2.2. RESPOND TO JESUS AS TRULY LORD

Acts 9:6 "... Lord, what do You want me to do?"

The question of discipleship must be asked: "Lord, what do you want me to do?" A slave never dictates to his lord and master - he exists for the master's purpose: he cannot tell the master what he wants to do or where he wants to go. In like manner, our whole being must be disciplined to: "Lord what do You want ... ?" We must want to go His way.

Probably the first battle we have in responding to Jesus as truly Lord, is to change our way of thinking - not only the natural bent of wanting our own way, but overcoming the accustomed way of thinking of Jesus in terms of His saving ministry, being taken up with what He has done and will do for us. We have to begin to discipline our thinking to consistently acknowledging His Lordship or His rule, so that our automatic response will be: "What can I do for Him?"

Once our mentality has been changed and disciplined, we shall find our thinking governed by: "What do YOU want me to do?" Having got that right we need to take Saul's next step in accepting the Lordship of Jesus.

Saul got an immediate answer to his question. He was told to:

Acts 9:6 "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

Saul did exactly that. He took the necessary action to do what he was told. He got up, accepted the help available, and was led into the city of Damascus. It was a small beginning of what became a dynamic way of life for Paul. Going the Lord's way is the result of an attitude that sees all of life related to being actively engaged in doing His pleasure and His purpose. The Word is read with willingness to respond to what the Lord commands. Going His way means being a "doer of the Word" (James 1:22 ). Prophetic utterance is examined and evaluated, then what the Lord expects, is done, and followed through until eventually the prophecy is fulfilled. Direction and revelation are obeyed and followed.

A certain disciple named Ananias is an excellent example of this. The Lord spoke to him in a vision about Saul's change, telling him that he was expected, through revelation. The response of Ananias was: "Here I am, Lord" (Acts 9:10 ). What the Lord said by way of a "word of knowledge" brought disturbance to Ananias. He was told that the persecutor had arrived, and where he was staying, and that he must go to him. Ananias reminded the Lord that he had heard,

Acts 9:13 "... how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem."

The Lord again directed Ananias to "Go" (Acts 9:15, 16 ), giving him a broad outline of revelation of the future life and ministry of Saul going the Lord's way. The significant words "And Ananias went" follow (Acts 9:17 ). He readily obeyed his Lord and Master. That obedience brought sight and a Holy Spirit baptism of power to Saul, which launched a gigantic ministry in the Lord's service. Do not be one of those who merely make a one-time act of commitment to the Lordship of Jesus. That is not enough. It must be worked out in eagerly obeying Jesus as truly Lord and in actively going His way. If you are to continue consistently in going the Lord's way, do not fail to take Saul's next step.

Again, this can be very well illustrated by the way in which Saul received the confirmation and counsel of a brother in the Lord. The Lord had revealed to Saul, in a vision (Acts 9:12 ), that Ananias would come, and the purpose of his coming. He received Ananias, and what he had to say, as counsel from Jesus as truly Lord. Saul had been used to dealing with high officials --- He now willingly accepted help and counsel from one of his ordinary brothers in Christ.

In going the Lord's way, we may well become gift ministry to the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:1 1 ), but we must always be open to the Lord's confirmation and counsel through the saints. The Lord has given leadership in the body. Under His rulership, leaders are not only to be heard, they are to be obeyed and followed. In going the Lord's way we are to follow the faith of leaders.

Hebrews 13:7 "Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct."

The happy result of these steps in going the Lord's way will, as with Saul, result in:

Having embraced the Lordship of Jesus, we read of Saul:

Acts 9:20 "Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God."

How amazed the people were, to hear the well-known persecutor preaching Christ as none other than the Lord, the Son of God. So arresting and arousing was his witness to Christ as Lord, people were either convinced, or roused to opposition. Soon all Damascus heard of Saul's faith in the Lord Jesus. When Jesus is accepted as truly Lord, there is expression of His Lordship in specific action. He is owned as Lord publicly, and demonstrated as Lord actively. His Lordship produces a whole new way of life that is utterly contrary to this world's way. Believers in Acts were called people "of the Way" (Acts 9:2 ), simply because, by accepting the Lordship of Jesus, they exploded into the dynamic of a totally new life - His life - His way, not their way.

Pray over and take the steps of Saul - join the kingdom sons, living under the will and rule of King Jesus.