Open our Eyes to God’s Call

Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. 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.” 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. 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.” Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” 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. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” 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.” Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

God removed Paul’s sight so that He would see through the eyes of Jesus.

I. A call to Surrender

A. Our prejudices

a. Paul’s prejudice against the church.

b. Ananias’s prejudice against Paul.

B. Our fears

C. Our lives

Romans 6:6 NKJV

knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

II. A call to Suffer

1 Thessalonians 3:3 NKJV

that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.

A. For the name of Christ

B. For the bride of Christ

III. A call to Speak

A. Speak healing into the hurting

Adrian Rogers

A Godly pastor was doing a good job and two men in the church didn’t like him. They came to him and said, “Pastor, we think you should be the pastor no longer, in this church, and we’re going to ask you to step aside and resign.” He said, “Well gentleman, thank you for coming to me.” He said, “I’ll tell you what I’ll do. I will take it to the lord and pray over it and I’ll get back to you.” They said, “Alright we will meet back next week.” Next week came and they met. The men said, “Well, what did God say to you?” The pastor said, “God said He’d never heard of you two guys.”