Are You Sure?

The end of the beginning

Acts 8:1–3 CSB

Saul agreed with putting him to death. On that day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the land of Judea and Samaria. Devout men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him. Saul, however, was ravaging the church. He would enter house after house, drag off men and women, and put them in prison.

Lets be clear. There are other churches and denominations that know who Jesus is, and that are going to be in heaven. These churches preach the gospel, they study the bible, they reach out.

They may not look like and sound like we do, they may not agree with everything we say and agree with, they may interpret some things different than we do when it comes to scripture. But they are still going to make it into heaven. Still chosen by God. Still a part of the Body of Christ.

When we look at the early church, it’s important to realize at the outset it was considered a sect of Judaism. That was all about to change and in fact in these verses in Acts 8 that change is pushes into high gear.

It’s interesting to note at this juncture where the persecution of the Followers of Jesus is coming from. Others in their own religion. It wasn’t the gentiles that were doing this, it wasn’t the Roman Government, yet, that was doing this. Yes Rome would persecute Christians off and on from 64 AD under Nero until 312 when Constantine converted to Christianity, but here at the beginning it was people in the temple. Leaders in the community of believers, that were doing this and one man in particular Paul.

To be clear. This scattering of Followers of the Way as the early Christians were called, did not stop the cause of Christ it only furthered it.

You can’t have one without the other?

(talks briefly about what happened before this light road Saul blind)

Acts 9:10–11 CSB

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.

We know that names have meaning. It’s interesting to note that the name Ananias means whom Jehovah has graciously given.

Here’s what we know. Ananias was a devout man. Paul talks about him in Acts 22.

Acts 22:12 CSB

Someone named Ananias, a devout man according to the law, who had a good reputation with all the Jews living there,

I’ve said it before i’ll say it over and over. For some reason God has decide that individual humans have a part to play in the plan of salvation. Saul by all accounts was a dangerous man to every Christ follower in Jerusalem and beyond.

God’s plan for reconciling man was never relegated to one group of people. It was always supposed to be more than that. He had a purpose and Saul was the one that was going to start fulfilling that purpose. But there would be no Saul without Ananias.

Let me get this straight.

Acts 9:13–14 CSB

“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.”

Sometimes we know better than God right? (expound a bit talk about tossing the directions and just winging it)

The thing is we don’t know better than God. He has this plan. This plan that has us as a part of it but it’s still his plan. He knows the parts of the plan, he knows the pieces that are needed for the plan and he knows the tools that he wants to use for this plan. We may not understand it, we may not like it, it may not make any sense to us at all but it’s still the truth.

Ananias has a few questions he wants to remind God, hey this guy isn’t good for us, in fact this guy is very bad for Christians, and I happen to know that he has letters saying he can arrest us and stick us in prison.

Worry about yourself

Acts 9:15–16 CSB

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.”

God answers Ananias. He listens to what Ananias has to say, and then tells him this is the plan. Go and do it. This man is going to be one of the tools I use when it comes to furthering the gospel.

Get on with it

Acts 9:17 CSB

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.”

Ananias has a choice and he takes it. He knows what God has told him to do, he knows what he has been equipped and commissioned to do and now it’s time.

(expound)

And God does the rest

Acts 9:18–19 CSB

At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. And after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul was with the disciples in Damascus for some time.

We need to remember this. (talk a bit about what we tend to do)

This Week’s Challenge

It’s time. This week implement one of the ideas you had to begin interacting with the person God laid on your heart as you were in your chosen space those couple of times.