To Go Or Not To Go?

Introduction

What is missions. How is it defined? The word mission itself comes from the Latin verb missio, which means “to send.” So, literally, missions has to do with sending.

the relation with GO. the word demands implicit obedience,

background of this passage (v11). A call to Ananias to go somewhere to find someone. What would be ur response? The street which is called Straight.—God is well acquainted with every street, every nook, every obscure spot; he knows all that occurs in them, all the occupants, yea, all their thoughts.

Ananias is not an apostle, but a disciple, that is simply a memebr of the church, not intrusted either with the ministerial, or with any other congregational office. in today’s context, he is neither a pastor, nor a church leader, but a church member.

Ananias is a native of Damascus, as compared to a elite from Jerusalem. Saul was from Tarsus (cf. Acts 22:3), an intellectual university town in Cilicia in the southeast section of Asia Minor. That involves some cultural crossing .

Missions as a product of our struggle & proof of our obedience

Ananias’ struggle. (v12-14) Deal with someone whom he knows is a hard core. when told to minister to Saul, Ananias demurred. He was very reluctant to do any ‘follow-up work’ (to use the modern jargon), and his hesitation was understandable. To go to Saul would be tantamount to giving himself up to the police. It would be suicidal. For he had heard many reports about this man and all the harm he had done to Jesus’ people in Jerusalem (13). Ananias also knew that Saul had come to Damascus with authority from the chief priests to arrest all believers (14)

Before his struggle, he answered “yes, Lord” (v10) That is very crucial. it is a willingness, though we know that it might not be easy.

it involves a great struggle, we might called to go somewhere beyond our comfort zone. the struggle is normal and necessary. Most who are called by God in the Bible struggled before they surrender. and the obedience is always greater after the fear.

a lot of time, our struggle could be just an empty struggle. Ananias’s answer shows his profound astonishment, mixed with doubt and misgiving, at the commission given to him. It shows, too, how the news of Saul’s commission had preceded him, and caused terror among the disciples at Damascus. Little did Ananias suspect that this dreaded enemy would be the channel of God’s richest blessings to his Church throughout all ages until the coming of Christ. How empty our fears often are! how ignorant are we where our chief good lies hid! But God knows. Let us trust him.

After struggling, the response should be an immediate obedience. Ananias, after obering, immediately proceeds to the designated house.

We may be summoned by our Lord, either through the promptings of his own Spirit or through the instrumentality of his Church, to do work which at first seems surprising, undesirable, useless. We may be invited to appeal to those we deem unlikely to welcome us, to address ourselves to apparently unremunerative toil, to cultivate ground which looks sterile to our eye; but it may be that we are really called of Christ to do a most needed and useful work.

our response in obeying God’s commandment. the spirit of obedience is never more truly manifest than when we do work from which we shrink. When it is in our human nature to shrink from any duty, but when, from regard to our Master’s will, we address ourselves to it, then we do that which is acceptable to him

Missoins as a partnership with God

God has already shown himself to the Lord. (v1-9) God has the power to change Paul directly, but he wants us to be his partner. it is a privilege than a pressure. (v12) If God has revealed himself to Paul, do you think that God cant continue to do what Ananias is going to do, or send an angel who is more powerful than Ananias to do what he has done?

God has already chosen Paul. (v15-16) To go or not to go, things will still happen. If we dont go, others with replace our place.

Ananias is only a messenger, commissioned and sent to declare and to perform that with which he is charged. It is Jesus Christ who “worketh both to will and to do”—who influences and acts.

in business world, when we look for someone to be our partner, we consider their capability, their financial strength. Different from the business world, to be a partner of God in His missions, we do not need to be professional, but a willig heart. What may be the reason that He neither drew any one of high authority and importance, nor caused such to be forthcoming for the purpose of instructing Paul? It was, because it was not meet that he should be induced by men, but only by Christ Himself: as in fact this man taught him nothing, but merely baptized him; for, as soon as baptized (φωτισθείς), he was to draw upon himself the grace of the Spirit, by his zeal and exceeding earnestness. And that Ananias was no very distinguished person, is plain.

in the same way, being his partner in God’s missions, we dont know have to worry what to say or to do, as God has already prepared.

and as we choose to be a partner of him, we will then know what to do next. Look at Ananias, he was only told to lay hand and pray, but as he met Paul, he addresses him as brother, and even baptised him.

Missions as a participation in a great change

Ananias direct participation (v17) Lay hands and pray, and call Paul as brother Paul.

he straightway addresses him as a friend. Enemies become brothers.

Paul has changed from someone who was ready to go and persecute Christians in Damascus, to a person who stay with them and preached about Jesus Christ.

eventually in the Bible, Pual is mentioned many times, but not Ananias. Basically, Ananias is an unknown figure. but without Ananias’ submission, Paul might still be Saul.

Conlusion

Do we need to fly all the way to oversea to be involved in missions? sometimes, we do. but there are opportunities around us as well. Looking at Paul. He is a foreigner in Damascus, and Ananias is a local. we have many foreigners around us as well.

Paul was waiting for a name called Ananias. we never know who are waiting for us. Many are waiting for someone who called Christians.