Life Center Foursquare Church

Scripture: Exodus 33-34, Psalm 16, Acts 9

Acts 9:10 Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision…

Observation:

So much to pick from in these chapters! Moses’ relationship with God, talking with him face to face as with a friend; Moses’ plea for God’s presence as they move forward (it’s what makes us different from the surrounding nations); the sovereign activity of God in saving Paul without human activity (although I wonder how many Christians were praying for him?). But a closer look shows that it wasn’t completely without human activity.

Enter Ananias. He is described simply as a believer, a disciple. God speaks to him, giving him clear, but startling instructions. He protests, as anyone would given the circumstances, but then obeys. He prays for Paul, sees him healed, filled with the Holy Spirit and baptized! Even though God sovereignly acted in saving Paul, He still called upon a believer to usher him into the kingdom. Soon, God would use Barnabas to help Paul be accepted by the Jerusalem believers he had persecuted. God is active on His own…and yet He still uses people to help Paul get connected and grow.

This is the only time Ananias shows up in the Bible story. He is on center stage for one brief moment, does a very important job, and then disappears again. I have to believe that Ananias was ready for his big moment, that he was close enough to God to recognize His voice, and devoted enough to obey even when it was difficult and downright scary (he was praying for a murderer!).

Application:

It’s possible that every believer has a role to play like Ananias—not exactly the same, of course, but each of us has a part to play in God’s story. Some, like Paul, will show up often in the story; others, like Ananias, show up only once. But without Ananias, there is no Paul. Our job is to be ready, to be praying, to be listening for God’s voice, and to be obedient when he calls. No doubt, Ananias had no idea that his obedience that day would open the door for the greatest church planter, evangelist, and apostle of the early church (and the author of much of the NT). He had no idea that his obedience would change history—and that his name would end up in the Bible! We have no idea what God might do with our obedience, if we’re simply listening and available.

Prayer:

Thanks for Ananias, Lord. I’m glad he listened and obeyed. Help me to do the same. And help every believer understand that he or she has a role to play in God’s great story!