Serving & Obeying

This is Sunday and that means it is time for today’s sermon. I am still preaching through the book of Acts. Today we are looking at the story of Paul’s encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus.

1Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
5"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked.
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. 6"Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
7The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
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.

This is a pivotal moment in New Testament history and most commonly we look at Paul, but today I would like to take a closer look at Ananias. In his life we see some patterns of behavior that are important.

1. He was a disciple.
a. He had accepted Christ
b. He followed Christ’s teaching
c. He was a praying man

2. He listened
a. He stilled himself long enough to listen
b. he was interactive, he asked questions

3. He obeyed
a. He obeyed when he did not agree
b. He obeyed when he did not understand

Because of Ananias’ obedience the world was changed. He was just a simple man doing what he was called to do. Serving to the best of his ability. It is what Christ calls all of us to. Just to serve and be obedient to the next step He is laying in front of us.

Thought for Today
Changing my world starts with changing me

Just Connie