Not Even A _________ .

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Not Even A ________.

Most good, most heart warming stories have a beginning. That is especially true of our Jesus story. We used to call that a testimony, but word is not well understood outside of church circles.
For most of us our Jesus story began with at least two things:
In some way or another we heard our Lord speak to us.
God brought someone into our lives to help us.
Over these next weeks I would ask that each of us refresh our Jesus story. As we refresh our story ask our Lord to:
Through you tell someone who does not know the Gospel, the Gospel and how He loved/ loves them
Direct you to someone who is praying and asking for someone who cares.
While provides for the us the 3rd person account of the Apostle Paul’s conversion, affords to us a heart warming account of a comparative,y unknown believer whom God used to comfort, stabilize and begin to focus Saul after Saul met Jesus on the Road to Damascus.
While provides for the us the 3rd person account of the Apostle Paul’s conversion, affords to us a heart warming account of a comparative,y unknown believer whom God used to comfort, stabilize and begin to focus Saul after Saul met Jesus on the Road to Damascus.
The account before needs to considered alongside a portion of Saul’s first hand account of his conversion - . In other first hand accounts of Saul’s conversion story, Ananias was not mentioned, the reason being that Ananias was never the story focus. The story focus was always Jesus.
But Jesus uses people who love Him and care to come alongside of those who need not just the word but someone. WE ALL NEED SOMEONE.
WHO WAS THE SOMEONE THAT THE LORD USED IN YOUR LIFE? WHOSE SOMEONE ARE YOU?
Please note how Ananias is described in the Word of God.
Ananias is:
A RESPECTED Disciple - 9:10; 22:12
Paul’s character reference for Ananias
A disciple - 9:10
a certain (KJV) - among the other disciples in Damascus there was one whom the Lord used to come alongside of Saul
mathetes - disciple - same as 12 - comes from the same root as the verb - manthano - learn. Being a disciple means continuing to learn
According to Jesus, a disciple/servant becomes like his master - so to re believers
Matthew 10:24–25 ESV
“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.
Matt 10:
ILLUSTRATION - What did you learn today?
We don’t know what we do not know!
A respected disciple - 22:12
Well spoken of - having a good report (KJV) - bear witness - passive martyreo
By all the Jews who lived there - believers and unbelievers
Faith in Christ lived in such a way that others not others affirmed him
A devout man according to the law - 22:12
respectful - when used of a believer = God fear - lives as before God
according to the law - obedient to the laws
Used to describe Zechariah & Elizabeth
Luke 1:6 ESV
And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.
2. A RESPONSIVE Disciple - 9:10-16
The Lord spoke to him in a vision.
With the beginning of the New Testament era, before we have the NT in writing, for a while, God spoke through visions and angels. On the day of Pentecost, Peter explained that this was in part a fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy. This was connect with the coming of the Holy Spirit and his indwelling believers
Joel 2:28–29 ESV
“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.
These dreams and visions were a limited time when the Apostles were alive. With the death of the Apostles and the NT being in place, God now speaks through His Word.
In that context, what was revealed/communicated in the dreams and visions was the Word of God - true and without error.
We need to understand that God is not giving new revelation in the sense that He speaks to me the Word of God. God speaks to me through the Word not the Word.
Peter affirmed that. After he began to preach Jesus and in so doing quoted various OT Scriptures - ;
Acts 2:22–24 ESV
“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
Acts 2:
The Lord called Ananias and Ananias responded immediately, “Here I am Lord.
This reminds us of God’s calling Samuel - - but in the account before us, we cannot help but be impressed that with one call, Ananias heard, recognized the Lord’s voice and responded immediately to the Lord.
Please note the clarity and detail of what the Lord said.
Rise and go
Straight Street - house of Judas
Saul could not see - blinded - led by the men who were him - they saw the light but did not hear the voice -
Look for man of Tarsus named Saul who is praying
SAUL’S CONVERSION IS NOT MENTIONED BUT INFERRED.
And has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so he can regain his sight
The arrangement would be confirmed by a double dream - compare Cornelius & Peter -
The name Saul was known to Ananias. - 9:13, 14 - News of what he had done and was doing had reached Damascus. provides some background. It is obvious that Saul had moved on from observing - 7:58, 59 - and approving of Stephen’s stoning/murder, Saul had begun to ravage the church - 8:3.
- News of what he had done and was doing had reached Damascus. provides some background. It is obvious that Saul had moved on from observing - 7:58, 59 - and approving of Stephen’s stoning/murder, Saul had begun to ravage the church - 8:3.
It was with that purpose Saul had journeyed to Damascus 9:1. Please note the terms that Ananias used to describe what Saul had done.
How much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem
First use of a term commonly used by Paul as Christians set apart for God’s service and showing a holy character - agios - 9:41; 26:10 - cf - adjective from - sanctified 20:32; 26:18
Philippians 1:1 ESV
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:
Phil 1:
Those who call on your name
Echoes - 2:21
Acts 2:21 ESV
And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
Recurs - 22:16 as a command to Paul to be baptized.
Acts 22:16 ESV
And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’
Compare -
1 Corinthians 1:2 ESV
To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
And here he has authority from the chief priests.
Authority - power, moral authority, influence
Luke 12:11 ESV
And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say,
Ananias’ comment might be seen as disobedience and lack of trust in God’s direction and power. We have to assume to assume that this was not a lack of trust in God’s power to do the seeming impossible as it seems to have been with Zechariah. Instead, Ananias question is about clarification as to how one who had been evil was now blinded, praying and waiting for Ananias to come and lay hands on him.
Graciously, God repeated the command, “GO” with an explanation.
He is a chosen instrument of mine.
Same word used of Jesus choosing the 12
Luke 6:13 ESV
And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles:
Instrument - through whom God would work.
To carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel
carry anything - John carry sandol
my name - heart of the Gospel - it is not about the church or me. It is about Jesus. What would you have me do with Jesus?
Gentile, kings and children of Israel - 3 main groups before Saul would bear witness.
It was Jesus whom Saul had persecuted. Now he would carry his name/banner.
ILLUSTRATION - Young man who skated around ACC and carried the Maple Leaf banner.
I will show him how much he must suffer for sake of my name.
must suffer rather than cause suffering - 9:13
Acts makes it very clear. Faithful witness is costly in terms of suffering that it might cause the bearer of the good news.
So Ananias went and entered the house. Ananias responded with complete trust in the Lord. - 9:17-19; 22:13-16
3. A RECKLESS Disciple - 9:17-19; 22:13-16
There are times in our lives when we allowed to approach other believers for the first time, with only the recommendation of another brother.
We make that approach with peace and comfort, not because we know the other believer but we know and trust one who does.
EXAMPLE - WITH SGA MOST EFFECTIVE CONTACTS CAME FROM THE RECOMMENDATION OF FRIENDS.
BIBLE CHAPEL IN CHARLOTTETOWN
ONE RESPECTED PASTOR IN ATLANTIC CANADA LEADER TO A STRONG FRUITFUL ANTIOCH INITIATIVE COALITION
Brother Saul.
a term of warmth, endearment and relationship
Brat Al
Laying hand on him - contact as a brother and as more than words needed with Saul who was blind.
This expression was used of Jesus when He healed.
Mark 6:5 ESV
And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them.
Luke 4:40 ESV
Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them.
Used in the NT when others prayed for healing.
Acts 28:8 ESV
It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him, healed him.
Sometimes involved anointing.
James 5:14 ESV
Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
James
Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
The Lord Jesus who appeared to you sent me.
Clear sense that the Lord Jesus called him and sent him
That you may regain your sight
That you may be filled with the Holy Spirit
Filled not receive Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit had been working in Saul’s heart and life
Convicting him of sin
John 16:8–9 ESV
And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;
John 16:9 ESV
concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;
Convincing him of the Lordship of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:3 ESV
Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.
Transforming him
Titus 3:5 ESV
he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
Indwelling him permanently
1 Corinthians 12:13 ESV
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
1 Cor 12:
He was then filled and kept being filled with the Holy Spirit for ministry.
Ephesians 5:18 ESV
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
One commentator (Dr John MacArthur) explained:
“Saul received the Spirit without any apostles present because he was a Jew (the inclusion of the Jews in the church had already been established at Pentecost), and because he was an Apostle in his own right because Christ personally called him and commissioned him for service.”
And immediately:
something like scales fell from his eyes and regained his sight
he was baptized
he took food and was strengthened - had been 3 days without sight, neither ate nor drank - 9:9
proclaimed Jesus in the synagogue saying, “He is the Son of God.”
Reflecting on how our Lord used Ananias, there are some applications for us.
Our Lord uses all disciples to accomplish His purposes.
Those whom our Lord uses are respectable and responsive.
Our Lord still calls those who will listen.
Who is praying and waiting for us to respond to the Lord’s call?
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