Bulletins - Church Church

Good Morning! So since this our 3rd and possibly last time together. At least for a while. I thought I would share something personal with all of you! You may not believe this but this is actually me. Right before I deliver a message.

And you may be surprised to know that this is a normal part of preaching. When I was attending one of Josh McDowells Young Communicators Summit. I remember very vividly one morning when a few of us had the opportunity to have breakfast with him. He said that if you ever step into the pulpit and are not afraid; You need to stop preaching.
So I have learned over the years that if you are willing to move yourself outside your comfort zone. It can create wonderful opportunities for service and huge dividends for spiritual growth.
So every year around this time Angie and I usually will participate in VBS.

· Intro-picture
Over the years I have been a jailer, a mad scientist and just about every bible character you can think of. And no matter how many times I do it. There is alway this uncomfortableness that goes along with those situations.
And believe me I know how hard it is to put yourself out there.
So I wanted to share with you today about a relatively unknown person who did just that despite huge potential risks. Even to his own life.
His name was Annias
Scripture Reading

· Who was Ananias?
· Common name. The Hebrew form of the name occurs 14 times in the OT. This is not the husband of Sapphira in 5:1–11 and the high priest who accused Paul of sedition in 23:2; 24:1[2]
· It literally means ....
“the mercy of the Lord”
.... and is especially appropriate here. This particular Ananias seems to be a long-time resident of Damascus, perhaps even a native, and not a recent fugitive from Jerusalem. He has only a secondhand knowledge of Saul (9:13), and later he is said to be respected by all the Jews of the city (22:12). He might even be the leader of the Christian group in Damascus since he is chosen to receive a vision and to give this important ministry to Saul.[3]
· Without a doubt, Ananias is one of the forgotten heroes of the Christian Church.
Augustine said, “The church owes Paul’s conversion to the prayer of Stephen.” Because Stephen was expendable for Paul. If that is true. Then it is also true that the Church owes Paul’s spiritual growth to the brotherliness of Ananias. Because Paul was expendable for the world.
· There is really not much the Bible tells us about this character Ananias. Except that he was “a disciple at Damascus”. So this much is sure. He was a follower of Christ. But outside of that we know very little about this man.
· 9:10b–12 The “Lord” appeared to Ananias in a vision. Ananias responded with, “Here am I, Lord” (“Yes, Lord,” NIV), words reminiscent of the response of Old Testament characters to a vision of God, such as Abraham (Gen 22:1f.; 11) and the boy Samuel (1 Sam 3:4–14). Jesus instructed Ananias to seek out Paul. His instructions were precise, giving the exact location Paul was to be found. He was staying with a man named Judas who lived on “Straight Street.”[5] Probably a street he knows well.
· Up to this point the instructions are quite routine, nothing unusual. But then the Lord drops a bombshell[6] Ananias is told to inquire there for a man of Tarsus named Saul! And what is more, says the Lord, this man is praying (9:11).[7] Jesus’ informing Ananias of Paul’s vision—a vision within a vision! In Saul’s visit from the Lord, Saul has seen Ananias himself come in, lay his hands on him, and pray for his healing (9:12).[8]
· At this point Ananias begins to push back.
· I have always loved Ananias’ response. Somehow, he forgets his place and attempts to give God a bit of a newsflash. I can just picture Him stammering a bit as he takes it upon himself to remind God of just who this Saul guy is. I like to think that he began the sentence with uncertainty and confusion, and perhaps with the words “Ummm…God….?” He says “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” Ananias had not only heard of how Saul had been systematically destroying the church in Jerusalem, hunting down men and women and turning them over to the authorities, but also knew that he was on the march to Damascus, ready to destroy that church as well. Paul’s hatred for Christ and His followers was common knowledge. We can well imagine that Ananias and the other believers were terrified as they awaited Saul and his cohort, for they knew their lives might be lost for the sake of Christ. They must have awaited his arrival at the city with great dread. And now here God asks Ananias to go and confront the ringleader of the persecutors. Ananias takes the opportunity to remind God of Saul’s credentials. After all, he has done “harm to Your saints in Jerusalem” and is now ready to “bind all who call on Your name” in Damascus.
· Ananias showed weakness here. He did not have unwavering trust in God. As a matter of fact, he reminds me of me! You see we often think when we are doing something God asks us to do we shouldn’t have any doubts or fear in our spirits. But that is the reality of who we are. We are scared when we get outside our box. One of the best ways to grow in our faith is to purposefully step outside our comfort zones. I suspect I would have said the same thing to God just in case He had somehow forgotten a little detail. After all, this Saul guy was dangerous! Didn’t God know that? I’ve often wondered if missionaries don’t react in the same way when they feel their hearts stirred for a particular nation or people. “Um…God…don’t you know that that country is closed to missionaries? Don’t you know that your people are persecuted in that nation? Don’t you know what could happen to me, to my family, if I go there? God?”
Handling Doubt
· Then the voice tells Ananias something else that helps him decide to go. The Lord will show Saul how much he must suffer to fulfill his ministry. This seems to settle the matter. God is in control, and from now on this persecutor must bear his share of hardship. Ananias is human enough that somehow this appeals to him and relieves his mind. It shows that Saul is indeed going to become a believer, because suffering for Jesus is one of the hallmarks of true disciples (Luke 6:22–23; 9:23–24; Acts 14:22; 1 Thess. 1:6–7; 1 Pet. 4:12–16). After this statement there is no further hesitation. Ananias goes![9]
· (9:17–19a): Ananias does as he is told. He lays on hands and Saul is both healed and receives the Holy Spirit. No longer does Ananias speak about “this man” but to “Brother Saul.” The despised enemy, the alien, has become a brother. [10]
· He could have said this as a fellow Jew, but it was surely as a brother in Christ that Ananias greeted Paul. Something of a “conversion” had taken place in his own heart through his vision of the Lord, so that now he could receive as a fellow disciple the one whom he so shortly before had feared and distrusted. Ananias told Paul that the Lord had sent him with a dual purpose, the recovery of his sight and his receipt of the Spirit. The first occurs immediately as Ananias performed the healing gesture of laying his hands upon Paul. Something “like flakes” fell from his eyes.25 Paul’s receipt of the Spirit is not narrated. It did not seem to have come with Ananias’s laying his hands on Paul. Recovery of his sight followed that. Perhaps it accompanied his baptism, since the two generally are closely connected in Acts.[11]
· Ananias is obedient. He appears before Saul and has the great honor of laying his hands on this broken man in the name of the Holy Spirit. At that moment Saul’s blindness is ended. As a symbol of the end of his spiritual blindness he is baptized, probably by the hand of Ananias himself. We then read that “Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.” Whether at that point Saul was the student or the teacher we do not know. Perhaps he sat and learned at the feet of Ananias. The Bible doesn’t tell us.
· At this point Ananias fades from the story and we hear of him no more. His role in the drama of Acts is small, yet significant. We see a man who wavered when he heard God’s voice, yet despite his initial hesitation he was faithful and obedient. While at first he thought he might have to correct God, in the end he submitted himself and his very life to God’s call. God then used this man to further His purposes in launching the career of the most influential of the apostles. Ananias’ small act of obedience led to a great harvest for the kingdom.
· Ananias was understandably a little nervous about the call.
· He knew this man’s reputation. The city was already buzzing about his imminent arrival and what would happen to the church there. He was apprehensive at best; fearful at worst. But when it came to it, he chose to believe in the power and presence of God, and so he went
· We have no record of whether Ananias and Saul became pen pals after that moment. We don’t know if Ananias went on to do big things in the church and the world. For all we know, this man disappeared from Saul’s life as he became Paul the same way he disappears from the pages of Scripture.
· Such is the case with our interactions with others. We are apprehensive. We are fearful. We don’t know for sure if we have the right words that can generate impact. We say something, some measure of kindness or encouragement or empathy, and then we disappear from someone’s life forever like a vapor in the wind, and there is less than a few lines written about us in books that record history for generations following.
We are not all called to be Paul.
· We aren’t all going to be called to be the one out front, the one leading the crowd, the one who is most recognized for their impact. See in our culture today. we tend to elevate those leaders who are in those positions. Often because they can be very charismatic. You’ve probably noticed I am not the most charismatic speaker. But I am passionately thoughtful. You see the problem is that charisma focuses inward on the person. And charisma can quickly outpace character. And I want you to focus on the person of Christ and not me. Now Paul never had that problem. And that is not the point. The point is even though we may never be a Paul......
All of us can be Ananias.
As we live and move as relational beings in the midst of these creatures of God, we are meant to push back the darkness and bring light one interaction at a time. We are meant to be looking – and looking with expectation – for where the sovereign hand of God is positioning us.
· Prayer

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ac 9:10–19). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

[2] Faw, C. E. (1993). Acts (p. 111). Scottdale, PA: Herald Press.

[3] Faw, C. E. (1993). Acts (p. 111). Scottdale, PA: Herald Press.

[4] Barclay, W. (2003). The Acts of the Apostles (3rd ed. fully rev. and updated., p. 83). Louisville, KY; London: Westminster John Knox Press.

[5] Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, p. 236). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

[6] Faw, C. E. (1993). Acts (p. 111). Scottdale, PA: Herald Press.

[7] Faw, C. E. (1993). Acts (p. 111). Scottdale, PA: Herald Press.

[8] Faw, C. E. (1993). Acts (p. 112). Scottdale, PA: Herald Press.

[9] Faw, C. E. (1993). Acts (p. 112). Scottdale, PA: Herald Press.

[10] Willimon, W. H. (1988). Acts (p. 77). Atlanta, GA: John Knox Press.

[11] Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, p. 238). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
- - Acts 9:17–19NLT

“the mercy of the Lord”

Handling Doubt

We are not all called to be Paul.

All of us can be Ananias.

Acts 9:17–19NLT