Receive sight and receive the Holy Spirit

Acts 9:10-20

• Ananias sent to Saul to enable him to receive his sight.
• Ananias feared Saul, the persecutor of the way of Jesus Christ, but the Lord reassured him.
• Ananias enabled Saul to receive his sight, and Saul is filled with the Holy Spirit.

Ananias sent to Saul to enable him to receive his sight.
“Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” Acts 9:10

In the previous post on Acts 9:3-6, a Light shone around Saul, and he heard the voice of Jesus Christ, but he was blinded by that experience. Saul was instructed by Jesus to go into Damascus, and he would be told what to do. Saul was obedient to the word of the Lord. Meanwhile, the Lord spoke to Ananias who lived in Damascus, and upon hearing the Lord speak his name, he said, “Here I am, Lord.” Ananias was eager to offer himself to the voice of the Lord, even as Saul was also beginning to listen to the voice of the Lord. As followers of Jesus Christ, we remember when we began listening to the word of God and following the voice of the Holy Spirit within us. By faith in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit is given to us. That voice encourages belief in God, lifts up the name of Jesus Christ, and brings us into communion with the Holy Spirit. The voice of the Lord draws the new Believer to those who are eager to help them grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

“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. And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.” Acts 9:11-12

Ananias was given which house to go to, the name of the street the house was on, and the name of Saul. In today’s culture, the beast that has power over physiology guides people from within their feelings and thoughts, like an inner GPS system. Many people can relate to that type of direction being given nowadays. It’s common for people to walk up to others because something is heard that says, “go say hi to that person”, do this or do that, say this or say that. Or maybe it feels completely by coincidence and “normal”.

The voice of our Lord Jesus Christ is that of the Good Shepherd, and He knows us all by name and the name of each Believer is written in the Book of Life. He wants to lead us to those who are seeking Him and willing to be obedient to His voice which comes through the Bible and in the presence of the Holy Spirit. There is the beast in this world that has power over physiology to give people what to do, say, feel, and think. That beast will lead people to others by an act of “coincidence” or by people being fully aware of following the directives of the beast. That beast is far, far from being a good shepherd as its guidance is according to unbelief in God, the rejection of Jesus Christ who forgives unbelief, and by opposition to the presence of the Holy Spirit.

The vision given to Ananias by the Good Shepherd was to guide him to the new convert Saul, who had just begun following the word of the Lord. As followers of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd leads us into paths of righteousness and restores the soul for His name’s sake, for the Gospel of Jesus Christ [Psalms 23:3]. Our Lord Jesus gives new Believers a vision of meeting those who can help them grow in His grace and knowledge. Meanwhile, those who have been rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ have the vision of seeing others grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus.

Saul, the new Believer, saw someone putting his hand on him to enable him to receive his sight. New Believers want to see Jesus Christ, to see His message in the word of God, and to walk by faith in the Holy Spirit. Those who are rooted in the word of God, in the presence of the Holy Spirit, want to be seen as someone who is willing to help others to grow in Jesus Christ.

The beast that has power over physiology will guide people to be disruptive to those gathering in the name of Jesus Christ. Today’s culture, which is global, intends to extinguish Christian births [new believers] and to squelch those who help others to grow in Jesus Christ [Revelations 12].

Ananias feared Saul, the persecutor of the way of Jesus Christ, but the Lord reassured him.
“Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.” Acts 9:13

The man that Ananias had heard about from many sources was Saul. Saul brought much destruction to the way of Jesus Christ by breaking them apart and causing them to scatter, by imprisoning women and men, and by consenting to their killing. Before Saul met Jesus Christ, he was that lion roaming around looking for someone to devour, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” 1 Peter 5″8

In today’s culture, which is global, everyone collectively is involved in bringing harm to Christians, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and Christianity in its entirety. Whether they realize it or not, they are serving Satan by living for the beast that gives them what to speak, do, think, and feel. When we hear that someone has come to God through Jesus Christ, there is plenty of room for skepticism. Many are false disciples and deceitful, “And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.” 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 “For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.” Romans 16:18 “…having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” 2 Timothy 3:5

“And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear 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.” Acts 9:14-16

Ananias was well aware that Saul had the authorization [from the chief priests] to arrest him [and all followers of Jesus Christ] and to put him on trial in Jerusalem. That was the fear of Ananias when told to go meet Saul. Ananias could have been beat into denouncing his faith in Jesus Christ, imprisoned for the rest of his life, or even stoned to death. In many countries across the globe, Christians are literally put in those circumstances of being terrorized into denying Jesus, imprisoned, and even put to death. In the United States, the psychotic “lamb” is active in causing people to leave Jesus Christ, imprisoning the spread of the gospel of Jesus, and driving Christianity into extinction. Most member countries of the United Nations are atheists that detests Christianity. When the United Nations come into its full power as the undisputed one world government, the arrest, imprisonment, and death of the faithful few will be normalized.

Our Lord ensured Ananias that He chose Saul to spread the Gospel to the non-Jewish [you and me], kings, and to the Jewish people. Saul [called Paul after his conversion to Jesus] did all of this during his life as recorded in Acts 13 through Acts 28.

As followers of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit is able to reassure us about who sincere Believers are. Foremost above all, they have a desire to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which this atheistic culture condemns. They have a desire to bring to light to the governing authorities that they are working for the government of the beast, as described in Daniel 8:1-14 and Revelations 17. They have a desire to not condemn the Jewish people [including those of the State of Israel] but to encourage them to acknowledge Jesus as their Christ and Son of God. “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” Matthew 7:16-20

Most importantly, we know those who are truly walking in the Spirit with Jesus Christ because they are willing to suffer for Him, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Luke 9:23 “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.” John 15:19

Our Lord said this to Ananias about Paul, “I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” Paul said this about his experience living for Christ Jesus, “…in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.” 2 Corinthians 11:23-28

Ananias enables Saul to receive his sight, and Saul is filled with the Holy Spirit.
“And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, 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.” Acts 9:17

Saul was in the house of Judas, a follower of Jesus Christ, and they were praying together, as described in Acts 9:11. As previously stated in the post on Acts 9:1-2, Saul was going to Damascus to arrest Christians [including Judas and Ananias] and he had traveling companions with him to help him do so. When the Light of Jesus Christ shone around Him and he heard His voice, Saul’s life began to change from that moment. He left those who had joined with him to persecute the way of Jesus Christ and entered into the home of Judas, not to arrest him but instead they prayed together.

The behavior of Saul, after he heard the voice of the Lord, is what every Believer wants to see in new converts. Saul left the crowd that persecuted Christians and began to form bonds with those who lived for God by faith in Jesus Christ, in the presence of the Holy Spirit. We want to see new converts come apart from those who live for the ways of this world. To come apart from those who oppose belief in God the Creator, who discard the need for the forgiveness of unbelief through Jesus Christ, and who oppose the presence of the Holy Spirit. We want to see new Christians show a desire to shun the beast that gives people what to speak, do, think, and feel. We want to see the desire of new Believers to connect with others who live for Jesus Christ. “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” James 4:4

Ananias did as the Lord directed him to do, he entered the house of Judas, where Judas and Saul had been praying, and he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, 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.”  When new Believers come to Jesus Christ, the next thing to happen is for them to receive their sight, to be able to see the narrow path that leads to life and to avoid the broad mainstream road that leads to destruction. In that process, they will receive the Holy Spirit because everyone who is in Christ lives by the Spirit not by the flesh.

“Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.” Acts 9:18-20

Immediately after Ananias came to Saul for him to receive his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit, Saul received his sight and was baptized in the Holy Spirit. To receive our sight is to see Jesus as the Christ, our Lord and Savior. To be baptized in the Holy Spirit is for the process of sanctification to begin by cleansing our spirit and attitudes of ugliness and filthiness. This begins our walk in Holiness. The foremost purpose of the Holy Spirit is to lift up the name of Jesus Christ, to put in us a desire to share our born-again experience, which is the Gospel of Christ written on our heart. We are sinners saved by grace, will never be perfect by human standards, but will always have a born-again testimony. The difference between our life before and after Him is as different as night is from day.

Oh What A Wonderful Wonderful Day
Day I Will Never Forget
After I’d Wandered In Darkness Away
Jesus My Saviour I Met
Oh What A Tender Compassionate Friend
He Met The Need Of My Heart
Shadows Dispelling With Joy I Am Telling
He Made All The Darkness Depart
Heaven Came Down And Glory Filled My Soul
When At The Cross The Saviour Made Me Whole
My Sins Were Washed Away
And My Night Was Turned To Day
Heaven Came Down And Glory Filled My Soul.
[Church Song]

So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.” Acts 9:18-20

As new converts, having our eyes opened and embracing the Holy Spirit, we become spiritually nourished with the food of the Bread and Water of Life. We become strengthened in our walk with Jesus Christ as we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus. Spiritual nourishment comes by reading the Bible and our everyday experiences in life. The Holy Spirit teaches us how the ways of this world are contrary to the truth of our born-again experience and to the Scriptures that we know to be true. In that truth, we are able to stand against the hostilities of this atheistic world. “…that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love.” 1 Peter 1:7-8

After Saul was strengthened, he spent some days with the Believers in Damascus, not to scheme against them nor to arrest them, but to fellowship in our Lord Jesus Christ. As soon as Saul was strengthened, he immediately began to preach Christ in the Jewish churches that He is the Son of God. That is the sure sign that someone has met the Lord Jesus Christ, they want to share that Jesus is the Christ and Son of God. Sharing our born-again experience is sharing the testimony of Jesus because that is the Gospel of Christ written on our heart.

Today, we live in a world that is putting down the spread of Christianity. It is extremely difficult to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. Here in the United States, from time to time, I manage to squeak out a word to glorify Jesus, or wear clothing that says, “JESUS”. In many countries around the world, doing that is enough to have someone arrested and in other ways persecuted and physically harmed.

This following verse explains why spreading the Gospel is so difficult today, “Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Revelations 13:6-8 The “he” in this verse is the beast of the image and mark of the beast.

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:1