Follow That Dream

The old Elvis Presley song Follow That Dream goes as follows I've got to follow that dream wherever that dream may lead. I've got to follow that dream to find the love I need

In Acts 9 we see the details about a man by the name of Ananias. He was a believer in Jesus Christ and the Lord spoke to him in a vision. Here is the account of that meeting. Acts 9:10 Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord!” he replied. 11 The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. 12 I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.”

God had a plan for Saul of Tarsus, but Saul was persecuting the believers with a fervency that was unmatched and Ananias had heard about him. Saul was traveling to Damascus to take more believers in chains back to Jerusalem to kill them, but Jesus met Saul on the road before he got to Damascus and blinded him and the men traveling with Saul took him to a room on a street named Straight. The purpose God had placed on Ananias was to go and lay hands on Saul so that he might receive the Holy Spirit. Ananias questioned God when he said the following in Acts 9:13 “But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem! 14 And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.”

God replied as follows in Acts 9:15 But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and kings, as well as to the people of Israel. 16 And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.” God didn't even acknowledge any power that Saul had to hurt Aninias because Saul was already changed, but needed the power of the Holy Spirit to begin the most impacting ministry for sharing the gospel. God said a two-letter word GO. Now the ball was in Ananias's court and what was he going to do with the vision God had given him?

We see what he did in the following verses in Acts 9:17 So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit completed the change in Saul and the personal vision God gave to Ananias came true. Why? Because Ananias trusted God and God came through when he did. Even in the face of possible imprisonment, Ananias "did the deed."

The result that day was a miracle in many ways. First, this happened in Acts 9:18 Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. 19 Afterward he ate some food and regained his strength. Now that he could Saul could begin proclaiming the message of the gospel wherever he traveled. Saul was changed in his soul and his very purpose for living changed also and the same fervent heart he had for killing believers morphed into a fervency that spread the gospel as never before. Ananias got to be a part of the vision for Saul's life and his faithfulness to follow God made a difference.

When God gives us a vision for something we should follow that vision and let God take care of the details, and He will. If we don't follow His vision for our lives, we miss out on the blessing of seeing the results. Fear can stop us from following His vision, but faith compels us to live out that vision and that is what is needed to do what God calls us to do.

Will your faith be like Ananias and say I've got to follow that dream wherever that dream may lead. I've got to follow that dream to find the love I need. Our love is found in Jesus and His vision for our lives is birthed out of His great love for us. Follow That Dream!

The Pilgrimage Continues

David Warren