Obeying Our Lord
Notes
Transcript
There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.”
“Here I am, Lord,” he replied.
“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. 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.”
“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
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.”
For some amazing reason God loves to use obscure and simple saints for the purpose of advancing His kingdom.
Ananias was an obscure and simple saint. He’s mentioned only once in the New Testament. But, these eight (8) verses, while they are short, are spread out throughout the rest of the New Testament and will even spread out throughout eternity.
Ananias was the humble, obscure, and simple instrument God used to completely change the course of human history. We focus on Paul and his letters, rightly so, but without Ananias obedience to Jesus, we wouldn’t have the Paul who wrote the great majority of our New Testament.
Ananias’ testimony shows us that even the most obscure person in Christ’s church can have the greatest impact in the world.
Many of you have mothers who prayed fervently for you and others. Willing to stop someone in their tracks and pray for someone.
Some of you may have fathers who served as a deacon and showed up week in and week out due to their love of Jesus.
I think the vast majority of people in the church are just like Ananias.
Do you know how valuable and impactful people like Ananias are for Jesus?
I want to point out three things we see in these 8 verses
First we will see An Order
Then An Objection
And finally An Outcome
v10-12
An Order
An Order
Personal; Specific; & Risky
There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.”
“Here I am, Lord,” he replied.
“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. 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.”
Let’s look at how this order was personal.
“There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.”
This command was personal in that Jesus singled out Ananias and called on him in an intimate fashion.
Jesus loves his Bride, His Church, collectively and also loves each member individually. We see here the intimate nature of the type of relationship Jesus has for each and everyone of us.
Notice how personal Ananias is with Jesus too.
“Here I am, Lord,” he replied”
Ananias knew who it was that was calling his name. He also knew where he stood in relation to the one calling on him.
John 10:27
My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me.
One commentary says that the way Ananias responded Our Lord’s voice with, “Here I am, Lord.”...
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Acts of the Apostles 2. Accepted into the Fellowship of the Persecuted Church (9:10–19a)
indicates ‘both his presence and his readiness to carry out the Lord’s will’
Jesus is Ananias’ Master...
I’m reminded of an older African American man I met on an airplane ride from Houston to Atlanta. In the conversation, I mentioned that I was on my way back to NC from being hired to help move a lady from NC to Houston. I was trying to earn money for my potential move to CA for seminary. He then proceeded to talk about his relationship with Christ. I’ll never forget how he called Jesus. “Master”. He kept saying, wherever my master wants me to go, that’s where I go. He spoke of Jesus as his “master” not in a resentful way, but in a personal and affectionate way.
I see Ananias responding similarly to that man I met.
See how the order was specific:
“Get up and go to the street called Straight,” the Lord said to him,”
A specific request, to a specific place...
“to the house of Judas,”
A specific place owned by a specific man...
“and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, since he is praying there.”
Ask for a specific man, from a specific place, who has a specific name, and here is the specific thing he is doing: praying.
“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.”
Jesus even reveals that he has been specific with the specific man that Ananias is being requested to go see.
God has been working in Saul to the extent that he is giving Saul a prophetic vision about how he is going to be healed.
I believe God is so personal with each of us that he also has specific things he created us to do. Things he is gently requesting us to do. Things we need to be humble enough, have faith enough, and listen closely enough to hear.
This is the type of relationship with Christ that I want.
This personal and specific order of Ananias is a risky order though too.
Realize who it is that Ananias is being sent to help:
Saul: A man KNOWN for his zeal at persecuting people like Ananias.
We could really get honest here for a moment.
It’s likely, that much of our evangelism and obedience to Jesus, our good Master, is going to be risky in the years to come.
Jesus may be preparing to ask His church to do some risky service for Him very soon. I mean, have you been paying attention to the news lately?
What if God were to Order you to minister to someone who you knew to be your enemy, someone sent to persecute you, or conquer you?
One of my favorite parts of the movie, the Patriot, is when the American Revolution makes its way to the main Character, Benjamin Martin’s front yard. Rather than just help the Colonials (Americans), he provides help and healing to members of the British Army too. Benjamin Martin was a Christian in that movie. It’s a powerful scene when you see both Red Coats and Blue Coats on Benjamin Martin’s porch being cared for.
v13-14
An Objection
An Objection
Humble; Informed; & Reasonable
“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
Notice how this objection, Ananias had, was humble...
““Lord,” Ananias answered...”
When the challenge is high, and the risk is real. Rather than revert to the flesh, which is natural to all people, Ananias remembers the position of his relationship with Jesus.
“Master...”
“Lord...”
While Jesus desires obedience, fully, He didn’t respond in anger or frustration at Ananias. Likely because Ananias’ reluctance was humble. Not bucking at authority.
Ananias also shows that his objection isn’t foolish. Because it’s informed.
““I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem.”
Ananias shows us that Saul’s reputation was real. It had spread. Even the Christians in Damascus where informed about Saul’s mission to persecute them.
You’ve probably felt informed reluctance at work or with a family member who you know hates the gospel and loves to wage war against Christ’s church.
Emailing a vocal pagan at Drake Software: I remember one time, I overheard/participated in an argument between a lady who sat in the cubicle next to me, at Drake Software, and a guy who had one behind us, who I knew was a very vocal critic of Christianity and the church. They were arguing over hell and why it existed. I kept silent for much of the time because I could tell emotion was high and the information the woman lady was sharing, while it was passionate, it was wrong. She was arguing about hell and about the existence of God in a very unkind and unbiblical way.
The argument was so intense that a supervisor had to come over and end it.
I believed, very strongly, that the lady had misrepresented Biblical Christianity, I felt like obedience to Jesus looked like emailing the guy a prayed through and well thought out response. I knew the likelihood of it being received negatively was high. But, I went through with it. And to my surprise, the reception was actually positive.
While I had an informed reluctance, obedience was better and benefitted me more. I don’t think Jesus was upset with it.
Now, we will see how this objection was reasonable.
“And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
Notice how Ananias points out the “authority” Saul had to persecute Christians.
To the Jews and religious community, what Saul was doing was legal.
Ananias had no room to argue with his potential captor.
They didn’t have a First Amendment like us:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
The New American Commentary: Acts The Call to Be Persecuted (9:10–19a)
Ananias’s reaction is understandable and should not be seen as his refusing the Lord
Saul needed a revelation from God to know it was safe to help a persecutor of the Church.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Acts of the Apostles 2. Accepted into the Fellowship of the Persecuted Church (9:10–19a)
this revelation is God’s way of overcoming his fear and mistrust before he can fulfill his ministry to Saul.
v15-17a
An Outcome
An Outcome
Planned; Painful; & Powerful
But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
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.”
The Outcome was planned.
“But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites…””
Jesus says that Saul is a “chosen instrument”.
Obviously, God had been intending to use Saul this entire time. Even before the world began.
Saul is a “chosen instrument” because God has a plan to have the name of Jesus proclaimed to “Gentiles, kings, and Israelites...”.
Just like Jesus had a mission for Ananias, he had a mission for this Saul.
God’s plan overpowers the plans of rebellious people.
Saul’s plan was to arrest all those associate with the “name” name of Jesus
Acts 9:14
And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
But God’s plan was for Saul to propagate the name of Jesus. And even experience pain because of it…
Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 9
There is irony surrounding the name of Jesus in His dialog with Ananias about Saul. Ananias objects that Saul has persecuted those who call on Jesus’ name (Acts 9:14); Jesus reveals that He has chosen and transformed Saul precisely so that he will carry that name to the Gentiles—and even suffer for it
Notice how this Outcome is going to be painful… Not for Ananias, but for Saul...
“I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
Imagine if Ananias walked in to the room with Saul and said, “brother Saul, God has a really good plan for your life!”
This painful result doesn’t match what most preachers on television sell themselves with.
“God wants you to be happy in this world!”
“God wants you to have financial prosperity”
“God doesn’t allow his children to suffer… If they do, it’s because they don’t have enough faith!”
Nowhere in scripture does Jesus promise us an easy life if we obey Him.
It’s a gift of God for that to happen to us. But even if we never had that, God would still be worth worshiping!
John 16:33
I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”
Saul’s experience as a follower of Christ was full of pain and hardship.
Five times I received the forty lashes minus one from the Jews. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the open sea. On frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, and dangers among false brothers; toil and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and without clothing. Not to mention other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my concern for all the churches.
The New American Commentary: Acts The Former Persecutor’s Witness to Christ (9:19b–22)
The one who once was the church’s most vehement persecutor would now be the one who would willingly accept persecution for the sake of the name (cf. 5:41). This is the core point of the Pauline conversion narrative. It reappears at its conclusion as Paul is shown persecuted by the Jews both in Damascus (9:23) and in Jerusalem (9:29). In nothing is his conversion more clearly illustrated than in his transformation from persecutor to persecuted
See how the Outcome were also powerful.
“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.””
One aspect of this powerful result is something we mentioned last week.
Ananias goes from fearing Saul as a potential threat to calling him “brother.
This is an amazing beauty and comfort to us.
Jesus has the power to turn our most venomous enemy to a beloved brother or sister in Christ.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Acts of the Apostles 2. Accepted into the Fellowship of the Persecuted Church (9:10–19a)
(‘the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me’). This simple declaration by Ananias must have confirmed for Saul the authenticity of his encounter with the glorified Christ.
Ananias fulfilled his end of the deal and God ended up fulfilling His end. In power!
Saul is Healed, Filled with the Holy Spirit, and Baptized.
The majority of the remainder of Acts recalls the powerful ministry that Saul had for Jesus. Ananias plays a part in that because of his willingness to obey our Master.
Conclusion
An Order
An Objection
An Outcome
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Acts of the Apostles 2. Accepted into the Fellowship of the Persecuted Church (9:10–19a)
The risen Lord Jesus encounters both Saul and Ananias, but in different ways, bringing them together and changing both of them in the process.
What is Jesus asking you to do with Him?