Getting Holy Spirit Directions
- Bishop Keith Butler
- Jun 25
- 2 min read
And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. (Acts 10:9-16)
Ananias wasn’t a pastor, a bishop, an apostle, or a conference speaker. He was just a follower of Jesus, but he learned how to listen to the Holy Spirit. Ananias was told the exact street to go to: Straight. He was given the specific house to visit and instructed to look for the man named Saul. He was even informed about the man’s current state: He’s praying. This is how a word of knowledge works. A word of wisdom reveals God’s plan for the future, while a word of knowledge uncovers what is happening right now. This was a word of knowledge because it’s information provided by the Holy Spirit about a current, present-tense reality. This is information that Ananias could never have known naturally. Also, take note that God wasn’t being cryptic, vague, or using metaphors. The Holy Spirit was specific, directional, and strategic.
No one knew about the “ministry of Ananias,” which tells me something about this story. You don’t need to be famous or well-known to operate in the gifts. You just need to be available. Ananias didn’t need a stage because he had a vision. He may not have had a formal ministry title, but he understood that God had called him to a specific assignment.
Practical Application
Write down what you see or hear from the Lord. Keeping a notebook of what God reveals to you is powerful. Revisiting what God has said can strengthen your trust that you will hear Him in the future and remind you of His faithfulness.
