Ready.
Notes
Transcript
This morning we are picking back up in our study of the book of Acts.
If you’re new to our church today, it would be important for you to know that we practice a form of preaching called Expository Preaching.
What that means is we believe the Bible is best taught by taking books of the Bible, and then breaking them down from beginning to end, chapter by chapter, verse by verse, in order to better understand what the Bible is saying and how it applies to our lives.
With that said, for the last year we’ve been doing that through the NT book of Acts. A book written by a first century disciple named Luke who wrote it for two primary reasons:
#1 - To give us a history of the church.
#2 - To give us a template for how to accomplish the mission Jesus has given us to take the gospel to the entire world.
So, if you haven’t been with us, I would encourage you to go online to www.mcf.life where you can listen to all of the messages leading up to today.
Today however we are at the end of Acts Chapter 12 as we come to the conclusion of an exciting chapter and the beginning of a new one.
You may recall chapter 12 started out as a man named Herod Agrippa 1 sought to destroy the church in Jerusalem as he had the Apostle Jame executed and the Apostle Peter arrested with plans to kill him as well.
You might ask, “Why did Herod do this?”
He did it because Herod was somebody that desired attention and wanted people to like him. And in this case, he wanted the Jewish people to like him.
And so apparently, in his mind, the best way to do that would be by attacking Christians.
And as we learned, it would have been a devastating and discouraging moment in the life of the early church.
But thankfully, the church responded in a way we should all respond when we face a desperate situation. The church responded by earnestly praying as they cried out to God for help.
And Luke says, because of their desperate plea, God responded in an unexpected and impossible way as He orchestrated a supernatural prison break and broke Peter out of prison.
A great reminder for all of us, that even when it seems like darkness is winning the day, we serve a God who does the unexpected and impossible.
But those weren’t the only responses in this story. Because when the next day came, and Herod discovered that Peter was missing, he responded as well.
And as we learned last week, Herod exhibited three separate responses as a result of this humiliating siutation.
First, he executed his guards.
This would have been in accordance with Roman law, which stated if a guard allowed a prisoner to escape, the guard would then face the same punishment the prisoner would have suffered. So, since Peter was to be executed, the guards were executed in his place.
And again, this would have been a humiliating situation for Herod as he’s forced to kill his own guards instead of his intended target, the Apostle Peter.
Second, Herod responds by getting out of Dodge as he leaves Jerusalem and goes to the coastal city of Caesarea.
Why did go there? He went there because his grandfather, Herod the Great, had built a palace there, which means, it would have been a familiar and comfortable place for Herod to go. ‘
But not only that, it would be a place where Herod could possibly find the attention and favor he so desperately needed.
This then led us to Herod’s third response, as Herod threw a party for himself.
It happened upon his arrival in Caesarea as Herod learned of an Oscars like festival that was being held in the local coliseum, where the who’s who of the local province were gathering to honor and give praise to Caesar, the Roman Governor.
And so being the glory seeking prideful man Herod was, he decides to attend. But he doesn’t just attend. No. Instead, he decides to make the festival about him.
How does he do it? He does it by putting on a robe that was made of pure silver.
And his plan was, when the sun was at a certain point, to walk out in front of the crowd and put himself on display.
And an amazing display it was. Because the Jewish historian Josephus tells us, that as Herod walked out, the sun illuminated his silver robe in such a brilliant way that an awe came over the crowd.
This then led to another response, the response of the crowd. Because Luke says as Herod walked out in his shiny robe and gave his self glorifying speech, the people began to chant praises too Herod as they unanimously shouted, “He’s a god, not a man. He’s a god, not a man.”
And this is exactly what Herod wanted. And so as you might expect, Herod soaked the praise of the people in and allowed them to establish him as a god.
This then led to one final response. Because just like God responded to the earnest prayer of the Jerusalem church, God now responds to the pride of Herod, but in a much different way.
So, what does God do? Luke tells us. Because Luke says as the people were shouting praise to Herod:
23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.
22 And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” 23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.
God responded by striking Herod down with an incurable and deadly case of worms that literally ate him to death over a 5 day period.
You might ask, “Why would God do that? Why such a horrifying death?”
Acts 12:22-
How about this. Because that imagery is what God thinks about pride. It’s a visual that demonstrates God’s hatred for Pride. You might ask, “Why does God hate pride so much?” There are several reasons, but here’s a couple of the primary reasons:
#1 - Pride tricks us into thinking we are better than others.
#2 - Pride tricks us into thinking we can be our own god.
And that’s what makes pride so dangerous and something we should continually asking God to help us overcome.
Unfortunately, Herod never learned this lesson and paid for it dearly.
So, that’s where we’ve been in chapter 12, which brings us to the end of Chapter 12, as Luke begins to transition us to a new focus.
So, what’s the new focus? We’re going to get to that in a minute, but before we do, I want to begin by building some framework for the message today that I think will help us get our minds and hearts around where Luke is taking us.
So, to do that, I want to begin by asking you a simple question:
Question: - How many of you would say you want to accomplish something great for God in your life?
But thankfully, the
In other words, when it comes to your life as a Christian, you want to be a part of what God is doing.
You want to live a life that has eternal purpose and value.
You want to live the kind of life for Jesus that when you stand before Him one day, you here Him say, “Well done good and faithful servant.”
Yeah, I think as Christians we all want to hear Jesus say that to us.
Acts 12:24-
24 But the word of God increased and multiplied.
The question then is, “How do you live a life like that? How do you live your life according to the plan and purpose of God?”
To be honest, that’s a loaded question that could take us down all kinds of trails this morning. But thankfully, in our passage today, Luke gives us a great starting point.
Or maybe you like the certainty
For example, maybe you like the certainty of a stable job and a consistent paycheck. That’s a great certainty, right?
Because as we venture out of and into , Luke is going to highlight what it takes for a person to be engaged and actively involved in accomplishing God’s plan and purpose for their lives.
Or maybe you like the certainty of a committed spouse that you know will be faithful no matter what.
And the fact is, if we are going to be a church that reaches this community to the degree that I believe God wants us too, then we need to be a church that understands what it takes.
Or maybe, if you’re a Chiefs fan, you’d love to have the certainty that your Chiefs are going to be as good next year as they were next year. In other words, you’d like the certainty of it not taking another 50 years for the Chiefs to win another Super Bowl.
Or maybe you like the certainty of
The fact is, we all have certain certainties that we probably desire to be true in our lives.
Or maybe you like the certainty
But here’s the reality of most certainties. The reality is, most certainties are not certain.
For example, your income level and place of employment will never be a certainty.
In addition to that, as much as you love your spouse, there’s no guarantee that your spouse will always be faithful. You married a human being with a lot of faults. And I’m sorry to say, there’s no guarantee they will always be what they should be.
And I’m sorry to say, but just because the Chiefs won the Super Bowl this year doesn’t mean they’ll win it again.
Now, at this point you might be thinking, “Ok, Pastor, I get what you’re saying. But that’s kind of depressing. And I didn’t come to church today to get depressed. Why are you talking about this?”
I’m talking about this, because while life doesn’t often give us certainties, the good news is, God does.
In fact, the Bible is full of the promises and certainties of God. Honestly, too many for us to talk about this morning. But certainties that we can hold on to and be sure of in our lives. Certainties that can give us hope in the midst of the challenges we face.
And so today, as we venture out of and into , Luke is going to give us some of those certainties, three to be exact. And they are certainties that are essential for us to grasp and embrace when it comes to God working in our lives and accomplishing his plan through us.
Certainties as well that we need to be aware of if we’re going to accomplish the work He’s called us to do.
Because that’s what this next passage is all about. It’s about the certainties we can have when it comes to God working in our lives and accomplishing his plan through us.
And so with that in mind, here’s how we’re going to approach our passage today.
And so with that in mind, here’s how we’re going to approach our passage today.
First, we’re going to read through the passage so we can get some context for what Luke is about to tell us.
Second, we’re going to walk back through the passage and we’re going to identify what it would take to discover or be a part of God’s plan and purpose for your life. And to help us determine what wold it take, we’re going to break it down into three parts.
The first part deals with a mindset. In other words, how we need to think and the perspective we need to have when it comes to accomplishing God’s plan for our lives.
The second part deals with an awareness. An awareness you need to have when it comes to your faith and God’s plan and purpose for your life.
And the third part deals with an action. In other words, what you and I need to be willing to do in order to accomplish God’s plan and purpose for our lives.
So, to get us started, let’s pick back up where we left off last week as Luke begins to transition us to chapter 13 and a new focus.
Beginning in Luke writes:
24 But the word of God increased and multiplied.
25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark.
1 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
Acts 12:24-13:1
Luke picks up following the death of Herod, and moves immediately to the results of what took place in chapter 12. Notice what he says following Herod’s death.
24 But the word of God increased and multiplied.
24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
This brings us to our first “What would it take”, and I would state it like this:
In order to accomplish God’s Plan and Purpose, I have to remember I’m on the winning team.
Certainty #1 - God always wins despite what the enemy does.
What I want you to notice, is despite all Herod did to try and destroy the church, at the end of the day, God won. Because Luke says the church continued to increase and multiply.
Luke says the following the death of Herod that the word of God increased and multiplied.
Certainty #2 -
Certainty #1 - God always wins despite what the enemy does.
Now, I want you to think about that for a moment. What that’s saying is, despite Herod’s attack on the church. Despite Herod killing James. Despite Herod arresting Peter. Despite him having 16 guards. Despite him having money, power, and a sliver robe. Despite all of that, at the end of the day, Herod is the one who has been destroyed as the church continues to thrive and grow.
You know what that means? It means that if you’re on God’s team, you are on the winning team. You’re on the team that ultimately wins, not matter what the enemy does.
You want to know how I know that’s true? It’s true because the battle has already been won. It was won over 2000 years ago on a cross.
It was won when Jesus died and death couldn’t hold him.
It was won when Jesus rose from the dead and took His place on the throne next to His Father.
And what that means, is that no matter what the enemy throws at us, no matter how dark the day is, not matter how hopeless it may seem, we serve a God that has already won the war. Which means, at the end of the day, at the end of our lives, just like the early church, we are going to be standing in victory lane with Jesus. Because the battle has already won. Satan is a defeated enemy.
It means
That’s what this means.
And that’s amazing news for you and me today. Because that’s not only true for the church, that’s true for our individual lives as well. Because regardless of the challenges in your life
But here’s the problem for most Christians. Most Christians don’t live with that mindset. Instead, they live with a temporal mindset.
They live focused on how bad the world is. They live focused on everything that is bad and is going wrong in their life. They live with a woes me mentality. To be honest, they live like defeated Christians.
And please hear me, I’m not saying we shouldn’t be concerned with how bad the world is getting. I’m not saying we can’t or won’t be discouraged when we face challenges in our lives.
What I’m saying though, is in the midst of the world we live in, in the midst of the challenges we are facing, what we have to remember is that it’s temporal.
We have to remember that we are just passing through.
What we have to remember is that evil has already been defeated. It’s been dealt a death wound.
What we have to remember, is that in the end, the trials, challenges, and struggles we are facing now, will only be a distant memory.
In fact, listen to what the Apostle John says about this in the book of Revelation. He writes:
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Revelation 21:
John says at the end of time, when you and I are standing in victory lane with Jesus, we will be in a place where there is no more crying, no more death, no more mourning, no more pain, a place where life as we know it now is a distant memory. That’s our future reality.
And that’s the mentality we need to live with. With that day in focus.
Let me explain it like this, and please stick with me because this is a sill illustration, but I think it makes the point well.
Imagine you get a phone call later today, and you’re told that you just won a million dollars, but that in order to claim the prize, you have to show up in person in New York City to claim the prize. That would be pretty amazing, right?
And so in response to the call, you quickly book a couple of tickets out of Kansas City and make plans to leave the next day to go claim your prize.
So, the next day comes as you set out, but as you’re driving to the airport, you have car problems, which results in you missing your flight. Pretty frustrating, right?
So, what do you do? Do you give up on claiming the million dollars because your car broke down? Of course not. Instead you get your car fixed and book the next available flight.
So, you set out for the airport again, and this time you make it, but as your waiting to board your flight, you find out your flight has been canceled. So, what do you do? Do you just give up and go home because your flight has been canceled? Of course not! You have a million dollars waiting for you in New York. You have to keep going. So, although you’re frustrated, you hold tight for the next flight.
So the next flight comes, and thankfully you get boarded with no delays. But as your plane is headed towards NY, the pilot comes on the intercom and informs everybody that due to weather in NY, the plane is diverting to Atlanta. So, what do you do? Do you give up on getting to NY because your plane has been diverted to Atlanta? Of course not! Because you have a million dollars waiting for you in NY. You can’t let this get you down, you have to keep going.
And I could go on, because
Now, let me ask you this.
But at this point, you’re done with flying. So instead, you decide to rent a car and drive from Atlanta to NY.
And so you get your rental car, something real nice, you put some tunes on, and head for NY.
But as your driving, all of a sudden a deer runs out in front of you causing you to total the vehicle. So, what do you do? Do you give up and go home. No, of course not! Because you have a million dollars waiting for you. You can’t give up. You have to keep going. So you keep pushing forward. You take a bus, you ride a bike, you hitch a ride, you walk, you do what you have to do to push through and get to NY because the prize is waiting for you.
Now, at this point, you might be thinking, “Pastor, where are you going with this silly illustration?”
It sure is. But isn’t that how life tends to work.
Here’s where I’m going with this. Because of your faith in Jesus, you’ve been awarded a heavenly prize that’s worth more than a million dollars. You’ve won an eternal dwelling place. A place where there is no more tears, pain, or death. A place of eternal hope, joy, and peace exist and never end. A place worth journeying towards. The Apostle Paul puts it like this:
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Paul says we’ve won a prize.
But here’s the challenge, in order to claim the prize, you have to take a journey, and the journey is called life.
A journey that isn’t always fun.
A journey where the unexpected break downs take place.
A journey frustrating, discouraging, and tragic moments take place.
A journey where at times you even begin to wonder if the journey is worth it or if you’re ever going to get there.
But the prize is worth the journey. And while the temptation may be too give up, what you have to keep your focus on is your final destination. Because when you finally get there, the prize will be waiting. A prize that should keep you motivated. A prize that keeps you moving forward despite the challenges.
That’s the mentality we have to learn to live with. The mentality that we aren’t living for this world, but the world to come.
A mentality that keeps pushing us forward despite what’s happening around us.
Because the fact is, God doesn’t have a defeated mentality. God lives in victory. God lives knowing the battle has already been won. His decisions and plans are based on that fact. And so if we want to accomplish His purpose and plan, and we want to attain the prize, we have to live looking up.
And again, I know that’s not always easy. So, a great question might be, “How do we do it?”
problem for a lot of Christians, is instead of living like they’re on the winning team, they live with a losing mentality. The live looking at how bad things are in the world. They live
Because the fact is, if you live your life to serve and honor Jesus, regardless of what the circumstances are, regardless how dark the day is, despite what the world throws at you, regardless of what the world says, at the end of the day, you will prevail.
There are probably a number of answers to that question, but one way is to always remember that you’re on the winning team.
That’s a certainty that God promises. The prophet Jeremiah puts it like this:
knowing that no matter what happens, God is going before you.
7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
whose trust is the Lord.
8 He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
Jeremiah 17:7
7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
whose trust is the Lord.
Knowing that whatever the setback is, God will make a way.
Knowing that despite what the scoreboard says, the final score has already been determined.
Jeremiah
And that’s exactly what happened to the early church trusted God and their enemy was destroyed.
I love how Moses puts it in . He writes:
That begin said, I don’t know what challenges you are facing this morning, but I know this, if you put your trust in Jesus, if you cry out to Him, the battle is no longer yours, it’s His.
In , Moses writes this:
4 for the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.’
Dueternomy 20:4
14 but the women and the little ones, the livestock, and everything else in the city, all its spoil, you shall take as plunder for yourselves. And you shall enjoy the spoil of your enemies, which the Lord your God has given you.
Moses says God goes with us into the fight of this life. He’s with us in the midst of the challenges. He’s with us in the midst of the pain. He’s with us when we don’t know what to do. He’s with us when we get the rug pulled out from underneath us. And because he’s with us, He promises too give us the victory.
I love how Jensen Franklin says it. In his Daniel Fast Devotion he writes this:
“Knowing you are in a fight where the outcome has already been decided should change the way you carry yourself when difficulties arise and when discouragement comes knocking at your door. You carry an extraordinary mantle of victory and the banner of the King’s child into every situation you encounter. If we every really understood who we are and knew that we would always win we would carry ourselves very differently in every situation. Victory doesn’t always look like victory in a particular moment but every war has its battles and one battle does not win the war. We win when setbacks do not leave us feeling at a loss. We win when we truly model with our countenance that we are victorious because the battle has already been won. We need to act like we really believe that because we did - He did.”
That’s the mentality we have to learn to live with. We have to live remembering we are on the team that wins.
Which leads us to the next “What would it take”. Because look at what Luke says happens next:
Which leads into what happens next. Look at what Luke tells us:
25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark.
Luke says as the church continued to win, Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem accompanied by a man named Mark.
So, a great question would be, “Who are these guys and why is Luke given us these details?”
He’s doing it for a couple of reasons:
Couple of reasons:
#1- He’s giving us these details because he’s now transitioning us from the church in Jerusalem to the church in Antioch.
#2 - He’s reintroducing us to three important characters for what’s about to happen.
You may recall a few weeks ago when we were in , we talked about the church in Antioch. And what we learned is that it was a thriving Gentile church in a very Pagan city.
We also learned of an incident that took place at the church, where a prophet named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Holy Spirit, that a great famine was coming to the entire region. In Luke writes:
Acts 11:28
28 And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius).
It was then this prophecy that led the church at Antioch to take up an offering to send to the Jersualem church in order to help bring aid to them during the soon coming famine. Luke writes:
29 So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.
So, fast forward to the end of chapter 12, and Luke now tells us that Barnabas and Saul have just returned to Antioch after completing their service in Jerusalem.
So, the question then is, “What was their service?” Their service was the delivery of the offering the church took up in to the Jersualem church.
You see, they didn’t have paypal or apple pay back then. They had to hand deliver it, and apparently Barnabas and Saul had been sent to do that. Which leads us to the second reason Luke gives us these details, because:
#2 - He wants to reintroduce us to three important characters in the chapters and the launching of an incredible ministry.
So, who are Saul, Barnabas, and John Mark? Let’s start with John Mark.
So, who is this guy?
Well, I don’t know if you caught it, but Luke mentioned him in the middle of chapter 12 following Peter’s escape from prison.
Because if you recall, after the angel delivered Peter, Peter went to the house where the church had gathered to pray for him. So, do you remember whose house it was? Look at what Luke tells us:
So, who is this guy?
Well, I don’t know if you caught it, but Luke mentioned him in the middle of chapter 12 following Peter’s escape from prison.
Because if you recall, after the angel delivered Peter, Peter went to the house where the church had gathered to pray for him. So, do you remember whose house it was? Look at what Luke tells us:
12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.
Luke says when the church was praying for Peter, they were praying at a woman's house named Mary, who was the mother of a man named John Mark. Which is the same man that Luke just identified as being with Saul and Barnabas.
12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.
So, who exactly is John Mark and what do we know about him? We know a couple of things:
#1 - Church history tells us that John Mark was a disciple of the Apostle Peter. Which means, he was a great resource of information when it comes to Jesus.
#2 - Because he was a student of Peter’s and a great resource for Jesus, John Mark is also the same Mark who wrote the Gospel of Mark. The two are one and the same.
Luke says when the church was praying for Peter, they were praying at a woman's house named Mary, who was the mother of a man named John Mark. Which is the same man that Luke just identified as being with Saul and Barnabas.
All that to say, Mark is an important character in this story and is a person who will play a significant role in Biblical history.
The second man is a man named Barnabas, who in a way, he was the initial mentor of Saul.
So, who exactly is John Mark and what do we know about him? We know a couple of things:
A relationship that started back when Saul had his conversion experience and not everybody was sure it was the real deal. Look at what Luke says about it back in :
#1 - Church history tells us that John Mark was a disciple of the Apostle Peter. Which means, he was a great resource of information when it comes to Jesus.
26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.
What Luke tells us here, is when nobody else would believe Saul had actually become a Christian, Barnabas believed in Saul and helped bridge the gap between Saul and the other believers.
#2 - Because he was such a student of Peter’s and a great resource for Jesus, John Mark is also the same Mark who wrote the Gospel of Mark. The two are one and the same.
The second man is a man named Saul.
All that to say, Mark is an important character in this story and is a person who will play a significant role in Biblical history.
So, why are all three of these guys mentioned and why are they together? I can tell you it’s not by chance, which leads us to the second “what would it take”.
You may recall Saul was the religious leader who way back in was persecuting the church and killing Christians. A man the church greatly feared, and for good reason, because back in , Luke tell us this:
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.
So, Saul was no friend to the church.
But thankfully God had a plan for Saul, a plan that took place in through a supernatural encounter with Jesus, that literally knocked Saul off his horse, and forever changed his life.
A change that would result in Saul making Jesus Lord of his life and one day becoming one of the greatest men in church history, a man we know today as the Apostle Paul. So, that’s Saul.
The third man is a man named Barnabas, who in a way, was the initial mentor of Saul.
A relationship that started back when Saul had his conversion experience and not everybody was sure it was the real deal. Look at what Luke says about it back in :
26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.
Acts 9:26
A relationship that started back when Saul had his conversion experience and not everybody was sure it was the real deal. Look at what Luke says about it back in :
26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.
What Luke tells us here, is when nobody else would believe Saul had actually become a Christian, Barnabas believed in Saul and helped bridge the gap between Saul and the other believers.
Luke says when nobody else would believe Saul had actually become a Christian, Barnabas believed in Saul and helped bridge the gap between Saul and the other believers.
But there’s a third person that’s mentioned here, a man named John Mark. So, whos’s this guy?
Well, I don’t know if you caught it, but Luke mentioned him in the middle of chapter 12 following Peter’s escape from prison.
Because if you recall, after the angel delivered Peter, Peter went to the house where the church had gathered to pray for him. So, do you remember whose house it was? Look at what Luke tells us:
12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.
Luke says when the church was praying for Peter, they were praying at a woman's house named Mary, who was the mother of a man named John Mark. Which is the same man that Luke just identified as being with Saul and Barnabas.
And apparently he’s with them, because Saul and Barnabas asked him to come back with them.
So, who exactly is John Mark and what do we know about him? We know a couple of things:
#1 - Church history tells us that John Mark was a disciple of the Apostle Peter. Which means, he was a great resource of information when it comes to Jesus.
#2 - Because he was such a student of Peter’s and a great resource for Jesus, John Mark is also the same Mark who wrote the Gospel of Mark. The two are one and the same.
All that to say, Mark is an important character in this story and is a person who will play a significant role in Biblical history.
So, why are all three of these guys mentioned and why are they together? I can tell you it’s not by chance, which leads us to the second “what would it take”. And I would state it like this:
That question leads us to our second certainty, because it’s not by chance they are together. So, what’s the certainty? I would state it like this:
2. In order to accomplish God’s Plan and purpose, I have to be aware that I’m part of the plan.
Listen to what Luke says happens next as Saul, Barnabas, and John Mark after arriving in Antioch:
24 But the word of God increased and multiplied.
25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark.
acts 12:25
25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark.
1 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
1 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
Luke says as Saul, Barnabas, and John Mark arrive in Antioch, they reunite with the church there, and while they’re there, through a word of prophecy, the Holy Spirit has a message for the church. And the message is, “Set Barnabas and Saul apart for the work to which I have called them”.
So, what’s that all about? What"work and call” is the Holy Spirit referring to?
The call the HS is talking about is the call God put on Saul at the moment of his conversion. Look at what Luke tells us the Lord says about Saul back in following his radical conversion experience:
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.
Luke says when Saul gave his life to Jesus, God declared that he had a plan for Saul.
Acts 9:1
The work then is what God had called him to do. And work that will involve him reaching a specific group of people with the gospel. And in his case, it was to reach the gentile nations. To reach people like you and me.
So, a great question at this point would be, “What is this saying to us and how does it apply in our lives?”
Here’s what this means for you and me:
#1 - Just like God called Saul, He’s called you as well.
If you’re a Christian, you need to be aware, that just like Saul, God has called you. In other words, you have something specific that God has called you to do in order to expand the Kingdom of God.
How do I know that? I know that because that’s what the Bible says. Listen to what God says to the prophet Jeremiah concerning this:
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
God says to Jeremiah, “Jeremiah, before you were even conceived. When you were just a twinkle in your father’s eye, I knew you. Not only that Jeremiah, but before you were born, I had a plan for your life. A plan to make you a prophet to the nations.”
And what was true for Jeremiah, and what was true for Saul, is true for all of us. Because before we were formed in the womb, God new us.
And that’s an amazing thought to me. To think that at some point in eternity past, our lives were being crafted and thought of in the mind of God.
Not only that, but before you were born, God had a specific plan for your life. Something He wants you to specifically do for Him.
I don’t know about you, but I think that’s kind of exciting. To think that the God of the universe has called you and me to do something for Him.
But while that’s exciting, here’s the problem for most Christinas. The problem is most Christians fail to live with that awareness. They fail to live with the awareness that when they put their faith in Jesus they were not only saved, they were called to do something great for God.
And because they fail to recognize it, instead of living with God’s call on their life, they live to serve their own pleasures and desires. the live to serve earthly callings. They live to attaint the hopes and dreams of this world. They live to satisfy the desires of the flesh and the empty promises of this life.
And what’s so sad about that, is that God has called you to do so much more. God has called you to do something for Him. Something with eternal ramifications. Something with eternal rewards. Something that He has designed you to specifically do.
You see, Paul understood this about himself. We know this because in Paul writes:
15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace,
Paul says, “God has called me to do something specific for Him.”
And the same is true for you.
Now, you might say, “Well what is it pastor, what has God called me to do?”
To be honest, I don’t know. That’s something you’ll have to discover in your relationship with Him.
But generally speaking, I can tell you this. He’s definitely called you to be a light in darkness. He’s definitely called you to live your life in complete devotion and dedication to Him. And I would say, most definitely, He’s called you to reach people for Jesus. To share your faith
He’s definitely called you to reach people for Jesus.
Because that’s where that discover starts. Which leads us to the third “What would it take”, and I would state it like this:
3. In order to accomplish God’s plan and purpose, you have to be prepared for the call.
Look at what Luke says happened next in response to the Holy Spirit’s instructions. Luke writes:
3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
Acts 13:
1 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
Luke says after the Holy Spirit confirmed the calling of Saul and Barnabas, a couple of things happened.
First, they fasted and prayed. Why would they do that? They did it because it’s a form or preparation.
It’s exactly what we’ve been doing with the Daniel Fast. We’ve been fasting in advance for what God is going to do. Because we know, unless God goes before us, we’re sunk.
Second, they laid hands on them and prayed for them. Again, another form of preparation as the church prays for protection, guidance, and favor to go before Saul and Barnabas as they get ready to go out into a hostile world to tell people about Jesus. Because they know, without God going before them, they’re sunk.
So they fasted and they prayed.
But there’s something else they did in preparation that isn’t necessarily spelled out here. Something they did prior to this. Something that had prepared them in advance for this exact moment.
So, what was it?
It’s really simple. It was their ongoing and daily commitment to spiritual growth.
You see, here’s what we need to understand. The time frame from when Saul gets saved back in and what is happening here in chapter 13, isn’t just a few days, or a few weeks, or a few months. No, the time frame between chapter 9 and chapter 13 is a span of 10 years.
Which means from the time Saul was saved on the road to Damascus and his actual calling to do the work God had called him too is a 10 year period. Which means, for 10 years Saul has been preparing for this moment.
You might ask, “How was he preparing?”
To discover that we need to go back to chapter 9. Because following his conversion, Saul ran into some trouble as his former friends tried to have him killed. And so to protect Saul, the church sent him away. Listen to what Luke tells us:
29 And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. 30 And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
Acts 9:
Luke says in order to protect Saul, the church sent him too a city called Tarsus. Paul himself confirms this. In he writes this:
15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace,
So, Saul goes to Arabia and spends time there. So, what was he doing there? Again Paul tells us. He writes:
Galatians 1:
11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it.
Galatians 1:
Paul says while he’s there, he spends time being instructed directed by the Lord.
And the implication here isn’t so much that Jesus showed up each day and taught Saul, but that Saul was studying intently studying God’s Word, specifically the OT, and allowing Jesus to reveal to Him who He is. Because that’s what the OT is all about. It’s about the promise of a Savior. And he studied it so well, that later on, it became almost impossible for anybody to refute what he was saying.
For example, if we fast forward to , listen to what Luke says about an encounter Paul has with some religious teachers.
28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.
And so Saul spends time studying and growing in his new faith in Jesus. And we know this, because almost every Epistle that Paul wrote is founded on OT teaching that point to Jesus.
All that to say, before he does anything substantial for God, before he fulfills his calling, he spends time preparing. Only then does he return. And even when he does return, he’s not done preparing. Because Paul also says this in Galatians 1:
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother. 20 (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
Paul says after returning, he decides to go spend some time with Peter. Why Peter? Probably becuase Peter spent 3 years with Jesus and sat under his teaching. Meaning, Peter knows a lot about Jesus.
And so Paul spends 15 days with Peter listening as Peter tells stories and instructs Saul in the words of Jesus.
But he’s not done preparing yet, because Luke says after that, he goes to the regions of Syria and Cilicia where he continues to grow in his faith.
And this is where Barnabas finds him at the end of chapter 11, and brings him to Antioch where the church at Antioch is just getting off the ground. Luke writes:
25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.
Acts 11:25-26
And it’s from there that Saul and Barnabas go to Jerusalem to deliver the offering, and then return to Antioch where the Holy Spirit calls them to go out and the church then prays for them at the beginning of chapter 13
All that to say, from his conversion to his calling, 10 years of preparation have passed. Ten years before Saul was ready. But now he’s ready.
Here’s what this is saying to you and me. If you want to fulfill God’s purpose and calling in your life, it starts with preparation. It starts with you and me doing what it takes to be ready.
If anything, to reach people for Jesus which is something we are all called to do. That being the case, I have three preparation challenges to give you as we close this morning
Now, you might ask, “What does it take to be ready?” I’m glad you asked, because as we close, I have three challenge for you.
You might ask, “What does it take to be ready?” I’m glad you asked, because based on what we’ve learned about Saul today, I have three suggestions for you that I believe can help you get ready for whatever it is God has called you to do.
This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, which means after this Wednesday, we are 40 days out from Easter.
Forty days out from one of two Sundays on the calendar that people who don’t typically go to church, go to church.
So, if you want to discover God’s plan and purpose, then how about start
Forty days out from the biggest Sunday of the year.
Which means we have 40 days to get prepared. 40 Days to prepare to reach these people for Jesus.
Which is something we know God has called all of us to do. We don’t need the Holy Spirit to reveal that to us, because Jesus already has. Jesus said in
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Jesus has called us to reach people for Him, but we need to be prepared.
So, how are we going to prepare? Here’s my first suggestion as we approach Easter:
Suggestion #1 - Starting this Wednesday, on Ash Wednesday, we are going to start a Wednesday night series called 40Forward. And for the next 7 Wednesday nights we are going to meet for a time of worship, teaching, and prayer as we prepare for what God is going to do on Easter, April 12th.
Because I believe with all my heart that God wants to do something big, and he wants to do it through our church. But for that to happen, we have to be prepared.
So, my first suggestion, is that you make a commitment to be here for the next 7 Wednesdays, and put yourself in a place where God can begin to prepare you.
And I believe if you’re willing to ,make that commitment, that not only will you be prepared to lead people to Jesus during the Easter season, but I believe God is going to begin to reveal more and more of his plan and purpose for your life. That Just like Saul, God is going to begin to prepare you.
And I believe if you’re wiling to do that, that not only will you be prepared to lead people to Jesus during the Easter season, but I believe God is going to begin to reveal more and more of his plan and purpose for your life as you faithfully prepare.
Suggestion #2 - As part of the 40Forward series, we’re asking everybody to spend some time learning about Jesus. To do what Saul did, and go to somebody that knows a lot about Him. So, who do we need to go too? There are four men I suggest you sit down with. Their names are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Here’s what I’m asking you to do. Over the next 40 days to read through all four Gospels.
And to make this simple, we are inviting you to do it with us through the Bible app. All you have to do is text Forward to 785-268-7247, and you’ll get a text with instructions on how to sign up.
If you don’t have the Bible app or prefer to use an actual Bible, there’s a handout in your sermon notes with the plan printed on it.
Along with that, we’re encouraging you to watch a series called “Examine” through the rightnow media app. You’ll find information about that series on the backside of your handout. Each session is about 10 minutes long and is meant to help you learn how to present and defend your faith.
Our hope is as we read through the Gospels together and watch these short videos, that we will be more prepared as a church to lead people to Jesus.
Suggestion #3 - One final suggestion. Along with attending the Wednesday night service and reading through the Gospels, I’m going to encourage you to spend at least 30 minutes a day in prayer in preparation for what God is calling you to do. And if you want to go a step further, maybe even fast a day or two along the way.
Because I believe if you’ll do that, that God will give you direction in the next 40 days. I believe He’s going to direct you to a specific person to share your faith with. I believe He’s going to orchestrate a situation where He may use you. I believe if you’ll be committed to seek God’s plan and purpose for your life, that God will begin to reveal His plan and purpose for your life.
MCF, I believe that God has raised this church up to make a significant impact for Jesus in Marshall county and the surrounding region. I believe the best days of this church are still to come. I believe that God has brought you here to be a part of it. I believe you are part of his plan and purpose for this church.
Because at the end of the day, we’re on the winning team. And as a member on that team, God has calle dyou
But for that to happen, we have to change our mentality. We have to remember we are winning team. For that to happen, we have to be aware. Be aware that God has placed a call on us. For that to happen, we have to be prepared. Will you get prepared with me? Will you join me for the next 40 days as we prepare for Easter?
Let’s Pray
You don’t have to be a football fan to recognize a huddle. It’s when players get together for communication about the next play, and to hear words of inspiration before the next snap of the football. At the end of the huddle, after instructions have been given, teams will “break the huddle” by shouting something useful in loud unison. And typically it’s something like this, “Ready, Break!”
MCF, this is a “Ready, Break!” moment. A moment when we leave here with a plan. A plan to do something great for God. And so, if you’re with me on this plan, I’d like you to signify with a “Ready, Break!” by simply standing up to signify that you are with me on this.