Moments with God; LIVE FULL

Scripture

Acts 9:10–18 KJV 1900

And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

Just last week myself and Pastor Liz attended the 30th Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International conference at the Maryland Gaylord Conference Center.

Here is a brief summary of what we experienced from the conference.

It started Wednesday morning with

Bishop Brown

Mark 14:14-23

“Extravagant Worship”

Wednesday evening

Bishop Simon Gordon

Psalms 95:1-6

“Worship is in you”

Then on Thursday morning

Pastor Diamond Gantt

Dan 2

“Split between two”

Thursday evening

Bishop Paul Morton

1 Corinthians 1:17-18

“Can you handle being called foolish”

Then on Friday morning

Bishop T D Jakes

“Mastering the intersections of Ministry & Marketplace”

Luke 7:30-33

Bishop Walter Scott

"OUR SECRET AMBITION’

Acts 5:12-17

Closing the conference on Friday evening

With the Presiding Bishop Walker

Presiding :Bishop Joseph Walker

Luke 5:1-11

“I should be full by now”

This conference was pivotal to not just myself, Pastor Liz and the Howell’s who also attended but to the entire church body at RCCC. Bishop Walker vision for Full Gospel is The Four Pillars

FAITH

FINANCE

FITNESS

FAMILY

Now with the time I have let today, I want to look at Acts 9 where you see another “Moment with God” occur in the life of Saul who was converted to Paul.

If Saul’s “thorn in the flesh” was eye trouble (cf. comments on 2 Cor. 12:7), this my have been the prelude of it. At any rate there is a sharp contrast between Saul in Acts 9:1 and 8. One moment he was storming up the road, determined to capture and imprison Christians. Soon thereafter he was led like a child by the hand into Damascus. God’s grace is often displayed in great powerful acts and in apparent catastrophes.

The three days of blindness, fasting, and prayer (v. 11) were a time of waiting. Saul still had not received the message God had promised him (v.6)

By means of a vision God instructed a reluctant Ananias to restore Saul’s sight. He was to go to Saul where he was staying with a man named Judas whose house was on Straight Street. It was one of the two parallel streets that ran from the western to the eastern wall. The first reference to Saul’s birthplace—Tarsus—is given in verse 11.

Interestingly believers were first called saints in the Book of Acts here (v. 13). The church is comprised of “set-apart ones” hagiois. From Acts 9:14 it is evident that the news of Saul’s coming to persecute believers in Damascus had preceded his arrival, and Ananias feared what Saul might do.

The Lord assured Ananias. . .This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. Saul was to become Paul, the apostle to the uncircumcised. The apostle, of course, also ministered to “the people of Israel”.

How amazing that the one who persecuted Christians so violently should himself be transformed into a witness of the gospel—and such a dynamic, forceful witness at that!

The partial fulfillment of this prediction is seen in Saul’s inventory of his suffering 2 Cor. 11:23-27

2 Corinthians 11:23–27 KJV 1900

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

Three times in as many verses the conversation between Ananias and the Lord included the word name (Acts 9:14-16

Acts 9:14–16 (KJV 1900)

And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

Brother Saul—what words of encouragement these must have been to Saul! The first recorded man to call Saul a Christian brother was Ananias. A more complete statement of Ananias’ words in given in 22:14-16. Ananias’ apprehension of Saul was turned to love for Saul because of the Lord’s directive. Ananias identified with Saul by placing his hands on him.

Saul’s being filled with the Holy Spirit clearly followed his conversion.

In his healing from his blindness something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. The word “scales” was used of the scales of fish and crocodiles. As in several previous conversions recorded in Acts, water baptism followed conversion (8:12, 38).

After this event Ananias disappeared from the narrative and is not mentioned again except in chapter 22 where Paul recounted his own conversion.

In Closing

LIVE FULL for the gospel is the moment where the Lord shows up in your life of conversion. Your eyes are fully opened and a change takes place that we affect the rest of your life.

The moment with God is precious and a impact that will not only change your name but also your aspect of life to the fullest.

Just like the conversion of Saul to Paul changed his life for the Gentiles and people of Israel, your conversion will change the lives of those the Lord places in your journey of life.

The moments of expectation

Your situation is under divine revelation

It’s time to change your spot