You Want Me to Do What?

I want to tell you a story about a young man. He was not outgoing, but reserved and introverted.

He was the kind of person who only spoke when he felt his words carried weight.

The pastor of the church he was attending served another small congregation about 30 miles away. Every Thursday evening, like clockwork, this pastor would drive out to the little white wooden church building to deliver sermons to a tiny group of believers.

One day, to this young man’s utter surprise, the pastor approached him with an unusual request. He said, “I need you to fill in for me at the little church this Thursday.”

His first reaction was, “You want me to do what?” The very thought of standing at the pulpit, let alone delivering a sermon, sent a bolt of fright up his spine.

He had never preached before. He didn’t even know if he could.

But that Thursday, he found himself standing in front of that small congregation, the rustic wooden beams overhead and the soft glow of evening light filtered through the windows.

As he began, his nervousness was palpable. His voice quivered and his hands trembled. The minutes felt like hours. But he persevered, driven by a sense of duty and an unspoken commitment.

He did a horrible job, but got it over with.

To his surprise, he was asked to speak again. Later, he felt God calling him back to school and into the ministry.

And do you believe that the young man in this story is here with us today? But I’m not as young as I was.

Obedience to God’s call often requires moving out of our comfort zone.

This morning we’re going to hear about another man’s story of fear of answering God’s call. Let’s read Acts 9:10-19

How often do we let our comfort zones dictate our obedience to God?

This morning we'll discover that God can use a "nobody" to impact somebody who might just change the world.

How do we do that?

I. Recognize God's Call, Even When It's Unexpected. (10-12)

As we look through God’s Word, we often encounter moments where God’s call comes from the most unexpected places, at the most unexpected times.

I think of Gideon of the OT.

That’s the kind of moment we see here. When we read these verses, we encounter Ananias, not a prominent figure, not a known disciple, but an ordinary believer in Damascus. Ananias wasn't expecting God to speak to him that day. But when the Lord called out to him in a vision, "Ananias!", his immediate response was, "Here I am, Lord." There's a readiness, a willingness, a posture of expectation even in the everyday.

Now, put yourself in Ananias' sandals for a moment. The Lord gives you a specific task—to seek out Saul, the very man known for persecuting and jailing Christians. It would've been easy for Ananias to dismiss this call, to assume he'd heard wrong, or to let fear hold him back.

I hate to admit it, but there have been too many times in my life when I haven’t answered God’s calls. It might have been “give” when God said to give. Or, strike up a conversation with that person, “My Holy Spirit’s working on them.” Or, go in this direction despite the opposition.

Think of a time when you held back. You knew as clear as day God was calling you to step out of your comfort zone and do something for Him.

But fear held you back. Fear of the unknown. Fear of failure. Fear of rejection. Or, God forbid, just plain stubbornness.

Or did you even recognize it as God’s call. Maybe you thought it was that pizza you had too late last night. Whatever the case, we need to be ready to recognize God’s call, even when it’s unexpected.

What stands out for me in Ananias’ life is his willingness to recognize God's voice and the unexpected nature of His call.

We live in a world full of noise, distractions, and competing voices vying for our attention. It's all too easy to miss the quiet, unexpected whispers of God. But, like Ananias, our responsibility is to cultivate a heart that is attuned, ready, and receptive to God's voice, no matter how surprising the message or the mission might be.

The challenge for each of us is to recognize that God doesn't just call the "qualified" or those in high positions. He calls ordinary individuals to do extraordinary things. The question is: Are we listening? Are we, in the humdrum of our daily lives, poised to respond as Ananias did: "Here I am, Lord"?

I remember listening to one of my college professors when he would share about his fellow Bible College classmate, Jim Elliot, who would talk of hearing God’s call to go to a foreign land and share Jesus with those who’ve never heard about Him before.

Jim Elliot stepped out of his comfort zone and along with four other missionaries set out to bring the gospel to the Waodani Tribe in Ecuador. This tribe was known for its violence. While their initial contact ended tragically with the missionaries being killed, their wives and families continued the mission. The tribe eventually came to know Jesus, and acts of violence among them drastically decreased.

I want you to ask yourself, “ Am I listening for God's voice in the unexpected moments of my life?”

Daily, take a moment of quiet to ask God to give you your marching orders.

And then...

II. Face Your Fears with Faith. (13-14)

Now Ananias is shaking in his sandals. He says, “I heard it through the grapevine about all the terrible things this guy’s done to the disciples in Jerusalem. And he’s got the authority to arrest everyone that follows Jesus.

In verses 13-14 we dive deeper into Ananias's response to the Lord.

Ananias was afraid, and who could blame him? Saul was notorious for persecuting Christians. This would be like being asked to walk willingly into the lion's den. But here's the thing about faith: it isn't the absence of fear but the courage to move forward in spite of it.

Imagine Ananias's situation. His initial hesitation was justified, given Saul’s reputation. We often face circumstances that make us want to turn and run in the other direction. Yet, the crux of our faith journey isn't to avoid such situations but to march forward, fueled by our trust in God. Ananias’s faith didn't erase his fear, but it gave him the courage to face it head-on.

Now, you might be thinking, "That's all well and good for Ananias, but I'm not sure I can be that brave." The truth is, every single one of us has the capacity for such bravery. Why? Because our faith is rooted not in our own abilities but in God's power and His promises. It's not about the size of our courage, but the size of our God. And here's the comforting reality: the same God that stood with Ananias stands with each of us today.

We might not be asked to approach a notorious persecutor of Christians, but in our daily lives, we face challenges that test our faith. Maybe it's a difficult conversation you've been avoiding, a decision that's unpopular but right, or a leap into the unknown, trusting God has a plan. He gives us a hope for the future.

Fear is a killer of hope.

I want to give you five ways fear is a killer of hope:

Fear paralyzes action: fear acts as a paralyzing agent, freezing you in our tracks. It keeps you from moving forward. When you allow fear to dominate, you stagnate.

Fear amplifies doubt: when combined with fear, doubt becomes a destructive force. It magnifies uncertainties and focuses our attention on failures, rather than learning from them.

Fear erodes faith: Hope thrives on our faith in God’s plan, and in His power to make things happen. And without faith, hope shrivels, making it challenging to meet adversity head on.

Fear encourages short-term thinking: Hope encourages us to look to the future while fear traps us in the present moment’s perceived threats preventing us from seeing the bigger picture. It’s like watching your feet when you walk.

Fear distorts reality: fear has a knack for magnifying the miniscule, real or imagined. As a result, the world seems full of dangers, overshadowing the myriad opportunities around us. In such a world, hope finds little room to flourish.

It’s okay to feel apprehensive when God calls. It’s how we move forward in spite of our apprehension that matters.

Whatever it is, remember Ananias. He listened, trusted, and acted. And in doing so, he played a pivotal role in one of the most transformative stories in the New Testament. When we face our fears with faith, who knows what God can do through us? So, let's be people who don't shy away but rather step forward, trusting that our God is bigger than any fear we might face.

Ask yourself: “What fears are holding me back from answering God's call?”

Here’s what you can do, “List those fears and find scriptures that address them. Memorize and pray over them this week.”

Why can we face our fears and move forward for God?

III. Embrace the Uncomfortable, Knowing God Has A Plan. (15-16)

Notice that God doesn’t get upset with Ananias, or seem disappointed in him.

What we hear are God's reassuring words to Ananias: "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." Here, we uncover the essence of our faith journey: Embracing the uncomfortable with the unwavering conviction that God is orchestrating a grander plan.

Now, let's be honest: we all love our comfort zones. There's a certain predictability and safety in the known. But God often calls us to step outside what's familiar and into the realm of the uncertain. Why? Because that's where real growth happens. That's where our faith is stretched, tested, and ultimately strengthened. But here's the beautiful part: we're not stepping into the unknown alone. We're stepping into it with a God who sees the end from the beginning, a God who has a purpose for every challenge we face.

Saul's conversion wasn't just for Saul. It was for the Gentiles, for the kings, for the children of Israel, and yes, for each of us today. God had a plan, a plan bigger than Ananias's fears and bigger than Saul’s past. This is the God we serve: a God of grand narratives, of redemption stories, of plans that outlive and outshine our brief moments of discomfort.

What if Ananias had said no? What if he'd let his discomfort dictate his decision? The spread of the Gospel might have looked very different. In the same way, when we shy away from the uncomfortable, we might be missing out on playing a crucial role in God's magnificent plan. So, as we face those moments of uncertainty, those crossroads of comfort and calling, let's remember Ananias. Let's remember that when God calls us to something, He's already seen the outcome. And more often than not, on the other side of discomfort is a purpose and a plan that far exceeds our expectations. Embrace the uncomfortable, knowing that in it, God is weaving a story of redemption and grace that might just change the world.

What are some areas in your life where you are sensing God moving you to do something?

In your job?

Beginning to tithe or give sacrificially?

Sharing Jesus with someone?

Going out of your way to help someone?

What will you do when God calls you to do something that’s way out of your comfort zone? When you’re frozen with fear, or it seems unwise? Or goes against your safe American Christian mindset?

I want you to ask yourself, “What comfort am I clinging to that's preventing me from fully serving God?”

I want you to take one step this week towards releasing that comfort and stepping into God's plan.

And then be prepared to...

IV. Witness the Power of Simple Obedience. (17-19)

Acts 9:17-19 is a testament to the sheer transformative power of obedience. Ananias, with a faith that would inspire generations, went to Saul, placed his hands on him, and 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." And just like that, something remarkable happened. 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.

Often, when we think of moments that shape history or change the trajectory of lives, we picture grand gestures or earth-shattering declarations. But here, it's a simple act of obedience. Ananias didn't part seas or call down fire from heaven. He simply listened to God and acted accordingly. Yet, his obedience led to the transformation of Saul into Paul, the apostle whose writings and missionary journeys would forever change the course of Christianity.

It's easy to downplay the significance of our daily acts of obedience. "It's just a small thing," we might think, or "Someone else could do it." But what if Ananias had thought the same? What if he had dismissed God's call as insignificant or too daunting given Saul's reputation? The ripple effects of our obedience, no matter how minor it seems, can have profound impacts we might never fully see in our lifetimes.

What's more, obedience isn't just about the results. It's about developing a heart that's attuned to God's voice, a spirit that's eager to follow His lead, and a life that's a testament to His grace. Every act of obedience, be it big or small, is a step closer to the heart of God, a dance in rhythm with His will. And in that dance, we often find joy, purpose, and a deep sense of fulfillment.

So, as you go about your day, facing choices and crossroads, remember Ananias. Remember the power of simple obedience. You never know—the next decision you make in alignment with God's will could be the catalyst for someone's life-changing moment, a testament to God's unfathomable ways, working through ordinary people with extraordinary faith.

What will it look like for you to obey God like Ananias?

Start a ministry to an underserved group of people?`

Get in shape so you can serve God longer?

Begin discipling others?

Here’s what I want you to get, even if you don’t hear anything else, “God can use a nobody to impact somebody that might just impact the world.”

On April 21, 1855, Edward Kimball led one of his Sunday School boys to faith in Christ. Little did he realize that Dwight L. Moody would one day become the world’s leading evangelist.

The ministry of Norman B. Harrison in an obscure Bible conference was used of God to bring Theodore Epp to faith in Christ, and God used Theodore Epp to build the Back to the Bible ministry around the world.

Our task is to lead men and women to Christ; God’s task is to use them for His glory; and every person is important to God.

Ask yourself: “Who might God be preparing for a significant purpose through my simple act of obedience?”

Pray daily for the opportunity to be a channel of blessing and obey when God prompts. Be willing to step out of your comfort zone, and see what happens.