1 00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:09,520 Please take a seat, open your Bible. 2 00:00:09,520 --> 00:00:13,160 We've finished Acts Chapter 9 tonight in our journey through 3 00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:19,480 the Bible, Acts Chapter 9, we did verses one through to 9:00 4 00:00:19,480 --> 00:00:25,600 on Sunday and tonight we complete the passage and one of 5 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:27,920 my heroes will get to him. So let's verse 10. 6 00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:31,320 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus. 7 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:35,640 Damascus is Syria to the north of Israel named Ananias. 8 00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:40,720 And to him the Lord said in a vision, and notice it says here 9 00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:46,880 in a vision, Paul, it didn't say Jesus appeared to Saul on the 10 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:54,240 road to Damascus in a vision, Jesus actually appeared to Saul. 11 00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:59,560 And here we're told this is different and said in a vision 12 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:04,080 calls his name Ananias. You know, the Bible says in John 13 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:10,800 chapter 10 what our shepherd calls us by name Ananias. 14 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:15,600 And he said, here I am Lord. This is to be our response every 15 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:19,120 time God speaks to us. Here I am Lord, what is it? 16 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:24,120 Here I am. So the Lord said to him, Arise, 17 00:01:24,320 --> 00:01:29,320 go to the street called straight, inquire the House of 18 00:01:29,320 --> 00:01:36,320 Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he's 19 00:01:36,320 --> 00:01:41,080 praying. So when you pray tonight, guess 20 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:42,280 what? Guess who's watching? 21 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:48,880 God's watching you pray and listening, and in a vision. 22 00:01:50,280 --> 00:01:57,920 And now he tells Ananias the vision that Saul is going to 23 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:02,640 have, hasn't had yet. And in a vision he has seen a 24 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:08,759 man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, that he 25 00:02:08,759 --> 00:02:12,280 might receive his sight. Because remember, Saul was led 26 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:13,840 away. He saw the Lord. 27 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:20,880 He's LED away 3 days, three nights, blinded, alone, not 28 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:25,840 eating, not drinking. We're told he's not eating, he's 29 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:27,240 not drinking. What are we told that he's 30 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:28,160 doing? He's praying. 31 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:33,920 Now this is different, different for Saul in that he's praying. 32 00:02:33,920 --> 00:02:35,960 Why? Because there's a Pharisee and 33 00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:39,960 when we go to the Western Wall, you'll see them, they'll get a 34 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:44,600 prayer book, they'll go to the wall and put their shroud on and 35 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:47,760 the men will start rocking back and forward and they'll be 36 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:54,520 reciting prayer. So all Paul knows about prayer 37 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:58,080 previously is the recitation of prayer. 38 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:02,520 We had that many times in some traditional faiths, don't we? 39 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:06,240 You say, you know, three Hail Marys and four our fathers. 40 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:08,720 And I used to think as a kid, that's no big deal. 41 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:11,880 You just say, not being a Catholic, you just say Hail 42 00:03:11,880 --> 00:03:14,960 Mary, Hail Mary, Hail Mary. That's three, four, our fathers, 43 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:16,760 our Father, our Father, our father. 44 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:18,480 And I thought, what's the big deal about that? 45 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:21,080 But there's a whole prayer that goes along with that. 46 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:25,800 That one recites. And so for the first time now, 47 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:32,000 Paul is praying to God, not reciting prayer. 48 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:37,000 It's a big difference. We introduced to this man 49 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:41,000 Ananias, and I say I was telling the guys earlier, he is one of 50 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:44,120 my heroes in the Bible when I first began reading the Bible. 51 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:46,160 And then I why is he a hero to me? 52 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:51,560 Because this guy did one of the most courageous acts in all of 53 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:58,000 the Bible because he went to a guy only because the Lord said 54 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:00,880 this is what I want you to do. This is where he is. 55 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:03,920 This is what this is what I want you to say to him. 56 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:10,920 And this guy that he sent to was the guy that was responsible for 57 00:04:10,920 --> 00:04:15,560 the persecution of the every believer in Jerusalem, for the 58 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:20,360 death of many families, for the beating of many. 59 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:27,160 Ananias goes, I can't wait to get to heaven to meet a guy. 60 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:29,520 He's probably just sitting in 1/4 somewhere by himself and 61 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:33,520 say, is that guy, it's Ananias. I got to go and see him because 62 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:35,920 Ananias, you are one of my heroes. 63 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:44,920 His one moment in life, his one moment in life was to do this. 64 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:48,960 God records it. You know, so often we think, oh, 65 00:04:48,960 --> 00:04:51,280 well, I've got to have years and years of doing this and this and 66 00:04:51,280 --> 00:04:52,720 yeah. And we do, we, we serve the 67 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:55,160 Lord. But there are moments in our 68 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:58,360 life that God says, this is your moment. 69 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:02,720 He said to Esther, didn't he? For this very reason, for this 70 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:07,480 moment in your life. And you and I have those moments 71 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:13,360 or a moment in our lives where God says this is the sole reason 72 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:19,320 because you will speak to that person on that day and bring 73 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:28,120 them to Christ or pray for them. So Ananias, he just says to God, 74 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:35,080 he doesn't say no, but he just says, Lord, you do know this 75 00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:40,800 guy, He's dangerous, dangerous to every Christian around. 76 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:49,280 And he says in verse 13, then Ananias says, Lord, I have heard 77 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:54,920 from many about this man, how much harm he has done to your 78 00:05:54,920 --> 00:05:59,520 Saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from 79 00:05:59,520 --> 00:06:03,080 the chief priests to bind all who call on your name. 80 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:05,800 They knew all about Saul was coming. 81 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:10,600 The Christians, the the network, the you know, the Grapevine it 82 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:15,120 that the Christians in Damascus knew Saul's on his way. 83 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:17,480 He's got letters. He's coming for you. 84 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:24,320 Ananias went his way. That's what I love. 85 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:28,360 He obeyed the Lord. So many people would go, you 86 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:32,520 know, I wish God, you know, and I say your life is about 87 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:37,320 obedience. The blessings only come when you 88 00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:39,320 obey. Many people go. 89 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:42,360 I just wish God would use me. Well, I maybe God would say to 90 00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:45,520 them, well, I wish you would just do one thing that I asked 91 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:49,120 you to do. The blessings come through 92 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:52,240 obedience. Blessings don't come with God. 93 00:06:52,480 --> 00:06:54,920 No, Lord can't do that. There's no blessing in that. 94 00:07:00,550 --> 00:07:08,110 And he entered the house. Can you imagine Saul? 95 00:07:08,310 --> 00:07:12,990 Saul, are you Saul? He finds Saul, and Saul can't 96 00:07:12,990 --> 00:07:15,470 see. He's alone, he's praying. 97 00:07:16,270 --> 00:07:20,590 Saul doesn't know. But then the Lord had let him 98 00:07:20,590 --> 00:07:22,870 know. Ananias is coming. 99 00:07:23,360 --> 00:07:24,800 He's going to do this to you, Saul. 100 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:35,960 And he says this brother Saul. Notice that that's the greeting. 101 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:41,360 I remember being a new Christian going to church and for the 102 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:45,560 first time being called a brother, brother in the Lord. 103 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:47,720 I had never ever been called that. 104 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:52,080 I'd gone to church as a kid, but no one had ever said brother to 105 00:07:52,080 --> 00:08:03,080 that brother Saul, the Lord Jesus Saul knows all about who 106 00:08:03,080 --> 00:08:06,880 that is. Who appeared to you on the road 107 00:08:06,880 --> 00:08:09,760 as you came. Notice you didn't say in which 108 00:08:09,760 --> 00:08:13,040 you had a vision of no, he appeared to you on the road as 109 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:19,240 you came has sent me that you may receive your sight and be 110 00:08:19,240 --> 00:08:22,880 filled with the Holy Spirit. Many people say, and I've often 111 00:08:22,880 --> 00:08:26,240 said it in my terminology. Saul's conversion was on the 112 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:29,840 road to Damascus. But actually, actually this is 113 00:08:29,840 --> 00:08:33,640 the, this is the moment of Saul's conversion because the 114 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:37,400 Holy Spirit fills him and he's placed into the body of Christ 115 00:08:37,679 --> 00:08:44,080 Church. And immediately they fell from 116 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:50,000 his eyes something like scales. So all of a sudden Saul can see 117 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:53,600 and he sees Ananias. That's the first guy he's going 118 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:56,800 to see. And he received his sight at 119 00:08:56,800 --> 00:09:05,960 once and he arose and notice what he did was baptised, was 120 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:08,120 baptised. You see, that's what, that's 121 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:11,040 what conversion when you know, when you're converted. 122 00:09:11,480 --> 00:09:13,680 Isn't this what the Ethiopian eunuch said? 123 00:09:13,680 --> 00:09:16,960 Well, what's now that I'm, now that I know who this is and 124 00:09:16,960 --> 00:09:19,480 receive Christ, what's stopping me from being baptised? 125 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:23,000 That's salvation, That's true salvation. 126 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:26,480 Someone says, you know, I'm saying, well, I want everything 127 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:29,600 that I want to do, everything that the Bible says, we'll be 128 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:31,680 baptised. Well, let's, let's arrange. 129 00:09:31,680 --> 00:09:33,880 I need, how soon can I be baptised? 130 00:09:34,120 --> 00:09:38,920 And he was baptised. So when he had received food, 131 00:09:38,920 --> 00:09:42,840 memory, he hadn't eaten for three days, he was strengthened. 132 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:48,680 Then Saul spent some time some days with the disciples at 133 00:09:48,680 --> 00:09:50,880 Damascus. So he note this. 134 00:09:53,840 --> 00:09:56,440 God wanted him to have some food. 135 00:09:56,600 --> 00:09:57,680 You got to have something to eat. 136 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:01,360 Remember when Jesus raised the little girl, 12 years old, she 137 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:02,520 was dead. What did he say? 138 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:04,920 Do something to eat. He's going to be hungry. 139 00:10:07,080 --> 00:10:09,080 You need to do that. Sometimes people get so 140 00:10:09,080 --> 00:10:11,000 spiritual they forget about the physical food. 141 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:13,920 They wonder why they suffer. Well, are you eating right? 142 00:10:15,560 --> 00:10:19,160 Are you eating right? And maybe you're not I'll 143 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:20,720 because of some spiritual problem. 144 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:22,520 You're I'll because you're not eating right. 145 00:10:28,210 --> 00:10:33,690 Immediately he preached the Christ that's the Messiah. 146 00:10:34,330 --> 00:10:36,450 Where? In the synagogues. 147 00:10:36,610 --> 00:10:41,760 Why did he do that? Because Saul especially been a 148 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:43,640 Pharisee, he knew the Jewish custom. 149 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:48,720 Jesus used that as well because he took advantage of the custom 150 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:51,920 to be invited to speak. So anyone who wants to speak, 151 00:10:52,360 --> 00:11:00,080 Saul, you away, I am and I'm on. Let me tell you about Jesus of 152 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:06,840 Nazareth and he starts. He is the Son of God. 153 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:13,560 Notice that's what he says preach the Christ in the 154 00:11:13,560 --> 00:11:16,760 synagogue's that he is the Son of God. 155 00:11:18,080 --> 00:11:24,320 So he identifies who Jesus is. Then all who heard were amazed 156 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:28,200 in my new King James it says amazed there in the Greek 157 00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:30,120 language. That word some of you have 158 00:11:30,120 --> 00:11:34,440 astonished is is the Greek word where we get our English word 159 00:11:34,680 --> 00:11:41,240 ecstatic. They were ecstatic and said, is 160 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:46,400 this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in 161 00:11:46,400 --> 00:11:51,240 Jerusalem, and he's come here for the purpose so that he might 162 00:11:51,240 --> 00:11:53,440 bring them bound to the chief priest? 163 00:11:53,840 --> 00:11:58,000 The Jews knew why he was there and this way isn't what he's 164 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:00,840 saying. They knew he'd come to town. 165 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:05,480 This Rabbi, this Pharisee of the Pharisees with letters, he's not 166 00:12:05,480 --> 00:12:08,120 doing what we knew he was supposed to be coming here to 167 00:12:08,120 --> 00:12:12,480 do. His life has changed, but Saul 168 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:16,600 increased all the more in strength. 169 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:20,640 Note that we'll stop there. Why? 170 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:24,720 Why is that written in there? Saul increased all the more in 171 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:26,480 strength. Does that mean you know, he hit 172 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:29,480 the gym straight after that went to Damascus gym every more in 173 00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:35,880 pumped iron. No, as you serve the Lord, you 174 00:12:35,880 --> 00:12:41,280 grow stronger. You're saved to serve. 175 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:46,760 Many weak Christians are in church because they're saved and 176 00:12:46,760 --> 00:12:50,440 that's it, The writer of Hebrews says. 177 00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:53,200 I'd like to give you more, but you're just babies. 178 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:56,840 You can't do it. You can't fend for yourself. 179 00:12:57,040 --> 00:12:59,400 I've got to feed you. You still need the milk of the 180 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:05,000 Word because you're not serving. The moment you to dedicate your 181 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:09,520 life to service, you will grow stronger in your faith. 182 00:13:10,400 --> 00:13:15,840 Note that that's what the Saul did, and he confounded the Jews 183 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:18,880 who dwelt in Damascus. Why? 184 00:13:19,520 --> 00:13:22,800 Proving? How did he prove through the 185 00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:25,600 Scriptures? See the scripture, the one who 186 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:28,800 Isaiah's talking about. That's what Philip did with the 187 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:31,120 Ethiopian eunuch. Who's this that I'm reading 188 00:13:31,120 --> 00:13:33,480 about? Is it, is it who is it? 189 00:13:33,480 --> 00:13:36,280 Is it the person or who? That's Christ. 190 00:13:36,560 --> 00:13:43,960 So Saul has, is now unloading the Scriptures that speak of the 191 00:13:43,960 --> 00:13:48,640 seed of Aaron, the blessing that's coming, the promise, the 192 00:13:48,640 --> 00:13:50,920 Messiah. And he's saying all those 193 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:56,080 promises, Son of David, it's Jesus Christ, it's him. 194 00:13:56,520 --> 00:13:59,680 He fulfils all the promises of Scripture. 195 00:14:03,280 --> 00:14:10,360 Now it says now after many days were passed, the Jews plotted to 196 00:14:10,360 --> 00:14:13,800 kill him. Just get your Bibles and take a 197 00:14:13,800 --> 00:14:18,920 right and go to Galatians chapter 1 because this is where 198 00:14:18,920 --> 00:14:24,960 Galatians 1 verses 13 through to 18 fit in here with the book of 199 00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:29,600 Acts. Because after many days, this is 200 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:36,480 a period of around 3 years. Because as we go to the book of 201 00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:47,400 Galatians chapter one, verse 13, Saul says, for you've heard of 202 00:14:47,400 --> 00:14:52,560 my former conduct in Judaism, who I was, how I persecuted the 203 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:57,200 Church of God beyond measure, tried to destroy it, and I 204 00:14:57,200 --> 00:15:00,520 advanced in Judaism beyond many of the contemporaries in my own 205 00:15:00,520 --> 00:15:05,040 nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my 206 00:15:05,040 --> 00:15:08,080 father's. But when it pleased God acts 207 00:15:08,080 --> 00:15:14,040 Chapter 9, who separated me from my mother's womb called me 208 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:16,400 through his grace. So. 209 00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:21,320 So why do you persecute me? To reveal his Son in me, that I 210 00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:23,720 might preach him among the Gentiles? 211 00:15:23,960 --> 00:15:26,680 Because that's what Ananias told him he was going to do. 212 00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:32,120 I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I 213 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:36,120 go straight up to Jerusalem to those who are apostles before 214 00:15:36,120 --> 00:15:39,000 me. But I went to Arabia and 215 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:47,920 returned again to Damascus. So Paul spends 3 years, they 216 00:15:47,920 --> 00:15:52,560 believe in the area of Sinai where Moses received instruction 217 00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:57,040 from the Lord and in that location many times in the 218 00:15:57,040 --> 00:15:59,840 passages of the New Testament and letters. 219 00:16:00,040 --> 00:16:04,320 Saul will tell you know, I wasn't told this by an I was 220 00:16:04,320 --> 00:16:07,160 told this directly. This was revealed to me by God 221 00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:10,520 and he went to school with the Lord. 222 00:16:10,520 --> 00:16:16,560 The Lord instructed him in that period when he's away in Arabia 223 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:22,200 and it totalled with his time in Damascus three year period and 224 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:31,680 it's the period 37 to 39 AD now it says and the Jews plotted to 225 00:16:31,680 --> 00:16:35,320 kill him. Paul or saw welcome to the 226 00:16:35,320 --> 00:16:39,760 change. He was previously the hunter. 227 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:45,720 Now he is the hunted, but their plot, how they're going to kill 228 00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:50,160 him became known to Saul and they watched the gates day and 229 00:16:50,160 --> 00:16:52,280 night to kill him. The moment he comes in and goes 230 00:16:52,280 --> 00:16:53,400 out, we're going to get him, kill him. 231 00:16:55,120 --> 00:16:59,920 Then the disciples took him by night and led him down through 232 00:16:59,920 --> 00:17:03,800 the wall in a large basket. You'll go, whoa, hang on a 233 00:17:03,800 --> 00:17:05,560 minute. I thought God was looking after 234 00:17:05,560 --> 00:17:09,599 us and everything he is. How did God deliver Saul? 235 00:17:09,920 --> 00:17:14,920 He delivered Saul in a basket. He delivered soil in a basket. 236 00:17:14,920 --> 00:17:18,280 Sometimes, you know, we, we want deliverance and we're looking 237 00:17:18,280 --> 00:17:23,240 for some rush of the wind or, you know, we expect to see 238 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:26,240 someone special turn up on our doorstep with wings on their 239 00:17:26,240 --> 00:17:28,200 backs. And I'm here to deliver you, 240 00:17:28,200 --> 00:17:32,240 deliver you and help you. And all along along comes some 241 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:37,880 ordinary Joe Blow or someone who says something, tells you 242 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:40,520 something or gives you something, or something happens 243 00:17:40,520 --> 00:17:45,400 to you and you are delivered. God uses the menial. 244 00:17:45,920 --> 00:17:50,280 Don't go looking for all the the Cecil B De Mille and Hollywood 245 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:51,920 type things. That's what I used to do when I 246 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:54,680 was a new believer. And you, we get sucked down that 247 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:58,280 path of, well, you know, God going to speak to me. 248 00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:03,440 This is me. God. 249 00:18:03,880 --> 00:18:06,760 When I was a kid, it was Lauren Green who was God. 250 00:18:07,440 --> 00:18:12,760 Later on during Star Wars, James Earl Jones, he became the voice 251 00:18:12,760 --> 00:18:17,000 of God and everything like that. Now God speaks to you how? 252 00:18:17,080 --> 00:18:19,720 Through the word of God someone gives you a verse. 253 00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:22,800 So since I was reading this about you or sent you a text or 254 00:18:22,800 --> 00:18:28,840 something, deliverance so often under your very nose, you're 255 00:18:28,840 --> 00:18:33,560 ignoring the very basket of deliverance that God wants to 256 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:38,320 place you in, to lower you over the wall and set you free. 257 00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:43,320 When Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples. 258 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:47,800 So this is three years later. But they're all afraid of him, 259 00:18:48,760 --> 00:18:53,560 did not believe that he was the disciple, but Barnabas took him 260 00:18:53,560 --> 00:18:57,320 and brought him to the apostles. So here we have noticed how the 261 00:18:57,320 --> 00:19:01,080 ministry of an individual in a church makes a massive 262 00:19:01,080 --> 00:19:06,000 difference. First of all, we had Ananias. 263 00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:11,680 If there was no Ananias, this wouldn't, we wouldn't be reading 264 00:19:11,680 --> 00:19:15,560 this part Barnabas, son of consolation. 265 00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:19,160 If there's no kindly, gentle, just wonderful man called 266 00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:22,320 Barnabas, he says, hey guys, I know, I know you. 267 00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:23,800 This is who he was and everything. 268 00:19:24,200 --> 00:19:29,200 Let me tell you, this is who he and he, he, he joins the dots. 269 00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:33,840 You and I can be an Ananias. You and I can be a Barnabas. 270 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:36,280 We can be in Andrew. We, we, we. 271 00:19:36,320 --> 00:19:38,760 That's how the church works. That's why you're here. 272 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:41,880 You participate in the work of the Lord. 273 00:19:41,880 --> 00:19:46,200 God uses you. And he declared to them how he 274 00:19:46,200 --> 00:19:51,400 had seen the Lord on the road. Notice he's repeating and that 275 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:56,320 he had spoken to him and how he had preached boldly at Damascus 276 00:19:56,560 --> 00:20:00,560 in the name of Jesus. He says, hey, Jesus, our Lord 277 00:20:00,560 --> 00:20:03,640 appeared to him. He's called him. 278 00:20:04,280 --> 00:20:09,800 He's spoken to him so he was with them at Jerusalem coming in 279 00:20:09,800 --> 00:20:15,360 and going out and he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord 280 00:20:15,360 --> 00:20:18,640 Jesus and disputed against the Helenus. 281 00:20:19,240 --> 00:20:22,280 Now another group, but they attempted to kill him. 282 00:20:24,640 --> 00:20:27,120 When the brethren found out, they brought him down to 283 00:20:27,120 --> 00:20:30,560 Caesarea. Caesarea is where it's our first 284 00:20:30,560 --> 00:20:32,680 port of call. Those of you who've been to to 285 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:35,440 Israel on our tour, we head off in the morning, 1st morning, 286 00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:37,240 where do we go? We go to Caesarea. 287 00:20:37,240 --> 00:20:40,280 Why Caesarea? Caesarea was the harbour where 288 00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:46,360 all the boats took off. That's where they take Saul and 289 00:20:46,360 --> 00:20:53,560 send him out to Tasas. Then notice verse 31, the 290 00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:57,160 churches throughout all Judea, and we're finding out now 291 00:20:57,160 --> 00:21:02,520 there's churches in Galilee and Samaria had peace and were 292 00:21:02,520 --> 00:21:06,040 edified that that doesn't mean persecution stopped. 293 00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:12,240 It means that in spite of the persecution, they were strong. 294 00:21:12,720 --> 00:21:15,960 They had the peace of God no matter what was going around. 295 00:21:16,600 --> 00:21:20,440 They had the peace of God and walking and they were walking in 296 00:21:20,440 --> 00:21:24,080 the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. 297 00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:26,720 They were multiplied. The churches were growing. 298 00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:29,440 Why? Notice this is how church grows. 299 00:21:29,960 --> 00:21:32,240 How Walk in the fear of the Lord. 300 00:21:33,040 --> 00:21:36,720 That's what we need to have and in the comfort of the Holy 301 00:21:36,720 --> 00:21:40,160 Spirit. So what is the recipe for church 302 00:21:40,160 --> 00:21:43,920 growth from God? Comfort the afflicted and 303 00:21:45,200 --> 00:21:51,920 afflict the comfort comfortable. Get the ones who are on their 304 00:21:51,920 --> 00:21:55,160 perch, rock their perch, shake them up a bit. 305 00:21:55,600 --> 00:21:59,840 Word of God does that. Those that need comforting, God 306 00:21:59,840 --> 00:22:02,640 will comfort them and the church will grow. 307 00:22:04,520 --> 00:22:09,520 Now it came to pass as Peter now, so he will revert to Peter. 308 00:22:11,120 --> 00:22:12,720 He went through all parts of the country. 309 00:22:12,960 --> 00:22:16,400 Then he also came down to the Saints who dwelt in Lyda or Lyda 310 00:22:16,560 --> 00:22:20,440 however you pronounce it. It's 40 kilometres away from 311 00:22:20,640 --> 00:22:23,280 Jerusalem. There he found a certain man 312 00:22:23,280 --> 00:22:29,360 named Anneus or Anneus who had been bedridden 8 years. 313 00:22:29,880 --> 00:22:36,000 He was paralysed, couldn't move. Peter said to him and notice 314 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:39,720 what he says here because Peter isn't Peter isn't just hey, I'm 315 00:22:39,720 --> 00:22:41,200 the apostle Peter. Oh go on the air. 316 00:22:41,800 --> 00:22:47,360 OK, rise. He's not doing that because 317 00:22:47,360 --> 00:22:50,680 remember Peter has no gifting silver and gold. 318 00:22:50,680 --> 00:22:53,480 Have I none. He he's not the one that that 319 00:22:53,480 --> 00:23:00,240 does anything here. He says Jesus the Christ heals 320 00:23:00,240 --> 00:23:05,400 you because what's happened again, God has spoken to Peter 321 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:09,440 given Peter the faith and said Peter, pray for this guy. 322 00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:14,360 Raise him up. Peter, does that arise and make 323 00:23:14,360 --> 00:23:17,480 your bed. Then he arose immediately. 324 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:24,280 So all who dwelt at Lidder and Sharon saw him and turned to the 325 00:23:24,280 --> 00:23:28,840 Lord. Note again verse 34, who the 326 00:23:28,840 --> 00:23:34,080 healer is. It's not Peter, Jesus is the 327 00:23:34,080 --> 00:23:37,720 healer at Joppa. That's one of my favourite 328 00:23:37,720 --> 00:23:39,800 places. Those of you who've been to 329 00:23:39,800 --> 00:23:43,280 Joppa, Joppa's like the Fremantle markets by the 330 00:23:43,280 --> 00:23:46,480 harbour, fishing boats every, it's, it's just can't wait to go 331 00:23:46,480 --> 00:23:48,760 to Joppa. And so at Joppa there was a 332 00:23:48,760 --> 00:23:55,200 certain disciple named Tabitha. Her name translated Dorcas. 333 00:23:56,160 --> 00:24:01,640 Tabitha means gazelle or Dorcas means gazelle or deer. 334 00:24:02,520 --> 00:24:05,560 This woman was full of good works. 335 00:24:05,880 --> 00:24:09,280 A lot of people have their mind full of good works. 336 00:24:09,560 --> 00:24:11,120 You know, probably I'm going to do that. 337 00:24:11,120 --> 00:24:12,760 Oh, yeah. I'll get around helping that. 338 00:24:13,560 --> 00:24:16,360 She no, she she did it. She was doing it. 339 00:24:16,960 --> 00:24:22,680 She was serving and loving everybody and charitable deeds, 340 00:24:22,680 --> 00:24:27,040 which she did, but it happened in those days that she became 341 00:24:27,040 --> 00:24:31,960 sick and died. When they had washed her, they 342 00:24:31,960 --> 00:24:35,480 laid her in an upper room, prepared for death at burial, 343 00:24:36,040 --> 00:24:40,560 since litter was near Joppa, the disciples had heard that Peter 344 00:24:40,560 --> 00:24:44,920 was there, and he sent, they sent two men to him, imploring 345 00:24:44,920 --> 00:24:47,760 him not to delay hurry in coming to them. 346 00:24:47,880 --> 00:24:51,560 Why would they do that? Obviously they're thinking, 347 00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:56,480 let's pray. I think it's quite amazing 348 00:24:56,880 --> 00:24:59,400 because otherwise you'd be gone. Well, yeah, he's got to prepare 349 00:24:59,400 --> 00:25:01,880 the funeral and maybe Peter can do the funeral, you know? 350 00:25:02,440 --> 00:25:05,840 No. Then Peter arose, went with him. 351 00:25:06,040 --> 00:25:09,440 When he had come, they brought him into the upper room, and all 352 00:25:09,440 --> 00:25:14,440 the widows stood by him, weeping, showing the tunics and 353 00:25:14,440 --> 00:25:18,760 the garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. 354 00:25:18,760 --> 00:25:23,840 They're displaying all her love now, notices. 355 00:25:23,840 --> 00:25:30,000 This should take you to Luke, to the raising of Gyrus's daughter, 356 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:34,240 because it's so similar. And I think Peter is copying 357 00:25:34,240 --> 00:25:38,480 Jesus, what Jesus did with Gyrus's daughter. 358 00:25:38,480 --> 00:25:43,360 Here Peter puts all those out of the room. 359 00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:52,520 He kneels down and he prays, and he turned to the body, and he 360 00:25:52,520 --> 00:26:00,440 said, Tabitha arise. And she opened her eyes, and 361 00:26:00,440 --> 00:26:06,000 when she saw Peter she sat up. Then he gave her his hand, 362 00:26:06,680 --> 00:26:09,200 lifted her up. And when he had called the 363 00:26:09,200 --> 00:26:13,080 Saints and widows, he presented her alive. 364 00:26:13,080 --> 00:26:16,600 Wow. And it became known throughout 365 00:26:16,600 --> 00:26:20,840 all Joppa and many believed on the Lord. 366 00:26:22,760 --> 00:26:28,400 So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with Simon, a 367 00:26:28,400 --> 00:26:31,200 tenor. We actually go to Simon's house. 368 00:26:31,720 --> 00:26:34,760 There's only one location that Simon's house is going to be, 369 00:26:35,080 --> 00:26:38,120 because to be a tenor, you're going to have water access to 370 00:26:38,120 --> 00:26:42,240 water this house down by Joppa and it's got a flat roof. 371 00:26:42,920 --> 00:26:45,920 The location area where Peter Murmur is going to have a vision 372 00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:52,080 exchange 10 and that's where Simon did his tanning. 373 00:26:52,080 --> 00:26:57,040 Now here's the interesting thing as we close It was forbidden for 374 00:26:57,040 --> 00:27:02,400 a Jew to stay with a Tanner because a Tanner dealt with the 375 00:27:02,400 --> 00:27:07,800 dead and he they would become unclean. 376 00:27:07,800 --> 00:27:14,880 Yes, and so the law forbid that. But Peter, he's not worrying 377 00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:18,000 about that. He's staying there because Simon 378 00:27:18,520 --> 00:27:22,160 is born again and he's staying at this house. 379 00:27:23,320 --> 00:27:32,520 And so it says back then he gave her his hand and lifted her up. 380 00:27:32,520 --> 00:27:36,760 And when he had called the Saints, that's the first time 381 00:27:36,760 --> 00:27:39,920 you see in the New Testament the term Saints. 382 00:27:40,640 --> 00:27:43,680 And it's not because the Pope has allowed this to come 383 00:27:43,680 --> 00:27:45,960 through. They've done certain miracles. 384 00:27:45,960 --> 00:27:50,760 Now the word St there simply means set apart. 385 00:27:51,480 --> 00:27:56,080 I want you to look at Chapter 9 here and see this is this is 386 00:27:56,080 --> 00:28:00,680 church life. This is how God wants us to have 387 00:28:01,200 --> 00:28:08,960 church life for us to be available like Ananias when God 388 00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:10,800 says, hey, I've got a job for you. 389 00:28:11,320 --> 00:28:14,640 Not easy and you got and you're not going. 390 00:28:14,640 --> 00:28:21,240 I'm not doing that. And God speaks to you and by 391 00:28:21,280 --> 00:28:26,520 obedience, blessing flows to the one that you're going to. 392 00:28:28,040 --> 00:28:34,520 And this time it was saw and here we see Peter. 393 00:28:35,080 --> 00:28:39,400 He's just preaching the gospel, but at places where he goes. 394 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:41,360 And this is how God works in our life. 395 00:28:42,560 --> 00:28:44,880 You, you don't go out tomorrow, this week and go, you know, I'm 396 00:28:44,880 --> 00:28:46,680 going to pray for this, but this is what's going to happen. 397 00:28:47,240 --> 00:28:50,280 You go about your business sharing the gospel. 398 00:28:51,120 --> 00:28:54,800 God has you as an open channel, an open vessel. 399 00:28:56,120 --> 00:29:00,080 And he will say to you, as you are always in prayer, you're 400 00:29:00,080 --> 00:29:03,080 always tuned into him, praying without ceasing. 401 00:29:03,800 --> 00:29:06,760 You're connected to him. You're full of the Holy Spirit. 402 00:29:06,960 --> 00:29:10,040 You've committed your day to the Lord before you start. 403 00:29:11,080 --> 00:29:12,800 You're not thinking about yourself. 404 00:29:13,160 --> 00:29:15,960 You're in tune with the Lord. And the Lord will speak and go. 405 00:29:16,400 --> 00:29:20,000 Just go and ask that person if you can pray with them or give 406 00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:25,200 that person a call. And that's how God works through 407 00:29:25,200 --> 00:29:28,120 you and I and brings blessing to the church. 408 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:33,040 And it happens without, without, you know, great, you know, 409 00:29:34,760 --> 00:29:37,720 beating your drums or look, oh, God's using me, you know, that's 410 00:29:37,720 --> 00:29:40,920 what I'm doing. No, no, no, you are going about 411 00:29:40,920 --> 00:29:45,880 your business serving the Lord. I pray that you will go about 412 00:29:45,880 --> 00:29:50,960 your business serving the Lord and each day God will guide you 413 00:29:51,000 --> 00:29:54,160 and lead you if you're receptive. 414 00:29:57,000 --> 00:30:00,520 And you know what? He is speaking all the time. 415 00:30:01,920 --> 00:30:06,120 The Bible tells us that God, His eyes roam to and fro throughout 416 00:30:06,120 --> 00:30:10,240 the earth, looking for those whom He may use, who will stand 417 00:30:10,240 --> 00:30:13,480 in the gap, who can be strong for Him. 418 00:30:14,440 --> 00:30:18,000 The harvest is plenteous, but the labourers are few. 419 00:30:19,080 --> 00:30:23,720 Many are called, few are chosen. You want blessing in your life. 420 00:30:24,720 --> 00:30:28,000 Go about your business as a believer tomorrow and this week 421 00:30:28,400 --> 00:30:33,840 and all that you do and you'll be astounded how God will use 422 00:30:33,920 --> 00:30:34,000 you.