Overpowering Testimony

As we conclude, we are looking at Ananias in his small corner of the world, living his outstandingly obedient, yet simple life before the Lord. God’s plumb line Eyes are on him and He is pleased to choose him to send to Paul. Not only that, but Paul knew beyond wavering that the Lord Jesus had sent Ananias to him.   

How is it with you? Jesus is holding the plumb line of the All-Seeing Eyes of God upon you. As insignificant as you are, as small in the scheme of things as you may be, the plumb line is held up against you. You know what you are being shown is true, for the Eyes of God are never clouded and never ever in error. More so, believe that this is being done to help you, not cast you away. The Lord wants you and me to see how we have become misaligned and with holy fear and trembling, seek to be aligned with Him through the ever working Spirit of Truth.

Overpowering Testimony - Came to me; and he stood and said to me, Brother Saul, receive your sight. And at that same hour I looked up at him.

Listening again to these words of Paul concerning Ananias, one wants to bow at the feet of this simple disciple of Jesus. This is what Paul testifies about such a simple, ordinary disciple of Jesus. 

Let’s get this clear. At that time, Paul never knew Ananias. He had no previous contacts with him or any dealings with him whatsoever. His first meeting of this devout man called Ananias, was when Ananias came to him. Here is a believer in Jesus, who is outstanding in obedience. To hear the name Saul, as Paul was then called and known by Ananias and all the other believers in Jesus, brought caution and dread. Ananias, knowing Saul to be a persecutor of Jesus’ people, and still obey the Lord Jesus, is obedience that surely aligns with God. He does what the Lord asks him to do and goes to Saul. Saul does not have to go to Ananias, because Ananias has come to him. O what outstanding obedience!

Ananias does not just go to Saul as he was told to do, but he stands in his presence and speaks in his presence. As simple as this may seem to many, never gloss over or count as nothing, these simple details. To even stand in the presence of a man such as Saul, shows the power of outstanding faith, faith that takes Jesus at His Word. He boldly stands and confidently speaks the words he has been given to speak. Brother Saul, receive your sight. Have you heard Ananias? Is he not speaking the grace and mercy of the Lord to a child of the Father who has lost his way completely?

This reminds us of the vision of Amos and the plumb line in the midst of God’s people. Then the Lord said: Behold, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of My people Israel.  Saul is Israel in a real way, and the Lord will no longer pass by the wickedness of His people. He is levelling high places, making sanctuaries bare and has raised His Sword against the unrighteous house. Is He not doing this using Ananias? To call Saul brother, is not in light of their race, but in light of their righteousness. The Lord has taken down the high place of Saul’s power and authority, and literally laid waste all Saul’s religious plans and missions. He has risen with His cutting Word against Saul and uses Ananias to bring light to Saul’s darkness.

We are given the freedom to see, not just Ananias’ outstanding obedience, but his unreserved, childlike faith. He stands before Saul and speaks words which only will come from one in faith or one who is a fool. This is what I mean. Only a foolish person will go to a blind person and say, Friend, receive your sight, knowing no such given power to do so. Only a fool, who is an outright, downright fake, will have to make or find excuses for failed manifestations. Not so with Ananias. He speaks directly to blind Saul and tells him to receive his sight. I mean, he does not tell him that his sight will be restored. No! He tells him to receive it, because that is what the Lord has told him to say and do. And at that same hour I looked up at him.

Paul testifies to the overpowering witness of God in his life, through Ananias. At that same hour, at that same time, at that same speaking, Saul looked up at Ananias. Get it as straight as the plumb line. Blinded eyes looked up and saw the person who stood before him. Ananias said, receive your sight and sight was received. Only a person of unquestioning, simple faith, who has been sent to do Jesus’ work, in His Name, will be confirmed and upheld by Him.  

The plumb line has been sent in the midst of God’s people, in the midst of the Church, by simple, ordinary believers, who trust the Lord’s ways and words. The plumb line is among us, but is there overwhelming testimony about you? Is the testimony about you one of outstanding obedience, faith and trust in the Lord, to do exactly what He tells you to do and speak? Note, your overpowering testimony does not come from any God given gifts of healing, speaking, comforting, encouraging or any such. It comes from the simplicity of faith in Jesus to obey Him regardless.     

Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, came to me; and he stood and said to me, Brother Saul, receive your sight. And at that same hour I looked up at him.