Effie Darlene Barba

Will you do whatever God says? No matter what?  That was the question that lay before Ananias and it is the question that lays before each of us, every day.  Acts 9 tells us of a time when God asked Ananias to be an instrument in the salvation of Saul.

¹⁰ There was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias. To him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. Ananias said, “Behold, I am here, Lord.”

¹¹ And the Lord said unto him, “Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight.  Enquire 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.

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 Ananias went his way, 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 Immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales. He received sight forthwith, arose, and was baptized.

Will You Do Whatever God Says, No Matter What?

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In our current social climate, many seem to proclaim that it is enough to be passionately sincere in one’s faith and/or belief.  No longer does truth matter.  Most would say all roads lead to God, regardless of one’s belief system. That is if one is passionately sincere concerning their faith.  Although in that camp of thought, many don’t even require passionate sincerity.  But if one considers those throughout history who have been passionately sincere concerning their beliefs you would see Hitler, Stalin, and even those who flew planes into the world trade center.  Hitler and Stalin firmly held to the beliefs of the secular humanists, who later determined the need to rewrite their manifesto after the atrocities of both regimes.  Their core belief is that men and women can rise to a higher moral status without belief in God and

Indeed, the secular humanist movement rewrote their manifesto three times, despite which they successfully transformed the United States by changing how we raise our children and how the schools teach our children.  They became instrumental in eradicating God from our schools, attempting to remove a child’s ability to even pray or read their Bible individually within the schools.  They are passionately sincere in their faith; however, preaching tolerance while demanding intolerance to any who believe other than they.  On the contrary, Christianity truly demands tolerance in how we treat others while remaining uncompromising on what we believe.  To be passionately sincere in our faith does not mean violence to those who disagree. Rather, we are to lovingly live our lives exemplifying Christ so that others see Him through us. Thereby displaying the truth of the gospel, while never wavering in speaking truth, speaking light into the darkness around us.

Passionately Sincere Saul Of Tarsus

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Often, in this life, we feel defeated.  What today appears a great victory, deflates into doubt tomorrow as it fails.  It may be at work or home.  The stay at home mom faces the same ups and downs as the one juggling her career.  Then, there is the widow or widower looking back on their life and wonder if any of it really mattered.  Did they make the right choices?  Indeed, this is a dilemma that faces every human being.  The Christian is not exempt.  In fact, the Christian may face these dilemmas with greater despair at times.  Pastors are certainly not exempt.    So, we have Philipp the evangelist.  So, elated I am sure over all the converts including Simon Magus.  What did Philipp feel when he knew Simon’s salvation wasn’t real? Did he feel the sting of failure?  How did he have the faith to stand after failure?

Perhaps, I am projecting my own feelings on Philipp. But I doubt I am the only one who questions, “How did I not see that coming?”  “What is wrong with me?”  “Why can’t I figure this all out?” And on it goes in my head, some days.  Those are the days I find myself most deeply engaged in prayer, desperately needing to feel the presence of God.  I know the truth of God’s word and of His grace.  Yet, my heart feels deflated.  Not so uncommon, Spurgeon often felt that a few days after a great, successful revival.  Confronting constant pain, bouts of depression, moments of feeling so inadequate, he would stand once more in the pulpit leading hundreds and thousands to Christ Jesus.  What’s worse?  Feeling you must keep it hidden. Otherwise people won’t believe the truth of God’s love. Your testimony will fall. Or so you think.

The Faith to Stand after Failure

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One of the most important questions of all is: “Did you receive the power of the Holy Spirit?”  Water baptism cannot give it to you.  Walking the aisle to pray a prayer cannot give it to you.  Yet, as Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:5-6).  Simon Magus was a prime example of this very fact.  He prophesied that he believed. Furthermore, he was baptized by Philipp the preacher in the name of Jesus into the earliest Samaritan church.  However, when Peter and John came to Samaria to join the Samaritan church with that of Jerusalem as one body in Christ, it was evident Simon was not truly saved.

Indeed, Simon was fascinated by the idea of the church; but, believed it all to be some form of magic.  Being a renowned magician himself, he was enamored with the miracles.  Never did he truly believe in Jesus Christ, as Savior and Lord.  He was never in love with Jesus Christ.  Neither did he believe himself to be a sinner in need of a Savior.  In fact, he believed himself to be endowed with power from on high.  Historians speak of Simon Magus as a heretic who formed a large gnostic sect-the Simonians.  His heretic teachings were said to be a thorn in the side of the true church.

The Holy Spirit’s Filling

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