It's very cold here in Southern Illinois today. I got a wonderful opportunity to stay curled up in my favorite blanket. This is my slowed season. For some reason I got to thinking about what it would've been like to have won the apostle Paul to the Lord. What an awesome man of God Saul/Paul was! That led me to think about the man that God used to lead him to himself.
That man's name was Ananias
What does it take to be a soul winner like Ananias?
The book of acts chapter 9 speaks of him. It also speaks of him in the book of acts chapter 22:12.
I'm using the acronym S.L.O.W.E.D
The first thing I noticed was he was spiritually devout.
The word devout basically has two meanings. First, it means somebody who is godly or has a heart like God. Secondly it means one who does his duty, like a soldier, for example. It sounds as though if I'm going to be a soul winner like Ananias, I need to have a heart like and for God and also I need to do my duty as a Christian soldier.
Second thing I noticed about Ananias is that he was Listening. He had his heart prepared for the voice and will of God. God help me to hear from you plainly.
Thirdly, Ananias was obedient. Yes, he, reasoned with Jesus, and he struggled a little but he ultimately obeyed. God even though I sometimes drag my feet, once I know your will, help me to do it no matter what I've heard or how afraid I am.
I noticed several things about Ananias that started with W.. I noticed that he was wondering. Everybody always wonders if they hear from God especially when the thing God is asking them to do is contrary to what seems to be in our and God's best interest. After all, this guy was the guy that was imprisoning Christians. Ananias could have thought something like, "God I want to be used of you, so common sense tells me, to run like crazy". I find many examples where God works contrary to common sense or at least our sense. Don't be afraid to wonder. Don't think less of yourself. Go back to God. Make sure of what he is telling you. Then have courage and obey him. I wonder how God could use the person that he is laying on my heart. No matter, it's your job to speak; it's his job to transform.
I find Ananias witnessing. He's talking about Jesus to someone who, days before, did not want to hear about Jesus at all. God can open impossible seeming doors for you to talk about his son. Just be willing and obedient. A soul winner must be willing to share his or her faith.
I also find him wonderworking! The Bible says Ananias laid his hands on Saul and his eyesight returned. Allowing the power of God to move through you and meeting their needs in the process can certainly cause a person to want to hear more about the Jesus that you know.
Next, I see Ananias "worth finding". I believe that Jesus convinced Ananias of the worth of Saul. He told him the plans he had for him. We can only be real soul winners if we see the worth of people. We must overlook their past and see what they are worth to God. If you have trouble seeing someone's worth, ask Jesus to show you what they are worth to him.
Lastly, I see evidence and effectiveness in Ananias’ life. I see him actually winning souls. I see him going to Saul and winning him for the kingdom. Many people talk about wanting to be a missionary or a soul winner but it takes someone willing to actually do it. Dare to ask God what he wants you to do, then do it.
I only read of Ananias winning one person to God. But Oh what a soul winner that one became.
One of the most wonderful things about Ananias is that he did not measure his worth to God or true success in ministry by how many he won or how big the job was. Be willing, obedient, responsive/reliable, and then know that the results are up to God. (Acronym W.O.R.K.)
Do you have someone whom God has laid upon your heart to speak to?
Please pray for those in Ukraine to be even more spiritually devout. Pray that we do our duty. Pray that we are Godly examples. Pray that God will help us to listen to his will. Pray that He will help us to obey his will once we know it plainly. Pray that God will make our times of wonder and questioning short and that when we do wonder it will only be because we are searching for his ultimate will. Pray that there be wonderworking, so that people can see the evidence of the power of God. Ask God to show us the worth of every human being. God please give us evidence that you are working here. Help us to not worry about numbers whether they are big or small. Simply do your will in us. In Jesus name, amen
That man's name was Ananias
What does it take to be a soul winner like Ananias?
The book of acts chapter 9 speaks of him. It also speaks of him in the book of acts chapter 22:12.
I'm using the acronym S.L.O.W.E.D
The first thing I noticed was he was spiritually devout.
The word devout basically has two meanings. First, it means somebody who is godly or has a heart like God. Secondly it means one who does his duty, like a soldier, for example. It sounds as though if I'm going to be a soul winner like Ananias, I need to have a heart like and for God and also I need to do my duty as a Christian soldier.
Second thing I noticed about Ananias is that he was Listening. He had his heart prepared for the voice and will of God. God help me to hear from you plainly.
Thirdly, Ananias was obedient. Yes, he, reasoned with Jesus, and he struggled a little but he ultimately obeyed. God even though I sometimes drag my feet, once I know your will, help me to do it no matter what I've heard or how afraid I am.
I noticed several things about Ananias that started with W.. I noticed that he was wondering. Everybody always wonders if they hear from God especially when the thing God is asking them to do is contrary to what seems to be in our and God's best interest. After all, this guy was the guy that was imprisoning Christians. Ananias could have thought something like, "God I want to be used of you, so common sense tells me, to run like crazy". I find many examples where God works contrary to common sense or at least our sense. Don't be afraid to wonder. Don't think less of yourself. Go back to God. Make sure of what he is telling you. Then have courage and obey him. I wonder how God could use the person that he is laying on my heart. No matter, it's your job to speak; it's his job to transform.
I find Ananias witnessing. He's talking about Jesus to someone who, days before, did not want to hear about Jesus at all. God can open impossible seeming doors for you to talk about his son. Just be willing and obedient. A soul winner must be willing to share his or her faith.
I also find him wonderworking! The Bible says Ananias laid his hands on Saul and his eyesight returned. Allowing the power of God to move through you and meeting their needs in the process can certainly cause a person to want to hear more about the Jesus that you know.
Next, I see Ananias "worth finding". I believe that Jesus convinced Ananias of the worth of Saul. He told him the plans he had for him. We can only be real soul winners if we see the worth of people. We must overlook their past and see what they are worth to God. If you have trouble seeing someone's worth, ask Jesus to show you what they are worth to him.
Lastly, I see evidence and effectiveness in Ananias’ life. I see him actually winning souls. I see him going to Saul and winning him for the kingdom. Many people talk about wanting to be a missionary or a soul winner but it takes someone willing to actually do it. Dare to ask God what he wants you to do, then do it.
I only read of Ananias winning one person to God. But Oh what a soul winner that one became.
One of the most wonderful things about Ananias is that he did not measure his worth to God or true success in ministry by how many he won or how big the job was. Be willing, obedient, responsive/reliable, and then know that the results are up to God. (Acronym W.O.R.K.)
Do you have someone whom God has laid upon your heart to speak to?
Please pray for those in Ukraine to be even more spiritually devout. Pray that we do our duty. Pray that we are Godly examples. Pray that God will help us to listen to his will. Pray that He will help us to obey his will once we know it plainly. Pray that God will make our times of wonder and questioning short and that when we do wonder it will only be because we are searching for his ultimate will. Pray that there be wonderworking, so that people can see the evidence of the power of God. Ask God to show us the worth of every human being. God please give us evidence that you are working here. Help us to not worry about numbers whether they are big or small. Simply do your will in us. In Jesus name, amen
Cliff, thanks for the post. I love everything you write. Kathy
ReplyDelete