| No matter what a man attempts to build, if there is not | | | | Ananias is sent by the risen and living Lord Jesus |
| a sound solid foundation, that building will collapse. We | | | | Christ to visit him and minister to him. So many things |
| have witnessed the reality of this in the business and | | | | need to be dealt with - his sight - his baptism. Here, |
| economic world over these past few years and seen | | | | Ananias tells him what he has to do. Ananias regarded |
| some personal tragedies. Lay a solid sound foundation | | | | these matters as being fairly urgent. Paul gets his past |
| from the outset. | | | | buried, and his guilty conscience cleansed, and he |
| The importance of a rock like foundation cannot be | | | | arises from the water a new man - a new creation. |
| over emphasised. Let me illustrate this from the New | | | | His being filled with the Holy Spirit is recorded, and |
| Testament. | | | | something of how Jesus was going to use him over |
| There are many passages I could take but I write | | | | these next 25 years. |
| from Acts Chapter 21 and verse 40, where we read | | | | This solid sound foundation is laid during these first 72 |
| that Paul is rescued from a wild mob in the Temple in | | | | hours. It is vital to lay a sound biblical foundation if we |
| Jerusalem, and he is so concerned for them, that he | | | | today are going to exercise the type of ministry to |
| asks to speak to these religious critics and | | | | which Jesus Christ calls us. This affects us morally, |
| persecutors. | | | | ethically, spiritually - in fact, in every area of our lives - |
| He gives his testimony - so clearly - so specifically. | | | | and much more than we sometimes realise. |
| Paul is clear about what happened to him. He has | | | | Ananias then drops out of the picture, but he was so |
| clear convictions. | | | | willing to be used by Jesus. God sent someone just |
| It is interesting to link this with Isaiah's testimony in Isaiah | | | | when Paul needed someone - a trusted friend - a |
| Chapter 6. He too has clear convictions! Have you? | | | | concerned compassionate and able brother. |
| Both speak about it being all so very personal, giving a | | | | Would you be willing to go and minister to someone |
| firsthand account. | | | | like Saul of Tarsus - a man with his reputation? How |
| Paul tells of his experience of meeting Jesus. 'I am a | | | | willing would you be to receive ministry from someone |
| Jew - one of you - having sat under Professor | | | | you barely knew? These can be very real questions |
| Gamaliel.' He speaks about having attempted to wipe | | | | for each of us. They are certainly pertinent and |
| out every disciple of Jesus Christ. That had been his | | | | relevant in the Scriptures. |
| goal - his aim in life. He gives us these details which | | | | But, a foundation was laid and over these next thirty |
| remained clear in his mind. He never forgot what was | | | | years he was able to build upon that foundation and |
| vitally important. | | | | he continues to teach us today regarding these crucial |
| Some people grow out of giving their testimony. Paul | | | | lessons which are frequently overlooked, ignored or |
| never did. | | | | considered to be irrelevant to getting on in life. |