Taking Ownership With God Part 2

Acts 6: 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one.

8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

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."

Taking ownership with God Part 2

Lets pray

• Last week we spent some time looking at the encounter of Saul with Jesus

• Saul was breathing out murder & threats

• Thought he was doing the will of God

• But Jesus confronted him on the road to Damascus

• A great light shone

• & Jesus asked the question why are you persecuting me

• then made the statement hit is hard for you to kick against the goad or hard

• to kick against the leading of the Lord for you life & the world around you.

• The power of the words of jesus evidently got to Saul which led to him making the statement, “what do you want me to do?”

You know God is looking for a, “yes Lord!”

He’s looking for a, “what do you want me to do?”

Saul had finally bought into what God was doing in the person & the work.

But God was not through!

• When Saul stood up he immediately realized he was blind.

• His eyes were opened but he couldn’t see

• He didn’t eat or drink for 3 days

• During those long 3 days he awaited for what was supposed to come.

God reveals himself in times of pain!

God came to a man named ananias

He said “here am I”

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."

God was making a pitch to ananias

Things that stick out about the pitch that God made to Ananias

1. directions were clear

Can the directions be any easier?

Get up!

Go to straight street

Ask for Judas’ house

Once you get there ask for saul of Tarsus

He’ll be the one praying

He’ll be the blind one

Oh! And he has already seen in a vision a man by the name of annanias coming in & laying hands on him so he will see again.

Can it be any easier than that?

2. directive was difficult

The directions were clear but the directive was questionable.

Get up………..ok

Go to straight street………….ok

Go to Judas house…………ok

Ask for saul……………ok……….of Tarsus………..OF TARSUS?????

This sounds hard

3. cleared path

the directive was difficult But God chose to reveal to ananias what was going to happen as an end result of ananias obedience.

11…..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."

God had prepared the path for him & shared the end result

You know in order for you to buy into something, you have to know there will be a positive end result.

That’s what commercials are all about.

• Vaccum that picks up 7 pounds of bolts

• A hair thinning cream for women that reduces the need for leg shaving

• Eye laser surgery

The promise of the destination has to outweigh the pain of the journey!

If you are not convinced that the product will make a difference or serve a purpose you will not buy into it & eventually take ownership!

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Church you have to be sold on the fact that when you entrust everything that you are in God……..

When you invest you life into him…….

No matter what happens to you, it will work out in a positive way…may not be for your glory but for the glory of God.

Ananias was given the opportunity to respond…..would he do it?

****In Ananias response we see 2 factors that cause him to hesitate in obeying God