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Acts Chapter 9 - Saul and Ananias
How to support new Christians.
How can we support a new Christian? Well, the first answer we normally come off with is pray for them. . .and that’s ENTIRELY appropriate. But what else can we do to support someone who is just a new “baby” in Christ?
I believe Acts 9 provides a blueprint that we can follow:
1. Believe in them.
10 ΒΆ Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord."
11 So the Lord said to him, "Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying.
12 "And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight."
13 Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.
14 "And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name."
15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.
16 "For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake."
A) Believe they have changed, even if you haven’t seen it.
Let’s define this: What is a Christian? Someone who has confessed their sin, believes in Jesus as their Savior, and has turned from known sin in their lives.
We tend to put extra requirements in with that:
- Walk this aisle.
- Use 14 Kleenex.
- Pray “clear through.”
- Immediately change in certain ways that “everyone ought to know.”
Sometimes, it happens like Billy Jay, and sometimes it doesn’t.
Don’t misunderstand. I’m not saying we shouldn’t look for fruit – we should. I’m saying, you’re not around, and so you can’t see what is going on in their heart, life, actions, attitudes, and thoughts! Until you see evidence to the contrary, why don’t you go ahead and believe in them.
B) Believe they will change as God gives them light.
Ananias hadn’t seen Paul’s life change. He argued with the Lord, reminding him about the way he used to live.
We spend far too much time
I totally understand the sentiment that says, “WELL. . . I wonder if they REALLY prayed through.”
My problem is this: That attitude does NOTHING to provide the help and support that a new Christian needs!
C) Believe God has an amazing plan for their lives.
15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.
16 "For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake."
That person who is wrestling with getting off drugs may be a pastor by the time God is done with them.
That person who is still living in the twisted wreck of their dysfunctional family may be a great missionary someday.
That person who is shacked up the first time they pray may turn out to be the person who reaches dozens more of their family that need God.
If you think that they’ll always be an inferior brand of Christian because of their background, you’re flat wrong!
2. Encourage them to take the next step.
- Be filled with the Spirit.
17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
- Be baptized.
18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
I can announce things from the pulpit until I’m blue in the face, but on a percentage basis, I’ll never be as effective YOU are if you befriend someone who is a new Christian.
3. Spend time with them.
19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.
If we spent as much time involving ourselves in the lives of people who pray at this altar as we do worrying about them, we’d see growth and change. We would see the opposite of what we’d been worrying about, if we take the time to give them the support they need.
4. Support their ministry.
20 Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.
21 Then all who heard were amazed, and said, "Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?"
22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.
23 Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him.
24 But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him.
25 Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket.
I disagree with the idea that a Christian must wait until they “mature” to be able to minister to others. In discussions with people, I have heard these comments:
- “I think my people need to mature before we’re ready to reach out.” (That pastor had been at his church for 6 years – what’s he waiting on? How long is “maturity” going to take?)
- “Well you can’t just have anyone taking up the offering.”
The problem with this attitude is: There are many means that God uses to mature us!
- Troubles & Trials
- Temptations.
- Loving discipline
- Bible study.
- Prayer.
- Witnessing.
- Ministry/serving.
- Fellowship.
- Worship.
To say that you think a Christian needs to wait until he/she matures before they minister and reach out to others is like saying, “I want to wait for this baby to eat until it grows up.” It just won’t happen, because you’re taking away the very thing they need to mature!
Now, I’m aware that leadership has it’s higher requirements. But too often we’ve taken the position that any ministry is the same as leadership. But that simply isn’t true! Ministry (meeting needs) is not the same as leadership (setting the course).
If we want our people to grow, we have to offer them the chance to use their gifts in the way that God designed them!
5. Convince others to give them a chance.
26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.
27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
We might not have half the NT if Barnabas hadn’t been such an encourager!
LOOK AT THE RESULT!
31 Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.
___________
HANDOUT
___________
How to Support New Christians
It’s more than just praying for them!
Here’s the pattern from Acts 9:
1. ________________ in them.
10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord."
11 So the Lord said to him, "Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying.
12 "And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight."
13 Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.
14 "And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name."
15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.
16 "For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake."
A) Believe they have ___________, even if you haven’t seen it.
Let’s define this: What is a Christian? Someone who has _______________ their sin, ________________ in Jesus as their Savior, and has turned from known ___________ in their lives.
B) Believe they will change as God gives them _____________.
C) Believe God has an amazing _________ for their lives.
2. Encourage them to take the ________ _________.
- Be _____________ with the Spirit.
17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
- Be __________________.
18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
3. Spend ______________ with them.
19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent several days with the disciples at Damascus.
4. Support their ministry.
20 Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.
21 Then all who heard were amazed, and said, "Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?"
22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.
23 Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him.
24 But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him.
25 Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket.
New Christians need to have a place to minister and use their gifts! The reason is, there are many ways in which God helps us grow:
- Troubles & Trials - Temptations - Loving discipline
- Bible study - Prayer - Witnessing
- Ministry/serving - Fellowship - Worship
To say that you think a Christian needs to wait until he/she matures before they minister and reach out to others is like saying, “I want to wait for this baby to ____________ until it grows up.”
Church leadership clearly has a high standard. But _________________ (meeting needs) is not the same as _______________ (setting the course).
5. Convince _____________ to give them a chance.
26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.
27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
LOOK AT THE RESULT!
31 Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were __________________.
“When God wants to hatch baby Christians, He looks for the warmest incubator He can find.” - Rick Warren
