The Memorable Faith of a Forgotten Hero
Well hello hello everyone! I pray all of you are doing well today. Let's continue with our Bible study over the life of the Apostle Paul. Through this study I am reading Swindoll's book Paul: A Man of Grace and Grit.
This third chapter is covering "the memorable faith of a forgotten hero". In Acts chapter nine Saul and company were charging toward Damascus from Jerusalem. Saul had just been granted permission and been given papers from the high priest to go to Damascus to arrest any Christians he found there and take them back to Jerusalem. Apparently many Christians fled from Jerusalem to Damascus to get a way from Saul and the impending death that he would surely bring. And now their worst fears were coming their way really soon. I imagine they were scared out of their skulls. Then some time after Saul's miraculous encounter with Jesus and his blindness, the Lord appears to a Christian named Ananias. Acts 9:10-12 says, "Now there was a certain disciple living in Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, 'Ananias'. And he said, 'Behold here am I, Lord'. And the Lord said to him, 'Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for behold, 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". No dought he knew about Saul and what he was doing and was coming to do. Thankfully nothing like this has ever happened in the USA, but it happens a lot around the world, even to this very day. The Lord definitely knew about Saul and still told him to go. But there is no dought Ananias was scared stiff. He might of thought "who me?!". But God said, "do it".God needed to get Ananias from Point A to Point Be was the challenge. God had chosen Saul for a special mission. Jesus told His disciples, "you didn't chose Me, but I have chosen you, and I have set you apart" (John 15:6). In Acts 9:15-16 we read, "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'". That was God's clear answer to Ananias' questions that, "I will show him how much he must suffer for My name's sake". Through out the ages suffering is the tool God has used the most to train His followers. He transforms "raging bulls to bleating lambs" as Swindoll puts it so eloquently. Suffering is where we learn to be humble, tender hearted, compassionate, character, patience and grace. It's true for everyone. It's true for me, you, and as we see through out the rest of the Bible, it will be for Paul. In 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 we read about Paul's "scar wars" as a good friend, Steve Singleton puts it. Swindoll talks about being the president of a major theological school here in Dallas and seeing many Bible students come through that school. Many foreigner came through and struggled to learn English and read and write in English. Many athletic students learning biblical Hebrew and Greek. But the most touching part he talked about a man and his wife. A young married couple with a new baby. Sometime later they found out the wife had leukemia. Not much time later she passed away. Certainly a devastating lose. That man must of had a load of dreams of ministry and a family. And now most of it was coming to a halt. He was a ragging bull and became a bleating lamb through suffering.
Ananias was the forgotten hero in all of this. If he hadn't been obedient, none of this would of happened. God is full of surprises. We must always be ready for them. They always intensify our faith. They always bring clarity. And they always stimulate growth. We must always be ready for God's calling. Who knows, but that we might encourage the next great preacher or missionary. Any comments? God's richest blessings be on you!
Peace out! Power to the people.
Zack
This third chapter is covering "the memorable faith of a forgotten hero". In Acts chapter nine Saul and company were charging toward Damascus from Jerusalem. Saul had just been granted permission and been given papers from the high priest to go to Damascus to arrest any Christians he found there and take them back to Jerusalem. Apparently many Christians fled from Jerusalem to Damascus to get a way from Saul and the impending death that he would surely bring. And now their worst fears were coming their way really soon. I imagine they were scared out of their skulls. Then some time after Saul's miraculous encounter with Jesus and his blindness, the Lord appears to a Christian named Ananias. Acts 9:10-12 says, "Now there was a certain disciple living in Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, 'Ananias'. And he said, 'Behold here am I, Lord'. And the Lord said to him, 'Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for behold, 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". No dought he knew about Saul and what he was doing and was coming to do. Thankfully nothing like this has ever happened in the USA, but it happens a lot around the world, even to this very day. The Lord definitely knew about Saul and still told him to go. But there is no dought Ananias was scared stiff. He might of thought "who me?!". But God said, "do it".God needed to get Ananias from Point A to Point Be was the challenge. God had chosen Saul for a special mission. Jesus told His disciples, "you didn't chose Me, but I have chosen you, and I have set you apart" (John 15:6). In Acts 9:15-16 we read, "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'". That was God's clear answer to Ananias' questions that, "I will show him how much he must suffer for My name's sake". Through out the ages suffering is the tool God has used the most to train His followers. He transforms "raging bulls to bleating lambs" as Swindoll puts it so eloquently. Suffering is where we learn to be humble, tender hearted, compassionate, character, patience and grace. It's true for everyone. It's true for me, you, and as we see through out the rest of the Bible, it will be for Paul. In 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 we read about Paul's "scar wars" as a good friend, Steve Singleton puts it. Swindoll talks about being the president of a major theological school here in Dallas and seeing many Bible students come through that school. Many foreigner came through and struggled to learn English and read and write in English. Many athletic students learning biblical Hebrew and Greek. But the most touching part he talked about a man and his wife. A young married couple with a new baby. Sometime later they found out the wife had leukemia. Not much time later she passed away. Certainly a devastating lose. That man must of had a load of dreams of ministry and a family. And now most of it was coming to a halt. He was a ragging bull and became a bleating lamb through suffering.
Ananias was the forgotten hero in all of this. If he hadn't been obedient, none of this would of happened. God is full of surprises. We must always be ready for them. They always intensify our faith. They always bring clarity. And they always stimulate growth. We must always be ready for God's calling. Who knows, but that we might encourage the next great preacher or missionary. Any comments? God's richest blessings be on you!
Peace out! Power to the people.
Zack
posted by Zack | 12:32 PM
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