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1 Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" 5 He asked, "Who are you, Lord?" The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do." 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. 8 Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. 10 Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." He answered, "Here I am, Lord." 11 The Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment 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 in Jerusalem; 14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name." 15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; 16 I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." 17 So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, 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 his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, 20 and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God." (Acts 9:1-20 New Revised Standard Version Bible)
A wonderful Wednesday begins with time spent with God, so my prayer for you, dear Friend, is that this be the most wonderful Wednesday you've had in a while. May our time with God begin with prayer thanking Him for the prayers answered and for the needs still before Him. The twins' mom is now with them in the same hospital; no report yet on their condition, nor from Rev. Roberto Gomez, or the others for whom we are praying. We pray in faith knowing that God answers prayers.
Our story is about a prayer that was answered by God in the way the prayee did not expect! The pray-er was a well-educated man who truly and honestly believed that he was doing the work and will of God. His political and personal connections allowed him to get permission from the Jewish leaders to arrest and prosecute Christians. And from what we can gather from scripture is that he loved it. He was on the way to Damascus where he knew some wicked, evil Christians were meeting. On the road to Damascus he was knocked off his high horse onto the ground; all caused by a bright light from Heaven around him. He heard a voice asking him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" He naturally asks, 'Who are you, Lord?" He did not expect the reply because the voice said he was Jesus. Yes, the same one Who had been killed by the same leaders who gave Saul this permission to go and lock up the Jesus-people in Big D. Jesus did not get angry nor chastise Saul for his actions; all He told Saul was to get up and go into the city and await there further instructions. Meanwhile, the folks traveling with Saul could hear Jesus' voice but saw no one. And Saul realized he was now blind even though his eyes were open, so the men led Saul by the hand and brought him into Big D. For three days, possibly the most powerful three days of his life, Saul was blind, he neither ate nor drank anything. During these three days he was in seminary, taught by Jesus and having secrets and the future revealed to him. And he also had a vision of a man named Ananias who comes into his room and lays his hands on him and he regains his sight.
Now in another part of Big D, there is a Jesus-person who loves and prays to Jesus and Jesus comes to him in a vision and tells him to "Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul." The Lord tells Ananias that Saul is praying and he has also had a vision where you have come in and laid hands on him and his sight is restored. Ananias says, "Hold up, Lord; you say this man is the notorioius S-A-U-L? This man is wicked and has the papers to kill believers; don't think I'm much inspired to head that way!" Jesus said, "Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he will suffer for my sake." So Brother Ananias goes and lays hands on this once evil man and he says, "Brother Saul (notice they're now related by faith and by the Blood of Jesus!), the Lord Jesus, Who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Bam! Jesus anointed this lay person to anoint Saul with the Holy Spirit. Friends, this was major. Saul now can leave this place with the blessing and love of Jesus AND the power of God's Holy Spirit to do his ministry. Saul now can see and eat and drink and once regaining his strength he goes with other Jesus-people for fellowship and he immediately (I stress immediately) he goes to the synagogues to preach Jesus as the Son of God. Woo!
Dear friends, here's the thing. One can plan the path they desire out of life. And this can be done with or without God, or in Saul's case, even knowing that God is involved; but God will have the last word and God will show you the path that best serves Him. All of the training, education, connections gained, will still serve you in very positive and powerful ways to serve God in the path that will bless you and utilize you. Imagine a very shy young man hiding from God getting trained in a top-rated marketing school? That training helped some of the shyness go away, but showed that using a phone, knocking on doors, visiting businesses, meeting new people; all will bless the path God had shown you. That shy young man was me and my time with Southwestern Bell. I never dreamed I would train in an elite setting to sell phones and then use that training to share Jesus with the world. God will find you and God will guide you. And more importantly, God will bless you.
PRAYER: Loving God, here I am, send me to wherever You have planned for me. I know it may not always be easy, but it will always be a blessing for Your work. Guide those close to me and prepare them to join us to make real Your love here on the earth. Please continue to bless those for whom we are praying with healing, strength, and comfort; this we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Be bold in sharing Jesus today!
Receive my blessings of joy and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
