22. From Vision to Mission (1)
Hymns: RHC 26 Come, Thou Fount 386 Be Thou My Vision 446 Lord, Speak to Me
Acts 9:12-20
12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. 13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. 17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. 19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. 20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
From Vision to Mission (1)
OUTLINE
- Heavenly Commission (v12-16)
- Divine Mission (v17-20)
INTRODUCTION
From Vision to Mission (1) – Acts 9:12-20. In the book “The Problem of Pain” the writer C.S. Lewis tried to answer the question “If God is good and all-power, why does he allow his creatures to suffer pain?”
CS Lewis wrote in the preface of his book, “… the only purpose of the book is to solve the intellectual problem raised by suffering; for the far higher task of teaching fortitude and patience I was never fool enough to suppose myself qualified, nor have I anything to offer my readers except my conviction that when pain is to be borne, a little courage helps more than much knowledge, a little human sympathy more than much courage, and the least tincture of the love of God more than all.”
He tells us a Christian perspective to suffering – how it teaches fortitude – courage in pain and adversity and patience – the capacity to accept, tolerate delay, problems or suffering without being annoyed and anxious.
And he tells us we can help others overcome suffering and pain by encouraging the afflicted to have the courage to face it, and to show compassion and sympathy toward the afflicted which express the love of God through us that ultimately point the person to see the love of God in action giving the opportunity to share the gospel.
And oftentimes, it is through suffering that men’s heart is made tender to see God.
There was a man who was happily married and all set to join the Military Institute of Foreign Languages in California, USA, as a Asian language instructor, when cruel “hand of fate” (as it is described) struck, robbing him of the most precious gift of sight. He realized that he was becoming blind. Frantically seeking doctor after doctor, treatment after treatment, was of no avail.
He testified, “The thing I had dreaded most had come! I felt as if both my body and spirit were bound together and thrown into the dark hell of despair. I was on the road to death all alone. There was no one who could walk with me; not even my own mother, my wife or my two loving daughters. I screamed out, “Oh God! Why are you going to take the light away from me? What have I done to deserve this?” Sinking deeper into despair I cried to God, cursing Him and at the same time imploring Him. Of all people, why me? Why? Why? And soon, he realized that another ailment has struck him, his one hearing ear was going deaf, too. He tested by clapping his hand.
Plunged into his world of darkness, his wife and children deserted him. He was left to face the future alone. He was alone at home. The house was dark and silent as a tomb. This useless body was hardly worth living for. He attempted suicide. He thought a razor blade was a good idea but unfortunately there was no blade in it. He struggled and found the blade but could not find courage to cut through the vein on his neck to do the job.
He wrote, “while my body and mind were engrossed in the suicidal attempt, I suddenly lost consciousness, and fell to the floor.” He took a chair and a rope sling from the ceiling and was about to hang himself when…
“John! John!” I heard someone calling me. Not thunderous and loud but continuous, the voice seemed to fill up the room. Taken aback, I opened my eyes to see the bright light shining in my room and sweet smelling fragrance filling it. Still ringing around me, the voice continued to shout my name, ordering me to get up.
“Who are you?” I blurted, and did not quite realize that I could miraculously hear and see. “Where are you?” Frantically waving my arm, I asked over and over again.
“I am Jehovah your God. Don’t say you are all alone because I am always with you. You will know that you are not alone. Read page 320 of the Old Testament; it belongs to you.”
“What page?” I asked.
“Page 320,” the voice repeated, fading away and disappeared into the air. The bright light that filled his room and the voice were gone and again I found myself in complete darkness.
“John, John.” I could hear the voice again and again, and I seemed to see the bright light, too. Whether in a dream or not, I could not tell. I was breathless and overjoyed with excitement.
“I am not alone. He is with me,” I said to myself. He clearly told me that He was Jehovah, my God. It really puzzles me why God manifested Himself before me when I was not seeking Him thirty-seven years of my life, I had not had any personal experience of knowing God, or ever seeking to know Him. Going to church, singing in the choir and saying public prayers were mere outward gesture of pretension and habit. Moreover, God had been totally left out of my consciousness. He had been forgotten for a very long time. How and why He appeared to me at this crucial time to tell me that He was still with me at this crucial time to tell me that He was still with me was something I just did not know. He said He would prove Himself. It couldn’t be real. It was incredible! My heart was pounding from the incident. God’s message for me was on page 320 of my Old Testament. I had better read it right away.
I found the Bible and rushed out of the house. Right then, I noticed that my hearing was restored, for I could hear the footsteps of the people walking on the streets. I yelled to the people who passed by.
“Excuse me – you who are passing by right now.”
“What can I do for you?” was the voice of a youth who must have been on his way to school. I am sorry to bother you. As you can see, I am blind and I want to ask you a favour.” After I told him my story briefly and asked him to come into my house to read to me from the Bible on page 320; he opened it and said, “Joshua, chapter one.”
“Joshua chapter one?” I have never paid attention to this chapter before. I begged him to read it for me.
Joshua 1:5 … as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee…7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest… 9 … Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
The student went on to the end of the page with gladness, noticing my delight in hearing the Word. The voice of the student gradually changed into the voice I heard in that bright light and was talking to me personally! I could hear, “Be strong and very courageous, be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” over and over again. The boy left me after finishing the chapter and I was by myself once again.
This time I knew I wasn’t really alone, though, because He was with me and He would not forsake me. This new found faith and dependence on God filled my heart with joy overflowing! A spring of hope, happiness and strength seemed come from the bottom of my heart. This joy I had was something I had no known before, and it now knew no bounds. Spontaneously, the hymn burst from my mouth, “Though friends forsake me, Jesus still loves me. Jesus is my friend, He is the only one. Though the world may change, Jesus will remain true to me.” Tears flowing, I sang this hymn over and over.
The more I thought of what the Lord told me through those Bible verses, the more strength and courage was built up in me, even if the ever-present pitch darkness surrounded me. With the overflowing of joy within me, the darkness seemed to disappear. He remembered me in my distress and told me to be of good courage because He would never forsake me. The assurance He gave me would always be there to comfort me!
Be strong and be of good courage… With the power that comes from God, Joshua was able to lead the Israelites to the land of Canaan, for he alone could not have done it. Joshua was merely a weak man, had God not been with him. He believed that only the power of God could help him and because of his faith, he performed a great miracle.
He testified, “In the past, I tried to draw strength from my knowledge, talents and money – all of which were secular, transient values; now they were of no value at all to me in my crisis. Those indeed had been obstacles placed between God and me, so I could not find the true light I was seeking. I said the repentant prayer: “Father, forgive me for my ignorance. I know now that you are the only source of all power and that it cannot come from any other source in the world. Please help me to have power to overcome this despondency I feel because of my blindness.”
Is there any meaning for the life of the blind person? What is the purpose of life for the blind people like me? I was assured that God would help me find the goal of my life. Physically I had lost my sight, but how blessed I was to find the new light – the Saviour Jesus Christ. God had no way to showing me the way while I just sat around doing nothing. No! He dared me to move on and take a brave step forward, looking for the light. It was as though He was commanding me to rise and go toward the Promised Land across the Jordan River, where there is milk and honey for His chosen people, the Israelites. Out of a dungeon of darkness, I was ready to emerge and seek out what I was called to do in this world.
God brought him to a bus depot, at a train station. He was a destitute. No one cared for him. But there was a newspaper and shoeshine boy who saw his pitiful state and brought him to his home, more a squatter where he stayed with his grandmother. Though he had little, he offered him his best. He was deeply touched by the love of this boy. He shared his story from his childhood and how he became blind. The boy said to him, “You are a lucky man! I really envy you.” He was taken aback as to what he really meant by envying. He found out that the boy envied him because he went to school and learned as much as he wanted. “You just don’t know how lucky you are to be educated.” He envied my education and wanted to learn so badly to the extent that he ignored my handicap.”
“You may be envious of me, but my learning has no use now.” I was talking to myself, too. “Look at me! I am just a beggar roaming in the streets.” This boy insisted he was wrong. “You can say that because you are satisfied with your knowledge. I am different. You talk about the practical use of learning. It doesn’t matter whether I can use it or not.” “So, you really want an education.” The boy bought a set of uniform and has been waiting for the day he could wear them to go to school. I bought several books also. It just feels good to have them around while I dream this dream. You may not understand how I dare to dream the impossible dream when I can hardly afford food. I know I am crazy but I cannot help yearning for my dream.” As he talked, his voice quivered with emotion.
The train depot, they are precious memories. There I had the taste of human love and concern, and my spiritual eyes were opened. God had His eyes on me. God seemed to have planned every detail of my journey. The Lord, my Saviour, showed me the light in the lowly places.
He thought that he has lost his usefulness but now he found he had found someone to whom he could be of some help. I was useful after all. I was given a golden opportunity to show my love and concern through teaching the boys what I had learned in school.
He was moved to watch this boy trying to give away what little he had. The new light was shining in my dark corner giving meaning to my meaningless life.
God reached down and lifted him from the depths of despair to fulfil his father’s dream, that he should become a preacher of the gospel. Through years of hard testing, Rev John Ahn today heads the New Light (Presbyterian) Church of the Blind, New Light Evening School, New Light House for the blind. He edits the New Light Braille Magazine.
As I read the biography of his “Blind Korean Pastor”, it gave me an idea of what the Apostle Paul was going through when he was struck down by the bright light from heaven on the road to Damascus, persecuting Christians.”
Wherever the believers fled after the martyrdom of Stephen, which he seemed to have played some official part, he pursued them, not only in Palestine itself but even to Damascus. To the synagogues of that city, he carried a letter from the High Priest, authorizing him to arrest and bring to Jerusalem any who might have sought refuge in the ancient city of Syria. The word of the High Priest was respected in the synagogues of the Empire, and his authority in religious matters was upheld by the Roman power. It was on his journey to Damascus that Saul was confronted by the vision of the risen Christ which wrought such a change in his life and made him henceforth the most valiant champion of the faith he had tried to destroy.
The Apostle Paul’s conversion alone in the view of a lawyer in the 18th century, is sufficient prove Christianity to be a divine revelation. He set out with his other lawyer friend to disprove the Christian faith, to disprove the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the Apostle Paul’s conversion. He came to receive instead Jesus as his personal Lord and Saviour. He saw that this faith is real.
Two thoughts:
- Heavenly Commission (v12-16)
- Divine Mission (v17-20)
(1) Heavenly Commission (v12-16)
12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. 13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
Jesus appeared to the man Ananias in a vision and instructed him to go to help this man Saul blinded and waiting for his coming.
Acts 9:10-12 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
The way was prepared for Paul’s reception by Christians in Damascus by the Lord’s appearing to Ananias. The words of the Lord to him describing Paul as a “chosen vessel” have stuck to Paul ever since.
It was the same in that encounter by this blind Korean pastor. In his latter years, he recognized that, without his knowing it, he been set apart by God for the work of the gospel even before His birth and education, he was also a Roman citizen, and his privileges as such stood him in good stead more than once.
Galatians 1:15-18 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, 16To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: 17Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
Although born a Roman citizen in the Greek city of Tarsus in Asia Minor, he was brought up by his Jewish parents not as a Greek but as a “Hebrew of Hebrews”, being sent to Jerusalem to be trained at the feet of Gamaliel, the great leader of the Pharisees whom we have already met as a counsellor of moderation. The pupil showed little of his teacher’s moderation. As a Jew of Cilicia, he may well have attended the synagogue where Stephen debated and heard those arguments which were bound to undermine the whole religious structure of Judaism. In Saul’s mind, as penetrating as Stephen’s, saw the irreconciliability of the old order and the new, and he set out on his career as a vigorous champion of the old order, resolved to stamp out the revolutionary movement.[1]
Philippians 3:5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
Acts 26:15-18 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. 16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; 17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
He was struck down, blind, with a heavenly commission. He understood in his heart that this Jesus is real. It was the same for Sahdu Sundar Singh and Dr John Sung.
How much he must suffer for my name – The Lord also informs Ananias that this one who has inflicted much suffering on Christians now will experience much suffering himself as he carries out his divinely ordained mission. Saul/Paul himself enumerates the variety of ways he eventually suffered for the cause of Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:23-33 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? 30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. 31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. 32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: 33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.
(2) Divine Mission (v17-20)
17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. 19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. 20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
He could see again. Obeying the Lord Jesus, Ananias locates the house and does exactly as the Lord has told him. Ananias greets Saul and lays hands on him and Saul regains his sight. Saul’s physical blindness has similarities to the spiritual blindness he experienced before his conversion. Saul later reflects, 2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
The illumination of Christ, however, frees Saul from his spiritual blindness and he wholeheartedly embraced Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God.
Filled with the Holy Spirit…and was baptised.
At this time, Saul is filled with the Holy Spirit, who will empower this newly commissioned apostle to proclaim the gospel and endure the suffering. Saul is then immediately baptised by Ananias.
One of the greatest reversals in history, the man who once persecutes the followers of Jesus now beginning proclaiming Him as the Son of God as the long-awaited Messiah among the Jews in the synagogues in Syria.
At once he began to preach in the synagogue. Because of the first letter of Saul/Paul was written nearly 17 years later, some have assumed that he spent these years in prayer, study and reflection before engaging in ministry. But this is not true. Saul begins his preaching almost immediately, only after spending some time with his new brothers and sisters in the Lord.
Filled with the Spirit and gaining a deeper appreciation day-by-day of the marvellous fulfilment of the Old Testament expectation in Jesus, Saul’s presentation of Jesus becomes more and more powerful. It is possible that he receives the first of his five synagogue beatings mentioned in 2 Corinthians 11:24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
Son of God – a central part of Saul’s teaching is declaring Jesus as the Son of God.
CONCLUSION
- Heavenly Commission (v12-16)
- Divine Mission (v17-20)
Amen.
[1] F. Davidson, The New Bible Commentary, Billing and Sons Ltd Guildford and Esher, 1954, 911.