Verses: Acts 9:1-31
God often chooses those we least expect. He chooses the unexpected to show us His power and glory.(Ex. Moses, David, Saul) Saul was a murderer and persecutor of Christians and the image of Christ. The story of ’ conversion is a fabulous story. Jesus showed himself to Saul and blinded him. Then the Lord sent one of his disciples to Saul to touch and heal Saul. Then later, Saul was converted and changed to Paul who became probably the most influential Christian in the history of the Church. But, I don’t want to talk to you about Saul. I want to talk to you about Ananias. (The disciple that touched and healed Saul) Ananias was in the Bible for about 10 seconds, but his small role helped change a man, who went on to change the world forever.
God told Ananias to go and touch Saul, because Saul was to become an instrument of the Lord’s. Ananias doubted for obvious reasons. He had heard about Saul and all of the terrible things he was doing to Christians. “Lord, this guy? His only goal is to destroy Christianity and destroy the Church! You want me to go and help him?” (Verse 13-14) But God gave Ananias a command to go and touch Saul, so that is exactly what Ananias did. Ananias doubted, but still obeyed.
Are their people in your life that you feel called to witness to or those who just seem too far gone to even try to talk about Jesus? We all have those people in our lives that just seem to bad to try to save. But we need to take a lesson from Ananias. Ananias didn’t know if going to touch/witness to Saul was even worth it, but he still went and obeyed what God was telling him. There is no one too far gone or to in a hole for the Holy Spirit to work through you and your witness. We are called to be witnesses and to touch the lives of those around with the Holy Spirit. We are called to obey, even if we have our doubts.
Ananias took a step of faith and obeyed God. He wasnt the man who changed the world, but he did help change a man, and that man ended up changing the lives of thousands with the Holy Spirit. You never know who you are going to touch. The Saul in your life could be the next Billy Graham. Dont let your doubts or your fears deprive your witness. Take a step of faith, obey, and watch the Holy Spirit work through you and the Saul’s in your life!
