Acts 9:16 For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

Saul had just experienced God in a whole new light. Saul was on his way to Damascus to persecute the Christians there and before he reached Damascus, God appeared to Saul. As a result of Saul’s encounter with God, Saul ended up going blind. This blindness was only a temporary blindness as God had called Ananias to come and heal Saul.

Ananias was not pleased that he was the one chosen to go and pray for Saul and heal him of his blindness. Ananias did not trust Saul and he thought he would be killed or persecuted if he were anywhere near Saul praying and preaching the gospel of Christ. God told Ananias that Saul was a new man but then God told Saul something interesting, God told Ananias that Paul was going to suffer for the sake of Christ.

Saul had persecuted many believers and now God is sharing with Ananias that Saul is going to also suffer persecution. The word persecution is a scary word that most of us would dread hearing. However, we need to remember the words of Christ when HE taught us that “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10).

We do not think of persecution being a good thing, but it is. Have you ever tasted bread dough? Raw bread dough really is not something that you want to eat. However, after the dough has been cooked in the oven, the result of the fire is bread which is nourishing to your body.

We may not suffer for the name of Christ like Saul suffered, but we are going to face trials and temptations that are designed by God to perfect us in HIS sight. The suffering we experience is a good thing, it is not something that we should be upset about. Rather than curse God for the suffering we face, we need to thank God because it is a part of our spiritual growth.

Abraham had to wait until he was 100 years old before he could have a son. We know that the problem was not with Abraham because he was able to conceive a child with Hagar and he was able to conceive children with his wife after the death of Sarah. Abraham had to wait patiently for God to bring to pass that which God had promised HIM.

One of the problems we have with being patient is that we do not know what God is going to do. We like to have our lives all squarely in a box. However, God desires that we learn to walk by faith and learn to trust completely in HIM. This means that we must not try to take control over our lives but instead we need to turn control of our lives over to HIM. God knows what is best for us. While we have a choice whether or not to accept God’s best for our life, it is always in our best interest to follow the direction of God.

Saul was going to suffer much for the name of Christ. However, regardless of how much suffering he experienced, his focus remained upon doing the perfect will of God. Saul met God on the road to Damascus and Saul chose to follow God from that day forth.

You must understand that doing the perfect will of God will require that you face some trials and temptations that you would rather not experience. Nonetheless, we need to be patient with God and understand that HE has our best interest at heart. God desires to bless us and we need to be willing to follow HIM regardless of where HE takes us.

Acts 9:13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

Ananias had a personal relationship with the Lord. When the Lord called Ananias’ name, Ananias knew it was the Lord and acknowledged the Lord’s voice and that he was ready to hear the Lord. Once the Lord told Ananias what to do, Ananias talked with the Lord and voiced his concerns with what the Lord had requested him to do. The Lord confirmed HIS will to Ananias and Ananias obeyed.

What is the difference between Ananias response to the Lord and Zacharias response when he was told that his wife would have a son in her old age? God was willing to respond to Ananias’ question but Zacharias was punished for his lack of faith. Scripture does not tell us why Ananias was able to question the voice of the Lord, but it is probably safe to guess that the difference between Ananias and Zacharias was their heart.

When we look at the difference between king Saul and king David, it often appears that the sins of David were much worse than the sins of Saul. However, God blessed David and continued the throne of David for many generations. We know that the difference between Saul and David was their heart for the Lord. Because of David’s heart, even thou he sinned many times, God forgave David for his sins.

Ananias was a man who had a close relationship with God. Ananias heard his name called and he did not go running around the neighborhood trying to find who called his name. Ananias knew the voice of the Lord and was ready to hear what God had to say. However, this time God asked Ananias to do a difficult thing. God asked Ananias to heal a man who was seeking to kill him. Ananias did not like what he was hearing and as such, he questioned that he was hearing the Lord correctly. The Lord reassured Ananias and Ananias obeyed.

We have heard the commands of Christ how we are to love our enemy and do good to those who hate us. Ananias was just told by God to practice the commands of Christ. Like most of us, Ananias found it much easier to love his friends than to love his enemies. Nonetheless, Ananias understood that it was more important to obey God than it was to worry about his life.

How is your relationship with God? When was the last time you had a conversation with God where you spoke about the direction that God had for you to go? It is important that we learn to hear the still small voice of God. God desires to speak to us and give us direction, protection, and provision, but we are often so busy flapping our mouths that we do not give God an opportunity to speak to our hearts.

It takes great patience to develop a heart after God’s own heart. We must learn to put aside the things of this world so that we can seek first the kingdom of God. God desires to do great things through us if only we would learn to hear HIS still small voice.

Let us learn to be like Ananias. May God above know that when HE has a difficult job to do, that we are the ones who HE can rely upon to get the job done. Let us daily seek HIS face so that we know HIS voice and we know not only how to hear HIS voice but how to maintain a right relationship with HIM so that we can speak with HIM and HE can encourage us in the way that HE desires us to go.

Acts 9:13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem.

God had just appeared to Ananias and told him to go and pray for Saul that he might receive his sight. Ananias did not want to have anything to do with obeying God. Ananias heard the direction of God but he loved his life more than he desired to obey God. God was asking him to do a difficult thing which surely would result in his death.

God had already told Ananias that Saul was blind and that he was praying. God had already told Ananias that HE had already shown Saul that Ananias was the man who would appear. Nonetheless, Ananias was ignoring the words of the Lord and simply was being distracted by what he believed. Ananias heard the name Saul and immediately figured that any contact with this man would be a suicide mission.

Ananias most likely would have heard the stories of how God Peter and John from prison and how the religious leaders could not do them any harm because God was protecting them. Ananias was living during a time where many powerful miracles were being conducted all around him. Nonetheless, Ananias was questioning the direction of God because he was not comfortable with what God was telling him to do.

God did not give up on Ananias but firmly told Ananias that he had chosen Saul to do great things and to suffer much. Ananias was smart enough not to argue with God twice and he obeyed God. Ananias went to Saul, healed him, filled him with the Holy Ghost, and baptized him.

How often are we like Ananias where we hear the direction that God has for us and we immediately question it? The reason we question the direction of God is because it is not what we would have initially picked. The ways of God are not naturally our ways. God was asking Ananias to do something that seemed to put his very life on the line. As a Christian, Ananias had dedicated his life to the Lord and should have been willing like Stephen to lay his life down so that God might be glorified through him.

It is real easy for the things of this world to become more important than the things of God. Anything that comes between us and serving God is a stumbling block. Jesus once was approached by a man who felt the calling to follow Jesus. However, the man requested that he first be allowed to go and bury his father. Jesus told this man that he should let the dead bury the dead. Apparently, the father was not dead yet, so this man was simply putting off following God until some undetermined time in the future. God was calling this man now, but he was putting a relationship above the calling of Christ.

You are to add temperance to your daily life. This means that you must demonstrate self-control and not allow the things of this world to control you. Yes you live in this world but the world is not to control you. If God asks you to give up a major position or do something that seems to put your life at jeopardy, you need to quickly obey God just as Abraham did with Isaac.

What a blessing that Ananias was about to miss out on because he was not willing to fully trust God. What blessings have you missed out on because you started second guessing the will of God for your life? Trust in the Lord with all your heart and be quick to put the things of God first in your life.

Acts 24:2 And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence,

Tertullus was an orator who was brought by Ananias to the judgment hall of Felix for the purpose of bringing charges against Paul. Tertullus starts by flattering the judge. What is interesting about this flattery is that he expresses contentment on behalf of the Jews to be lorded over by the Romans. The Romans were the enemies, yet Tertullus claims that the religious leaders were happy with this arrangement.

Why would the religious leaders be content being under Roman control? It could be that Tertullus was lying, and thus in reality, the religious leaders were willing to say anything in order to dispose of Paul. If this were the case, truth was relative as long as they got what they wanted – Paul out of their way and they were still in control of the people.

It could be that the religious leaders really were content living in bondage to the Romans. If this were the case, then they would have grown so comfortable in their bondage that they have grown to love that which was destroying them. Either way, this is not a good place the religious leaders have found themselves in.

We are called to be a light unto the world. This means that we must shine bright against the darkness of the world. If we are lying to protect ourselves or to get what we want, then we will not have a light that will cause the world to see the love of God through our lives. We live in this world but we are not to be of this world. This means that we must never grow comfortable with the bondage of sin. If we are not ashamed of our bondage, and if we start to accept it as it is, than, we will not be a proper light because the darkness will diminish our ability to reflect the light of God.

Joseph was a light unto the house of Potiphar. Joseph had the opportunity to sin, but instead of taking the easy road, Joseph fled. Joseph may have suffered because he did that which was right in the eyes of God, but his light shined bright and God used him to do much good. We must follow the example of Joseph and not allow sin to entangle us. Scripture tells us about a couple of the brothers of Joseph who did not flee from sin but instead allowed sin to take control over their lives. Judah had sexual relations with a woman that he thought was a harlot. Judah did not flee from sin. Reuben had sexual relations with his step mother. Reuben did not flee from sin.

The world would love nothing more than to get you to yield to sin. The world will promise you power, prestige, and prosperity if you do what they do. The things of this world do not last. They do not bring true contentment. If you allow yourself to be controlled by the things of this world, you will be like the religious leaders who may have become so comfortable with their sin that they stopped fighting it and just simply accepted the bondage.

Jesus told us that the truth will set you free. You must become a seeker of the truth. You must take the time to study the ways of God so that you can free yourself of the bondages of this world. Satan is very tricky and he will try to bind you in such a way that you do not realize that you are content with your sin. Nonetheless, if you diligently add knowledge of the ways of God to your life, you will have the strength to overcome the temptations of this world.

Acts 9:10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

Ananias had heard that of the deeds of Saul back in Jerusalem. Ananias understood that Saul was coming to Damascus to persecute the Christians. Most likely, Ananias was seeking the Lord trying to determine what God would have him to do. Did God desire him to flee or did God desire him to stand? Was this to be the end of his life or did God have greater plans for him?

Ananias was ready to hear from the Lord and thus when the Lord spoke to him in a vision, he was quick to reply. Ananias was eagerly waiting to see the direction the Lord had for him and now the Lord was speaking. However, Ananias did not hear what he thought the Lord was going to say. God brought a completely different message to Ananias. Instead of running or hiding, God was telling Ananias to go to his enemy and heal him.

God does not always fit into our perfect little box. We sometimes come to God and ask HIM should it be option A or option B. Do not try to limit God because God often has option C which is so much better than anything we could have ever imagined. When we are faced with a difficult situation, rather than insisting on giving God options, come to HIM with an open mind and allow HIM to be God and to direct you in the way that HE knows is best.

When Samuel was young and God called him in the night, Samuel was not expecting to hear the voice of God and as such, he kept running to Eli trying to see what he wanted. Samuel had to be instructed by Eli on how to respond to God before Samuel was ready to recognize the voice of God and understand the message God had for his life. Ananias did not have the same problem that Samuel had. Ananias understood how to hear the voice of God and thus when he heard it; he was ready to follow the direction that God had for him.

Ananias was seeking the Lord and the Lord rewarded the faithfulness of Ananias by directing him in the way that he should go. You do not know the plans that God has for you. However, if you continue to seek HIM, HE will open your eyes and show you HIS perfect path. Do not be afraid to seek the will of God. Do not allow uncertainty in what the Lord might say to you to discourage you from following HIS perfect path. God has great plans for you if you will continue to seek HIM and allow HIM to direct your path.

Understanding the ways of God means that you must allow yourself to be flexible so that God can reveal to you HIS perfect will. Just because you feel you know the way the Lord is leadings, you must continue to seek HIM and allow HIM to change your plans in accordance with what HE knows is best for you. Remember, God knows everything, if HE were to let you have your way; it could lead you in a direction that you ultimately do not want to go. A path may appear to be great today, but you do not always know what tomorrow may bring.

You need to follow the example of Ananias. You need to learn to seek the Lord. As you draw closer to God, HE will reward you by showing you the way you are to go. However, do not be so inflexible that you refuse to follow the direction of God because it was not one of the options that you were contemplating. Instead, watch and see how God opens the doors in your life and be willing and ready to obey HIM. God knows what is best for you; you need to start spending the time seeking HIS perfect will so that you can truly be happy.

Acts 24:26 He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.

Felix had heard the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Evidently, Felix believed Paul’s story over the story given to him by Ananias and Tertullus. However, Felix was corrupt, he desired that Paul purchase his freedom by bribing him with money. Felix may have heard how Paul lived by a different standard, but that still did not stop him from attempting to receive from Paul a bribe in exchange for his release.

What Felix did not understand is that Paul was accountable to God for his actions. Paul had added virtue to his life and as such, while he probably figured out that with a bribe he would be able to obtain a release, if he paid a bribe, he would destroy his testimony. Paul understood that even thinking about paying a bribe to Felix violated at least four things he had told the church that they were supposed to think upon. Taking a bribe would not be true, it would not be honest, it would not be just and it would not be pure.

Even if Paul could have raised the money to pay a bribe, Paul was not one who was about to bribe an official. Furthermore, God had told Paul that he would some day preach in Rome. By paying a bribe and traveling to preach in Rome, Paul would have been taking matters into his own hand and he would be attempting to do God’s work in his own timing. In order to maintain a clear conscience before God, Paul could never pay a bribe and he understood that it was his obligation to God to wait for HIS perfect timing.

While Paul may have added virtue to his life, Felix did not care about doing that which is right in the eyes of God. Felix had heard the truth but still he was more concerned about what he could put in his pocket then he was about doing the right thing. Felix believed he should release Paul but he was not wiling that truth or justice prevail as long as he could personally benefit from this situation.

You have an obligation before God to do the right thing. You will be tempted sometime in your life to put your own personal finances before doing the right thing. If you have added virtue to your life, then you will abstain from putting your personal finances ahead of doing the right thing. It will be more important to you to keep a clear conscience before God then enabling yourself to do what you want when you want.

Virtue will change your perspective. Rather then focusing on yourself and what is best for you today, Virtue will enable you to see the bigger picture and understand that God is in control. Rather then take matters into your own hand and possibly destroy your testimony and your relationship with God, you must remember to do that which is right in the eyes of God. You cannot afford to allow yourself to destroy your clear conscience and you cannot afford to allow evil thoughts to permeate your mind.

Felix knew what was right but because he did not have the fear of the Lord, he was willing to keep Paul in prison longer because he hoped to receive monetary gain in exchange for doing the right thing. When you have virtue in your life, you will chose to do the right thing not for what you personally can benefit from it but will do the right thing so as to please God.

Acts 24:16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.

Paul was presenting his case before Felix. Felix had first allowed Ananias along with his spokesman Tertullus to first bring the charges against Paul. It was now Paul’s turn to respond to these charges and to make explanation for his behavior. Paul explained to Felix that he was not speaking to anyone when some Jews from Asia saw him in the temple and they started the riot. Paul also claimed that the Jews could not prove all the charges that they brought against him. Next, Paul told Felix how he strived to live his life so as to maintain a good conscience before God and man. Finally, Paul took advantage of the opportunity and explained how his beliefs actually conformed to the law of the Jews.

Paul used the opportunity to defend himself to explain to Felix and his accusers how his belief in Jesus was not heresy or some new doctrine but was in fact in accordance with the law. Paul was not afraid to witness in a secular arena because he understood the importance of keeping a clear conscience before God. Paul desired to follow God’s direction and by so doing, he allowed God to protect him.

Because Paul strived to keep a clear conscience before man, God was able to use Paul to do many great things for HIM. While Paul did have enemies who brought false accusations against him, the reason they had to bring false accusations was because of how he had lived his life and they could not find something to bring legitimate charges.

Ananias bringing false charges against Paul is similar to what happened to Daniel when the princes determined that the only way they were going to take him down was if they created a law that caused Daniel to sin against his God. When Daniel was forced to make a decision between keeping a clear conscience between either God or man, Daniel choose to keep a clear conscience before God and God protected him.

Whenever possible, you must strive to keep a clear conscience before both God and man. There may come a time as there did in the life of Daniel that you must choose between God and man and if that occurs, then you must choose God. However, you must remember how early in Daniel’s life how he chose not to eat the king’s meat but he did so in such a way so as to maintain a clear conscience before man. Just because something appears to a conflict between God and man, it does not mean that you cannot make certain arrangements so as to maintain a clear conscience with both.

Every day you are faced with decisions that can affect your relationship with mankind and your relationship with God. It is important that you learn how to maintain a clear conscience with both. You will not be a very affective witness for God if you maintain a clear conscience before God but have completely alienated everyone around you so that they will not even listen to the truths that you have to present.

Are you making proper decisions so that God is pleased with your life and so that you have the ability to be used by HIM to do HIS will for your life? By adding virtue to your life, the things of God will be your primary focus. God will be pleased and by loving your neighbor as yourself, you will maintain a clear conscience before man.

Acts 24:1 And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul.

Lysias, the captain of the guard sent Paul to Caesarea. In Caesarea was Felix the governor who agreed to hear the charges of the Jews. When Ananias arrived, he had brought Tertullus to speak before Felix to communicate their grievances.

Tertullus started off by flattering Felix by letting him know how he had brought peace to their land and how they were so grateful for Felix’s worthy deeds in their land. Tertullus then stated that he did not want to waste Felix’s time and that he would be brief. Next he accused Paul of stirring up the Jews and various other things that Paul had not done. Finally they said that they were about to judge Paul according to their law because he had defiled the temple but that they were prevented because of Lysias actions of taking Paul away from them with violence. Tertullus communicated that this matter was regarding their temple and as such, implied that Felix did not have jurisdiction to hear this matter.

Ananias and Tertullus were not interested in justice; they were interested in maintaining their power base. They were willing to flatter, lie and tell partial truth if it would result in Felix relinquishing jurisdiction. Ananias knew that he did not have a case in a Roman court to convict Paul of death, but he knew how to use the Jewish system to manipulate the laws so as to ensure that Paul was no longer a thorn in their side.

Had Ananias and Tertullus really been concerned about doing that which is right in the eyes of God, then they would have approached this trial with a completely different attitude. Had they been adding virtue to their lives, they would have been thinking on the things of God and been more concerned that God would be glorified by their actions rather then how they might maintain their power in Jerusalem.

Virtue requires that you think upon those things that are true, honest and just. If virtue is in your life, your actions and communication will not be full of lies, partial truth and injustice. Rather then being more concerned about your position in life today, you will be more concerned about your relationship with God and whether your thoughts, feelings and actions are conforming to HIS will for your life.

Rather than being concerned about how you can persuade people with your silver tongue as Ananias attempted to do, you should be concerned about how you can take the opportunity God has given you to pursue the truth. While you may not be faced with bringing charges against a prisoner like Ananias was, quite often you are faced with the choice whether you are going to pursue that which is right or that which is easy. You cannot afford to take the easy road; you must pursue virtue in your life.

You have an obligation to God to ensure that your thoughts and communications are pleasing to HIS ears. Your actions will not be pleasing to God if you are more concerned about what others think about you then you are about what God thinks about you. By allowing God to take control over your mind by what you think about, your actions will conform to HIS will and you will live a life pleasing to God. Virtue may not make you the most popular individual but it will cause God to be pleased with you.

Acts 23:5 Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.

While in Jerusalem Paul was arrested by the Romans because it appeared to the chief captain that Paul was causing a riot to occur. The next day, Paul was taken before the council so that the charges might be heard. Ananias was sitting as the high priest. Paul told the council that he had lived his life in good conscience before God. Ananias ordered Paul to be slapped and Paul ridiculed Ananias. Paul was then told the position of Ananias and Paul had to repent because he understood that he was not to speak evil of the ruler.

For Paul to maintain a good conscience before God, he had to seek forgiveness of those whom he has wronged immediately. It did not matter that Ananias had ordered that Paul be slapped contrary to the law. It did not matter that Paul’s rebuking of Ananias came as a result of this unlawful order. Paul had violated the law in his rebuking of Ananias and as a result, he had sinned and was now a lawbreaker guilty of breaking the entire law.

Paul did not waste any time asking for forgiveness because he understood the importance of maintaining that clear conscience before God. How can one expect to be used mightily of God when they have violated God’s perfect law? Because of the virtue in Paul’s life, Paul did not allow sin to control his life for very long. In the minute he understood that he had allowed his mouth to say something that was not proper, he took care of the problem by asking for forgiveness. In order to maintain his mind thinking upon the things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely and that are a good report; Paul had to seek forgiveness of all actions that violate the law.

Paul could have stood his ground and replied that his statement was true and he was not going to seek forgiveness. However, just because his statement was true, it did not mean that he had the right to rebuke his authority. Paul understood that it was more important that he maintain a clear conscience before God then that he be right.

How many times have you said something that as soon as the words were out of your mouth you wished you had never said them? What is your response? Do you become intransigent in your ways? Do you insist that because the words are true and that you really feel that way that you have nothing to apologize for? Or do you immediately humble yourself and request forgiveness for allowing your words to reveal to others that your mind was not thinking upon the things of God?

You have an obligation before God when you sin to quickly seek forgiveness. You cannot afford to live your life not having a clear conscience before God. So often, your sin may appear minor in your eyes and you will probably be able to justify your actions. Yet nonetheless, your sin probably appears to be much larger in the eyes of others.

In order to live a virtuous life, you must maintain a good conscience. This means that in the day you hear that your words or action caused you to sin, you must be like Paul and humble yourself and acknowledge your sin. You must maintain that good conscience before God by allowing virtue to control your life. You allow virtue to control your life by ensuring that you are dwelling upon that which is pleasing to God.

Acts 9:20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

Saul had been religious and was trying to kill the Christians. Now Saul had been touched of God and he was sharing with others the good report that Christ was the Son of God. In the matter of a very short period of time, Paul had been filled with virtue and his entire life had changed. Paul had spoken to God and God blinded him and then three days later, after much prayer and fasting, Ananias came and laid his hands upon him so that he received his sight. At the same time Saul had received his
sight, Ananias prayed that Saul would be filled with the Holy Ghost.

Saul was a new man with a new mind to do the will of God. Saul no longer was striving to see how he might bring glory to himself, but now was seeking for ways that HE might do that which is right in the eyes of God. Saul was serving the same God, but now he was not using God for his own purposes but instead he was striving to do the will of God by preaching the good report that Jesus was the Son of God and that HE came to this earth to die for man’s sin. The simple change of Saul’s mindset radically altered Saul’s actions.

Just because you believe in God, it does not mean that you have virtue in your life. Virtue is a change in your mind where you put on the mind of Christ and now strive to think and do those things that Christ would have done on this earth. By adding virtue to your Christian walk, your life will change. You will now strive to do the things of God rather then strive to do that which is right in your own eyes. Rather then seek
for ways that you can be comfortable, you will seek for ways that your life can glorify God.

When you add virtue to your life, people will not always believe that you could make such a radical change so quickly. Like Saul, people will not trust that this change in you is true and will last. You will have to give people time to adjust to the new you. People will have to become accustomed to the fact that you are now thinking on those things that glorify God and that you are striving to have your actions conform to the image of Christ.

It will not be easy adding virtue to your life. God is going to have to touch you to break through your hardened heart in order for you to see the truth. In Isaiah 58:6 one of the purposes of a fast chosen by God is to lose the bands of wickedness. When Saul fasted those three days, God used that fast to free him from his desire to serve himself. Saul had to make a personal sacrifice in order to change from his old wicked ways. Saul’s sacrifice opened the door for God to root out the wickedness and to put in its place the mind of Christ. Having put on the mind of Christ, Saul was now ready to go out and share with others the testimony that God had given him. Saul was able to share the good report that once he was blind but now he could see.

If you examine your life and see that you do not have the mind of Christ, maybe it is time that you cry out to God and ask HIM to touch you. Maybe it is time that you make some personal sacrifice so that God can change your heart and your mind so that you will be more affective for HIM. You cannot just make a choice that you are going to put on the mind of Christ. You need the help of God to weed out all the impurity in your mind. As you allow God to have HIS way with you, your life will
change for God’s glory.

Acts 9:11-12 And 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, 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.

You want me to do what? You want me to find the person who is trying to kill me and heal the man that you have judged for the wickedness that he has done to YOUR church? Wouldn’t your church be better off if this Saul character remain blind the rest of his life?

Ananias received a difficult instruction from God. Ananias was a faithful disciple who knew the voice of God. However, just because he knew the voice of God, it does not mean that he was doing back flips in eager anticipation to obeying God. This was a hard thing God was asking Ananias to do. God was asking Ananias to love his enemy, to bless the one who cursed him, to do good to the one who hated him and to pray for the one who was persecuting him. Ananias tried to change God’s mind by reasoning with God. However, God assured Ananias that HE had changed Saul.

What God had told Ananias to do did not make much sense. Ananias was asked to do a difficult thing. God assured Ananias that it was HIS will for Saul to receive his sight. God did not condemn Ananias for questioning HIS initial instruction.

You do not read much more about Ananias but you do read a lot about Saul. Ananias was faithful in doing one small thing for God. Ananias’ simple faithfulness brought great blessings for the expansion of the church. Ananias obeyed God. Ananias died to himself and obeyed. If you had asked Ananias at the time about his going to speak with Saul, he would have said it was the greatest challenge of his life. However, after seeing how God provided and directed through the life of Saul, later on in his life, Ananias had such joy of being used of God that he probably did not remember the full extent of the trial.

Jesus tells us that woman does not remember the anguish of her labor because of the joy of seeing her child. So to your exercise of faith is similar. While you are going through a trial of trusting in God, the anguish and sorrow is great. However, the joy that results from finishing the trial is so great that one quickly forgets the extent of the trial.

Ananias teaches us the importance of listening to God and doing what HE says. God stretched Ananias’ faith by requiring him to do something that was contrary to Ananias’ better judgment. God will sometimes require that you do things that seem illogical. It is at these times that you must learn to put aside your own human reasoning and simply trust and obey. The gospel of Christ does not naturally appeal to our selfish desires.

God desires that you live by a higher standard. God desires to stretch you and to cause you to do things that seem unnatural. God stretches you so that when you obey HIM, you cannot take the glory for the act that you have done. You must give all the glory to God for what HE has done through you. When you can be like Ananias who was able to lay aside his natural inclinations in order to obey the ONE whom he served, God was the ONE who received the glory. Learn to demonstrate your faith by obeying God. God is faithful, but you must obey first to experience the joy of overcoming the trial.