Title: God Using People
Contents
♡♥♡ God uses people / Acts 9:10-19
*** Introduction
There is a legend passed down in ancient Christian history.
After completing his earthly mission, Jesus ascended to heaven and went to God. After the angels, the servants of God, heard with interest the story of Jesus' earthly ministry, they lamented Jesus' crucifixion. One of the angels asked Jesus.
“Lord, who now carries on the mission you were in charge of?” Then Jesus answered, “John, Peter, and Jacob will do it.” Again the angel asked, “If they fail, who will?” Jesus said, “Paul, Barnabas, and Matthew will do.” The angel asked, “What if those apostles are unfaithful?”
This story teaches that God uses people to work. The Lord accomplishes God's will through faithful people who are dedicated to Him.
The church, the body of the Lord, established with the price of the Lord's blood, has been maintained by the saints who risked their lives and obeyed in response to the Lord's call to this day. It makes us realize what we should do now.
There are records that prove this fact in the text. It is the story of ‘Saul,’ who later became Paul, and ‘Ananias,’ who was sent for him. God called another minister, Ananias, to use Saul. Ananias was the messenger who delivered the will of God to Saul. In verse 15, the Lord told Ananias about Saul, “This man is my chosen vessel to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.”
In the northeast of Australia lies the New Hebress Islands. It was discovered in the 17th century by the Portuguese ‘Guiros’ and is made up of 30 islands, each of which is inhabited. Indigenous peoples were originally cannibals, but it is said that they became more ferocious after being deceived by the whites. Among those islands, there is an island with the nickname ‘Island of the Holy Spirit’.
In 1839, missionary John Williams visited the island and was killed as soon as he set foot on land. The next missionary “Harris” was also beaten to death, and the third missionary, “John Golden” and his wife, had some contact with Toeins, but they ended up being eaten again. The fourth missionary, Mark Ayner, fell ill, and many years later, missionary John Golden's brother re-entered the island. Fortunately, he was able to do some evangelism. He began translating the Bible by studying the native language.
Then one day, when his pen reached the end of Acts 7, he heard the natives say that there was an urgent patient and that he came, and as soon as he opened the door, he was struck by an ax and died. At that time, it is said that his blood splashed on the manuscript being translated and wrote the phrase, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” This draft of the Bible is still preserved in a museum in Canada.
After that, the seventh missionary, “Robert”, came over and preached the gospel, and it is said that 40 years later, all the islanders became Christians. That's why this island is called 'Island of the Holy Spirit'. It means the island where the Holy Spirit lived and worked.
You and I have also become people of God through someone's sacrificial work. That person may be a person of previous faith, or it may be a parent, family member, friend, or neighbor. This fact is to let us know that we, who are now people of faith, have been called for another person.
1. There is no escape for those who have been called by God.
Saul was so passionate about Judaism that he actively persecuted Christianity, which was considered a heresy and a new religion in Judaism at the time. At the site of the martyrdom of deacon Stephen, the first martyr in Christian history, he claimed to be the executioner. Not satisfied with the persecution in Judea, he even went on an expedition to Damascus, the capital of Syria, a distant heathen region, in search of scattered Christians to escape persecution. But even Saul, who was so confident and passionate about his faith, could not escape God's hand.
Saul met the Lord in a bright light on the way to Damascus. The time had come when the Lord, who had already been chosen as a minister of the gospel, took Saul captive. Saul cried out, blinded by the light so intense. “Lord, who are you?” The Lord said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. You get up and go into the castle. There is someone who will tell you what to do.” He said, indicating that the way has already been prepared for Saul.
You and I today have been chosen in the Lord's plan and are now called. Even if we do not know the will of the Lord, the Lord has already prepared all our ways. When God's appointed time comes, He will lead you to accomplish His will. Psalm 37:23 says, “The steps of a man are the LORD, and his delight is his delight”, and in Proverbs 20:24, “A man's steps come from the Lord, and how can a man know his ways? Can you?” he said.
Therefore, in our lives, there is no escape from the way God has called us (Psalm 139:7-12). If you are willing to escape, you must remember the ordeal that the prophet Jonah faced when he fled from God's call. God will make you eat the bread of suffering until you obey the call.
2. God uses people.
God called Saul at the appointed time. Looking at the calling process, there are those who were decisively used for Saul's conversion. Deacon Stephen and Ananias of Damascus, the first Christian martyrs and one of the seven deacons.
Saul was a witness when Stephen was martyred. The Jews who stoned Stephen put their cloaks before Saul. This means that Saul will be held responsible for killing Stephen. Although Saul regarded Stephen's death as justified, the moment of Stephen's martyrdom must have been vividly remembered. Later, as I testify of evangelism, I recall this incident. These memories must have made him happy to shed the blood of martyrdom.
When Paul decided to go to Rome, his last missionary journey, he became a prisoner. He was condemned as a heretic who preached the gospel to the Jews. Paul goes through Jerusalem to Rome, but the Saints wept and stopped Paul on his way to Jerusalem. Because the prophets had prophesied, 'When Paul goes to Jerusalem, he will be bound and delivered into the hands of the Gentiles.' Then Paul said, “Why do you weep and break my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 21:13). Thus, through the blood of martyrdom, great ministers are born.
Another person who was used for Saul's conversion was Ananias of Damascus. Saul met the Lord on the road to Damascus and became blind in an instant. The Lord said to Saul, “Go into the city of Damascus. There is someone who will tell you what to do.” And at the same time, the Lord called Ananias, the Lord's disciple in Damascus, in a vision. Then, as in verses 11-12, he sent Ananias to the house where Saul was staying.
When Ananias visited Saul, it had been three days since Saul had fasted and prayed. The Lord opened Saul's eyes through Ananias and taught him the way Saul should go. Why does God have to use people like this? Is it because of the lack of God's power? no. This is the talent God has given to each person, and it fulfills the will of the calling. The saints who have been called bear fruit by obeying God's will, and through this, God is glorified.
Today, the Lord uses us as vessels. Just as there was a vessel to obey God's will for me, I am also a vessel used for God's will. The vessel is used by God by purifying itself. Paul said in 2 Timothy 2:21, “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will become a vessel for honor, sanctified, fit for the master’s use, and prepared for every good work.”
I pray that all of you and I will conform to God's will and obey me, purify ourselves and become saints who will be used as vessels of God's glory.