You're Kidding Right - Winona 8-10-08 PM
You’re Kidding, Right?
Acts 9:10-19 - Sunday, August 10, PM – FBC Winona
Tonight looking at the conversion of Saul
· Later came to be known as Paul
· Was known as a persecutor of Christians, threatened God’s disciples with murder
· Went to the high priest asking permission to bring to Jerusalem any followers of Christ
· Was going to bring them bound up like prisoners
God had a different plan for Saul
· Shone a light around him
· Shared with Saul that He had a different plan for him
· He was supposed to go to Damascus and wait for instruction
· Oh yeah – struck him blind while he waited
· (God knows how to get his point across)
Tonight we will look at this story from the perspective of Ananias
· A disciple of the Lord who God chose to deliver Saul’s instructions
· One of the leaders of the Damascus church
· Ananias was an unexpected participant in this part of Biblical history
Acts 9:10-19
10In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!"
"Yes, Lord," he answered.
11The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."
13"Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 14And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name."
15But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 16I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."
17Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Ananias . . .
· Willing to respond to God’s call until He heard what He was asking him to do
· You mean . . . .SAUL? The guy that’s trying to destroy what you are doing?
· You want ME to place hands on him to restore his sight???
· Wouldn’t he do less damage to your name if he can’t see?
· . . . You have chosen him to do what???
· Suffer for Your name? . . . I’ll be suffering for Your name if I have to talk to him?
· BUT he DID it!
1) It’s Not About You
· What we thinks makes no sense to God sometimes is exactly what He wants
· We tend to make this life about finding happiness or doing what makes us happy
· Once we surrender our lives, surrender means releasing total control
· God uses who He wants, when He wants and how He wants to accomplish His will
2) If You Knew What God Was Up To, Where Would the Trust Be?
· What if Ananias had known that he was being instructed to lay his hands on the future Paul?
· When we look at the world, we look with our eyes – outside, history, etc.
· Some of the greatest servants today were once as far away as we could imagine.
3) God Cleans His Own House
· Coming to Jesus is not like getting dressed for dinner – shower, shave and nice clothes
· Jesus takes us from where we are and leads us to where He wants us to be
· God will equip you to do whatever He has called you to do – training, location, etc.
As a church seeking God’s leadership, God’s direction, we have to accept . . .
· Church is not about us, it’s about Him
· God WILL communicate His plans with us if we trust Him and wait on Him
· God wants you sold out, then He’ll prepare you for the task