Let Him Use You!

“Let Him use you!”  If you have ever heard those words, it was probably in the context of encouraging someone to surrender to the Lord so that He might use them as a vessel to minister to people. Jesus said that His disciples must pick up their cross daily and follow Him.  But sometimes following Him means going to some places you don’t want to go and engaging with some people you don’t like.  Still, if you are His disciple you must be committed to following Him and letting Him use you in His service.  In Acts 9:9-17, a disciple named Ananias was called by the Lord to overcome his fear and go to Saul (a persecutor of Christians) to heal him of his physical and spiritual blindness and help him receive the Holy Spirit.  I pray that you will be committed to following Jesus and becoming more like Him this week.  And that you will answer His call to minister, even if it challenges you…”let Him use you!”.  Amen.

Listen as Tamela Mann sings “Change Me”

For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”

“Yes, Lord,” he answered.

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. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” (Acts 9:9-12).  After the Lord confronted, and convicted Saul on the road to Damascus, Saul ‘s companions took him to Damascus, where he stayed, blind for three days. His encounter with the Lord left him unable to eat or drink anything during this time. In Damascus was a disciple named Ananias, to whom the lord appeared and called in a vision. When the Lord, called, Ananias answered “Yes, Lord”. The Lord gave Ananias very specific instructions about where Saul was staying, what he was doing, what He had already revealed to Saul regarding Ananias being sent to him. As a disciple of Jesus, Ananias was well aware that Saul had been persecuting the church, and was intent on physically harming Christians. This command from the Lord certainly hit Ananias as a conflict and not in his best interest.  But the clarity and specificity of the vision from the Lord was intended to confirm to Ananias that God was directing him in this.  As disciples, we answer God’s call with “Yes, Lord”!

“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

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. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” (Acts 9:13-16). Ananias tried to beg off of the Lord’s command that he go to see Saul.  He cited Saul’s record in the past, as well as his current assignment from the chief priest, with authority to arrest any and all Christians. But the Lord told Ananias that his mission was to go to Saul anyway, because He had plans for Saul. Plans that Saul would proclaim his name to the Gentiles and to Israel.  SauI would go to places and preach the gospel to those that other apostles would not be able to. And instead of Ananias being fearful of Saul, the Lord said that it was Saul who would himself suffer in his mission for the Master.  As disciples, we surrender our will to His will!

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.”  (Acts 9:14-17). Ananias was faithful and courageous to respond to Jesus’ call and complete his mission. He went  to Saul as the Lord had commanded him. Ananias called Saul “brother”, and let him know that he was on a divine mission from the Lord, so that Saul would know not to be fearful in his temporary state of blindness and trust Ananias.  Ananias laid his hands on Saul so that he would receive the Holy Spirit and his sight would be restored.  As disciples, we go where the Lord says go and do what the Lord says do!

Ananias was just an ordinary man, called by the Lord to do something courageous in obedience to Him.  The Bible says nothing more about Ananias either before or after this recorded event.  But in his obedience to Jesus, he became a part of Saul’s conversion to Paul…one of the greatest messengers of the gospel!  Paul not only spread the gospel message as an “apostle to the Gentiles”, and established many churches on his missionary journeys, but his letters contained in the Bible still provide important instruction and doctrinal guidance for Christians today.  Yes, Ananias was just an ordinary man, but his commitment to following Christ made him part of the extraordinary story of the spread of the gospel and the growth of the early church. We too are just ordinary followers of Christ, but in His service we can be a part of His extraordinary work in this world.  As a disciple of Jesus, you must be committed to surrendering and following Him to minister to the people He calls you to minister to… even your enemies.  Let Him use you!

Blessings,

Rev. Glenn