Acts 9:17 – And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
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My offering to you today is for your edification through close observation. I draw your attention to our Text for Today, and especially two portions of it. The truth revealed, strengthened, and confirmed here is powerful. The two portions are the following words; “Brother Saul,” and “that thou mightiest . . . . be filled with the Holy Ghost.” Let’s examine them in a most reasonable fashion. After all, the Lord did say that we should “reason together.”
Saul of Tarsus (Paul), while on his way to Damascus, had been confronted by the Lord Jesus Christ. It was at that point in the life of Saul of Tarsus (for simplicity, I shall refer to him as Paul) was born again. There, on the road to Damascus, Paul encountered Jesus, and accepted Him as his Lord and Savior. Then three days later, while he was in a house in Damascus, the man Ananias came to him. Ananias had been sent to Paul by the Lord to share certain things with him.
Upon his entry before Paul, look closely at the first words of Ananias. He called Paul, “Brother Saul.” This is a very clear indication that Paul was a Christian. In the church it is only proper to call those who are born again “brother” or “sister.” It should be obvious from the events leading to the appearance of Ananias before Paul that Paul had already been born again. He was already saved. On that I am sure we can agree.
Now let us examine one of the key reasons Ananias gave for his coming to Paul. The Lord had sent Ananias to lay hands on Paul for certain distinct purposes. The final purpose Ananias stated was “that thou (Paul) mightiest . . . . be filled with the Holy Ghost.” This statement is clear and quite definitive. Paul had already been born again, but from the words of Ananias, we can clearly see he was not yet “filled with the Holy Ghost.” This was something the Lord desired for Paul that was beyond his experience of being born again three days earlier on the road to Damascus.
I don’t know where your “Damascus road encounter” with the Lord took place. I refer to the place and time of your being born again. But I do know this. It is also the will of the Lord that you be “filled with the Holy Ghost.” If you already have, I praise God for and with you. If you have not, you need not wait any longer, for if you, being earthly, natural people, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Ghost to them that ask Him? Just ask, my friend, and believe. The Lord is waiting to fill you with His Spirit today.
Manna for Today – Acts 9:1-18; Acts 1:8; Luke 11:13; Acts 2:4; John 14:15-17
My Second Miler by Dr. Beechard Moorefield 