COURAGE Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? Who are you, Lord? Saul asked. I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, he replied. Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do. The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, Ananias! Yes, Lord, he answered. The Lord told him, Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight. Lord, Ananias answered, I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name. But the Lord said to Ananias, Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name. Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, Brother Saul, the Lord-Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here-has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. Acts 9:1-19 This is one of my favorite passages in the bible. not just because of Saul’s salvation but because of Ananias’s courage and obedience despite what circumstance told him. sometimes it takes one act of extraordinary courage to be the tipping point to bring change ~ Andy Stanley Ananias is a man of courage and faith. He was at home and had a vision from God. His response, – YES LORD. in essence, here am i, send me. how often have we prayed those famous words from isaiah 6 – but then when God calls us and sends us we hesitate or get spiritual amnesia (who me?) and doubt that we’ve really heard God. Ananias heard God and heard God send him to the most feared destructive man in their world. I would dare to say that Saul was their enemy, their joseph kony, their osama bin lama… Saul spent his time hunting down Christians and having them tortured and killed. i bet Ananias wondered if he was QUALIFIED to do this mission. i bet he thought he wasn’t spiritual enough. had he ever prayed for anyone to receive their sight before? had he ever prayed for someone to be healed before? did he wear out his carpet pacing? or did he just go? did he know that this one act of courage would be the tipping point for changing the world, that Saul would go from persecutor to passionate preacher and church builder? did he know that his one act of courage would change Christianity as they knew it? there was something in Ananias that rose up and enabled him to fight the fear and doubt and to cause him to go. Jesus. the Holy Spirit. Ananias put his trust in God and his trust in the Holy Spirit in him and through Him. Ananias put his trust in the power of God that when he prayed that God would work, that God would do something supernaturally remarkable. Ananias put his trust in God, expecting Him to as He said He would. in our lives we can have that same confidence. If God says GO and DO – we can GO and DO in confidence of God’s power and might to perform mighty acts through us and in us. Where God leads, He has gone before us. Lets be people of courage who step out and follow God and see extraordinary things happen for His glory.
Posted on: Wed, 02 Apr 2014 12:36:40 +0000
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