Crosspointe Church KY's Podcast

When God Calls You to Go

Acts 9:10–20

God is Looking for an Ananias

But what about the person who prayed for them before anybody knew their name?

Sometimes your assignment is to help somebody else become who God called them to be.

Acts 9:10-19

¹⁰ In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. ¹¹ The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. ¹² In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” ¹³ “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” ¹⁵ But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. ¹⁶ I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” ¹⁷ Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, ¹⁹ and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

1.    You cannot obey a voice you refuse to hear

His willingness to answer came before he knew the full assignment.

2.     A Walk of Fear

Saul's past was real, but it was not greater than God's power to transform him.

Your assignment is obedience, not control over somebody else's response.

3.    God’s Working While You’re Working

Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.

Ananias was being invited into a work God had already begun.

You are responsible for being faithful to what He has placed before you.

God sees possibilities that we cannot see!

The holy ghost fire is not just for a feeling; it is for a purpose.

God does not fill us merely so we can say we have been filled. He empowers us so we can live out His purpose.

Sometimes we are waiting for God to give us a grand, big assignment when He is waiting for us to obey a small instruction.

4.    Ananias laid his hands on the feared man

And the church must be a place where truth is preached, repentance is taken seriously, holiness is honored, and the grace of Jesus is proclaimed.

And sometimes, church, your obedience is the bridge between somebody's prayer, and the help God sends.

THE MINISTRY NOBODY SEES

"Look at what Jesus has done!"

He only knew that God had called him to go.

And he went.

I want to ask Three Questions as I close -

1. Are you listening?

2. Are you willing?

3. Are you obedient?

Boundaries

Two Questions

Acts 9:1-9 NKJV

9 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest ² and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. ³ As he journeyed, he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. ⁴ Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” ⁵ And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” ⁶ So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” ⁷ And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. ⁸ Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. ⁹ And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

1. Saul’s Conversion Testimony
2. Who Are You, Lord?Who Do You Say That I am?
3. Lord, What Do You Want Me To Do

• Divine Interruption
• Divine Interrogation
• Divine Conviction
• Resignation

Genesis Series

Chapter 42

A Divine Appointment

Acts 8: 26-40 NKJV
²⁶ Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert. ²⁷ So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, ²⁸ was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. ²⁹ Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.” ³⁰ So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” ³¹ And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. ³² The place in the Scripture which he read was this: “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth. ³³ In His humiliation His justice was taken away, And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.” ³⁴ So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” ³⁵ Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. ³⁶ Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” ³⁷ Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” ³⁸ So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. ³⁹ Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. ⁴⁰ But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.

1. Spiritual Awakening
2. A Divine Appointment

The Holy Spirit Works Among The Many And The One

Do What God Tells You To Do

Luke 12:12 says, “For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

We Need Teachers

Don’t Get So Consumed With The Masses That You Miss The One!

The Fruit of the Spirit

They Believed And Were Baptized

Acts 8:9-17 NKJV

⁹ But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, ¹⁰ to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.” ¹¹ And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. ¹² But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. ¹³ Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done. ¹⁴ Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, ¹⁵ who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. ¹⁶ For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ¹⁷ Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

1) Paul Is Introduced As A Great Persecutor Of The Church.

2) The Expansion Of The Gospel To Judea And Samaria.

The Reality Of God’s Presence And The Preaching of Christ Brings Joy.

But

They Believed And Were Baptized

Eph. 2:1-5 “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, ² in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, ³ among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. ⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ. 

Gal. 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Titus 2 Answers

IT’S ALL GREEK TO ME

Titus 2:2 characteristics of older men:

• 3524 – nēphalios - sober, not intoxicated (with wine), temperate, vigilant. The definition in Strong’s – to abstain from wine or any substance that could cloud one’s judgment.
• 4586 – semnos - honorable, grave, honest, dignified, worthy of respect, modest. One who is well ordered in his earthly life and has a grace and dignity derived from his heavenly citizenship. The word points to seriousness of purpose and to self-respect in conduct. It denotes what inspires reverence and awe. A trait that does not repel but invites and attracts
• 4998 - sōphrōn - safe (sound) in mind, self-controlled (moderate as to opinion and passion). Translations – sensible, discreet, sober, temperate.

 

• 5198 - hygiainō - to have sound health not only to be well in your body but figuratively to be uncorrupt/true in doctrine.

Titus 2:3 characteristics of older women:

• 2412 – hieroprepēs – behavior as becometh holiness, most translations likely replace becometh holiness with reverent in the way they live.
• 1228 - diabolos- slanderous, false accuser, metaph. applied to a man who, by opposing the cause of God, may be said to act the part of the devil or to side with him.
• What is Lashon Hara? Evil Speech
• 1402 – douloō - to enslave, become a servant, bring into bondage

Titus 2:4 teaching younger women to:

• 5362 philandros – spousal love
• 5388 philoteknos – maternal love

Titus 2:5 to be:

• 4998 sōphrōn - same word used for the men, translated discreet here
• 53 hagnos - properly clean, i.e. (figuratively) innocent, modest, perfect – chaste, clean, pure
• 3626 oikourgos – keepers at home
• 5293 – hypotassō - a military term meaning "to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader". In non-military use, it was "a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden". _______________________________

 

Titus 2:7-8 – Teaching young men:

• a 5179 typos of 2570 kalos 2041 ergon

a _pattern___ of good___  _works_

• 90 adiaphthoria – incorruptibility, soundness, integrity of mind. Websters defines integrity as a firm adherence to a code or standard of values, sound, pure
• 4587 semnotēs - denotes a characteristic of a person that entitles him to reverence and respect; honor, purity.
• 861 aphtharsia - A condition associated with glory and honor and life; of love to Christ that which is sincere and undiminishing – eternal; this word is used to describe the incorruptible bodies we will receive at our resurrection

Titus 2:9-10 teaching bondservants

• 1401 doulos – can be translated slave, bondservant or servant. Defined as bond man – one who was in a permanent relationship of servitude to another, one whose will was completely subject to the will of another, voluntarily or involuntarily
• 2885 kosmeō – adorn. put in order, arrange, make ready, prepare, metaph. embellish with honour, gain honour

1466 egkrateia -  Self- control; the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions (with emphasis of controlling sensual desires).

The Gospel Produces Great Joy!

Acts 8:1-8 NKJV

1 Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. ² And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. ³ As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. ⁴ Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. ⁵ Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. ⁶ And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. ⁷ For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. ⁸ And there was great joy in that city.

*Highlighted scripture read by the congregation.

1. Great Persecution

Acts 26:10-11 ESV “when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.”

Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 8:1 “A great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria.”

Why Are You waiting To Do What God Has Called You To Do?

2. Scattered People Preaching

Spurgeon: In every church where there is really the power of the Spirit of God, the Lord will cause it to be spread abroad more or less. He never means that a church should be like a nut shut up in a shell; nor like ointment enclosed in a box. The precious perfume of the gospel must be poured forth to sweeten the air.

Preach Christ!

“For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2).

Preaching Christ Causes Results!

1 Peter 5:6 says, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.”

Jonah and the Fish