Saints Together Week 4 - Believe the Best
Read
Acts 9:10-20
15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
17 Ananias went and entered the house. He placed his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road you were traveling, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
18 At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. 19 And after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Saul was with the disciples in Damascus for some time. 20 Immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: “He is the Son of God.”
10 There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.”
“Here I am, Lord,” he replied.
11 “Get up and go to the street called Straight,” the Lord said to him, “to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, since he is praying there. 12 In a vision[a] he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so that he may regain his sight.”
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
Summary
Welcome back to Community Group, this week we will be looking at two men who would not have met, if God had not intervened.
Saul was hellbent on destroying the followers of “the way”. He had gotten letters, giving him authority, to arrest and imprison any follower of Christ. It was on his way to do this that Saul had an encounter with the Lord. It was that encounter that left him blind and seeking a man named Ananias.
About the same time Ananias also had a meeting with the Lord. The difference was that he was a follower of Christ and was being to go and heal Saul. Ananias had to filter the information about Saul through the voice of Jesus.
Our connection to each other is hindered when we only view people by what we hear about them more than what Jesus says about them. This leads us to the sermon title Believe the Best.
How Do Saints Believe The Best?
1. Saints help each other see what God sees
Ananias had to filter the information about Saul through the voice of Jesus. While Saul could only see scales. Our connection to each other is hindered when we only view people by what we hear about them more than what Jesus says about them.
2. Saints help each other do what God says
Ananias obeyed the Lord and he greeted Saul by calling him brother, acknowledging what God had begun to do in his life. He explained what God was about to do, fill him with the Holy Spirit and have him be baptized. As he prayed for Saul, the scales came off his eyes and he regained his sight.
3. Saints Help Each Other Practically in God’s Strength
After he was healed, he took some food and gained his strength or was strengthened. When we have a meal, we also have conversations. Paul was strengthened physically and spiritually. That is what happens when you are in community. We strengthen one another both physically and spiritually.
One final note, there is a verse in this passage that always makes me cringe. There are people out there that say come to Christ and everything will be roses and rainbows! Well, that’s simply not true. Saul, now Paul gave his life to Jesus and God said to Ananias in verse 16 “I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” Life is not always going to be roses and rainbow, but God promises to never leave us or forsake us. That is why Paul could and would endure the suffering that came his way. He was never alone. He had God and he had Christian Brothers that walked with him.
So, what are our next steps:
Catch fire in community
Respond to attacks in faithful worship
Trust that God is with you
Trust Jesus
Discussion
Has God ever showed you something about someone that you had not seen before? Explain
Has God allowed people to see you differently than who you really are? Explain
How have you helped those in your community do what God says? Explain
How has God used your community to help you be obedient? Explain
How has your community strengthened you through a rough patch? Explain
Announcements
We are already beginning to plan for next year, please help us pray as we week God’s leading in His CG Ministry.
We will be starting to implement CG Coordinators this year. Each Coordinator will be providing support for their CG and four others. Please pray for our future Coordinators.
Let’s continue to pray for each other and send prayer requests through our WhatsApp thread. If you are a CG Leader and are not on our WhatsApp thread please contact Meichelle at meichelle.vasquez@bt.church
Pastor Isuaro Medina
Isauro.medina@bt.church
Cell: (956) 984-9380
