Testing Our Faith

Intro: Short of the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus, the conversion of Saul from persecutor of the Way to spokesman for the Gospel is the most important event that gave impetus to the growth of the church. Yet this event wasn’t a sure thing, and it isn’t the primary focus of the sermon this morning, for none of us are Saul, and none of us have, nor will have, the same miraculous encounter that Saul had to initiate his conversion. Rather we will look at the experience of another, much less known, individual from the conversion story, one we each can much more relate too and learn from on this occasion.

Last week we looked at the persecution that began in Jerusalem, with the death of Stephen, and how that was the winds that fanned and spread the early church from Jerusalem to Judea and Jerusalem. I mentioned then that this wasn’t the only thing that God would use this persecution for and the other thing I had in mind was the conversion of Saul. For Saul, seeing the power, and I suppose perceived effectiveness, of the Jerusalem pogrom decided that he needed to follow the embers where they landed and put out any potential fires in those locations as well. It was on one of these adventures that Jesus met Saul on the road to Damascus, knocked him down, blinded him then had a verbal confrontation with him, and finally gave him instructions about what he was to do next.

What we will see, not from Saul, but from Ananias is how we grow in our relationship with Christ. To do that we will be in Acts 9, beginning at verse 10. If you have a Bible I’d love for you to turn there with me, if not they will be on the screen. (Acts 9:10-19).

Acts 9:10–19 NASB95

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.” 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, 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.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” 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; for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” 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.” And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized; and he took food and was strengthened. Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus,

I. Listening

A. For Ananias

1. Vision

2. Instructions were very specific

B. For Us

1. Specific instructions in the Bible – though pretty general

2. Prompting of the Holy Spirit – more specific

3. Come through the offers of others

Trans -

II. Questioning

I’m not sure why questioning has always been vilified. There are times when it is appropriate and times when it is not. Evidently this time it was not inappropriate.

A. Negative

1. Sign of disbelief

2. A stall tactic

3. A way to justify inappropriate action or making an appropriate action seem inappropriate.

B. Positive

1. Clarification

2. Ease our concerns

3. Reinforce our conviction.

Trans –

III. Obedience

A. Went to Saul

1. Took courage

- Ananias did not want to go so he had a conversation with God. God never promised Ananias that he would be safe, only that Saul was a chosen vessel for the work of God.

2. Shared the Gospel

3. Shared the specific message God had for Saul

- Saul was told that he was to go to the Gentiles and how much he would suffer for the cause of Christ. Imagine the thoughts if Saul after taking part in the stoning of Stephen, going about rounding up Christians in the environs of Jerusalem and then heading onto Damascus to round up more, being told he would suffer a fate similar to what he had been inflicting on others

B. Taking the opportunities

1. Sharing Love

2. Sharing the Gospel

3. God did not act outside of the church. While, yes, He confronted Saul along the road, He still sent Ananias to proclaim the truth to Saul and to baptize him into Christ.

4. Saul was told that he was to go to the Gentiles and how much he would suffer for the cause of Christ. How far we stray from the truth if we fail to tell people about suffering for the sake of Christ.

Conclusion: Often times growth is stymied not because of difficulty but because we try to avoid everything that would challenge us and allow us to grow. Yet, it is in the challenges to our faith that our faith grows. It is in the opportunity to use what we are learning and putting into practice what we know that we grow. Just like a shoot on a plane needs to start doing what it was created to do so the plant will grow, followers of Christ need to de what we are called to do in order to grow.