God’s Grace is Closer Than You Think
As a person whose heart beats strongly for those who have no access, no scripture, no hope, or no “good news”, Pastor Dan Hutton, who is a former missionary, was the perfect person to kick off our Beyond Our Walls Missions Conference, starting in the Book of Acts.
Acts 9
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
Saul the Persecutor
What is Saul doing? He’s breathing, operating systematically, and is being indiscriminate. Up to this point, Saul thinks he is pleasing God. He looks at this holistically – breath, system, action. Saul is not seeking Jesus, he’s persecuting Jesus. He is blind to what God is doing, which is ironic considering he ends up blind.
Jesus Interrupts Saul
Conversion begins with 3 things:
In your story, have you seen all of these? Which do you still need to identify? Which do you still need to experience?
It’s a constant battle we all deal with. We want the grace without the initiative or authority of Jesus. Grace is nice because we treat it like a get-out-of-jail-free card. But the strangest thing happens: Jesus brings someone else into the story. Which is actually more common than not if you read scripture.
Acts 9
10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.
A Random Disciple
Ananias – name means, God is gracious (from Hebrew Hananayah). In this case, there’s a level of grace to Saul, but also to Ananias. Listen to the instructions:
Ananias balks – “God, are you sure? Do you know this guy?” God knows the risk and the opportunity. He sees what Ananias can’t yet. Ananias knows God changed his life, but he had a sense of hesitation in this situation.
Saul is not Paul yet, but still a brother. He receives sight, receives the Holy Spirit, is baptized, and spends days with the disciples.
Maybe we need some of what Ananias offers because God is still gracious. Do you need family, touch, sight, the Holy Spirit, Baptism, or Community? That’s what Transforming the World Beyond Our Walls is all about.
The story of Paul and Ananias is the story of different callings but the same faithfulness. Ananias set the paradigm for all that God would do in and through Paul.
Saul will travel the Roman world, plant churches, and write half of the New Testament. Ananias will walk across town, enter one house, and lay hands on one man.
The church needs both, and Jesus honors both.
Ordinary disciples in familiar places take faithful steps and change the world.
The truth is that you can’t change something for everybody, but through the Gospel, you can change everything for somebody.
Acts 9
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
Saul the Persecutor
What is Saul doing? He’s breathing, operating systematically, and is being indiscriminate. Up to this point, Saul thinks he is pleasing God. He looks at this holistically – breath, system, action. Saul is not seeking Jesus, he’s persecuting Jesus. He is blind to what God is doing, which is ironic considering he ends up blind.
Jesus Interrupts Saul
Conversion begins with 3 things:
- Jesus’ initiative
- Jesus’ authority
- Jesus’ grace
In your story, have you seen all of these? Which do you still need to identify? Which do you still need to experience?
It’s a constant battle we all deal with. We want the grace without the initiative or authority of Jesus. Grace is nice because we treat it like a get-out-of-jail-free card. But the strangest thing happens: Jesus brings someone else into the story. Which is actually more common than not if you read scripture.
Acts 9
10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.
A Random Disciple
Ananias – name means, God is gracious (from Hebrew Hananayah). In this case, there’s a level of grace to Saul, but also to Ananias. Listen to the instructions:
- Go to “the straight way/path”
- Go to the house of Judas
Ananias balks – “God, are you sure? Do you know this guy?” God knows the risk and the opportunity. He sees what Ananias can’t yet. Ananias knows God changed his life, but he had a sense of hesitation in this situation.
Saul is not Paul yet, but still a brother. He receives sight, receives the Holy Spirit, is baptized, and spends days with the disciples.
Maybe we need some of what Ananias offers because God is still gracious. Do you need family, touch, sight, the Holy Spirit, Baptism, or Community? That’s what Transforming the World Beyond Our Walls is all about.
The story of Paul and Ananias is the story of different callings but the same faithfulness. Ananias set the paradigm for all that God would do in and through Paul.
Saul will travel the Roman world, plant churches, and write half of the New Testament. Ananias will walk across town, enter one house, and lay hands on one man.
The church needs both, and Jesus honors both.
Ordinary disciples in familiar places take faithful steps and change the world.
The truth is that you can’t change something for everybody, but through the Gospel, you can change everything for somebody.
Posted in Christian Blog, Long Hill Chapel, Chatham New Jersey, Christian Church NJ, Long Hill NJ, Christian Sermon Series, Christian Sermons Online, Bible Sermons, LHC Beyond Our Walls Missions Conference, Transforming the World Beyond Our Walls, Book of Acts, Beford Community Church, Pastor Dan Hutton
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