Sunday, June 29, 2014

Reflection of my message today at NRN - Helping Others Experience a New Normal!


Series: THE NEW NORMAL

Helping Others Experience a New Normal!

We often think of Paul as a giant of the faith – someone without whom Christianity as we know it would be radically different. But we forget that before Paul could go on his missionary journeys and write his letters, he needed someone to show him what it meant to follow Christ. For Paul, that man was Ananias. Ananias took Paul in and sheltered him. Who was your Ananias? Are you being an Ananias to anyone else?

In the closing message of this teaching series, I want to share with you three ways to help others experience a new normal!


Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.                    Acts 9:1-9

What I know about helping others experience a New Normal:

1. God is able to use anyone who is willing to respond
YES  LORD!

In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered.     Acts 9:10


2. God is going to ask us to do things that DON’T MAKE SENSE

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. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” 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. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”                                             Acts 9:11-15





3. When we are willing to respond “Yes Lord” to things that don’t make sense,
LIVES  CHANGE!

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.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.           Acts 9:17-18





At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is 

the Son of God.                                                                                    Acts 9:20 

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