Him? What? Why? Me!
Acts 9:1-22

† I.H.S. †

May the grace and peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ astound you, as you minister and love those whom the world has given up on

• The other conversion

In today’s reading from the book of Acts there are two conversions. One is the one everyone knows about, the incredible conversion of a man who used the law to kill and torture those he didn’t like. He seemed out of his mind, and unwilling to consider any other position but his.

The bigger miracle, in my opinion, is the conversion of the other guy.

Looking at that one will have more impact on us anyways, because to be honest, I don’t think many of us are like Saul, who kept uttering threats to kill elders and pastors and other leaders of the church.

We need to see how Ananias was converted, how God changed his mind, and then see the incredible joy he was able to witness, because he was willing to head God’s heart, and consider a vision bigger than his own

• Look at it my way….

I want you, for a moment, to put yourselves in Ananias’s shoes. There are all sorts of rumors going around, way before he has a vision. Everyone knows about Paul leading the group that killed the first deacon…and they know he’s on the warpath.

Paul gets the high priest to effectively declare war on Christians. No holes barred, for the high priest’s letter to the synagogues have the weight of all of their office behind them.

Ananias knows this… and then the vIsion… I am going to paraphrase it a little…

Good morning Ananias!

yes Lord?!?

I’ve got something for you to do… Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. ¹² I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again

And Ananias response is a three letter word that is the worst thing you can say to God….

BUT!

Never, ever, ever say that to God… even when we think we have a reason, it is usually means that we somehow don’t trust Him or think we know better. 

Ananias thinks he knows the whole story – this guy was as evil as they come…he enjoyed killing Christians. God don’t you realize how much trouble this guy is? Don’t you realize how black and evil his heart is?

God treats Ananias a lot nicer than I would have….

I would have said, “Ananias, you remember – I am God? Don’t you remember that besides loving me you have to love your neighbor Saul?  Don’t you remember what I taught about forgive him even as I forgive you?

Come Ananias, you know that even though the church gave up on Saul I haven’t!

Ananias needed his mind changed just as much as the Paul!

And so do we.

Too many times we doubt that God is able to do things in a person’s life. We believe someone is too evil, or too broken. And so we treat them like someone beyond God’s reach….

Or maybe they are mean murderous types… maybe they are just cold and don’t come across well, or they are a pain in the neck, or they are poor and homes, or maybe we thing they are so rich, they wouldn’t even think we exist.

Not one of them is beyond God’s reach – not one of them….

But will we believe it? Will we trust God when He tells us that God has chosen them? That God has a plan for their lives?

God’s words were simple…. “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. ¹⁶ And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake

• Learning to Treasure God’s masterpiece

So Ananias mind is transformed by God. He remember that God is in charge,, and listens, and sees a miracle that is beyond anything he ever expected….

His heart changed… and he ministered to and love this wayward, power abusing murderer.

Hear again what Ananias saw God do.. through him.

He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. ¹⁹ Afterward he ate some food and regained his strength.

Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days. ²⁰ And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!”

Imagine Ananias’ reaction…. Paul is now preaching about Jesus… proclaiming that He is the Messiah, the Son of God!

I can almost hear Ananias, in awe going… “I knew God was going to do something special with that boy! I just knew it!”…

Seriously, God can change anyone… and he can change our hearts toward anyone.

We just have to hear how much God loves them, and forgave their sin by dying on the cross. They might refuse . but that doesn’t change what God has promised them…The more we see that change others, the more we are able to see God at work, in us.

That is how God changes His people; Some he has to change as He did Paul, some He has to change as He did with Ananias.

And most of the time – we aren’t aware of it, for we are in awe – and sharing that Jesus is the Son of God…and He will never give up working on us, in and through us. For as God changes and converts us, we find ourselves dwelling in His peace… a peace that can affect all around us, for we learn to love, because we are loved. AMEN

Partners
Phil. 1:3-6 & Matt. 28:16-20

† I.H.S. †

May the grace and peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ become so evident in this place that  your ministry partnership is full of joy!

• The Band Leader

I have looked forward to this day for nearly three years.

Because this day is the result of a lot of work, a lot of time on the phone, and reading emails, a lot of frustration at times, if we are honest, some doubt, and finally, some relief.

And so people of Grace Lutheran School and Grace Lutheran Church, this is the day the Lord made…. For you!

You see, this day isn’t about Rev. Michael.

This day is about Grace Lutheran Church and Grace Lutheran School, of which Mike, you, and your family become a part.

One of my illustrations of how the partnership between a community of faith – the church and school – and their pastor work together comes from my youth.

You see… my parents were ballroom dance teachers, and when I asked them to teach me…. They handed me a guitar. I asked them a few years later, and they helped me get a piano. Something about my coordination being so wrong that it would be bad for business if I tried to dance.

But have you ever seen ballroom dancers try to dance without music? 

Here is the point.

You are here to be in the background as the people learn to dance with God. You will, in your time of prayer for them, in your devotional time, in your time preparing sermons and Bible studies, in your time laughing and crying with them, you will be helping them learn to dance….

To dance with God.

That is your role in this partnership.

You are the band. You have to help them with the rhythm; you have to lift their spirits and help them learn to live life, moving in response to God.

And hopefully, as dances end… you will give thanks to God for their partnership in the ministry, as you see how God brought them through this life and finished His work with them.

• Anxiety and Doubt

This isn’t to say it is going to be easy.

One of the things so often overlooked as we look at the Great Commission is where the disciples were. Just a little while after, they realized “Alleluia He is Risen” (He is Risen Indeed, Alleluia!) and therefore… (We are risen indeed, Alleluia) is this phrase,

Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted!

Wait… what? Witnesses to the Lord’s nail spike prints in his hands, gaping spear wound in his side, and they….doubted?

Do you mean even they struggled?

Yeah – and there will be days for the entire community.

There might be an odd day when you are playing polka, and they are dancing the foxtrot. And the dissonance will make you wonder who is wrong and who is right….

Oddly enough, you can dance the foxtrot to a polka – you just have to move really quick!

But the partnership doesn’t end there… you get back to working with each other. You help them back into the groove, and then you almost want to stop playing – because they are doing the work of the ministry soooo sooo well as they learn to dance with God.

• Treasure what God has put together

And what is that ministry? 

Well, how many people are in this Valley? According to the internet, about 517,000 people. About 60 churches here as well, according to one internet page.

So before you go into all the world to make disciples, you start here. 8618.6667 people to disciple, just if y’all take a single portion. Since you guys have such a clear view of grace, are such an awesome church body – and have a good pastor… let’s triple that. 25,850 people that you guys can reach out to, helping them become people who know Jesus loves them and learn to dance with Him!

There is the ministry of the church. 

That is one of the things that happens when this partnership is doing what it is supposed to: when you, Pastor Hall, are setting the rhythm through your administration of the sacraments, your teaching and preaching, and the way you live. You set the rhythm in the way you dance with God…

What does it mean to make a disciple? The first step is easy – you wash them clean of sin in baptism. Not that the water is essential – teach them what Ezekiel 36 and Titus 3 say about God’s promises and actions.

The second part is a bit of a translation issue.

Most translations say, “teach them to obey the commands.”

The Greek is a lot better. I could teach for an hour on this – but Mike will do a better job. Here is what it says in Greek.

Teach them to guard the treasure (tereo) I have called into existence. (entellomai)

Teach them to guard the treasure that I have called into existence….

What treasure is that? 

This treasure that the Father sent Jesus to die to create…

What I call the dance – that is what the treasure is.

When a good male leads his partner in the dance, and she trusts in him, there is a level of communication that occurs instinctively; it is based on that trust.

That is the treasure – this incredibly excellent relationship with the Creator of the Universe….

As your people learn to dance with God, something incredible happens. They reach out and love people around them, drawing them into the dance…

You are partners in this thing, and I pray dear brothers and sisters of Grace Lutheran Church and School – including your pastor- are so overwhelmed by what God does through this partnership that you give thanks to God every time you think of each other. Amen!