{"id":1751,"date":"2022-05-08T13:07:10","date_gmt":"2022-05-08T18:07:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/biblicalpath.com\/?p=1751"},"modified":"2022-05-08T13:07:10","modified_gmt":"2022-05-08T18:07:10","slug":"be-faithful","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/biblicalpath.com\/index.php\/2022\/05\/08\/be-faithful\/","title":{"rendered":"Be Faithful"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\u201cMoreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful<\/strong>\u201d
1 Corinthians 4:2 <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

God has a special plan for each Christian\u2019s life. It is\nimportant to read God\u2019s Word (Bible), hearing from God, to learn what that plan\nis. It is then a choice to either follow God\u2019s plan for that life, or choose to\ndisregard what God has planned. There are many examples of this in the Bible.\nConsider the following events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saul had been with the religious leaders when Stephen was\nstoned because he spoke of Jesus. In Acts chapter nine, we read that Saul went\nto Damascus to find anyone who\nfollowed Jesus so he could take them bound to Jerusalem.\n\u201cAnd Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the\ndisciples of the Lord, went \u2026<\/strong>\u201d (Acts 9:1). However, on the way, Saul saw\nthe glory of the Lord revealed to him and was told to go to Damascus\nand wait. It is here that we are introduced to a \u201ccertain disciple at <\/strong>Damascus<\/strong>\u201d\nwhose name was Ananias. He lived in Damascus\nat this time. The Lord came to Ananias in a vision, and told him to go, \u201c\u2026 and enquire in the house of Judas for one<\/em> called Saul,\nof <\/strong>Tarsus<\/strong>: for, behold, he prayeth, 12. And hath seen in a vision a\nman named Ananias coming in, and putting his<\/em> hand on him, that he might\nreceive his sight<\/strong>\u201d (Acts 9:11-12). \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once again God called one of his disciples (a Christian) to go and speak\nHis Words to one particular individual (remember Philip who was sent to the\nEthiopian Eunuch). Saul would be expecting Ananias to come see him. What did\nAnanias do? \u201c13. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this\nman, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at <\/strong>Jerusalem<\/strong>:\n14. And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on\nthy name<\/strong>\u201d (Acts 9:13-14). Ananias\nwas understandably afraid. He had heard of Saul. He also knew what Saul was\ndoing to anyone who believed in Jesus. \u201cBut the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a\nchosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the\nchildren of <\/strong>Israel<\/strong>\u201d (Acts 9:15). Chosen\nvessel<\/strong> means \u201ca person as the\ninstrument of usefulness for someone<\/em>.\u201d God had plans for Saul \u2013 just as He\nhas plans for each person who belongs to Him. God told Ananias what His plans\nfor Saul were \u2013 to tell the Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel\nabout Jesus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ananias was asked to do something very difficult. He had a choice to\nmake. Obey God, or walk away in fear. \u201cAnd Ananias went his way, and entered\ninto the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even<\/em>\nJesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou\nmightest receive thy sight \u2026<\/strong>\u201d (Acts 9:17). Recognize that Ananias trusted\nin God, more than he was afraid of Saul. Ananias believed the Lord when He said\nthat Saul was a chosen vessel for God, and he greeted Saul as, \u201cBrother\nSaul.<\/strong>\u201d What happened to Saul? He received his sight. This sight was more\nthan physical sight. Read how Saul (later called Paul) described the lost\ncondition of a life apart from Jesus and His Gospel message: \u201c3. But\nif our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4. In whom the god of\nthis world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of\nthe glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.\n5. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your\nservants for Jesus’ sake. 6. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of\ndarkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give<\/em> the light of the knowledge\nof the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ<\/strong>\u201d (2 Corinthians\n4:3-6). Saul\u2019s (Paul\u2019s) eyes and his heart had been blinded. Yet he received\nthe Truth of God\u2019s Word and believed. He not only believed in Jesus, but he\nbecame a servant who told many others about Christ Jesus the Lord. What did\nSaul do after he believed in Jesus and received his sight? \u201cAnd straightway\nhe preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God<\/strong>\u201d (Acts 9:20). There was a change that took place in\nSaul\u2019s heart that was pictured in his life when he was blinded and then received\nhis sight. He had been brought out of the darkness into the \u201clight\nof the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.<\/strong>\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a great testimony to the faithfulness of Ananias. He chose to go speak to Saul \u2013 just as the Lord had told him to do. This event should encourage us never to be afraid to obey God\u2019s will. \u201c1.\u00a0Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful<\/strong>\u201d (1 Corinthians 4:1-2). The mystery of God is the introduction into the truths of the Gospel message. Never undervalue the importance of sharing the Gospel message with one individual who may be brought to Christ. Saul (Paul) was important to God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you a faithful steward of the mysteries of God, willing to share the Gospel message when God asks?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How to be Saved<\/a><\/blockquote>