Walk by Faith

Acts 22

“This is my story... This is my song... praising my Savior all the day long.”
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Defending himself before the angry crowd, Paul shared his testimony by reviewing his background and Jewish theological training, his earlier persecution of Christians, his conversion to Christ on the Damascus Road, and his call to evangelize the Gentiles.

Following this blinding Damascus Road experience with Jesus Himself, Saul, later to be called Paul, was instructed to meet with a man named Ananias, who was quite fearful of Saul.
“And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13 came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. 14 And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; 15 for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’ 17 “When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ 19 And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. 20 And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’ 21 And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ” Acts 22:12–21 (ESV)

Dr. Tony Evans makes note that “the Lord didn’t inform Paul about his purpose until he went to Damascus as commanded. Many Christians want to know God’s purposes for their lives, but they’re unwilling to obey the clear commands that he’s already given. But God hits a moving target.”

We as followers of Jesus, The Way, are called to follow God in and by faith; to do what we already know we’re supposed to do. By doing so, we’ll show Him and those by which we are called to testify, that we’re sold out followers, serious about pursuing Him so that He can begin guiding, directing, and ordering our steps.

This happened early in my conversion and has happed several times since. It takes faith, trust and surrender to step out and follow Jesus; however, it is never easy and the unknown must be engaged with much prayer and courage.

We often hear that it takes great courage and radical faith to answer the call of God; but in all honesty, it really only takes a small faith to move mountains and to trust His promises according to scripture.

The opposite of faith is often described as fear; I happen to believe the opposite of faith is no faith. You have it or you don’t, but small faith and grow according to scripture. How you might ask?

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17 (ESV)
I have a growing faith in Jesus to know what is best for my life and the journey for which He has designed and called. And, I believe He is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do based on the promises spelled out in His Word and by the way He has always provided for me and my family.

How about you? How far are you willing to follow Jesus? What are you willing to lay down and leave behind to follow God’s Spirit’s leading to help others follow Jesus?How is your faith? Do you have a growing faith?
Saul (Paul) was saved for a purpose, and the same is true of all believers. Christians are God’s “workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do” (Eph 2:10).

God sent Paul to the Gentiles. And what Paul said about the Ephesian church was also once true of most of us: “At one time you were Gentiles … without Christ, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world” (Eph 2:11–12).

We need to praise God today for His Grace and mercy to the Gentiles and for Paul’s faithfulness to his Gentile mission.

Warren Weirsbe explains Acts 22 as “Paul’s starting point, turning point, and finishing point.”
He begins by say that “Paul’s defense was his identification with the Jews. His birth, training, and early ministry as a rabbi were strictly orthodox. He associated his conversion with Ananias, “a devout man according to the law.” He was very tactful, but it takes tact to have contact.”
The turning point of Paul’s defense can be explained as his use of the word Gentiles in Acts 22:17. Had he not used that word, Paul might have been set free; but the whole burden of his life was to reach the Gentiles.

“For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. 4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. 8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. 13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.” Ephesians 3:1–13 (ESV)

Paul was arrested because of religious bigotry; his people did not realize that God was doing a new thing in the world.

Finally, the finishing point, as penned by Wiersbe, was “the threat of a scourging, which Paul avoided by asserting his Roman citizenship. From then on, it would be one hearing after another and a delay of two years in Caesarea. But God was working out His will in His time, and Paul was willing to go and to wait.”

Where is God’s calling on your life leading you? Is God calling you to drop your nets and follow Jesus to an unreached people group? What are you willing I endure for the cause of Christ and His Glory?

Who is God laying on your heart to help follow Jesus? Are you willing to openly respond in faith and obedience to His path for your life?

Today, choose to obediently follow Jesus and live by faith with trust, surrender and sacrifice.

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