Devotion Acts 9:10-18 Yes Lord

Acts 9:10-18 – In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”  “Yes, Lord,” he answered.  11 The 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. 12 In 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 holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”  15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” 17 Then 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.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 

“In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”  “Yes, Lord,” he answered.”  Ananias (obviously not the same one as we read about in Acts 5) was a devout (totally committed) disciple of the Lord.  He heard when the Lord called his name.  A common statement by many Christians today is that they have never known the voice of the Lord.  Yet Ananias knew it.  Jesus merely said his name and he immediately heard and responded “Yes, Lord.”  Thinking about that quick response is revealing.  His first words at hearing Jesus call him was “Yes, Lord.”  It wasn’t “Lord is that really you?”  It wasn’t “Oh no Lord, what do you want from me.”  It was “Yes, Lord.”  What is our response when we think the Lord is guiding us to something?  Is it “Yes, Lord” indicating both obedience and submission, or is it something else?  Ananias is not blown away by the Lord speaking to him.  He surely was honored and reverent, but not surprised.  Not surprised because he was in the habit of not only praying to the Lord but was expectant of hearing back.  Ananias had learned to know the voice of God so this event of Jesus speaking to him was not a surprise, but just a new chapter in his ongoing life dialogue with God.  We all have a “life dialogue” with Christ, don’t we?

“The 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.”  Jesus gave Ananias very specific direction.  That may cause us to wonder how He gave Ananias specific directions about whom he would minister to and yet he merely told Philip to “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” Philip was to head to a desert road that goes down to Gaza.  Just go to the road.  He wasn’t even given a reason to go.  Ananias knew exactly where he was going and that he was to seek out Saul, who was praying.”  Why?  Really, why does “why” matter.  Do we have to know the why to obey Jesus?  No, at least we should not.  If God tells us go, we go, and the only reason we need to obey is that it is instructions from God.  Family, faith is acting on something we don’t understand because God said so and we know that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).  Family, either we completely trust God, or we do not.  When we do, then if God says go in that direction, we go.  We may not know the final destination, or what we are to do along the way or when we get there, but we know that where God guides, God provides.  He will provide all we need along the way and also when we get there, and that is all we need.  When God says go, we excitedly go and knowing we are being used of God is the highest honor.  It would be an honor to be used of a president, prime minister, or any high government official, but that honor is not in the universe as serving God.  When God say go, then we go.  Praise God!

“In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”  Saul was a brand new spanking Christian.  But wait, didn’t he become a Christian after Ananias prayed for him?  In V15 Jesus said “This man is my chosen instrument.”  He did not say that this man would be his chosen servant, but that he “is” my chosen instrument.  Saul had encountered Jesus and had already submitted his life to Him. Saul obeyed the Lord and went to Damascus as Jesus instructed him, he did not need follow up ministry by any man to be a Christian but instantly gave his life to Jesus.  We know this by the authority of Jesus Himself.

““Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”  Ananias was not doubting God, and He was not refusing to obey the Lord, but he, as we all might, was thinking “This man Lord?  Really, this guy who is out to kill all who serve You?  Do You know what he has done and is dedicated to doing?”  Being used of God does not exclude us from being silly.  Informing God who knows everything is really not necessary.  It is a good thing for us that He loves us and extends to us grace at every need of it.

“But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”” Jesus said that Saul was his chosen instrument to: 1) the Gentiles  2) the kings of Gentiles  3) the people of Israel.  Saul had received the best Jewish education under the most renowned rabbi of the time.  As a messenger to the Jews, few, if any were more qualified.  Saul was also a Roman citizen.  This automatically gave him privilege that the gentiles would note and it carried with it powerful rights.  Jesus did not capriciously select Saul to serve in the capacity he did, but had, unknown to Saul, prepared him for the ministry.  Again, this is not God violently taking over the life of Saul, but lovingly leading him to what would fulfill and thrill Saul as nothing else could.  Just as surely as God set us the meeting of Ananias and Saul, he had chosen both of them as ones who had been prepared to serve.  We know that He also prepares us.  We have been called for His purpose that He has preordained us to do (Ephesians 2:10).  And that to our blessing!

Jesus, at Saul’s conversion showed him how great he was going to suffer for His name.  That is not surprising as Jesus warned us all that we would be hated for His name sake (Matthew 10:22).  Today we must not be so anxious to say we led someone to the Lord as to exclude that belonging to Jesus will bring attacks from the enemy.

“Then 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.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized.”  Ananias’s faith carried him forward to obey Jesus.  He did as Jesus instructed and as a result Saul was healed and filled with the Holy Spirit.  Since Saul was already a believer (Ananias acknowledges this as he called Saul “Brother.”) and follower of Jesus, he already had the Holy Spirit within.  What Saul received at that time was the same anointing of power that the disciples had received at Pentecost.  It was the anointing, the filling, of the power of the Holy Spirit to do all that God would ask him to do.