A call to commitment not comfort

A Call to Commitment Not Comfort

Acts 9:10-17

10 There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” “Here I am, Lord,” he replied. 11 “Get up and go to the street called Straight,” the Lord said to him, “to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, since he is praying there. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so that he may regain his sight.” 13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” 17 Ananias went and entered the house. He placed his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road you were traveling, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. 19 And after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Every now and then there are certain surveys conducted. Participants are asked specific questions and they are asked to rank their responses on a scale of 1 to 10—One being not important at all and ten being Extremely important.

One survey conducted asked about the role of personal comfort in daily life and it based on the responses of the participants—personal comfort is extremely important.

You remember Charlie Brown’s Peanuts—there’s a character name Linus who always carried his comfort blanket with him—Some people eat what they call comfort food, and all of us have comfort zones because personal comfort ranks high in importance.

There are some who avoid uncomfortable conversations—uncomfortable situation, and places that make us uncomfortable which could be one of the reasons the Gospel is being spread—discomfort keeps us from going out into the streets and alleys—the highways and the hedges.

It’s our discomfort with diversity that keeps us from telling the poor, maimed, blind and lame about Jesus because for some reason we are uncomfortable with difference.

And this ain’t really a part of the sermon, but I’m reminded in Mark chapter 10—it was those following Jesus that didn’t  like the fact that Blind Bartimaeus had the audacity to cry out for Jesus.

It was the ones who had been with Jesus that didn’t want to fellowship with Gentile believers. It was Nathanael who wondered if anything good come out of the ghettos of Nazareth, simply because we have problems with diversity and we value comfort and so we avoid people, places, and things that cause us discomfort.

And it’s interesting cause when God calls—it is a call to commitment, not comfort.

Umm, if you read this text then you know the Lord put Ananias in an uncomfortable situation. You know the story about Saul—Saul was about that life—he was a thug terrorizing neighborhoods. He caused all kinds of trouble—Saul was part of the reason people locked their doors. He used to breathe out threats, murderous—umm, snatching people off the streets who belonged to the way and in verse 10 says: There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias whom the Lord picked to place his hands on Saul.

Ananias could not have known all that the Lord would do through him, and we can never know what God is going to do in a life—so, it is always too soon to give up on someone. I have seen God turn messes into messengers. I’ve seen God turn addicts into testimonies and fools to witnesses of His goodness—in His hands anyone’s life can be turned around.

Ananias had heard all the news reports. Every night on the six o clock news Saul’s name was mentioned and Ananias says to the Lord: Umm, Lord I done heard about this man—You sure You want this kind of person and the Lord doesn’t respond about his past actions because the Lord don’t care how much you’ve done, how your past looks—whosoever will let him come.

The Lord said go for this man is My chosen instrument to take My Name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites.

When the Lord calls He calls us to commitment not comfort. It’s right here in the latter part of verse 15: Jesus says I will show him how much he will suffer  for My Name, and I’m gon’ make three quick points and we’ll go home.

First: It’s a Divine Necessity

Reading in a topical encyclopedia—Divine Necessity refers to a theological concept that certain events, actions, or conditions are ordained by God as essential to the fulfillment of His Divine plan and purposes. The Bible presents numerous instances where Divine Necessity is evident illustrating God’s plans are unchangeable and His purposes are fulfilled through both natural and supernatural means.

In the Old Testament divine necessity is seen in the fulfillment of God’s promises and prophecies. The deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage was a necessary step in the fulfillment of God’s covenant with Abraham.

Jesus coming as the Messiah, the Savior of the world is an example of Divine Necessity, and the practical side of this is understanding Divine Necessity encourages us to align our lives with God’s will—seeking to discover His purposes and participate in His redemptive work.

Now look at what this means for Saul. The first thing the Lord says about Saul is he is a chosen instrument. This means God has picked him out for a specific purpose—he was chosen, he was picked out for God’s use and who God uses it is no longer about them—it’s about Divine Purpose.

And here is my issue with the text—I get being chosen and being picked out, but the Lord doesn’t stop at him being a chosen instrument the Lord goes on to say I will show him how much he must suffer for My name sake.

Did you catch that: Saul is a chosen instrument to bear the Lord’s name before Gentiles, kings and Israelites. In a basic sense the Lord is saying, I Am going to make an example out of him.

And one of the examples is how Paul remained committed to the cause of Christ while dealing with much suffering and let me slide this in cause sometimes God will pick any of us out just to make an example out of us.

You recall Job—God asked satan have you considered My servant Job? Job was picked out and God made an example out of him and if it hasn’t already—If it ain’t happened this year—January could start the year where God chooses to make an example out of you.

Yeah, look what the Lord said: I will show him how much he must suffer for My name sake. Here is something I saw in what the Lord says: His suffering would not be a one time event. It wasn’t just one day—nah, he went through seasons of sufferings—beaten with rods, shipwrecked, thrown in jail—he went through seasons of suffering and I love his attitude. He doesn’t get upset with God—he didn’t quit the ministry, cause he knew everything he went through the Lord brought him through each time.

Paul would say stuff like: We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed. Perplexed, but not in despair. Persecuted, but not forsaken—struck down, but not destroyed always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our body—Paul kept things in perspective and a heavenly perspective will help us stay the course.

Secondly: It is a Purpose Driven Choice

I already told us the Lord put Ananias in an uncomfortable situation and I love how although he was uncomfortable with it he did not let his discomfort interfere with his commitment to obeying the Lord’s word.

I love this part of the text cause—I said this earlier, but you never know the impact someone will have in the body of Christ—you never know what God will do with the life brought to Him—we can never know how many souls will be saved when that one is finally brought to Christ.

Andrew did not know the impact Simon would have in the Kingdom of God—he just brought him to Jesus. Simon Peter had his bloops and blunders—talked out of turn at times, but he was a part of that group that turned the world upside down cause they refused to stop talking about Christ.

And now Ananias has no clue what the Lord is gon’ through him and I love how Ananias greets Saul.

He doesn’t talk about him being too far gone—you ain’t no good, umm, no count—I don’t want that kind of element around me—he didn’t bring up Saul’s past—he didn’t tell him he doesn’t deserve—he didn’t say any of that Ananias shows us how to talk to people in love—he teaches us that he knows in Christ you are no longer defined by your past. Ananias didn’t talk down to Saul—nah, he goes in put his hands on him and the very first word out of Ananias’ mouth is Brother.

They are from different backgrounds—different hoods—socioeconomic differences, but when Ananias meets him—in spite of everything he heard—he greets him as a brother.

It is evident by the time you reach verse 17 something has changed in Ananias’ thought process and I don’t know if he prayed, but I do know something changed in his attitude about Saul.

And this is a word for us cause you will not be able to reach out to lost folk for Christ until you change your attitude and thoughts toward the lost. Yeah, by the time Ananias got to Saul—the things he had done didn’t matter—the things he had said were no longer important—he is now a brother.

Here’s something else worth mentioning about a purpose driven choice. When you read through the book of Acts you will discover the name Ananias appears just three times. IN chapter 5, Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit. In chapter 23 and 24 Paul stood before the high priest Ananias, and right here in chapter 9. 

Ananias does not have a long bio—we don’t know his parents—none of the other things he may have done are mentioned—all we know is that he is a disciple of Jesus and when his name is mentioned it is about serving a purpose—we read in the verses of him struggling with what the Lord said do, but we also read of him obeying His word. Ananias is proof that what you do for Christ will last—Ananias was purpose driven. At first he protested, I’ve heard many things about this man, but ultimately he obeyed—he fulfilled his purpose cause he committed himself to Christ not comfort.

Umm, here is where we see that God’s choose is a purpose driven choice cause when you read on in the chapter—after Ananias calls him brother, and after he regained his sight—after he was filled with the Holy Spirit verse 20 says he immediately began proclaiming Jesus in the Synagogues.

I told us we never know what God is going to do in a life and thank God for Ananias’ obedience cause Paul would plant churches, he would witness, he would testify of the Lord’s goodness—he would go on to write over a third of the New Testament and Paul knowing his past would also always remember the first interaction he had with a disciple of Jesus he was treated like a brother.

My last five minutes: It’s the Lord’s choice

If you have ever watched the draft —NBA or NFL then I would be willing to bet you have disagreed with a draft pick. In discussions you hear debates about about a certain draft pick cause watching from TV and not being involved makes us expert sports analysts and they should have listened when we yelled at the screen from our couch.

Interestingly sometimes we do the same with whom God chooses cause we wouldn’t have choses that person. And God’s selection process is different from ours—we choose based on several principles—things like abilities, merit, network possibilities, and God chooses the foolish, weak, and despised things in His selection.

God’s choice is deliberately contrary to our logic. God’s choice of the least deserving is a clear demonstration of His grace. And let me slide this in cause everyone of us was and is least deserving and to look down your sanctified nose means you have forgotten where the Lord found you.

Everyone of us got a sinful past—everyone of us was tore up from the floor up, before Jesus we were all sinking deep in sin far from the peaceful shores very deeply stained within sinking to rise no more and if you are saved you got the same testimony—But the Master of the Sea heard my despairing cry and from the waters lifted me now safe am I—yeah, a whole lot of us have forgot what He has delivered us from.

Umm, there are no Big I’s or little ‘yous’—I said this last week, but there is no VIP section in heaven. You not gon’ have a roped off section for the not so bad ones—all of us who are saved are saved in spite of what He knows about us.

That’s good news cause while we have read all Paul’s letters—I am not sure we would have witnessed to him about Jesus.

I thank God that His choosing is not influenced by us—it is not based on your looks, your money, or your abilities—it is His loving will—it is His nature He loves because He is love.

Ananias teaches us we may not be comfortable with His will, but he knew he could not be comfortable outside His will. He also teaches us to get out the way—Ananias does not seek to go viral cause he was the one instrumental in Saul’s conversion experience—he doesn’t do TV interviews. Nah, he did what the Lord said and got out the way.

Here is my last thought about the call to commitment and not comfort—Ananias committed to the call although it wasn’t comfortable and lastly we have to remain committed even when what we are called to do is not about us. See how I slipped that in there, you didn’t even see that coming.

A lot of people aren’t comfortable not being the main character. A whole lot of church folk only show up—umm, only commit when its their Sunday to be on the program. In many churches if you want people to serve you got to make them the president of the auxiliary—they need a prestigious title, but whatever your preferred title—it’s just a fancy way to say Servant.

When we stand before Christ—He not gon’ call me Bishop, Pastor, He won’t even use my name—when I stand before Him I want to hear Him say Well done good and faithful servant. Serving is not about you it is about Him—that is what Ananias teaches—the call to commitment is not self-serving. It is not about making us comfortable, but a commitment to His will and way no matter how uncomfortable it becomes.