SCRIPTURE: Acts 9:10-19
10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord," he answered. 11 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. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight." 13 "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name." 15 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. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name." 17 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." 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
OBSERVATION:
In the town of Damascus, there lived a disciple named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision and told him to “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man named Saul of Tarsus, because he is praying. He is seeing you in a vision coming to him and placing your hands on him so that he can see again. Ananias said that he had heard many things about Saul and all the bad things he had done to Christians in Jerusalem. That he has come to arrest anyone who calls on your name, this was given to him by the chief priests. The Lord told Ananias to Go because Saul was chosen as his way to bring the name of Christ to the Gentiles and to the people of Israel. Saul would be shown how much he would have to suffer because of the name of Jesus. Ananias went to the house that Saul was in and laid his hands on him, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who had appeared to you as you were coming here, has sent me to you so that you will see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something similar to what scales would look like fell from Saul’s eyes and he could see again. He got up and was baptized and the ate and regained his strength.
APPLICATION:
You know, most people when they hear the name Ananias, they think of the Ananias and Saphira just a few chapters before. People know about the story of Paul on the road to Damascus. But how many people have stopped and thought about the bravery of Ananias. I mean I look at it this way. He has just been told that he is to go and lay hands on Saul of Tarsus, the man responsible for the arresting and persecution of many Christians and the Lord is now telling you to go and lay hands on and pray for him. I imagine that I probably would have been scared half out of my mind and I imagine that he was as well. But despite the fact that he was concerned, because he had heard the stories about Saul, he still went and did the Lord’s bidding and helped launch the ministry of one of the greatest hero’s in the Bible, a man that God used mightily and a man fully on fire for God. This is an inspiration for me for you never know, I might be asked to do something for God someday, that is just as scary, but God could use me, and I could launch the career of the next Paul. I will never know. I could very well be the little known man, that launched the next Paul. But I will never find out if I don’t act in obedience no matter how scared I am. He stepped out in faith, so should I.
PRAYER:
Father, throughout your word, you have used time and time again people who it seems at first are small and insignificant and they end up doing great things. Father I pray that when the time comes that even when I am troubled and scared about what I am about to face, that I am obedient. I want to grow to the point that I am obedient in what you tell me. Father, I have a ways to go in that, but I am growing day by day. Thank you Father for teaching me how to trust in you in adversity. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.