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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