Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction
Have you ever really needed encouragement?
3rd yr here just had Abi, our second.
There were some struggles going on in the church and Jess and I were a little beat down and discouraged.
I will never forget a Sunday when both children were acting up and Jess and I were both trying to deal with them and with all the other things we do on Sunday.
Bess Crawford, who is now with the Lord, says to us “You guys are really good parents.
I think you are doing a great job.
And I am so thankful that you came here.”
Wow!
It was a perfect, God-ordained moment, that encouraged us and kept us going!
It was this breath of fresh air.
Saul the persecutor of the church has had his world turned upside down.
He has realized that He has been persecuting the Messiah.
He has been blinded by the light he saw on the road and he is now fasting and praying in Damascus.
Into this situation, God is going to send encouragement.
God is going to use Ananias to encourage Saul.
God is going to use Ananias to encourage Saul.
But first
This passage challenges us to have a ministry of encouragement.
In a ministry of encouragement there are two requirements.
When we meet these requirements we are able to encourage others.
If we are going to have a ministry of encouragement our first requirement is to…
1. Identify And Demolish Barriers To Encouragement vv.
10-16
The greatest barrier to a ministry of encouragement is ourselves.
We put up roadblocks.
These verses identify three barriers to encouragement that must be demolished before we can fulfill this ministry.
a.
The barrier of need vv.
10-12
from the very first we learn a valuable lesson about encouragement.
To have a ministry of encouragement you must be a disciple.
Disciple – μαθητής (mathētēs) disciple.
Disciple n. — a student who adheres to (and travels with) a teacher in a pedagogical relationship; especially used of students of spiritual leaders.
Noun (subject), nominative, singular, masculine.
Disciple – μαθητής (mathētēs)
A disciple is a follower of Jesus who is committed.
He is not casual in his Christianity.
He is not a weekend or holiday Christian.
He is someone who is pursuing Christ!
The fact that Saul was headed to Damascus to arrest believers tells us that Ananias wasn’t the only disciple there.
Yet he is the one God chose.
I believe all of us need to be challenged with this thought.
“Would God have chosen me?
Am I displaying the kind of faithfulness necessary to be used by God to encourage others?
Am I a disciple of Jesus Christ?”
Ananias is a disciple and and God speaks to him in a vision.
The Lord calls him by name and Ananias gives a revealing response.
If you are going to minister to others, you must have a heart that is sensitive to the Lord’s leading.
We have discussed this before, but the expression “here I am” indicates a readiness and willingness to hear and obey.
To have a ministry of encouragement, you must be listening.
We are so consumed with ourselves that we don’t hear God’s leading to reach out to others!
This is somewhat of a culture thing.
If we are to encourage one another, we have to be listening to God.
Having indicated his willingness to hear and obey, Ananias is given an assignment in v. 11.
Three commands.
Arise, Go, Inquire.
Arise – ἀνίστημι (anistēmi) rise; get up; rise up.
To rise up v. — to rise up for the purpose of taking action.
Verb, aorist, active, participle of attendant circumstance, singular, nominative, masculine.
Arise – ἀνίστημι (anistēmi)
When God speaks, we get up and take action.
Ananias is to arise and go to the street called Straight.
Here is a 19th century picture of that street (S).
Once he arrives at the street, inquire for Saul of Tarsus.
Ananias is to seek Saul out at the house of Judas.
Saul is praying.
The life-altering revelations Saul has had, have left him blind.
He has been fasting for three days and now we know what he has been doing during that time.
He has been praying.
When life has you mixed up confused, unsure, and overwhelmed; pray.
Here Saul is praying and God is orchestrating the answer to his prayer!
In v. 12 the Lord reveals that Ananias is that answer.
Saul too has had a vision.
In his vision Ananias comes, lays hands on him, and he is able to see again.
This is where our first barrier to encouragement comes in.
Saul has a need.
He is blind.
He knows that he has a need, but the one to encourage him, Ananias, had to be made aware of it as well.
Both the one to be encouraged, and the one to do the encouraging, must recognize the need.
If you don’t recognize your need, you cannot be encouraged.
If you don’t see the need to encourage, obviously, you will not encourage anyone.
Need is the first barrier.
The Lord has revealed his need to Saul, now it is revealed to Ananias.
To have a ministry of encouragement, you must be sensitive to the needs of others.
James talks about this.
Turn to .
James says that when we don’t both recognize and meet the needs of others, our faith is worthless.
It benefits no one.
The first barrier to encouraging others is failing to recognize that they need encouragement!
The second barrier identified in these verses is…
b.
The barrier of fear vv.
13-14
These verses stress something vitally important.
It is okay to question God.
In fact, it seems like the most spiritual people in the Bible all question God!
What we must understand is that their questioning does not indicate an unwillingness to obey.
It simply reflects caution and a desire for understanding.
God doesn’t always answer us when we question.
But He does here.
God has told Ananias where to go and who to encourage.
However, Ananias has a few concerns.
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