True Identity Ministries Blog

Ananias...the one who started it all for me. It was reading in Acts 9 that I came across the account of the Lord calling out to Ananias in a vision, and Ananias responding with, "Here I am."

In the past few weeks, we have been able to take a glimpse into the lives of three men who said the same thing: Abraham, Jacob, and Moses. I don't know about you, but I have been encouraged and challenged by their example of obedience and courage...and above all, faith. As I have been in study for this series, I've heard the Lord speak things to my heart that I had never heard in quite the same way before. His Word is coming alive in me!

Ananias, the one that started it all for me, and the only example we will look at from the New Testament. Who is this man?

Ananias was a disciple of Jesus, and Paul later says, well spoken of by the Jews. I do want to address that this is not the same Ananias we find in Acts 5 who, with his wife Sapphira, sold his property, yet kept a portion of the proceeds for himself. His deeds were made known to the apostles, and at that point his life was lost. Nor is this Ananias, the high priest in Acts 23-24 who brought a case against Paul. No, indeed this is not the same Ananias we find in these two accounts. He was a man, perhaps not as well known as others we often think of, but without a doubt one of faith.

In Acts 9, Saul, who would come to be known as Paul, was on his way to Damascus. Verse 1-2 introduces Saul with, "But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem." Saul was not one to be trifled with, and you can be sure Christians knew his name.

On his was to Damascus, Saul encounters the Lord, is stricken blind, and is told to go to Damascus and find a man named Ananias. About the same time, the Lord comes to Ananias in a vision, calling his name. Then we hear it..."Hear I am, Lord." The Lord proceeds to tell Ananias to go to a man named Saul, and to lay his hands on him.

Ananias knew who Saul was, and even asks God about it. No doubt there is a hint of fear in his voice. But as we have looked at before, there is often fear when God calls us to do something. However, Ananias didn't run away or avoid Saul, as many may have well done knowing Saul's reputation. No, he went right away to find Saul.

I can't help but chuckle a bit. If only Ananias knew what was about to happen. If only he knew what God was about to unleash through Saul/Paul. I don't think he could have imagined it!

Ananias finds Saul, lays his hands on him, and Saul regains his sight. Immediately, Ananias prophesizes over him and baptizes him. He gets to witness the transformation of a persecutor into a mighty man of God. Knowing Saul's reputation, I can imagine that Ananias must have felt some sense of how big this time was.

I can't help but think how exciting it must have been for Ananias. He made himself available to God, and when called upon to do something fearful, he proceeded with obedience and courage. The result of his faith was the conversion of Saul into Paul. The impact Paul made for the gospel cannot be counted or imagined. I'm amazed at what that meant for Ananias, and what that means for us.

Before we conclude, it would be appropriate to make known that Ananias is mentioned once more, in Acts 22.12-16. Paul is recounting his conversion, and mentions Ananias, and even recounts the conversion with a bit more detail. We can learn from this example given to us through Ananias, and be encouraged to step out in faith and expect that God will use our faith to do great things for His kingdom.

As we look back over the last few weeks:

Abraham has convicted me to be willing to lay my dreams on the altar. Never has this been more necessary or been called upon me more than in the last few weeks as I have been asked to lay down my greatest dream, and it has been the hardest thing I have ever had to do. But I would rather lay my dream down than be disobedient to my loving Father.

Jacob's testimony has encouraged me to go forward when I am called, even in the presence of fear. To take a step into the unknown when I am called.

Moses has challenged me to proceed when called upon, even though I might not feel qualified. We can be sure that when God calls us to do something, no matter the task, He will equip us to do it. We must just step out and believe He will give us what we need, when we rely on Him, to go forth.

And in Ananias, also teaching us to step out when we are afraid, we see the possibility of what one act of obedience can do to advance the gospel, impact the Kingdom, and change many lives.

My prayer for you would be that God would stir something in your heart through this study. That you would be challenged by each of these accounts to step out in obedience and courage when you are called upon.

However, we are not done. Next we will conclude our study by turning the tables a little, and taking a look at an Old Testament account of God replying to His child, "Here I am." You wont want to miss it!