Ananias sent to Saul to enable him to receive his sight.

Acts 9:10-12

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“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”. 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 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. The “sheep” hear His voice.

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 in a vision 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 others who gather 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]. Satan gives them the GPS system of the beast to do so.

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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