A Nugget from New Life Network
(by Dr. Larry Ollison)
Scripture for the Day – August 21, 2020
“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work” (Revelation 22:12).
In almost every area of life, people who are game changers become famous and their names are forever upheld as an innovator or leader. George Washington, Henry Ford, Wilbur and Orville Wright, Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, and Benjamin Franklin are all names of men who, in recent history, changed the world. Through their innovation and dedication, their actions caused countless lives to be affected, and in all these cases, their names are heralded and revered.
In the world, that is the method of operation. You create something, or you do something, and you become famous for it. However, in the Kingdom of God we should not expect or even desire what the world gives. As Christians, this world is not our home. We are aliens; we are citizens of the eternal Kingdom of God. In a Kingdom, the King receives the glory. In a Kingdom, the King gives the rewards. In a Kingdom, you receive glory by being in the favor of the King.
In the Kingdom of God there are rewards. Jesus said that when He returned for His body (the church), that He would be bringing rewards with Him based upon a person’s deeds or what they have done (Revelation 22:12). This clearly tells us that whatever reward we receive in this age is not the ultimate reward. Earthly fame profits nothing, but heavenly rewards cannot be matched or equaled by anything earthly.
Ananias was a disciple of Jesus who lived in Damascus along with a thriving, growing Christian community. They were relatively safe, except for one thing. Saul of Tarsus had gone to the high priest and obtained documents that would allow him to enter houses uninvited and arrest anyone claiming to be Christian and then take them to Jerusalem for imprisonment, punishment, and death (Acts 9:1-2). While on one of his journeys, Saul encountered the glory of God manifested in the form of a bright light and from within the light Jesus spoke to him. Saul, falling to the ground, confessed that Jesus was Lord. The brightness of the light blinded Saul and he spent the next three days fasting and in prayer (Acts 9:3-9). I am convinced that during this time of Saul’s intimacy with the Father that great repentance and change was taking place.
During this time of fasting and prayer, Saul had a vision and saw a man named Ananias laying hands on him. Through this laying on of hands, he would be healed of his blindness. Shortly after this Ananias, the disciple living in Damascus, also received a vision. And in his vision, he was told about Saul’s vision and how Saul would be healed and receive the Holy Spirit through the laying on of his hands (Acts 9:10-18).
Although this vision from the Lord should have been great news and received with joy, it actually revealed fear within the disciples. Saul’s reputation and his cunning were so widely known that many Christians felt that this was a trick – nothing more than a deceptive ploy by Saul to expose the locations of the Christian gatherings so that he could do more harm to the infant Church. Ananias had a choice to make. Would he respond to the fear and hide, or would he believe God, put his fears aside, and boldly act on the word from God he had received in the vision? He believed God, acted on the word he received, and the rest is history. Saul’s name was changed to Paul (Acts 13:9), and he went on to write almost half of the New Testament.
Here is the point. As I have traveled the world, I have seen churches and ministries carry the name of Paul the apostle. While in Europe last year, I saw many large murals that featured Paul. In America, Paul is a common name given to young men. But what about Ananias? Where are the murals and honor for him? After all, without the obedience of Ananias, what would have happened to Saul? Is it possible that history hinged on the obedience of one man who lived in Damascus? Of course, the answer is yes. Countless lives for generations were affected because of the obedience of Ananias.
Although the name of Ananias is not a household word, he was a partner in Paul’s ministry and as Paul set forth to establish churches and change lives, Ananias shared in the victory. In other words, the people working behind the scenes, through obedience and support, helped to spread the gospel throughout the world. They share accounts with the one who stands in the spotlight and has their name proclaimed.
“I hold you in my heart as partakers and sharers, one and all with me, of grace (God’s unmerited favor and spiritual blessing)” (Philippians 1:7 AMP). “I do seek and am eager for the fruit which increases to your credit [the harvest of blessing that is accumulating to your account]” (Philippians 4:17 AMP).
I thank God for the obedience of Ananias and all of the Ananias’s throughout history. While the Christian world proclaims the name of the leader, we must never forget the teamwork in the body of Christ that is required to complete the mission. It is one body with many parts and whether you are Paul the apostle or Ananias the disciple, through your obedience to the Word of God, your reward will be great.
Saul had a vision and Ananias had a vision. Paul became famous and Ananias did not. However, their combined obedience to their God-given visions completed the mission and they shared in the same account. As I stated earlier, in the world, fame is honored. But in the Kingdom of God, the King honors obedience. Fame is nothing. Obedience is everything.
