Straight Talk from God: you play an important role in His family plan!

David Eubanks recounts the story of how a multinational Christian relief organization began by a simple answer. God used an unlikely missionary to spark a movement that saves lives both physically and spiritually.

Movie Clip.

Acts 9:10–20 NASB95

10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at 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 instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 16 for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized; 19 and he took food and was strengthened. Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus, 20 and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”

God ALWAYS makes the first move:

Unless God cared about us. Unless God wanted to be known, we could not know Him. God’s greatest revelation is in Jesus Christ coming to earth. His Word is one of God’s means of grace by which He reveals the Truth of Who He is, Who we are, and How to become right in God’s eyes. The Holy Spirit uses the Word to bring Grace to us. The Holy Spirit also speaks to people by revealing righteousness to our conscious and the reality of His judgement and love.

In Romans 1 we also see that God uses the very creation to point us to God. He uses natural revelation to draw us to look for Him and seek Him. He put eternity into our very hearts that we would seek Him. It’s not our idea. And without God wanting to be known and making Himself known, no one could ever know Him.

In Salvation.

John 3:16 NASB95

16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Now, some of you may wonder why did God stop and wonder why did God pick Damascus as the place to reach out to Paul. Why didn’t He stop Paul back in Jerusalem so Ananias would not be afraid or stressed.

First, God never causes people to sin. God also is never surprised by anything we do or don’t do. He may be saddened. He may be happy. But, He can always use even a crooked stick to accomplish His will. We first need to remember that this world is not our home. While I don’t believe God desires the death of His Children, we know that there are spiritual and selfish forces working against God’s love and desire to adopt many into His family.

We also know fear and the paralysis of analysis stops many people from moving forward in the good they ought to do. God used the persecution that Satan stirred up with the intention of stopping the Gospel to move Christians to other cities to share the gospel and spread the news that God welcomes all who will believe in Jesus into His family.

God also keeps His promises. Even when we fail, He is faithful. If you walk away from Him, He will still seek you.

So, if you read your Bible closely, you will discover that God promised the land Abraham walked upon. Damascus would be where Abraham rescued Lot. It was an ungodly place. The territory of Damascus and Mt. Hermon always had a sordid reputation in Biblical history, but never the less it is where the Tribe of Dan ended up after part of the tribe moved in Judges 18.

Dan had lost their way. They are the Tribe that won’t be mentioned in the 144,000. See, they didn’t get rid of the Giant clans in their original territory and they moved north. They didn’t obey God’s command in taking the Land promised to Abraham. So here we have Paul at the farthest edges of the Land promised to Abraham. It will be at this point that God will launch the Gospel beyond Judea and Samaria to the ends of the earth. Paul will be the chosen vessel to bring the Gospel to the nations that had been disinherited by God after Babbel.

So when you hear Damascus and God doing these powerful miracles to call and convince a wayward Jew, think how God is calling to all the wayward people.

Imagine talking to people in prison and they ask, “Can God really forgive me? Does God really want me?” All you have to do is point to Paul and show all that Jesus did to redeem and vocal murdering Jew.

In Service.

Not everyone responds like Ananias, Isaiah, Dave and Karen Eubanks. They hem haw. Gideon didn’t believe God so he tested God. Jonah believed God, but didn’t like how merciful God was. He didn’t want the Ninevites to escape destruction. They were bad people and he wanted them to be punished. Ananias was willing to serve.

Isaiah 6:8 NASB95

8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

Through a real relationship, God cultivates an attitude of SERVICE.

You know God could have mystically guided Ananias in a trance to go get Paul and just override his fears. God listened to Ananias and reasoned with him. God could have changed Paul from inside and changed the man’s nature. But instead he used a bright light and blindness to give Paul reasons to humble himself and listen. Do you notice in the text how Paul has been in prayer. Don’t you think he was doing some soul searching after Jesus blinded him? Then Ananias comes and confirms Jesus’ words on the road to Damascus.

Did you ever wonder why Paul never backed down on his journeys? He met the living Jesus. He had no doubt where he would go if they killed him. He also knew that as long as God had a plan for him, they couldn’t kill him.

Your ACTION or INACTION makes an impact on others and the world.

For all the wonderful work Paul did, it was Ananias’ obedience that got the gear moving.

This week, I had to replace a CV (Constant Velocity) joint in one our vehicles. All it took was a little rock to get in the boot and the gears. ONce that joint goes, or stops moving, the whole car stops. I can have a perfectly tuned engine. But if the power doesn’t get to the wheels, its not going anywhere. Doesn’t matter if you have the best gas, that one little part and gear matters. It’s amazing how many parts have to be there to get things moving.

So don’t you ever think you don’t matter. God has an assignment for you. YOu might be assigned to pray for a middle school kid and check up on her. That may be the difference in her sticking with Christ and making good decisions in High School and College. You may be a greeter and your smile made someone who wanted to run from God feel welcome and hear the message.

Just this week, Cathy came to Christ. She believed the Bible but had not made that step of personal faith. Adam and Terah invited her to church. She attends class with Judy and talked with me. But she needed all those experiences to prepare her to ask the right questions and focus in on Jesus. So will you recognize that we have a bunch of Ananiases here.

Ananias RECEIVED Paul into the faith.

Ananias RECOMMENDED Paul to the fellowship.

Ananias RECRUITED the greatest missionary.

Who will you recruit for Christ? Who here needs to believe the ABCs of salvation.

QUESTIONS FOR FOLLOW UP DISCUSSION:

Where has God called you to serve?

When have you allowed excuses to hold you back?

Share how you have seen blessings following obedience?

Will you commit to prayerfully support a mission or a child (such as in Compassion International)?

Share ways God revealed Himself to you.