
by Stephen Lewin
SAUL HAS A PLAN
In the book of Acts chapter 9 we read about a vision from the Lord. The context for this vision, is when Saul (who later became known as Paul in Acts chapter 13), has a plan and travels to Damascus with authority from the High Priest to arrest disciples of the Lord, and ”bring them bound unto Jerusalem“ (Acts 9 v 1-2).
THE LORD HAS A PLAN
This was a religious plan, but not from the Lord. As Saul journeys to Damascus, “… suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven” (Acts 9 v 3), and Saul falls to the ground and hears a voice calling his name; “Saul, Saul”. Saul responds and asks who is speaking. The voice is the Lord Jesus, who identifies Himself (Acts 9 v 5). Saul asks the Lord what He wants him to do. He is told by the Lord to go to the city and once there he will be informed what he must do. Saul, led by the hands of others, spends three days without sight, fasting and praying (Acts 9 v 6-11).
ANANIAS RECEIVES A VISION FROM THE LORD
Then a disciple called Ananias receives a vision from the Lord. The Lord speaks to Ananias by name and dialogues with him giving instructions for him to go to a specific street, house and person. The Lord also mentions that Saul has had a vision of Ananias coming “and putting his hand on him that he may receive his sight” (Acts 9 v 11-12). Ananias answers the Lord, saying that he knows Saul has come with ”authority….. to bind all that call on thy name“ (Acts 9 v 14) – the name of Jesus. Then the Lord commands Ananias that he is to go to Saul, “for he is a chosen vessel ..” (Acts 9 v 15). He will share the good news of the Gospel to the world.
OBEDIENCE TO THE VISION FROM THE LORD
Ananias is obedient to this vision, with its command from the Lord, even though Ananias voiced to the Lord that Saul had done evil to the saints at Jerusalem. (Acts 9 v 13).
Ananias goes to Saul, lays hands on him, and Saul receives his sight. Ananias even prays for him to be filled with the Spirit. Saul is baptised in water. Then Saul stays with the disciples who accept him as a brother, (as Ananias did). He then starts preaching that Christ is the Son of God in the synagogues in Damascus (Acts 9 v 17-20). What a turnaround happened here at Damascus – Saul changing from coming to bind disciples, to receiving from a disciple, and then becoming a follower of Christ, the one he was persecuting. This turnaround was enabled by the vision that Ananias received from the Lord, and his obedience to the command of Jesus, overcoming his prejudice and accepting Saul, and the call of God on his life. The Lord can turnaround lives today.
Today, the Lord can and does give visions, (direction and revelation), (Acts 2 v 17), that can cause us to override our natural understanding, so that we do not miss partnering with all the Lord wants to do in and through the people that we meet, and being a part of seeing their lives turnaround.
Let us remember, everyone is a person for whom Christ died.

Reference: King James Version (KJV)