Transformed by Grace: Saul's Journey to Purpose

Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named ananas, and to him the Lord said in a vision, ananas and he said Here I Am, Lord. 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. [00:00:26]

And in a vision he has seen a man named ananas coming in and putting his hand on him so that he might receive his sight. Then ananas answered Lord I've heard from many about this man how much harm he has done to your Saints in Jerusalem and here he has Authority from the chief priest to bind all who call on your name. [00:00:54]

The Lord said to him, go for he is a chosen vessel of mine to Bear my my name before Gentiles Kings and the children of Israel for I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name's sake and ananas went his way and entered the house and laying his hands on him he said brother saw the Lord Jesus. [00:01:22]

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 and immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales and he received his sight at once and he arose and was baptized that when he had received food he was strengthened and then Saul spent some days with the disciples at the Damascus. [00:01:15]

Father how grateful we are for this record of your touch and the life of Saul of Tarsus and of this particular interlude by which you restored to him his vision and filled him with your spirit teach us this morning the truth that you have inspired and imply it to to our own souls for thy sake. [00:02:37]

Last Sunday morning we looked at the record of Saul's conversion on the road to Damascus where on his journey breathing out threats of murder against the early Christians he was knocked To The Ground by the burning bright light that Shone at the Noonday bright than the Sun and out of the light he heard a voice calling to him in Hebrew saying Saul, Saul why are you persecuting me. [00:03:10]

And you remember that when he was hearing this voice he responded by saying who is it, Lord he didn't know or recognize the voice but he knew whoever it was who had appeared in such transcendent Majesty could be no one less than his Lord and the voice answered his question it is Jesus whom you are persecuting. [00:03:40]

And remember that instantly this Saul who was so filled with hostility against Jesus and against his church said immediately what do you want me to do he was was ready in that moment to do whatever Christ commanded him to do and we read how Paul was stricken blind and was led by the hand then into the city of Damascus. [00:04:13]

And so there he stayed for three days not eating or drinking and still remaining blind so this morning we pick up the record in verse 10 where we read now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named ananas and to him the Lord said in a vision, ananas and ananas responded with the words here I am. [00:04:45]

This is typical of the response of human beings as we read throughout sacred scripture when God calls a person like Jeremiah or Isaiah or Ezekiel or Amos that when that call comes to them the prophet immediately Answers by saying here I am I am all ears I am at attention I'm ready to hear whatever you have to say. [00:05:11]

And ananas was no different and so the instructions came as follows the Lord said to him arise go to the street called straight inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus for behold he is praying and in a vision he seen a man named ananas coming in and putting his hand on him so that he might receive his sight. [00:05:41]

I told you last week that the Mascus is one of the oldest cities in all of the world and even to this day there still remains that same street called straight and there's a little spot at the end of the street where tradition has it was where Paul was visiting and where ananas was instructed to go and to lay hands upon him. [00:06:13]