NJ - FACE TO FACE WITH JESUS

WELCOME

Good morning and welcome to Oasis Church, I’m glad you have made it here today, to be with the family and to worship our King of Kings and Lord of Lords, it is amazing to be in the presence of God.

Welcome to Oasis Church Moura and our online family. If you are visiting with us, we welcome you and look forward to chatting with you around morning tea.

LET’S PRAY

Prayer: Father we thank You for Your grace and love toward us. We pray that we would be filled with Your Spirit, Your strength and Your power, so that we can walk in all that You have called us to. We ask Your Holy Spirit to bring revelation of Your word that we can apply it to our lives and live it out. Father bless Your people in Jesus name. Amen

INTRODUCTION

As I was reading about Saul’s conversion when he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, I felt God speak to me through these scriptures. Today I want us to focus on our part in this story and how we respond to and when Jesus asks us to do what He has called us to do.

I am sure we all can come up with excuses around this why we can’t do it:

I am busy

It is not my responsibility

Someone else with do it

I am not qualified to do it

The question is can you see the big pitcher

Jesus tells Saul go and see Ananias and he will pray for you

Ananias questions God, if He knows who Saul is

Obedience, I will do it

Saul becomes Paul and the rest is history. Paul went on to write most of the New Testament

LETS READ ACTS 9:10-22

Acts 9:10–22 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. 20 Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. 21 Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.

An Adversary Becomes an Ally

In a blinding streak of light, the brilliant rabbi from Tarsus supernaturally met the resurrected Messiah from Nazareth. What remarkable love was shown in that encounter! Why would Jesus want to have anything to do with a person like Saul? He was antagonistic to Jesus and to everyone who followed Him.

Saul’s reputation proceeded him

But the very thing that we think would repel Jesus is what made Saul the target of His love: Saul was an enemy. Remember Jesus message was for His people to love their enemies.

Matthew 5:44 NKJV

44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

Luke 6:27 NKJV

27 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

Luke 6:35 NKJV

35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.

He told His followers to do so, and He gave the ultimate demonstration of it on the cross. Now, in effect, Jesus again practiced what He once preached as He extended that love to this enemy.

The one who hunted down Jesus’ followers was being tracked down by the love of God.

When Saul had first heard the voice from Heaven, he wasn’t quite sure who was speaking. After Jesus had identified Himself, Saul acknowledged Jesus as Lord—a radical confession for a man who loathed Christians. Then Saul asked an astounding question: “Lord, what do You want me to do?”

Acts 9:6 NKJV

6 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.”

Not only did Saul recognise that he was in the presence of Jesus, but he was compelled to surrender his will. In that moment Saul opened his heart to the mercy of God. The dazzling light shone on him and blinded him, but the spiritual light dawned inside him and made him see! This enemy had been won over.

POINT 1

PUT OUR TRUST IN GOD

Ananias was in a position to hear the voice of Jesus speaking to him. Ananias was in prayer, and waiting on God for instruction.

It was his normal practice to spend time in prayer, we need to make it our normal practice

Ananias longed to hear what God wanted to say to him, Do we long to hear from God?

At times we are Ananias was tempted to trust on our own abilities, our own resources, what he had heard.

But he trusted in God, do we trust in God.

Proverbs 3:5–6 NKJV

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Psalm 9:10 NKJV

10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.

We need to trust God in all that we do

He is unchanging

He is our strong tower

He is our anchor

He is our rock

He is our sure foundation

POINT 2

TAKE A RISK

There are oppositions to our prayer life, but we need to take a risk and push though in faith. Ananias was able to take a risk because he could trust in Jesus.

Acts 9:15–18 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.” 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.

Ananias was a man that knew this beyond anything else.

Psalm 118:8 NKJV

8 It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in man.

Ananias knew he needed to keep his confidence in God and was willing to take a risk, knowing God would come through for him.

We need to have confidence in God

POINT 3

RENEWS OUR STRENGTH

Daniel and his friends modeled unyielding faithfulness even under the threat of torture and death. Because they trusted God, they were strong in faith

Isaiah 40:31 NKJV

31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

In all of our circumstances if we trust in God we are strengthened. As we wait on the Lord through our prayer life our faith is increased.

CONCLUSION

As we conclude this part of our service, we have learnt the importance of:

PUT OUR TRUST IN GOD

TAKE A RISK

RENEWS OUR STRENGTH

Trusting God in our prayer life brings a sense of security

Trusting God in our prayer life requires faith - We have all been given a mustard seed of faith.

Trusting God in our prayer life is vital for any good relationship

Trusting God in our prayer life is linked to our confidence in Him

Put our trust in GOD

Proverbs 3:5–6 NKJV

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Take a risk

There are oppositions to our prayer life, but we need to take a risk and push though in faith.

Renews our strength

Isaiah 40:31 NKJV

31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

SALVATION OPPORTUNITY

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