I Object | Pastor Beth | Acts 9

Devotional

Day 1: Fear Can Be a Threshold to Deeper Faith

Fear is a powerful force that can paralyze us, but it can also become the very place where God invites us to trust Him more deeply. Ananias was given a daunting task by God—to approach Saul, a man known for persecuting Christians. His fear was legitimate, yet he chose to voice it honestly to God rather than let it defeat him. In that moment, God did not rebuke Ananias for his fear but instead called him to step forward in faith, showing that courage is not the absence of fear but the decision to act in spite of it. When we bring our fears to God, He meets us there and invites us into His greater story, transforming our fear into faith. [17:45]

Acts 9:13-15 (ESV)
But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.”

Reflection: What is one fear you are facing right now that you need to honestly bring before God, trusting Him to meet you in it and lead you forward?

Day 2: God Chooses and Transforms the Least Likely

God’s grace is not limited by our past or our failures; He chooses and transforms even those who seem most unlikely. Saul was a fierce enemy of the early church, yet God saw beyond his actions and called him to become a vessel for His message. No matter what your history holds, God’s choosing is not based on your worthiness but on His purpose and love. He can take anyone—no matter how broken or opposed—and use them for His glory, just as He did with Saul, who became Paul. [20:11]

John 15:16 (ESV)
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”

Reflection: In what area of your life do you feel unworthy or disqualified, and how might God be inviting you to trust that He has chosen and appointed you for His purpose?

Day 3: Obedience Doesn’t Require Full Understanding

God often calls us to take steps of obedience without revealing the entire plan. Ananias did not know the full outcome of his visit to Saul, but he obeyed the next step God gave him. True faith is not about having all the answers but about trusting God enough to move forward, even when the path is unclear. When we obey God’s promptings, even in uncertainty, we open ourselves to be part of His unfolding story and witness His power at work. [23:20]

Acts 9:17 (ESV)
So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Reflection: What is one step of obedience God is asking you to take today, even if you don’t see the whole picture?

Day 4: The Holy Spirit Equips Us for Difficult Conversations

When God calls us into challenging situations, He does not leave us alone; the Holy Spirit equips us with the words and courage we need. Ananias, prompted by the Spirit, greeted Saul not as an enemy but as a brother, extending grace and acceptance. The Spirit can transform our hearts and our words, enabling us to be agents of reconciliation and hope, even with those we might fear or misunderstand. [26:04]

Luke 12:11-12 (ESV)
“And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

Reflection: Is there someone you find difficult to approach or forgive? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to guide your words and actions toward them today?

Day 5: One Act of Faith Can Change Countless Lives

Never underestimate the impact of a single act of obedience. Ananias’ willingness to step through his fear and obey God led to Saul’s transformation, which in turn changed the course of history for the church. God often uses ordinary people and small acts of faith to accomplish extraordinary things. You may not see the full ripple effect of your faithfulness, but God is writing a larger story through your obedience—one that can touch generations. [28:44]

Psalm 27:1 (ESV)
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Reflection: What is one small act of faith or obedience you can take today, trusting that God can use it in ways far beyond what you can imagine?

Sermon Summary

Fear is a powerful force that touches every life, regardless of background or personality. Some of us can name our fears instantly, while others struggle to identify them, but none of us are immune. Fear can defeat and overpower us, often more than any other force in the world. Yet, in the story of Ananias from Acts 9, we see how God meets us right in the middle of our fear and invites us into something greater.

Ananias was an ordinary follower of Jesus, living in Damascus at a time when Saul—the notorious persecutor of Christians—was on his way to arrest and possibly kill believers. When God called Ananias to go to Saul, lay hands on him, and restore his sight, Ananias’ immediate response was rooted in fear. He objected, voicing his concerns honestly to God. But God didn’t rebuke or dismiss Ananias’ fear. Instead, God repeated His command and revealed a bigger picture: Saul was His chosen instrument to carry the message of Jesus to the Gentiles, kings, and the people of Israel.

God’s call on our lives often comes with fear, especially when we don’t understand the full scope of His plan. Ananias didn’t know that Saul had already encountered Jesus and was being transformed. All he saw was the threat. Yet, obedience doesn’t require full understanding—just a willingness to take the next step. Ananias’ courage wasn’t the absence of fear, but the decision to act in spite of it. When he called Saul “brother,” it was a moment of grace, acceptance, and the work of the Holy Spirit.

This story reminds us that God is always working on both ends—preparing us for the call and preparing the way ahead. Our obedience, even when rooted in fear, can become the catalyst for transformation far beyond what we can imagine. The ripple effect of one act of faith can change countless lives, as seen in the chain of influence from Ananias to Paul, and through history to people like Billy Graham.

We are all part of God’s larger story. Fear does not have to defeat us. When we fix our eyes on Jesus—our light, salvation, and stronghold—fear diminishes and faith abounds. The question is: will we shrink back in fear, or will we rise up in faith and obedience, trusting God to use our small acts for His great purposes?

Key Takeaways

1. Obedience doesn’t require full understanding God often calls us into situations where we don’t see the whole picture. Like Ananias, we may only know the next step, not the outcome. True faith is found in trusting God enough to move forward, even when our understanding is limited. Our willingness to obey in uncertainty opens the door for God’s greater plan to unfold. [23:20]
2. God chooses and transforms unlikely people God’s grace is not limited by our past or our failures. Saul was the last person anyone expected to become a champion for Jesus, yet God saw him as His chosen instrument. No matter our history, God’s call and purpose can reach us, transform us, and use us for His glory. Our role is to respond to His choosing, not to disqualify ourselves. [20:11]
3. Fear can be the threshold to deeper faith Ananias’ fear was real and reasonable, but he didn’t let it have the final word. By stepping through his fear, he experienced God’s faithfulness and became part of a story much bigger than himself. Often, the very place where fear grips us is where God wants to grow our faith and use us most powerfully. [17:45]
4. Small acts of obedience have far-reaching impact Ananias’ simple act of obedience led to Saul’s transformation, which in turn changed the course of Christian history. We may never see the full results of our faithfulness, but God weaves our small steps into His grand narrative. Never underestimate the value of one conversation, one act of courage, or one obedient “yes” to God. [28:44]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:00] - Introduction: The Power of Fear
[02:15] - Famous People and Their Fears
[03:57] - Series Overview: “I Object”
[06:50] - Saul’s Backstory and Mission
[09:06] - Saul’s Encounter with Jesus
[11:43] - Saul’s Blindness and Humbling
[14:58] - God’s Call to Ananias
[17:45] - Ananias’ Objection Rooted in Fear
[20:11] - God’s Response: Saul is Chosen
[23:20] - Ananias’ Obedience Despite Fear
[26:04] - The Holy Spirit’s Work in Ananias
[28:44] - The Ripple Effect of Obedience
[31:31] - The Value of One Conversation
[33:51] - Prayer for Boldness and Faith
[34:49] - Closing and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading

Acts 9:10-19 (ESV)
10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”
11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying,
12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.”
13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at 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 instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.
16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”
17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized;
19 and taking food, he was strengthened.

Observation Questions

What specific fears did Ananias express to God about going to see Saul? ([14:58])
How did God respond to Ananias’ objection and fear? What reason did God give for sending Ananias to Saul? ([20:11])
What did Ananias call Saul when he met him, and why is that significant? ([23:20])
What happened to Saul immediately after Ananias laid hands on him? ([26:04])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think God chose to use Ananias, an ordinary believer, for such a risky and important task? What does this say about how God works through people? ([14:58])
How does Ananias’ honest conversation with God about his fear shape our understanding of how we can talk to God about our own fears? ([17:45])
What does it mean that Saul was God’s “chosen instrument”? How might this challenge our assumptions about who God can use? ([20:11])
In what ways did Ananias’ obedience, even though he was afraid, become a turning point in the story of the early church? ([28:44])

Application Questions

The sermon said, “Obedience doesn’t require full understanding.” Can you think of a time when you felt God nudging you to do something, but you didn’t see the whole picture? How did you respond? ([23:20])
Ananias was honest with God about his fear. Is there something you’re afraid of right now that you need to talk to God about? What would it look like to bring that fear to Him honestly? ([17:45])
God chose and transformed Saul, someone everyone else saw as an enemy. Is there someone in your life you’ve written off as “unlikely” for God to use? How might God be inviting you to see them differently? ([20:11])
The sermon talked about fear being the threshold to deeper faith. What is one area where fear is holding you back from stepping out in faith? What is one small step you could take this week to move forward? ([17:45])
Ananias’ act of obedience had a ripple effect that changed history. Is there a “small” act of obedience God might be asking of you right now? How could that make a difference, even if you can’t see the results? ([28:44])
When Ananias called Saul “brother,” it was a moment of grace and acceptance. Is there someone you need to extend grace or acceptance to, even if it feels risky or uncomfortable? ([23:20])
The sermon ended with Psalm 27:1, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” What would it look like for you to fix your eyes on Jesus this week when fear tries to take over? ([33:51])