persecute Christians. He learned some things and saw some things as a result of this situation. He saw that conscience is not a safe guide in religion. He saw that being religious was not enough. He saw that following traditions can lead you astray. He saw the need for the right source of authority. He saw that man is not saved by prayer alone.

1. WHAT THE BLIND MAN SAW

2. Acts 9:1-9 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder
against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of
Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way,
whether men or women, he might bring them bound to
Jerusalem. 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus,
and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven.
4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to
him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" 5 And he
said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am
Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick
against the goads." 6 So he, trembling and astonished,
said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord
said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told
what you must do." 7 And the men who journeyed with him
stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one.
8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes
were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand
and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days
without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

3. THE BLIND MAN
A.Saul was blind for three days.
B.Sometimes when someone loses one
of their senses, other senses are
intensified.
C.While blind, Saul saw some things that
we need to see.

4. I. HE SAW THAT CONSCIENCE IS
NOT A SAFE GUIDE IN RELIGION.
A.In religion, many let their conscience be
their guide.
B.Conscience tells us whether we are doing
right or wrong, based upon what we have
been taught.
C.Saul was guided by his conscience Acts
23:1 Then Paul, looking earnestly at the
council, said, "Men and brethren, I have
lived in all good conscience before God
until this day.“

5. I. HE SAW THAT CONSCIENCE IS
NOT A SAFE GUIDE IN RELIGION.
D. But did many things which were wrong Acts 26:9-
11 Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things
contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 This
I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I
shut up in prison, having received authority from
the chief priests; and when they were put to death,
I cast my vote against them. 11 And I punished
them often in every synagogue and compelled
them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly
enraged against them, I persecuted them even to
foreign cities.
E. Personal feelings can lead one astray Proverbs
14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.

6. II. HE SAW THAT BEING A RELIGIOUS
PERSON IS NOT ENOUGH.
A. Some think that as long as you’re a religious
person that is enough in pleasing God.
B. Saul of Tarsus was a very religious individual
C. Galatians 1:13 For you have heard of my former
conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church
of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.
Acts 26:5 They knew me from the first, if they
were willing to testify, that according to the
strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
D. Saul was even zealous in his religion - Galatians
1:14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of
my contemporaries in my own nation, being more
exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my
fathers.
E. He saw that he was religiously wrong.

7. III. HE SAW THAT ONE CAN TRANSGRESS
BY FOLLOWING TRADITIONS.
A.Many just follow the traditions handed
down to them.
B.Saul followed the traditions of his fathers -
Galatians 1:14 And I advanced in Judaism
beyond many of my contemporaries in my
own nation, being more exceedingly
zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

8. III. HE SAW THAT ONE CAN TRANSGRESS
BY FOLLOWING TRADITIONS.
C. The Lord taught that one transgresses the
commandment of God by following the traditions of
men - Matthew 15:1-6 Then the scribes and Pharisees
who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying,
2 "Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of
the elders? For they do not wash their hands when
they eat bread." 3 He answered and said to them,
"Why do you also transgress the commandment of
God because of your tradition? 4 For God
commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and your
mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him
be put to death.' 5 But you say, 'Whoever says to his
father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have
received from me is a gift to God"-- 6 then he need not
honor his father or mother.' Thus you have made the
commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.

9. III. HE SAW THAT ONE CAN TRANSGRESS
BY FOLLOWING TRADITIONS.
D. The only traditions that we can follow are
those handed down by the apostles.
1. 2 Thessalonians 2:15 Therefore, brethren,
stand fast and hold the traditions which
you were taught, whether by word or our
epistle.
2. 2 Thessalonians 3:6 But we command
you, brethren, in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every
brother who walks disorderly and not
according to the tradition which he
received from us.

10. IV. HE SAW THAT THE NEED FOR THE
RIGHT SOURCE OF AUTHORITY.
A. There are two sources of authority in religion:
Heaven and men - Matthew 21:23-27 Now when He
came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders
of the people confronted Him as He was teaching,
and said, "By what authority are You doing these
things? And who gave You this authority?" 24 But
Jesus answered and said to them, "I also will ask
you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell
you by what authority I do these things: 25 The
baptism of John--where was it from? From heaven or
from men?" And they reasoned among themselves,
saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say to us,
'Why then did you not believe him?' 26 But if we say,
'From men,' we fear the multitude, for all count John
as a prophet." 27 So they answered Jesus and said,
"We do not know." And He said to them, "Neither will
I tell you by what authority I do these things.

11. IV. HE SAW THAT THE NEED FOR THE
RIGHT SOURCE OF AUTHORITY.
B. Saul received authority for the things he
did from men
1. Acts 9:14 And here he has authority
from the chief priests to bind all who call
on Your name."
2. Acts 26:10 This I also did in Jerusalem,
and many of the saints I shut up in
prison, having received authority from
the chief priests; and when they were
put to death, I cast my vote against
them.

12. IV. HE SAW THAT THE NEED FOR THE
RIGHT SOURCE OF AUTHORITY.
C. Christ is the source of authority to which
we must always go
1. Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and
spoke to them, saying, "All authority has
been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
2. Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do in
word or deed, do all in the name of the
Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the
Father through Him.

13. V. HE SAW THAT MAN IS NOT
SAVED BY PRAYER ALONE.
A. Some believe that to be saved they must just
pray.
B. Saul prayed to God - Acts 9:11 So the Lord
said to him, "Arise and go to the street called
Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas
for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he
is praying.
C. If Saul was saved by prayer, he was saved
before he was told what he had to do to be
saved - Acts 9:6 So he, trembling and
astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want
me to do?" Then the Lord said to him, "Arise
and go into the city, and you will be told what
you must do.”

14. VI. HE SAW THAT WHAT ONE MUST
DO TO HAVE HIS SINS FORGIVEN.
A. Some never do see what they must do to
have their sins forgiven.
B. Acts 9:6 So he, trembling and astonished,
said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?"
Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into
the city, and you will be told what you must
do."
C. To have his sins washed away, Saul had to be
baptized. - Acts 22:16 And now why are you
waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash
away your sins, calling on the name of the
Lord.’

15. VII. HE SAW THAT THE WORST
OF SINNERS CAN BE SAVED.
A. Some think that they have committed such sins that
they can never be forgiven.
B. 1 Timothy 1:13-16 although I was formerly a
blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I
obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly
abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ
Jesus. 15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all
acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to
save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this
reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ
might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those
who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.
C. If Saul was saved, then no matter what you have done,
you can be saved!

16. HOW’S YOUR VISION
A.Saul of Tarsus saw these things while
blind.
B.Many with 20/20 vision cannot see
these things.
C.Can you see these things?