If you are going to build any type of building or structure, foundations are crucial, especially if you want to build something significant that will stand the test of time.
Considering the character flaws and leadership failures we have seen across nations in recent years, I have been reflecting on the discipleship foundations we establish and maintain in our churches. In particular, I have been focusing on Paul’s major encounter with God in Acts 9. As we examine it, this encounter provides a model for the kind of deep, solid foundations we need if we are to build something lasting—both in our personal lives and for the future of the Church.
Paul’s encounter with the Lord and his subsequent transformation shows us that all true, enduring ministry begins with a radical encounter with Christ, calls for complete dependency on Him, and requires an unwavering commitment to obedience. These are the deep, solid foundations that will support growth, not only in our lives but also in the churches we are called to build and lead. Paul’s life serves as an example of what it means to have a strong foundation rooted in Christ, empowering him to establish churches that would thrive and endure.
Under the Microscope
In Acts 9, we find a profound narrative of Saul’s life-changing encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus. This narrative carries immense theological significance and importance for us as a foundations narrative, as it reveals those foundational truths for every Christian’s journey with Christ, underscoring how a true encounter with Jesus transforms everything.
A Radical Encounter with Christ
The story of Saul’s conversion begins with him as a ferocious enemy of the faith, breathing threats against the followers of Jesus (Acts 9:1)—he really didn’t like church! Yet, in an instant, his entire life changes; it is a sudden, powerful, dynamic, paradigm-shifting encounter. A light from heaven knocks him to the ground, and then Jesus speaks to him directly and audibly, saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4, ESV). An encounter with Christ is not just a gentle nudge; it is a radical disruption of self-sufficiency—you cannot sustain the Christian life yourself—and you have nothing to contribute. Saul, who thought he had everything figured out, is now utterly dependent on Christ.
This is our starting point—there is absolutely no self-sufficiency in the Christian life. Christ initiates our salvation, and His intervention is always transformative. Everything changes in the blink of an eye—so try not to blink!
Saul’s experience highlights that to encounter Christ is to be undone. It is more than just intellectual assent to a set of beliefs; it is being brought to life spiritually and having Christ take residence in us. This is the core of what Paul would later describe as being “in Christ.” Our identity, our hopes, and our very purpose are all transformed as we are brought from death to life by the power of His indwelling Spirit (Ephesians 2:5). I remember my own encounter with the Lord well. I was in an evangelistic meeting in the City Hall in Sheffield and had just heard the gospel preached when, all of a sudden, a deep dread fell on me—God was in the City Hall venue, and I was in real, big trouble. My repentance was immediate, with lots of tears! I was undone—but transformed!
Dependency on Christ and the End of Self-Sufficiency
After the encounter, Saul is left blind and helpless for three days (Acts 9:9); his stunned, perplexed, and apprehended state is a vivid picture of his newfound dependency on Christ. He is now totally dependent on help. This moment is symbolic of the Christian life. We come to Jesus with nothing to offer but our need, and He supplies everything. The blindness Saul experiences is not just physical; it reflects the spiritual blindness that is only cured by Christ, which brings us to the key point: the Christian life begins with surrender and continues with complete dependence on Jesus. We are no longer in charge—Christ is Lord, and our role is one of obedience and trust.
For Saul, his transformation was immediate, but the full unfolding of his call took time. It’s the same for us—it has been for me! We may not see the entire path Christ is laying before us, but as followers of Jesus, we are called to live in daily dependence, trusting His guidance step by step. We often need to remind ourselves of this process. We begin (it has to ‘start’ somewhere) a lifestyle of obedience to Christ, where we are no longer in charge but willingly surrender to His will.
Baptism: A Declaration to the Powers
One of the first commands Saul receives after his conversion is to be baptised (Acts 9:18). Baptism is a significant act of obedience, a public declaration that we have been buried with Christ and raised to new life (Romans 6:4). It is not just a symbolic act, nor something we wait for until the perfect moment or until our name comes up on a rota. No, it is a powerful proclamation, here and now, to the world and to cosmic powers that we belong to Christ.
In baptism, we declare, “I am no longer my own. I am following Christ.” This act is a crucial step in obedience and should not be delayed. In fact, it’s not something we should be contemplating—no, you belong to Christ now. Do as you are told, obey the Lord, and get baptised. Just as Ananias urged Saul to rise and be baptised immediately, we too should take this step as soon as we commit our lives to Christ. Baptism, along with the infilling of the Holy Spirit, is not just a church ritual but a spiritual declaration of who we now belong to. Perhaps if we have been delaying baptism, when the day comes, we should also repent of the disobedience we tolerated? We seriously need to obey the Lord in our day of ‘tolerance,’ where much is swept under the carpet under the guise of waiting until we ‘feel ready’ for things. Maybe I’m being too harsh here…
The Infilling of the Spirit: Empowered and Intimate
Following his baptism, Saul is filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17). The Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence in our lives is both intimate and empowering. This is the Spirit who brings us into the family of God, assuring us of our adoption as sons and daughters (Romans 8:15), and it is the same Spirit who empowers us for a life of obedience, for ministry, and for mission (Acts 1:8).
To be filled with the Spirit is to live in continual reliance on His power, not our own. It is the Spirit who equips us to share the gospel boldly, to serve others with love, and to live lives that glorify God. Saul’s transformation from persecutor to preacher was only possible because of the Spirit’s deep, penetrating work in him. Without the Spirit, our efforts in following Christ are futile, but with the Spirit, we are empowered for the life of obedience and witness that God calls us to.
The Church: God’s Most Powerful Force on Earth
Finally, after Saul’s conversion and baptism, he joins the local community of believers. This is no small detail. The Church is not an optional extra in the Christian life; it is the most powerful force on earth. It is where believers are built up, where they receive teaching, encouragement, and accountability, and where they join together in the mission of making Christ known. It is the place where so much change, transition, and transformation happen. Never underestimate the incredible change that happens during the preaching of the Word, the Lord’s Supper, and during worship. God is always at work!
Saul responds to his encounter with Christ by immediately proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues (Acts 9:20), and his ministry grows in partnership with the Church. Being part of a local church is essential for every believer. You are not exempt. It is in the context of the Church that we receive the help we need, the fellowship of other believers, and the strength to persevere in our walk with Christ. With the challenges we face on the international scene as well as at home, we are just as needy.
Sharing the Gospel: Our Mission to the World
After being radically transformed by Christ, Saul’s life mission became abundantly clear: to share the gospel with as many people as possible. It is a simple mission. This is our mission too. The gospel is not something to keep to ourselves; instead, it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16). As members of the body of Christ, we are called to declare this message to the world around us—to everyone, to anyone.
The local church is central to this mission. It is through the Church that we are sent out into the world to proclaim Christ to our neighbours, our communities, and the nations. Looking back, Saul’s transformation reminds us that absolutely no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace and that the gospel must be shared with every person we can.
This is the life we are called to—one of total surrender, empowered by the Spirit, and lived out in community with other believers for the glory of God.
