Ananias, Servant of God
INTRODUCTORY WORDS
God links Himself with man in the performance of His Word and work. "We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us." What could be more blessed than this Heavenly partnership. The First Epistle to the Corinthians begins with a Divine call to partnership in the work of the Lord. Let me quote 1 Corinthians 1:9, "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship (partnership) of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord." This is a call into business. The same Epistle in 1 Corinthians 15:58 presents this appeal, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." This is a plea that we give attention to our business.
God wanted to do certain things for Saul, but He chose to do it through a human mediary. Let us follow the way the Lord dealt with Ananias.
I. GOD'S EYE IS ON HIS SERVANTS (Acts 9:10)
Mark the words, "A certain disciple"; "a certain disciple at Damascus"; "a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias."
What meaneth all of this? It means that God knows us individually, and personally. He knows us as distinct from all others there was "a certain disciple."
It means that God knows where we dwell; He knows our environment; He sees us in the city of our abode a disciple "in Damascus."
It means that God knows us by name. He can say, "Saul, Saul!" He can also say, "Ananias!" We are not mere sheep void of any distinctive individuality The Good Shepherd knoweth His own sheep; He calleth them by name, and He leadeth them out.
Our personality follows us into the Glory. In Heaven Abraham will be Abraham, and Isaac will be Isaac, and Jacob will be Jacob. The names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb will be in the foundations of the New Jerusalem. the City that cometh down from God out of Heaven.
We bless God that we carry a name that distinguishes us from every other man on earth. We thank God that we are known by name, called by name; and that, in the eternal glory awaiting us beyond the tomb, we shall wear our name, and carry our own individuality.
There is now before us more, however, than our distinctive personality, there is the fact that our personality, in all of its details stands forth in the limelight before God. He knows our name; He knows where we dwell; He knows our discipleship; He knows whether or not we are worthy to receive a special call, to a special service.
II. GOD GIVES DETAILED DIRECTIONS TO HIS SERVANTS (Acts 9:10-11)
To Ananias God said, "Ananias." The response was immediately given, "Behold, I am here, Lord." Then the Lord said unto him, "Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul." There was no hit and miss proposition in God's orders to Ananias. God knew the details, and He charted them out for His servant.
There are some who imagine that when God saves a soul, He at once turns him loose to paddle his own canoe. There are others who believe that God merely calls a man to some definite task, but leaves him to work out all of the details to his own liking. That neither of these conceptions were true in Ananias' case is evident; and we believe that they never express all of the truth.
There is for each of us a definite calling and a detailed plan. To Philip, God said, "Arise, and go * * unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert." A while later, God said, "Go near, and join thyself to this chariot." Paul He directed to go to Asia.
We are God's workmanship, "created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." According to the Word of God, every man has his own work. This being the case, how vital that each of us should get on our watch and set ourselves on our high tower to see what He will say unto us.
Why are saints urged to present their bodies unto God as a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable unto Him, if there is no special and designated plan of service, which those bodies may render? Why are we told to yield ourselves unto God, if there is no plan in His hand whereby He may use us?
When the Brooklyn Suspension Bridge was in course of building, the head architect was laid up by an accident. From his bed he gave orders for the continuance of the work. Finally, when the great span was completed, the architect was carried on a cot to view the work. After carefully examining the whole great structure, he clapped his hands in the ecstasy of delight, and exclaimed, "It's just according to the plan; it's just according to the plan."
After God has called upon us to present our bodies a living sacrifice, He continues to explain unto us how we may get into His plan. He tells us not to be conformed unto this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds; then, says He, "Ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
III. GOD GIVES HIS SERVANTS NEEDED ENCOURAGEMENT IN THEIR TASK (Acts 9:11, l.c.)
As we pursue our study we must remember that Saul had come to Damascus with letters of authority to apprehend the Christians, whether men, or women, and to take them bound to Jerusalem. God was not unmindful of the fear which hung over the Damascus Christians. They had neither heard of the redemption of Saul, nor of his being detained blind at the home of Judas. This had evidently been hushed up by the authorities. All the time the saints were imagining that Saul was laying his plans to discover them, and to pounce upon them unawares.
Knowing this fear, the Lord spoke to Ananias, and, in giving command that Saul should be visited, He said, "Enquire * * for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight."
How gracious is our God, how ready to strengthen the feeble knees, and how willing to encourage the trembling spirit When the storm-tossed disciples pulling at the oars, saw Christ walking on the waters, they were filled with fear, thinking Him a spirit. He quickly reassured their hearts, saying, "It is I; be not afraid."
When Paul was on the Mediterranean, driven with a wild tempest, and when the mariners had given up alt hope that they should be saved, then an angel of the Lord came to Paul saying, "Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee."
Our God is a God of all comfort. He is not unmindful of the difficult places we are called to fill. He is ever saying. "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness."
Ananias, however, was not satisfied. He said, "Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to Thy saints at Jerusalem: and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on Thy Name."
From Ananias' plea, it is evident that Saul's presence in Damascus was generally known and discussed among the saints. The Christians of that day furnished many noble martyrs of the faith; but they were all men, and they had their fears. They were ready to die if need be, but they did not care to rush into the enemy's hand.
How graciously did God lend further encouragement to Ananias. The Lord said, "Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto Me."
We tremble lest we have failed to note the gentleness with which our God hath sheltered us from many a foe. He hides us under His wing. He is our shadow of a great rock, from the heat; He is our covert, from the storm.
God has caused many a gourd to spring up for our comfort. He has shut many a lion's mouth, and stopped the violence of many a raging fire.
Hear His voice, even now He is saying, "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee."
Better than all we have been able to ask or think, God, in grace, has wrought our salvation from every foe.
Mark you, the Christians in Damascus had no doubt prayed for deliverance from the tyranny of Saul. God had heard their prayer, and had given them all that they had asked; yea, He had given them more. He had turned their hater into a helper; He had made their persecutor their comrade in persecutions. How wonderful it must have been! The man who came down to apprehend saints and bring them bound to the high priests, was ready to join the hated believers, and stand with them for their Lord.
We are overcome with the blessings which are ours from the Lord.
IV. GOD'S WORK IS WROUGHT THROUGH HIS SERVANTS (Acts 9:11)
God said to Ananias, "Arise," "Go." We stop to ponder these words. We ask ourselves this question, could not God have given Saul his sight without Ananias' aid, as easily as He had made Saul blind? Could God not have told Saul directly what He wanted him to do; as easily as to have told him through Ananias? There must be some special reason for this command, "Arise," "Go."
Into the home of Judas came Ananias. He went at once to Saul and putting his hands on him said, "Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost."
What then was the purpose of God in commissioning His servant to arise, and go? We wot that He had His reasons.
1. Perhaps God wanted an eyewitness to His marvels that thus the saints in Damascus might know the certainty of His miraculous grace.
2. Perhaps God wanted the coming of Ananias to be the introduction of Saul unto the saints in Damascus, that he might thus be ushered more readily and heartily into their fellowship.
3. Perhaps God wanted to establish His plan to serve men through men. When Christ said, "Without Me ye can do nothing," He established our utter inert helplessness. If we should say, "Apart from saints, God does nothing," we must, at once, hem our words into this meaning, that God has chosen to reach men through men.
When the multitudes had sat down on the grass, Christ took the loaves and fishes, and gave to His disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. That is, the disciples stood between the Lord and the hungry crowd.
This is God's will. God did not go to the inquiring eunuch, He sent Philip. God did not go to India, He sent Judson and Carey. God did not go to the New Hebrides, He sent John G. Paton.
The last message of Christ was, "Go ye into all the world." That message still reverberates. Its voice is still heard. Go! Go! GO!
Oh, list to the voice of the Spirit,
Speaking today;
Oh, do not refuse now to listen,
Haste to obey:
Ask God to direct all your pathway,
Seek for the light;
And when He gives orders then follow,
Trusting His might.
Perhaps to your own home, and loved ones,
You hold so dear
He calls you to carry His message-
Go without fear:
Perhaps to the lanes of the city,
Near to your home;
Perhaps to the byways and hedges,
Where sinners roam.
Perhaps to the fields that are distant,
He leads you on;
Where souls grope in heathenish darkness,
All the day long:
Go then, nothing doubting and follow,
Where'er He leads,
He'll go in the way, on, before you,
Meeting your needs.
V. GOD'S MESSAGE TO ANANIAS (Acts 9:15-16)
There are several things vitally important before us.
1. God said of Saul "Behold, he prayeth."
As we see it, this was God's proof to Ananias that Saul was truly saved. The newborn babe sets up a lusty shout. The newborn soul begins to pray to God, "Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father."
2. God said of Saul "He is a chosen vessel unto Me."
Paul, in later years, established his faith in this very thing, when in the Spirit, he wrote to the Galatians, "When it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called my by His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood."
Accordingly, God chose Paul to preach His Gospel before He met him on the Damascus road, yea, before he was even born.
Some may object. However, such was the case. The architect plans his building before the first spade of dirt is dug. He sees it as it will be, when it stands completed. God plans His works, and then works out His plan,
3. God said of Saul, "He is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My Name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the Children of Israel."
Not only "chosen" to work, but chosen to a special work. Each of Paul's three missionary journeys, were all chartered of God, long before Saul was saved. God fore-ordered the cities he should visit. No marvel that the storm on the Mediterranean could not take Paul's life. No marvel that the angel of the Lord said to Paul, "Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar." God foretold Ananias that very thing, under the word, "and kings."
We have spoken about God's definite call in the case of Ananias, this corroborates that part of our message. However, God now places His call far back in the purpose of the One who worketh all things according to the counsel of His will.
4. God said of Saul: "I will shew him how great things he must suffer for My Name's sake." This, to say the least, was not a very roseate picture to place before a newborn soul. Yet so it was, and so it is. It is given unto us in the behalf of Christ, "not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake."
None of these things moved Saul. He soon became universally known as Paul, and in later life, Paul himself said, "And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: save that the Holy Spirit witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus." God give us more men like Paul.
VI. GOD'S MESSAGE THROUGH ANANIAS TO SAUL (Acts 9:17)
1. Ananias said, "Brother Saul."
As the servant of the Lord approached the stricken and blind Saul, he said, "Brother Saul." What a thrill of joy the words must have brought to the heart of Saul! "Brother Saul." What deeps of fellowship, what marks of trust, what comradeship are here.
"Blest be the tie that binds,
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds,
Is like to that above."
2. Ananias said, "The Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou earnest, hast sent me,"
Here was the corroboration of Ananias to the personality of the One who had spoken to him on the Damascus road. Here is an insight not alone to Saul's faith, but to the faith that gripped the early saints. Jesus Christ was real to them. His resurrection was real; His ascension was real.
The saints of the first century worshiped a Living Christ. He was to them a blessed and all-glorious fact; not a fancied and inglorious fable. Saul may have been startled that an utter stranger should have known what had happened unto him as he journeyed. Certainly no other knew it. The men who traveled with Saul had heard a voice, but they had seen no man. Saul in the darkness of his eyes, may have confided to the man Judas, at whose house he lodged, what had happened, but if so, it had been told under utmost secrecy. Saul therefore was struck by a new manifestation of the Divine. The Lord who had spoken to him, had also spoken to Ananias.
Thus did the glory of the Christ take on added meaning to Saul. The name "Lord Jesus" shone with a luster of glory that dazzled the soul of Saul. And so does that Name shine to us.
Saviour Divine, all full of glory,
Saviour Divine, through ages hoary,
Thou art the theme of sacred story,
Saviour Divine, for evermore.
Saviour Divine, in grace excelling,
Saviour Divine, in light e'er dwelling,
Saviour Divine with love compelling,
Saviour Divine, for evermore.
Saviour Divine, all virtues blending,
Saviour Divine, all grace extending,
We come to Thee, with praise ascending,
Saviour Divine, for evermore.
Saviour Divine, all clothed with power,
Saviour Divine, Thy mercies shower,
Soon with Thee, Lord, in Heaven's tomorrow
Saviour Divine, for evermore.
3. Ananias said, "The Lord, even Jesus, * * hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost."
What blessings flow from the Risen Christ. Health of body and of spirit are alike from Him. "That thou mightest receive thy sight" speaks of the bodily blessing. "That thou mightest * * be filled with the Holy Ghost" speaks of the acme of all spiritual life. Let us not hesitate to claim both from the Lord Jesus who is seated at the Father's right hand, clothed with all authority and power.
The words of Ananias were immediately effective. It was not a slow stage of improvement it was a sudden manifestation of power. We will begin here in our next address and mark how graciously God led Saul, and how Saul quickly began the ministry to which he was called.
As we think of how God led both Saul and Ananias, and wrought out through them His marvelous will, we cannot refrain from quoting a few verses we penned the other day:
Whatever God's will, there is also His way;
He backs His commands with the power to obey;
So hasten, my brother, and brook no delay;
Be up, and be doing, while yet it is day.
Let God plan your life, make His will your choice;
Oh, listen, each moment, give heed to His voice;
He'll guide you, and keep you, make you to rejoice;
He'll lead you to vict'ry, when He is your choice.
Let thy constant quest, be always His will;
O'er river, o'er ocean, o'er valley and hill;
Stand ready each moment, His Word to fulfil;
Await His commands, be quiet, be still.