Tuesday: Ananias’s Visit
When he realized he was talking to Jesus Himself, Saul asked the question that would give Jesus the opportunity He was looking for: ”What shall I do, Lord?” (Acts 22:10, NKJV). The question indicates contrition in view of his actions up to that moment, but more important, it expresses an unconditional willingness to let Jesus guide his life from then on. Taken to Damascus, Saul was to wait for further instructions.
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In Acts 9:10-19, the Bible reveals how the Lord was working to prepare Saul of Tarsus for his new life as the apostle Paul. In a vision, Jesus gave Ananias the assignment to visit Saul and lay his hands on him for the restoration of his sight. Ananias, however, already knew who Saul was, as well as how many of the brethren had suffered and even lost their lives because of him. He was also well informed of the very reason why Saul was in Damascus, and so, surely, he did not want to become Saul’s first victim there. His hesitation was understandable.
Yet, what Ananias did not know was that Saul had just had a personal encounter with Jesus that changed his life forever. He did not know that, instead of still working for the Sanhedrin, Saul—to Ananias’s astonishment—had just been called by Jesus to work for Him, which means that Saul was no longer an apostle of the Sanhedrin but Jesus’ chosen instrument to take the gospel to both Jews and Gentiles.
Read Galatians 1:1, Galatians 1:11-12. What special claim does Paul make with regard to his apostolic ministry?
In Galatians, Paul insists that he received his message and his apostleship directly from Jesus Christ, not from any human source. This does not necessarily contradict the role performed by Ananias in his call. When visiting him, Ananias just confirmed the commission Saul had already received on the Damascus road from Jesus Himself.
In fact, the change in Saul’s life was so dramatic that no human cause can be assigned to it. Only divine intervention can explain how Jesus’ most obsessive opponent would suddenly embrace Him as Savior and Lord, leave everything—convictions, reputation, career—behind, and become His most devoted and prolific apostle.
| In what ways does Saul’s conversion illustrate the operation of God’s wonderful grace? What can you learn from his story concerning those in your life whom you doubt will ever come to true faith? |
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No repentance is genuine that does not work reformation. The righteousness of Christ is not a cloak to cover confessed and unforsaken sin; it is a principle of life that transforms the character and controls the conduct. Holiness is wholeness for God; it is the entire surrender of heart and life to the indwelling of the principles of heaven...
Anything is possible with our lord.The choice on us is that are we WILLING to be changed and move on a different path from the past.Jesus Christ is there to guide us as we embrace him and work for him .Isaiah 1v18
I can relate to Ananias in so many ways. There are places where God wants us to go and to finish what He has already started with his people.
Because we have so much knowledge of how these people live their lives we make all sorts of excuses, we go and inform God about these peoples' lives even though God already has had an encounter with them. What Ananias didn't know is that God had already worked in Paul's heart now all that was left for him to do was to anoint Paul, of which I believe that is a privilege on its own. God could have anointed Paul by himself but He allows Ananias to be a partaker in His work.
When God calls out Ananias, he clearly tells Ananias about Saul of Tarsus.
Ananias reasons with God.
God answers Ananias, "Go he is my chosen vessel of mine"
Everyone of us are a chosen vessel of God.
All of us are called to bear the name of Christ.
If you are ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of you when he comes in his glory and in the glory of his Father and the holy angels.
Paul receives sight, filled with Holy Spirit, baptized never turns back to his former life.
Ananias mentioned here only in the New Testament baptizes a man who writes 2/3 of the New Testament.
What a miracle! Only God can truly change us! But even in the case of Saul, there has to be a choice! Although God did something marvellous in his life, he could deny the cause! How many we have seen that encountered great power and failed? (see the fate of Samson in Judges 16).
Saul was true to what he believed and God valued that! Although an enemy at first, Saul had all the tools to take the Gospel to a different level! He had been faithful and dedicated to the opportunities life had given him... But now he faced a 180 degrees in his life! He was deeply touched, but he could still choose otherwise, he was free to do so! How many were given the opportunity before Ellen G. White but denied it?
Are we waiting for this great miracle in life too? Or we are just not seeing the miracles around us everyday? May God open our eyes and hearts for the miracle of life itself! For the opportunity of having one more day!
"Let the peace that Christ gives rule in your hearts. As parts of one body, you were appointed to live in peace. And be thankful." Colossians 3:15.
The early church being in the midst of persecution had to be careful. In the case of Saul, his actions before his encounter with Jesus where purely detrimental and damaging to the saints at the time.
But in the corse of my life as an Adventist Christian, there have been several times where a person’s reputation preceded them.
In reading this lesson it brought to mind how often I’ve taken those reports as a genuine declaration of who that person is even if at times the description was based on pure gossip or speculation.
Of all the stories in the Bible, this one is very intriguing to me. We should never cast judgement on anyone.
Consider not of ourselves too righteous to help the weak.
According to the natural thoughts of men. Saul did not deserve to be saved based on his doings but because God knows the end from the beginning. He saved Saul and turned him into Paul just like He did with the woman at the well. Turned a prostitute into an evangelist.
A couple of observations.
(1). Saul would never become Paul without the assistance of Ananisis and then Barnabus. You don’t know what your influence could possibly do when it seems as if what you did was only minor. Both were willing to go out of their comfort zone and the result was Paul and his ministry. How many more men/women like Paul are not brought into ministry for lack of men/women like Barnabus and Ananisis.
(2). Paul was ready for action. He was instructed to go into the desert to contemplate before he was ready to be used. He became more productive as a result of the quiet meditation. How much of what we could accomplish is thwarted because we must “do something”? Perhaps we need to understand how much more Paul accomplished because he waited and learned. Are there lessons for us especially those endowed with a “work ethic” that suggests every minute we should spread the good news? Perhaps we are less successful than we could be if we had a more contemplative experience.
The fellowship God desires with every soul would give anyone seeking to know Him the same experience that Paul had, being taught of the Lord. Who would be a better teacher than the Author of scripture Himself, who promises; "I will instruct and teach you in the way you should go, I will guide you with My eye upon you"?
As He stands at our door knocking, He promises to enter and fellowship will any who will open and invite Him in. Doesn't Paul's experience prove God's promise is sure?
What can you learn from his story concerning those in your life whom you doubt will ever come to true faith?
I've been waiting to see if anyone would touch on this question.
The key word is doubt in this question. In a christian's life there is no room for doubt. A lady has been coming to our church for 8 months now, her mother is a SDA who prayed for her husband for 25 years to join the church. Did she have doubt? Since she spoke Spanish and no English i could not carry on a conversation with her. But in my mind, she had no doubt. She was still praying after 25 years.....As with my mother, my father finally after 20 years stopped fighting with Satan. There is not room for doubt when you are praying for that long.....Those ladies showed faith, they stayed with their husbands and prayed for them. Today's generation......do they have that faith.....do you?
Isn't this the one thing Jesus will look for when He comes: "faith on the earth"?(Luke 18:8)