(Heavenly Vision) 2 - the Two Aspects of the Vision — Stephen Kaung

Acts chapter nine, verse six.

Hechos capítulo nueve, versículo seis.

Saul's Encounter with the Heavenly Vision

But rise up and enter into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Levantate, y entra en la ciudad, y se te dirá lo que debes hacer.

For the man who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but beholding no one.

Versículo siete, y los hombres que iban con Saulo separaron atónitos, oyendo a la verdad la voz, mas sin ver a nadie.

And Saul rose up from the earth, and his eyes being open, he saw no one. But leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus.

Entonces Saulo se levantó de tierra, y abriendo los ojos, no veía a nadie, así que llevándole por la mano, le metieron en Damasco.

And he was there three days without seeing, and neither ate nor drank.

Donde estuvo tres días sin ver, y no comió ni bebió.

And there was a certain disciple in Damascus by name Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias, and he said, behold, here am I, Lord.

Versículo diez, había entonces en Damasco un discípulo llamado Ananias, a quien el Señor le dijo en visión, Ananias. Y el respondió, en aquí, Señor.

And the Lord said to him, rise up and go into the street, which is called straight, and seek in the house of Judas, one by name Saul. He is of Tarsus, for behold, he is free.

Y el Señor le dijo, levántate y vea la calle que se llama derecha, y busca en la casa de Judas a uno llamado Saulo de Tarsus, porque he aquí el hora.

And has seen in a vision a man by name Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he should see.

Versículo doce, y ha visto en visión a un varón llamado Ananias que entra y le pone las manos encima para recobre la vista.

And Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many concerning this man how much evil he has done to the saints in Jerusalem.

Entonces Ananias respondió, Señor, he oído de muchos acerca de este hombre, cuantos males ha hecho a tus santos en Jerusalén.

And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon thy name.

Y aun aquí tiene autoridad de los principales sacerdotes para prender a todos los que invocan tu nombre.

And the Lord said to him, go, for this man is an elect vessel to me, to bear my name before both nations and kings and the sons of Israel.

El Señor le dijo, ve porque instrumento escogido me es este, para llevar mi nombre en presencia de los gentiles y de reyes y de los hijos de Israel.

For I will show to him how much he must suffer for my name.

Porque yo le mostraré cuanto le es necesario padecer por mi nombre.

And Ananias went and entered into the house, and laying his hands upon him, he said, Saul, brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus, who appeared to thee in the way, in which thou cometh, that thou mightest see and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

En versículo diecisiete, fue entonces Ananias y entró en la casa, y poniendo sobre él las manos, dijo, hermano Saul, el Señor Jesús, que se te apareció en el camino por donde venías, me ha enviado para que recibas la vista y seas lleno del Espíritu Santo.

And straight away there fell from his eyes as it were still, and his soul, and rising up, was baptized.

Y al momento le cayeron de los ojos como escamas, y recibió al instante la vista, y levantándose fue bautizado.

And having received food, got strength, and he was with the disciples who were in Damascus certain days.

Y habiendo tomado alimento, recobró fuerzas, y estuvo solo por algunos días con los discípulos que estaban en Damasco.

And straightway in the synagogues he preached Jesus that he is the Son of God.

En seguida predicaba a Cristo en las sinagogas, diciendo que este era el Hijo de Dios.

And all who heard were astonished and said, is not this He who destroyed in Jerusalem those who call on this name? And here was come for this purpose, that He might bring them bound to the chief priests.

Veintiuno, y todos los que le oían estaban atónitos y decían, ¿no es este el que asolaba en Jerusalén a los que invocaban este nombre, y a eso vino acá para llevar a los presos ante los principales sacerdotes?

The Heavenly Vision as God's Purpose for Every Believer

We mentioned last night that it is of tremendous importance que es extremamente importante that we as God's people should see the heavenly vision. Tengamos la visión celestial.

God gave the heavenly vision to the Apostle Paul.

Dios le dio la visión celestial al Apóstol Pablo.

It transformed his life. Y eso transformó su vida. And it became his testimony.

Y fue su testimonio.

And we believe that it is the will of God.

Y creemos que es la voluntad de Dios.

That everyone who is the Lord.

Que cada uno que pertenece al Señor.

Should see that heavenly vision that Apostle Paul saw.

También vea la visión celestial vista por el Apóstol Pablo. That this heavenly vision may give us the purpose of our Christian life. Nos de el propósito de nuestra vida cristiana.

Show us the way that we should go.

Y que nos muestre el camino que debemos seguir.

Give us that power within us to press on towards the goal.

Y que nos de la fuerza, el poder para continuar y perseverar.

Enable us to sacrifice everything for this purpose.

Y que nos capacite a sacrificar todo lo demás por causa de este propósito.

And give us the strength to endure hardships.

Y que nos de la fuerza para perseverar las dificultades.

In order that this heavenly vision may become our vocation.

Para que esta visión celestial se torne nuestra vocación.

And we believe that this is the will of God.

Y creemos que de hecho esto es la voluntad de Dios.

Only by seeing this heavenly vision.

Solamente de contemplar esta visión celestial.

That will give us the strength. Eso nos dará la fuerza. To endure to the very end.

Para tener paciencia y perseveranza para llegar hasta el final.

And it is this heavenly vision that unites us as one people.

Y es esta visión celestial que nos une como un solo pueblo.

So dear brothers and sisters. Queridos hermanos y hermanas. It is our prayer. Es nuestra oración. That we are not just talking about the heavenly vision.

Que no estamos aquí simplemente hablando sobre una visión celestial.

That by the grace of God. Pero que por la gracia de Dios. Every one of us. Cada uno de nosotros. Will see this heavenly vision.

Pueda ver esa visión celestial.

As the Apostle Paul saw on the road to Damascus.

Como el Apóstol Pablo vio en el camino para Damasco.

Christ Revealed as Lord and Master

What is this heavenly vision? ¿Cuál es esta visión celestial? That the Apostle Paul saw on the road to Damascus.

Que el Apóstol Pablo ha visto en el camino para Damasco. We mentioned last night.

Anoche dijimos. That as he was approaching Damascus.

Que el se aproximaba de Damasco.

Suddenly a light from heaven shone upon him.

Subitamente una luz del cielo brilló sobre él. Dear brothers and sisters.

Queridos hermanos. I believe this light is the Shekinah glory of God.

Creo que esta luz era la gloria Shekinah de Dios. In that glory.

Y en esa gloria. He saw the righteous one.

El vio aquel que es justo.

He was revealed by the Heavenly Father.

Y el Padre Celestial le reveló.

That the one whom he persecuted.

Que aquel a quien Saulo perseguía.

Was not only the righteous one. No solamente era el justo. But he is the son of God. Pero era el hijo de Dios. He is the heir of all things.

El es el que herera todas las cosas.

He, the Nazarene whom Saul persecuted.

El que era de Nazaret y aquel a quien perseguía Saulo.

Is the same one who is now at the right hand of God.

Es exactamente el mismo que está a la derecha de Dios.

Receiving all power over heaven and earth.

Que recibió todo el poder sobre los cielos y sobre la tierra.

God has highly exalted him.

Y Dios lo ha exaltado sobremanera. God has anointed him.

Y Dios lo ha ungido. To be the Lord of all. Para ser el Señor de todos. He is the master of everyone.

El es el maestro de todos. Dear brothers and sisters. Queridos hermanos y hermanas.

And there on the road to Damascus.

Y en aquel camino hacia Damasco. In that heavenly light.

Debajo de aquella luz del cielo. Saul. Saul. Saulo vio. Jesus, the Son of God.

A Jesús, el Hijo de Dios.

The master of his life. El maestro de su vida. And to him he surrendered.

Y él se rindió al Señor. And brothers and sisters.

Hermanos y hermanas. I think this is something that we must see.

Creo que es esto que necesitamos ver.

You know, when we believe in the Lord Jesus.

Saben que cuando creemos en el Señor Jesús.

Probably what is of the most in our understanding.

Cuando conseguimos comprender al Señor.

That we understand he is our Savior.

Cuando entendemos que él es nuestro Señor y Salvador.

That he came into this world to save us.

Él vino a este mundo para salvarnos.

We receive him as our personal Savior.

Lo recibimos como nuestro Salvador personal. And thank God for that. Gracias a Dios por eso. But brothers and sisters. Hermanos y hermanas. Do we at the same time. Será que al mismo tiempo.

See that he is not only our Savior.

Vemos que él no solamente es nuestro Salvador. But he is our Lord.

Pero también es nuestro Señor. That he is to be the Lord of our life.

O sea, él tiene que ser el Señor de nuestra vida.

You know to know him as our Savior.

Para conocerlo como nuestro Salvador.

It is Christ for me.

Es pensar en Cristo para mí.

But only when we see him as Lord.

Pero solamente cuando lo vemos y lo entendemos como nuestro Señor.

And we surrender our life to him.

Y rendimos nuestras vidas a él.

Then it is we for the Lord.

Entonces somos nosotros para él. Brothers and sisters.

Hermanos y hermanas. This makes a great difference.

Esto hace mucha diferencia.

Receiving Jesus as Savior and Lord

Our dear brother Watchmanee. Nuestro querido hermano Watchmanee. When he was seventeen years old. Cuando él tenía diecisiete años. He heard the Gospel. Él escuchó el Evangelio. He knew that Jesus is the Savior.

Y él supo que Jesús era el Salvador.

He knew that he must receive him as his Savior.

Y él sabía que le era necesario recibirlo como Salvador. But he had a problem. Pero él tenía un problema.

Because as a young man. Porque como un joven. He had all his future planned out.

Él ya había planeado todo su futuro. He was a brilliant person.

Él era una persona brillante. He could be successful in any field.

Y él podría haber tenido éxito en cualquier área.

So he has his future in his mind.

Él tenía su futuro planeado en su mente.

But when he heard the Gospel.

Pero cuando él escuchó el Evangelio.

On the one hand he was touched.

Por un lado él fue tocado.

He knew he must receive Jesus as his Savior.

Sabía que le era necesario recibir al Señor como su Salvador. But on the other hand. Pero por otro lado.

He knew. Él sabía. That if he should receive Jesus as his Savior.

Que al recibir al Señor como su Salvador. At the same time.

Al mismo tiempo. He must surrender his life to Jesus as his Lord.

Le era necesario rendir su vida al Señor como su Señor.

But this was something he couldn't do. Pero esto él no podía hacerlo. So he struggled for days.

Entonces luchó por muchos días.

Until one day in his home. Hasta que un día. When he was praying. Cuando oraba. The Lord showed him the blackness of his sin.

El Señor le mostró cuán negros eran sus pecados.

And also the redness of the blood of the Lord Jesus.

Pero también cuán roja era la sangre del Señor Jesucristo.

He was so constrained by the love of Christ.

Y él fue tan tocado y limitado por el amor de Cristo.

That he yielded himself to Jesus as Savior and Lord.

Que ahí entonces se rindió a Jesús como Señor y Salvador.

And from that time onward. Y desde aquel día. Jesus is not only his Savior. Praise the Lord.

Jesús no era apenas solamente su Salvador. Jesus is his Lord. Pero también era su Señor.

Dear brothers and sisters. Queridos hermanos y hermanas. This is the heavenly vision. Esto es la visión celestial. We need to see Jesus as our Lord.

Necesitamos ver a Jesús como nuestro Señor.

We need to be constrained by his love.

Y es necesario que su amor nos limite.

And yielded ourselves completely to him.

Para que nos rindamos completamente a él.

From now on, he is our Master.

Para que desde ahora, él sea nuestro Maestro. Dear brothers and sisters. Queridos hermanos y hermanas. He is the worthy Lord. Él es el Señor digno.

He is a Master that is worthy to be served.

Él es un Maestro que es digno de ser servido.

The Heavenly Vision of Christ's Body

And on the road to Damascus. Y en el camino hacia Damasco. We mentioned last night. Mencionamos anoche. That he saw something more.

Que Saulo vio algo más.

He saw that Jesus is not only the Lord, the Master.

Él vio que Jesús no era solamente el Señor y el Maestro.

He saw that all the believers of the Lord Jesus are members of his own body.

Pero él también vio que todos los creyentes en el Señor Jesucristo son miembros de su cuerpo.

He who touches any member of the body of Christ.

Y quien toca cualquier miembro del cuerpo de Cristo.

Touches Christ the head.

También toca a Cristo que es en la cabeza. Brothers and sisters.

Hermanos y hermanas. He saw a universal man.

Él vio un hombre universal. A great man. Un hombre muy grande. The head is in heaven. La cabeza está en los cielos.

So the body filled the whole earth.

Y el cuerpo llena toda la tierra. Brothers and sisters.

Hermanos y hermanas. This is the heavenly vision. Esta es la visión celestial. Because it's not only free him from himself.

Esta visión no solamente lo libertó de sí mismo.

But it enabled him to enter into a fellowship that is universal.

And this is the essence of the heavenly vision. It is not a teaching.

It is not a doctrine. It is not something for us to just contemplate. It is a spiritual reality. It is something God must reveal by Spirit in our spirit. We must be able to say, Once I was blind, but now I see.

And this makes all the difference. It will change our life completely.

And it will also give us a purpose of living. But brothers and sisters,.

The Vision Must Become Practical Through Obedience

The vision that Saul saw on the road to Damascus is not complete. Because this vision continued on into the city of Damascus. Now how do we know? Because you remember. The first question that Saul asked was, Lord, who are you?

I do not know you. And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecuted.

It is hard for you to kick against the gold.

And immediately he realized that the one whom he persecuted is none other but the Lord Himself. So he asked the second question. He said, Lord, what do you want me to do? Now brothers and sisters, you know Saul.

He was a person.

Who was strong, energetic, self-confident,.

Independent. He was a master of his own. He controlled his own life.

He knew what he was to do. But because he met the Lord,.

He surrendered himself to Jesus as his Lord.

And to him this was real.

How do we know it was real? Because by his second question,.

Lord, you are my Lord now.

What do you want me to do? Probably this is the first time he asked such a question. He was a person who always knew what to do. He was a person who directed people. But for the first time in his life, he said, Lord, what do you want me to do?

I was finished. I did not know what to do now. I belong to you. You have to direct me. Show me what I should do. You know in the mind of this young man, he fully expected the Lord to tell him right away.

He was a man of action.

Just tell me what to do and I will get up and do it with all my strength for him to surrender to another man.

That was something. So he fully expected the Lord. Immediately told him what to do. Then he will get up and do it.

But to his surprise,.

The Lord did not tell him what to do. The Lord said, you go to Damascus. You wait there and you will be told what I want you to do.

Dear brothers and sisters, it was a great test to this young man.

He just surrendered his life to the Lord. Now to him, life is just a relationship between him and the Lord. There should be no third person. It is between him and the Lord. Isn't it true that very often we hear people say it is the Lord and me.

I don't care about anybody else. I don't need anybody else. All I need is the Lord.

My Lord and I. This is my spiritual life. Oh brothers and sisters, when we hear this, it sounds so spiritual.

But remember, it is pseudo-spiritual. It is false spirituality.

The Lord has just shown him the body. And if his idea is my Lord and I, no third person involved in my life. Then where is the body? You know the words. On the road to Damascus, after he had just received.

That heavenly vision,.

Immediately he was greatly tested. You acknowledge me as your Lord. Now I am going to be your Lord. Not according to your idea, but according to my idea. I want you to wait. Are you willing to wait? You know waiting is very difficult for the flesh.

Especially to a man of action. That was the most difficult thing to do. But the Lord tested him. You saw the vision. Now are you willing to obey that vision? You just saw the body of Christ. Are you willing to let other people involved in your life?

Are you willing to have relationship?

Not only with the Lord, but also with other brothers and sisters. Or do you want to be independent? Brothers and sisters, you find a great test coming upon this young man. Vision will be tested. Otherwise, it would never.

Be your vocation. So you find that the heavenly vision, the saw-saw on the road, was only part of that vision. There he was given a tremendous heavenly vision.

He saw the Lord in heaven. He saw the body of Christ. Universal. Glorious. Oh, brothers and sisters, if you ever see that heavenly vision,.

It was so glorious. It expands yourself. It, as it were, takes you out of yourself.

And brings you into the third heaven. It is expanding tremendously. But dear brothers and sisters, what will be the right attitude if you catch a heavenly vision? You are so lifted up in your spirit as if you are in the third heaven.

Humility Before the Glory of God's Word

But dear brothers and sisters, what will be your right attitude every time you find the Word of God? When anyone saw a heavenly vision, when anyone saw the glory of God, yes, it lifted him up to the third heaven.

But at the same time, it always smite him to the ground. You remember Daniel? Daniel was such a perfect man. But when he saw the vision of the Lord, he said, my beauty turned into corruption. He fell upon the ground as if dead.

Brothers and sisters, thank God that heavenly vision is so glorious. He lifts us out of ourselves. He lifts us to the third heaven. But at the same time, it brought us to dust and ashes. Who are we to be given such a vision?

We are unworthy. We are far from what that vision is. It needs the tremendous work of God to bring us into the reality of that vision. Brothers and sisters, the vision that Apostle Paul saw on the road to Damascus shows us all the heavenly spiritual principles.

It shows us the Lord's heavenly spiritual reality. It shows us the Church, the Body of Christ, heavenly, spiritual, full of life, full of glory. All the spiritual principles concerning Christ and the Church are in that heavenly vision.

But dear brothers and sisters,.

Spirituality is most practical. What God has shown us of that which.

Is spiritual and heavenly must be brought into practice on the earth, in this very life. So, brothers and sisters, you find that heavenly vision that Saul saw on the road to Damascus is only a part of it.

Ananias and the Local Expression of the Church

There is another part of that heavenly vision that he had to see in the city of Damascus. In obedience to the Lord, Saul got up from the ground, but his eyes were blinded by the glory of God. He was a helpless person.

This strong man was brought into such a pitiful helpless situation. He had to be led into the city and there he was in the city for three days without eating, without drinking. He was praying. He was waiting.

And while he was praying and waiting, God in a vision appeared to a disciple in the city of Damascus. His name was Ananias. Now, Ananias was a disciple of the Lord in the city of Damascus. Even though he was well known in the city because he was a very godly person.

The Jews knew about him but he was unknown in Jerusalem. He was unknown in the world and moreover even in the record.

Of the Holy Bible he appeared only once in chapter nine of Acts. And then he disappeared. Brothers and sisters, here you find a little man, a small man, unknown, but thank God known to God. And in a vision God appeared to him and said, Ananias, brothers and sisters, you find the reaction of Ananias was so different from the reaction of Saul.

He knew the Lord. He was familiar with the Lord. So when the Lord said, Ananias, he said, Lord, where am I? He was ready, waiting upon the Lord. And the Lord said, Now you go, to the street called Street, and in the house of a man called Judas.

You will find a man called Saul. He was of Tarsus. You go there, and open his eyes. And Ananias said, Lord,.

I have heard of this man. This man was a famous man. His fame had already arrived Damascus. I heard from many what evil he had done to thy followers in Jerusalem. And here he had the document from the high priest to come and seize upon those who are yours, and bring them to Jerusalem to be condemned.

Brothers and sisters, you see, Ananias had the freedom to talk with the Lord. He didn't know what had happened on the road to Damascus. He only knew what he had heard before. The freedom to talk with the Lord, not in a spirit of rebellion, but in a spirit of inquiry.

You ask me to go to see that person. Now I understand. He came to seize me. Do you want me to go and offer myself to him and let him lay his hands upon me? No, it is your will. I'm willing to do that.

Show me what I should do. And the Lord said, go. The Lord did not explain to even him. Just say, you go. He is a chosen vessel of mine. He will testify of my name before the nations, the kings, and the children of Israel.

And he will suffer much for my namesake without any further question. Ananias obeyed. Thank God for Ananias. Thank God for this little man. At the same time, when Saul was praying, he saw in a vision a man called Ananias, a stranger, coming to him, laying his hands upon him, and opening his eyes.

The Church as Universal Body and Local Fellowship

Dear brothers and sisters, on the road to Damascus, only Saul saw the vision. Those who were with him did not see the vision. They did not even hear the words. They were so frightened. Only Saul saw that heavenly vision.

But in the city of Damascus, you find a double vision. You find Ananias receive a vision. You find Saul receive a vision. And these visions are one. Why is it so? Because so far as the practical side of the church is concerned, you need confirmation.

Two is the witness. So, dear brothers and sisters, whom this Ananias represents, Ananias represents the church local. Brothers and sisters, the church is universal. It is the body of Christ under the one head, Christ Jesus.

It fills the whole universe. The fellowship is universal. Whom the Lord receives, we receive. This is the spiritual principle. Whoever believes in the Lord Jesus, in one spirit, we were baptized into one body.

Whether Jews or Gentiles, whether bowmen or freemen, we are all made to drink of one spirit. Oh, thank God for this universal church. All the spiritual principles were shown in that universal church. Jesus is the Lord, the only head.

There is this body. Fellowship on the basis of life. Wonderful.

But brothers and sisters, this heavenly vision must touch the earth. This is what the church is. The church is heavenly in origin. The church is spiritual in nature. But the church touches the earth and becomes a witness and testimony to the Lord Jesus.

Peter's Vision of the Sheet and the Church's Welcome

You remember the Apostle Peter. While he was on the roof praying, he saw a vision. He saw a white sheet, a huge white sheet hanging on four corners, coming down from heaven and touches the earth and in that sheet all kinds of corruples, all kinds of creeping things.

And he heard a voice. Peter, rise and eat. Peter said, Lord, I have never eaten anything unclean. And the Lord said, what the Lord has cleansed, do not consider it as unclean. Three times Peter refused.

How strong was the tradition. And then the sheet returned to him. Brothers and sisters, this is the vision of the church. It came down from heaven. It included all of us who are sinful. Who were unclean.

But thank God He has cleansed us. There is neither Jew nor Gentile. And we shall fellowship with one another. Glorious fellowship. Do not let any condition inhibit you. And this will eventually go back to heaven.

This is what the church is. Oh, brothers and sisters, if we only see the church universal and we do not see.

The church local, if we only see that universal man and do not meet that little man, what will happen to us? We will be a visionary. It's theoretical. It is something for us to contemplate. But nothing is real.

Nothing is practical. Thank God. In the city of Damascus Saul was given a vision of the church local. God brought him in touch with a local brother. Ananias in obedience to the Lord. He went to the street straight.

He entered into the house. Dear brothers and sisters, he laid his hands upon Saul. It was not Saul who laid hands upon Ananias. Thank God for that. If Saul laid hands on Ananias, Ananias will be finished.

But God had done a marvelous work. And he was the little man. Ananias laid hands.

On Saul. Brothers and sisters, what do you mean by the laying on of hands? Whether it is in the Old Testament when the offerer lay his hands upon the sacrifice or in the New Testament time when the apostles lay hands on people. what does it really mean?

Identification, Fellowship, and the Laying on of Hands

Laying hands means identification. When you lay hands on another person, it means that you are identified with that person. Therefore, the Bible says do not be hurry in laying hands. Lest you partake of his sins.

So, brothers and sisters, here you find.

Ananias, a member of the body of Christ in Damascus. He represents the church in Damascus and represents the church universal. He lay hands on Saul, received him into fellowship into the fellowship of the body of Christ.

Oh, brothers and sisters, isn't that wonderful?