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Pine Baron
10-11-2022, 06:16 AM
Good morning all. What a great study and message for today. I have a fresh perspective. Have a safe and blessed day.

The Legacy of Ananias
by Greg Laurie on Oct 11, 2022

Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”
—Acts 9:10

What do you think will you be remembered for? What will your legacy be?

In Acts 9, we read about a man named Ananias, whom God used to minister to Saul, later known as the apostle Paul.

The Lord got a hold of Saul on Damascus and said to him, “Why are you persecuting Me? . . . It is hard for you to kick against the goads” (Acts 9:4–5 NKJV). Essentially, God was saying, “Saul, you have been under the conviction of the Holy Spirit and have been resisting Him again and again. Now your time has come.”

Then the newly converted Saul said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” (verse 9 NKJV).

Afterward, God directed Ananias to seek out Saul and pray for him. But Ananias replied, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name” (verses 13–14 NKJV).

But God said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake” (verses 15–16 NLT).

Ananias was understandably reluctant, but in obedience, he did what God had told him to do. He discipled the newly converted Saul, who, in time, became the legendary apostle Paul and probably the greatest preacher in the history of the Church.

I thank God for the Ananiases of the kingdom, those who faithfully work behind the scenes. We rarely hear their names, but they faithfully pray, give, and labor away in obscurity. They are unknown to people, but they are God’s beloved.

Thundarstick
10-11-2022, 07:54 AM
Boy, what a strong reminder to be steadfast in good works, and listen to the Holy Spirit.

dverna
10-11-2022, 08:04 AM
Worrying about what we will be remembered for, or our "legacy" seems to feed into one of the deadly sins...Pride.

Is it not the weak that shall inherit the earth?

Not many of us will do "outstanding" things. Living our life as best we can to please the Lord is more than challenging enough and adequate enough...or should be. At least it is challenging enough for this sinner and tough enough for me.

God uses us as we allow Him to. Many ignore what the Holy Spirit guides us to do...it is the choice God gives us. When we make the "wrong" choice, God still loves us even though we have failed Him. His mercy is boundless. But God's work will be done...if not by you, then by another.

At times I struggle with God's omniscience. Does He know how we will choose before we choose? I lean more and more to believing He would not give us pre-destined choice...as that is not really choice at all. Our choices may affect who gets His work done, maybe when it gets done, but not the work itself.

When He calls on us, we have the choice to heed Him. Some do but most do not.

God does not speak to man directly as He did in the past. We receive indirect messages that have much less force and urgency than "the voice of God". We require much more faith than those in the Bible who established their "legacy" and fame with direct contact with the Lord or His messengers.

USMC87
10-11-2022, 09:22 AM
Amen, go where you are sent!