God¡¦s Light Calls Us To Sanctification (Separates)
Acts 9:10-19
7 Dec 2002 ¡V Pearl Harbor Day
fellowship community
INTRODUCTION:
Our family has begun our devotion, using the Advent card we were all given last Sunday. The answer, of course, is just a small light. We are studying a series called: ¡§Christmas: A Celebration of Light.¡¨ And today we are going to learn how God¡¦s light calls us to sanctification!
1A. GOD¡¦S LIGHT SANCTIFIES US INDIVIDUALLY (9:10-12)
Within Damascus, were told, is this man named Ananias. Who was he? Well, he is not the Ananias of Acts 5. That Ananias is long gone. His name means¡K
¡§Jehovah is gracious.¡¨ This Ananias had the respect of both Jews and Christians in Damascus "¡K a man who was devout by the standard of the Law, and well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there,¡K¡¨Acts 22:12
Luke here calls him a disciple or devoted follower. In these verses, Luke tells us Ananias is a man of spiritual depth.
Notice also how he was informed about the Apostle Paul which caused him to be initially cautious.
The Lord speaks to Ananias rather directly in verse 11 and 12. let¡¦s look at what he tells Ananias to do and how this further demonstrates God sanctifies us individually.
First notice, the Lord gave him specific directions. Whenever the Lord begins to do some sanctifiying in our lives, he uses his word. He uses his word in a very direct way as Luke records in verses 11-12.
Second, he tells Ananias who to look for. Now that may not seem like much, but notice why he tells him to look for a certain individual¡Kv. 12 states, because this person has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.
For Saul, the whole process of sanctification began when he bowed his knees to the Lord Jesus. That process of sanctification continued as he prayed for his sight ¡V something I believe you and I would be asking from the Lord as well. Being a teacher, there is probably no greater asset one needs than his sight.
For Ananias, the process of sanctification also began at the point of salvation, but it just intensified. How you ask? He was to go to this location, look for a man from Tarsus named Saul, and he was praying.
Now, at this moment, the test of being a disciple meets the proverbial road. You and I are in scenarios like this each week, if not, each day. A scenario where we are challenged either to trust our emotions or trust the revealed word of God and each challenge will either enrich or walk with the Lord or it will embitter our relationship with the Lord. The path chosen depends upon our volition. We determine how close we will be to God ¡VGod doesn¡¦t choose how close we will be to him!
For example, when Mary and Joseph returned from Jerusalem after Jesus first trip to the Temple and he presented the yearly sacrifice required by the Mosaic law. What happened? They lost track of Jesus. Where did they find Jesus? Right back where they left him.
There is a spiritual truth for believers there and that is, when we find that we have lost sight of Jesus, we will always find him right back where we left him.
And it¡¦s great, knowing God who uses his light to sanctify us, individually, also uses his light to sanctify us, secondly,¡K
2A. GOD¡¦S LIGHT SANCTIFIES US PATIENTLY (9:13-16)
Why is God so patient with us? Let¡¦s read verses 13-14. and discover why¡K
First, Ananias thought he had all the information. Probably the most trouble I get into is when I believe I have all the information in a situation.
The other reason why God is so patient with us is Ananias was allowing his emotions to determine his decisions rather than the Word. In fact, I will go on to say this. For Ananias and for all of us, we have a choice each day about how we will run our lives. We will either run our lives based upon fear or out of love. It¡¦s that simple. If we allow fear to have the throne in our lives the effects are disasterous ¡V ruined relationships, broken homes, dysfunctional relationships; frequent job changes (not to say all job changes are based upon this), only sighting some of the attributes of one living out of fear.
But one who lives out of love, there is more peace within this individual. One is more forbearing rather than quick to condemn. One is apt to say ¡§I¡¦m sorry,¡¨ than defend themselves. One is more secure in the Lord Jesus!
And Ananias was living out fear. Look again at these verses. This sounds like a man in fear ¡V and before we are quick to condemn Ananias, let¡¦s look in the mirror. We would not doubt be afraid as well, especially, when we knew Saul was in approval of Stephen¡¦s death.
But as we have been studying with the men on Saturdays, all instruction from the Lord has one chief aim ¡V love, God was in the process of sanctifying Ananias so God¡¦s love would reach a new level in Ananias¡¦ life.
This was the aim of God for Ananias towards Saul, and it is God¡¦s aim in our lives towards those who are our enemies ¡V love. Right now God¡¦s light is identifying a person in our minds; that is our ¡§Saul.¡¨ And God is asking us right now to forgive them to go to them and to minister to them.
Who is that Saul in your life our Lord is asking us to visit?
Notice how God patiently reinstructs Ananias with his word (vs. 15-16). God patiently sets us apart, using his word. We can be assured of that? How can I be so sure? (John 17:17).
Now, what is the purpose of God sanctifying us individually and patiently? Yes, it is, as Romans states, to conform us to the image of Christ. And yes, it is so we become a greater witness, but according to this passage, I have also learned this week it is¡K
SO THAT¡K 3A. GOD¡¦S LIGHT CAN SANCTIFY US CORPORATELY [AS A BODY] (9:17-19)
Notice the obedience by Ananias¡K he departed; he entered the house; and laid hands on Saul.
There is no greater realization than when you know you are doing the will of the Lord. There is no greater sensation than when you are walking in obedience. You can read it between the lines of this text. Ananias has fully surrendered and continues his path as a disciple for the Lord Jesus. But notice how his sanctification process leads to the sanctifying process for Saul¡K
Ananias says to Saul, ¡§..Brother Saul.¡¨ Ananias accepts Saul. In fact, you can say, Ananias was the first to give Saul the right hand of fellowship. Can you imagine what that must have done to Saul? How that must have made him feel like he was welcomed and accepted! Unbelievable we think! No, just God¡¦s sanctifying light working through Ananias ¡V and it¡¦s a light working in our lives as well.
I remember a time before we were married. There were some telling us we shouldn¡¦t get married. Some were even jealous of Kelly. It was not an easy time. But there was a group of people we know who were in Kelly¡¦s folks small group who surrounded us, not only with prayer, but with their lives.
In the past few months, we have felt the pain of rejection, and it has been this body, you beloved, that has done exactly what the body is called to do and that is encourage through our words, but more importantly, through your lives. Thank you so much! You have helped us to become more sanctified, drawing ever so closer to God¡¦s light.
Notice another encouraging item Ananias did for Saul. He confirmed and affirmed his prayers (17b).
Ever been praying about something for some time, thinking God has become deaf to your prayer? Then, all of a sudden out of left field, God provides an answer to your prayers, and he does it through a person who is sent directly from God, and they say ¡V God told me to give this to you or to tell you and it is exactly the answer for the need of that moment?
Let me illustrate ¡V The person I have worked closest to at the hospice has told me that I have been an answer to their prayers ¡V for when I meet with their patients, I actually pray with them. Imagine that? A chaplain that prays!!??!! But this has been something they have been missing, and God has given me the privilege of serving alongside of people who have a deep desire to reach folks for Christ before their time is up on earth, using hospice as a means for the gospel.
It must have just lifted Saul¡¦s heart from despair to joy, when Ananias spoke these words to Saul. But there was one thing still missing: his sight. Look at verse 18.
Don¡¦t miss that second word, ¡§immediately.¡¨ Not the following week. Not the following month. And not Gradually! It occurred immediately, praise the Lord. What did? Saul regained his sight. Notice how Luke describes this event, and only like a physician could¡K
As if it were scales (hos lepides). ¡§The white film peeled from his eyes¡¨ (elepisthe). Luke does not say that actual ¡§scales¡¨ fell from the eyes of Saul, but that it felt that way to him as his sight returned, ¡§as if¡¨ (hos). Medical writers use the word lepis for pieces of the skin that fall off
The next thing that occurred was Saul was baptized. What is baptism? It is a symbol of the new life in Christ already begun. The language makes it clear that baptism comes following a person¡¦s decision to trust in Christ as their Lord.
By the way, if you have accepted Christ and still have not been baptized, as your pastor, I want to encourage you to consider the next step in your sanctification to being baptized.
PRINCIPLES:
1. We have an identity in Christ Jesus; it is called the church!
2. God¡¦s process of sanctification begins the moment we are saved and will continue until we are at home with the Lord
3. Often sanctification between us and other believers has more to do with us than it has with the other.
4. Every day we have a choice how we will live: either out of fear or out of love. The way to live out of love is to yield to God¡¦s light!
5. God sanctifies us individually. We are on his timetable¡K
„Ï Not ours ¡V so be patient
„Ï And not others ¡V so be content
CONCLUSION:
Can you imagine if Ananias would have refused to such a task for the Lord? I know it¡¦s easy to say: well, God would have sent someone else; or God knew Ananias would have obeyed. But just imagine for a moment. What if he didn¡¦t? Someone may say, Paul, that¡¦s impossible. He still would have gone? Oh, really? Are there times in our lives, when God calls us to go to a ¡§Saul¡¨ in our life and we refuse? I know there have been in my lifetime.
A person in the hospital; a friend in need; a brother or sister in Christ who needs prayer or encouragement ¡V all of these and more are ¡§Sauls¡¨ I know I have missed the boat not once; not twice; not even three times ¡V but several.
But aren¡¦t you glad God sanctifies us patiently? And aren¡¦t you glad how God forgives faithfully! I know I am! How good our Lord Jesus Christ is to us and for us? He is so patient, beloved; patient with you and with me.
And when we experience his kindness, Romans 2:4 states, that it is his kindness ¡§that leads us to repentance.¡¨ And when we repent, we begin to become more sanctified and when we become more sanctified, God is freed up to use us to sanctify the body! Hallelujah, friends! This stuff, preaches!
As we think about this message and how it applies to our church, God isn¡¦t into making us fit into the mold of others. His goal is to separate us individually and he does this oh so patiently, so that we can be used to sanctify the body corporately. I cannot stress this enough. We are linked together as members of my body are linked. So, the pain we endure today is really for the benefit of the body later. The joy we have now is eventually to share joy amongst the believers we worship with.
The reason for Sunday a.m. services is not to give me or anyone else another opportunity to pontificate. It is so the body can be built up, using your experiences; your processes of sanctification to help the rest of us become more sanctified! That is why we need to hear from you today!
How has God sanctified you this week? What lessons did God teach you? How has his light shined on the darkness and separated us this week. As we begin our celebration of communion, let¡¦s reflect and be prepared to share with the body, so we can become more sanctified through the light he has revealed in your life.
