Finders Keepers
Acts 9:17-20
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. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
My, my. Some of you are tempted to think of things that are not Godly. I see that the two murderers have met and became brothers at last. But see, the brother and mother are the same that do the will of God. Nothing more, nothing less. Ananias was in his own way before, but now he goes about the Lord's way. How often following God opens doors of which we could only dream. Saul dreamed of having his sight restored and of meeting this man. Ananias dreamed of walking in his own way once more. When God is ordering your steps, he will make your path to be a joy rather than a test or a temptation. Thus, all the days it will feel like it was your way. In reality, the way was God's this whole time. Herein is found the secret life of abiding with Christ. Is it not interesting to note that Ananias announced his receiving the Spirit. But it was already too late and by this time unnecessary. See, Saul had already received the Spirit by the roadside on the way. If he had not, the spirit of the demonic might return in the lack and in the emptiness. Matthew 12:44-45 speaks of the demon possessed who had an empty house cleansed. Thus, it was necessary for Christ to fill up Saul in all his lack and emptiness. Immediately he got his sight back. Now I am neither a doctor nor spiritually trained to identify scales in the eyes. But I can tell you this. It is a process. Sometimes you meet those possessed with the blown black eyes. Sometimes it takes the Spirit of God time to clean the house.
Some of these demonic spirits come out with prayers and fasting. Not because God is not all powerful but because there are things in our lives that these feed upon. All of us have some issues in the house. That is why God is needed to cleanse it and make it new. See, here is Ananias testimony also. He was going when Jesus appeared to him. So, as he came, he went; then was sent to heal Saul. Not only that but he is baptized as well. There is nothing about baptism itself for we take baths every day. But sometimes the spirit and the flesh need a cleansing in the name of Jesus. That is exactly what happened. Then Saul arose from his fast in the power of Christ. See, now the two murderers have met together. Even now the love of God has made them family. They are brothers as in those who do the will of the Lord. Here they are known as changed men. No longer are they hunting after some to pounce upon or to take captive. It seems the Lord Jesus has pounced upon them after all. Now I do not advise doing evangelism after this manner. If you do, it is risky business indeed for it involves a few other things mentioned prior. But how many of you know when he calls and sends you, there will be much success.
And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
A couple things are happening here which were not before. Here is the receiving of meat spoke of in 1 Corinthians 3:2. It is important to notice that he received meat. How many know that unless God gives it to you, your hunt is almost always in vain. Meat is a strong spiritual and physical food indeed for those who are starving. This is why unless you are a baby and say 'goo, goo, gaa, gaa' you need the spiritual meat of the word. Some of you make no sense because you are lacking the proper food. Some others of you are weak indeed because you have been starving yourselves to death spiritually. I could not expect to live throughout the week by what the preacher says on Sunday morning. Some of you need to stop looking for someone to make you wise and instead look for some food from the Lord. See, Christ feeds all sorts from the murderer to the victim alike. From his Word he has some babies in training, some believers drinking protein shakes, and some buff individuals in the gym. Some of you ought to do like Saul and eat some meat. Accept the strengthening of the Lord. There is nothing wrong with expecting a full plate.
Maybe this is where some of you have went wrong in these modern times. You let preachers tell you to expect prosperity when they ought to have given you a full plate. My friends, the prosperity is wonderful, do not get me wrong. I just want to be around long enough to enjoy it. This is why the eating is connected to the strengthening; this is turn relates to the dwelling with the other disciples at Damascus. Not only did Saul spend time strengthening the other believers, but he also went to the synagogues. For this reason, Luke 19:10 says that the "Son of man came to seek" and save the lost. Now I could draw a picture of it, and I could diagram it neatly. But what happened next was pure art. Imagine meeting a murderer who works for Jesus now. This same man used to be the chief of the high priests who had him put to death. Now he serves another master and cares for himself no more. Imagine the ex-high priest coming to heal you in the name of the Lord whom he executed. Imagine him saying, 'I'm sorry for what happened; I serve Jesus now.' Imagine the witness and the testimony held. This is why whenever the gospel was preached, it always came with power. Not because God needed some human help but because of all he had done. Now Saul goes into these same places he used to request people to persecute. He goes in and he preaches Christ. I cannot imagine a better testimony.