Acts Message 21

When We Are Close To God

Acts 9:10–19 NKJV

10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 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. 12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.” 13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” 17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. 19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.

INTRO: Just how aware are we of God speaking to us? Just how obedient are we when we know He is telling us to do a certain thing, or go a certain place? What is the result of our obedience? our disobedience? How do we know when and if it is God that is speaking to us? These are the questions we want to answer as we consider: WHEN WE ARE CLOSE TO GOD.

When we are close to God we will be:

I. OBSERVANT VS 10-12

Acts 9:10–12 (NKJV)

10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”

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.

12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”

John 10:3–5 NKJV

3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

God has His servants everywhere. Here at Damascus was a FOJ that we would never have heard had it not been for what happens here.

Little is known about Ananias other than what we read here.

Paul spoke of him later.

Acts 22:12 NKJV

12 “Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there,

We don’t much about him. But the Lord knew all about him: knew his name and address, knew his humble faith.

He may have been one of the FOJ that left Jerusalem because of the persecution.

When God spoke to Ananias knew instantly that God was speaking to him. He knew, too, that some demand was to be made upon him.

“Behold, I am here, Lord,” he said simply.

1. When you are close to God, you are sensitive to His voice as He speaks to you.

(It may be something that may seem small. Ealb the drive from Roberts)

Ananias was a follower of Jesus in Damascus. He had such a close relationship with God, that Jesus appeared to him in a vision.

God may not speak to you in a vision, but he will speak to you.

VS 11 -12

Acts 9:11–12 (NKJV)

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.

12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”

In that vision, Jesus instructed Ananias to go to the house of Judas where Saul of Tarsus was staying. Jesus told Ananias that Saul was expecting him to come.

The thing the Lord noted about Saul was “Behold, he prayeth.” Saul had said his prayers since he was a little boy, but for the first time in his life he was genuinely praying

We are not told what he was praying. But I would think it was some pretty intense prayer.

Paul would later write.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 NKJV

17 pray without ceasing,

(Street called Straight) there is a street called straight today,

“In a vision”This term is used in the communication with Gods profits in the O.T. in most cases it was for future invents.

The Lord tells Ananias where to go. who he is to find, and what he is to do.

He was a man walking close to God.

ILLUS: Other examples of people walking close to God and being aware of his presence are found throughout the Bible

1 Samuel 3:1–10 NKJV

1 Now the boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation. 2 And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see, 3 and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the Lord where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down, 4 that the Lord called Samuel. And he answered, “Here I am!” 5 So he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” And he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” And he went and lay down. 6 Then the Lord called yet again, “Samuel!” So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” He answered, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7 (Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him.) 8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord had called the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”

Peter — Acts 10: 9-16 In 1 Sam. 3:1 there is no open vision because of SIN! Precious there means Rare! Visions were rare and infrequent because apostacy was rampant.

Acts 10:9–16 NKJV

9 The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. 10 Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance 11 and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 13 And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” 15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” 16 This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.

What could happen in your life if you had that kind of relationship with God?

What could happen in our world today if we were as sensitive as these someone like Ananias was to God’s voice speaking to us?

When we are close to God, we will be:

II. OBEDIENT VS 13-16

Acts 9:13–16 NKJV

13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

VS 13-14

(look back at vs 11-12)

Saul had a reputation pf persecuting FOJ

If the word of Saul coming to Damascus had gotten out, it could be that some had gone ahead of Saul to warn the FOJ there.

Ananias was aware of how Saul had been persecuting the Christians. When God instructed Ananias to go to Judas’ house to help Paul regain his eyesight.

Ananias reminded God of Paul’s reputation. He asked God if He really knew who Saul was. He did not argue with God or refuse to go.

Maybe a little hesitation.

God was sending Ananias to the man that was “breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord”

When God tells us that He has something for us to do, do we question Him?

Argue with Him?

Or, do we accept what He commands us to do and obediently follow his commands? (whatever it may be)

When you are close to God and walking with Him you are obedient to His commands and do not question what He tells you to do.

How many blessings have you missed, or what vital job has been left undone because you questioned God or refused to listen to Him?

ILLUS: Jonah — at first refused to do God’s bidding, then later repented. Look at the final result! A whole city repented.

Acts 9:15–16 (NKJV)

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.

16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

"GO”

God told a lot of people to go do something.

Abraham.

Moses.

Jesus told His followers to “GO”

Here we see He told a man named Ananias to Go to Saul.

Saul was a chosen vessel. God had determined the course of his life.

He would go place and do things that other would not or could not do.

When we are close to God, we will see a great:

III. OUTCOME. VS 17-19

Acts 9:17–19 NKJV

17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. 19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.

When you are close to God and walking with Him — great things are possible.

“I can do all things”

VS 17

“Brother Saul” Ananias put his hands on Saul and called him Brother Saul. The importance of Ananias’ putting his hands on Paul was to now identify Paul with the Christians that he had been persecuting

“Jesus that appeared to you, has sent me”

Ananias obyed,

Saul’s prayers were answered”

Saul’s life would never be the same.

From that point on, look at the change in Saul’s life. Look at what God did through Paul!

.

Imagine what would have happened if Ananias had been disobedient to God. What would Saul have done?

VS 18 READ AND ELAB

VS 19

Have we failed to be obedient to God? Has He called us, and we have refused to answer the call?

Has he told tried to send us somewhere and we have refused to go?

Has he instructed us to do something and we have let it go undone? What will be the end result of our disobedience?

CONC: There are at least three lessons that we should learn from this passage:

1. God can use anyone. Were it not for the conversion of Paul, we would never have heard of Ananias; and yet Ananias had an important part to play in the early days of evangelism.

2. We should never be afraid to obey God’s will. Ananias was unsure at first, but God had everything under control, and Ananias obeyed by faith.

3. We must never underestimate the value of one person brought to Christ. Peter and Phillip were witnessing to thousands, but Ananias was sent to only one man.