“HE MUST SUFFER!”

Acts 9:1-25                                                                (ESV)

“1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the LORD, went to the high priest

2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to THE WAY, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, AND SUDDENLY a light from Heaven shone around him.

4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting ME?"

5 And he said, "Who are you, LORD?" And HE said, "I am JESUS, WHOM you are persecuting.

6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do."

7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.

8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, HE SAW NOTHING. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The LORD said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, LORD."

11 And the LORD said to him, "Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying,

12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight."

13 But Ananias answered, "LORD, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to YOUR saints at Jerusalem.

14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on YOUR NAME."

15 But the LORD said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of MINE to carry MY name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.

16 For I will show him how much “HE MUST SUFFER” for the sake of MY name."

17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the LORD JESUS who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the HOLY SPIRIT."

18 AND IMMEDIATELY something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized;

19 and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.

20 AND IMMEDIATELY he proclaimed JESUS in the synagogues, saying, "HE is the SON of GOD."

21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, "IS NOT THIS THE MAN who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?"

22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and CONFOUNDED THE JEWS who lived in Damascus by proving that JESUS WAS THE CHRIST.

23 When many days had passed, THE JEWS PLOTTED TO KILL HIM,

24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night IN ORDER TO KILL HIM,

25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, LOWERING HIM IN A BASKET.”

Twelve years ago I lay in a hospital about to embark on what would prove to be a journey where ALMIGHTY GOD would lead me with HIS merciful HAND, for HIS Glory.   Most are aware of the MIRACULOUS (all Praise to HIM) recovery that I have been Blessed with, but very few are interested, or want SEE and experience, the “valleys” where GOD grows me and restores me, again for HIS Glory!  Very few are chomping at the bit to sign-up for a 52-day hospital incarceration, a two-year hiatus from a life of productivity, AND an apparent permanent inability to select my choice of words to be used by ALMIGHTY GOD?  But when you are granted by our CREATOR with an extension of Grace, you accept it with thanks and humility, wondering why you were chosen to be a vessel for HIS purposes?

In Acts 9, Saul was “breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the LORD” in verse one, but less than twenty verses later “he proclaimed JESUS in the synagogues, saying, "HE is the SON of GOD."  What kind of transformation happened to so radically change the actions of Saul?  What about him was it that makes his story so special to be repeated all these years later?

The health, wealth and prosperity gospel charlatans prefer not to talk about how “HE MUST SUFFER” for the sake of MY name!  Saul was debilitated to where he had to WAIT ON THE LORD for Ananias to come and restore his sight.  He had to WAIT!  ALMIGHTY GOD had a Plan for Saul (later known as Paul) to SUFFER for CHRIST, for HIS Glory.  SUFFERING usually brings humility, something that is required to be used by GOD.  Proverbs 16:5 says “Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished”!  When GOD intends to humble you, HE generally accomplishes HIS Plan!

When JESUS spoke to Ananias that “HE MUST SUFFER”, HE more than likely didn’t have Rolls Royce’s and private jets in mind!  I’m sure that most of us wouldn’t volunteer to be at the front of the line for the “HE MUST SUFFER” brigade that Saul was about to join.  But JESUS CHRIST can accomplish ALL THINGS through our lives, even in twenty verse of Scripture!  HE can do it in a 52-day hospital stay as well!  When HE says “HE MUST SUFFER”, we are pleased to accomplish HIS PLAN!!!