The Mission: Strengthen Others with the Gospel
Acts: The Mission of the Church • Sermon • Submitted
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If you had to choose a single word to describe the Gospel’s impact on your life, What word would choose? (Pause) In this morning’s passage, we continue to follow the first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas, they seem to have chosen the word “strength” or “encouragement.” “Encouragement only occurs one time in our text, but it is very clear they hoped the good news would become strength and encouragement to others.
Slide: Paul’s Missionary Journey
In case you can’t see this slide, your Bible might have a map of Paul’s missionary journeys. In Acts 13:13 we find that Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark set sail from Pamphos, the city where the magician attempted to oppose the gospel, and came to Perga. Verse 13 also tells us that John Mark left them. Later in Acts, we find that the issue was so significant that Paul and Barnabas also went separate ways because of their opinions of John.
In this morning’s passage, Acts 13:13-52, we find opposition in the ministry team and opposition in Antioch of Pisidia. This opposition still did not prevent God, through His Gospel, from strengthening His servants. Upon arriving in this Antioch, Paul and Barnabas went straight into synagogue, just as they had done in Acts 13:5 at Salamis on Cyprus and just like they would do in Acts 14:1. It was their missionary strategy.
Why go to the synagogue first? Jews had foundational knowledge of Jesus and would potentially need much less discipleship in Biblical things. The synagogues were kind of like the Army reserves. The Jews had continually recieved training from the Old Testament Scriptures, so with new knowledge that Jesus was God’s son and that Jesus rose from the dead, they could very quickly spring into action. The Gospel brought.....
Strengthening in the Synagogue (vv14-43)
Strengthening in the Synagogue (vv14-43)
Acts 13:14–16 (ESV)
14 but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.” 16 So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: “Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen.
First, the Gospel strengthened/encouraged Paul and Barnabas.
Paul and Barnabas were strengthened/encougraged
These Spirit-filled men loved sharing the Gospel with people and somehow the priests in verse 15 identified Paul and Barnabas as Biblical scholars. Many theologians have made all kinds of elaborate guesses at how the priests in this synagogue came to choose Paul and Barnabas, but to me, these reasons don’t really matter. The only thing we need to know is that God, through the Spirit miraculously created an opportunity for Spirit-filled people to share His Gospel to those He had prepared.
God provides opportunities just like this for us today. When God’s people are full of His Spirit, it is easy to recognize God’s hand in whatever situation the Spirit has placed them. Spirit-filled people are granted the desire of their hearts. Spirit-filled people desire to share the Gospel with the lost. Paul and Barnabas were encouraged in the synagogue by the priests and by the Spirit, for God miraculously provided an opportunity to publicly share the gospel!
Jews in the synagogues only knew half of the story. Verse 15 reveals that the worshippers heard from the law and the prophets, but all the Old Testament is pointless without the hope contained in the Gospels. The Jews only knew half of the story.
Do any of you like reading books? Imagine if you were reading a very good book and stopped just before reaching the climax and ending of that book. Imagine that you closed the book, put the book back on the shelf, and vowed to never to pick it up again. How do you feel about that? Would you be content to leave the story unfinished and unresolved?
I once read a short story which ended at it’s climax. There was no resolution of the problems and no explanation how the tensions were resolved. You may have read it. It is called, “The Country of the Blind” by H.G. Wells. This story greatly irritated me because it had no ending! I created several possible solutions and scenarios, but none were satisfactory. I needed to know how the author intended end that story, but Wells wanted the reader to end the story for themselves. It was an early kind of “Choose-your-ending” book.
The Jews in the synagogue knew what God recorded in the OT and they were most familiar with the Pentateuch. These priests in verse 15 had been reading from the law and the prophets. Some of the Jews in that Synagogue were content to leave the story unfinished. Others in the synagogue desperately wanted to know the ending. Several years after publishing “The Country of the Blind” H.G. Wells published a second version of the story: one which contained the ending. I was relieved to read how the story ended. Paul and Barnabas knew the rest of Jesus’ story was too good, too important, to leave untold and unfinished. God created a wonderful opportunity in the synagogue of Pisidian Antioch for Jews to learn how the story ended!
Paul and Barnabas were strengthened a second time and we find this in verse 42:
42 As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath.
The response to the rest of the story was overwhelmed. They wanted to hear it again the next week! The Word was joyously received in the synagogue. We discover from verse 43 that Paul and Barnabas were strengthened a third time...
43 And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.
Many people believed in the ending of Jesus’ story! Those missionaries needed these three encouragements because one week later, their faith would be significantly tested. Paul and Barnabas were strengthened, and...
The Jews were strengthened/encouraged.
The priests had this right… they asked the missionaries to speak encouragement from Scripture. Scripture should always be an encouragement. Gathering together with other believers should always be an encouragement. The Spirit loves opening doors for His people to walk through and the Spirit desires God’s message to bring strength and encouragement to others. Little did the priests know, they were about to hear the best words of encouragement ever!
I am not going to read this sermon contained in verses 17-41. I encourage you to read those verses on your own this week. I will, however, highlight the two main points in his sermon. In verse 16, Paul stood, made a cultural gesture with his hand, and said, “Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen.” and then preached a sermon with two main points.
First, Paul built on what these people already knew... God is sovereign. He used phrases to teach them that God is all powerful and is always in control. Paul taught them that… “God chose our fathers” “God made the Jewish people great in Egypt” “God led them” God tolerated them” “God destroyed their enemies” “He gave them land” “He gave/appointed judges” “They asked for a king and God gave them Saul” “God removed Saul” “God raised up David as king” “God brought a Saviour, just as he promised.” “God raised that savior from the dead and now offers forgiveness of sins through Jesus, that risen savior.”
No plan or man and no plan of Satan ever thwarted God’s eternal plan of salvation which He had been faithfully completing since the fall. Everything the Jews knew all pointed to a sovereign God. This sovereign God was unstoppable!
Paul’s second point is in verses 26- 38.
Paul said...
26 “Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation.
and in then in verses...
vv32–33 ...And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, 33 this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus
vv38-39 (ESV) ...Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.
The sovereign and unstoppable God whom they loved and feared extended grace to them! Their heavy sin-debt could be forgiven if they responded through faith in the risen Christ. What encouragement! What hope could be theirs!
Paul closed the message with a strong warning to the doubters and scoffers. This verse which was wholly applicable then and is wholly applicable today.
If you glance at verse 41, that is a quote from Hab 1:5...
41 “ ‘Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.’ ”
Scoffers will perish. Scoffers will not experience burden-lifting forgiveness. Scoffers are on the wrong side of God’s sovereignty; God works against scoffers, but works for His faithful. Even many of the most devout Jews, perhaps the priests themselves, placed their faith in Christ that day. The Jews were strengthened in their faith, in fact, they were so encouraged that they begged and begged for an encore! We read these words in v 43...
42 As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath.
As we have already learned, Paul and Barnabas were quite willing to stay in a city so long as they were being profitable for the Gospel. They stayed. During the rest of the week, they probably used their time wisely. They didn’t visit all the popular tourist destinations in Antioch of Pisidia. Instead they likely discipled the new converts and met together for much prayer.
A week came and went. The Sabbath arrived. It was the day everyone had been looking forward to! Many were looking forward to the strength the Gospel would provide in the streets, but others, ignoring the message of doom to scoffers, opposed the Gospel in the streets.
Strengthening in the Streets (vv44-47)
Strengthening in the Streets (vv44-47)
44 The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. 46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”
Jealous Jews scoffed at the Gospel (vv46-47)
Those who didn’t believe a week earlier had become jealous. Maybe the Gospel shook up their unethical business practices that previous week or maybe they realized that if people turned to Christ their selfish motives and livelihoods would be at stake. Whatever it was, they strongly and openly opposed the Gospel. They boldly and publicly scoffed at eternal life just as Bar-Jesus of Elymas had at the last city they had been in.
This public opposition didn’t prevent both Paul and Barnabas from boldly and publicly speaking out against their evil propaganda. Again full of the Holy Spirit, they directed very daring words at the fools. Look at what they said again...
(v46) “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. (they were Jews. The Gospel was for the Jew first, then for the Gentile.) Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,“ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”
The unbelieving Jews made up their minds… the Gospel was not for them. They didn’t like the ending of that unfinished book in the synagogue. It was as if they jammed their fingers in their ears and pretended Jesus’ sacrifice never happened. Up to that point in time, the Gentiles in the city had no hope of salvation. The Gentiles were burdened. Oh how they longed for opportunity to have their sins forgiven!
(flip slide.... I probably won’t quote this point.)
Burdened Gentiles were strengthened by the Gospel (vv48-49)
How many of you own a dog or cat? Our dog, Elsa has a tendency to beg for food. Her begging greatly annoys us when we are enjoying a delicious meal. It is a habit that most pet owners have to constantly deal with. Imagine this message was like a lovely dinner. Jesus, through Paul and Barnabas had lovingly prepared the very best spiritual food for the Jews, the bread and wine of the body of Christ. They prepared the best wine and water from the well that will cure all thirst. They set the table with their best tablecloth, their best dinnerware, and even lit candles and gave thoughtful consideration to other decorations.
As the Jews sat to eat in the streets around the synagogue, the Gentiles took up their places around the table, begging for simple crumbs that would fall from the table. Imagine your pet, longing, maybe even whining for your delicious food. Oh, how the Gentiles wanted to gobble up that meal! Imaging their surprise between verses 47 and 48 then when the Jews threw the entire meal off the tables for the Gentiles to eat! The Gentiles didn’t just get scraps, they got the entire meal!
Now we understand verse 48...
48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.
This was the best day of their lives! Their wildest dreams had come true! The Gospel would strengthen them too! They had previously been without hope. They were the people Mt 11:28 calls out to...
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
(NEXT SLIDE) The Gospel strengthens the weary and heavy laden and somehow, God sees fit to use imperfect people, imperfect feet to strengthen the weak and heavy laden.
Strengthening through feet (vv48-52, Rom 10:15)
Strengthening through feet (vv48-52, Rom 10:15)
As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (Rom 10:15)
Beautiful feet will meet two very different responses to the Gospel. It is not realistic, nor Biblical to expect that all people respond as enthusiastically as the Gentiles in verse 48. We should expect to encounter both hateful and joyful responses to the Gospel’s message. Consider the last few verses of this morning’s chapter, verses 48-52...
48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. 50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
It is easy to come away from a revival with a joyful heart, but how did these missionaries come away from persecution with abundant joy? Our text provides 3 answers for us which should strengthen and encourage our faith and our feet this week. Joy is one result of the Bible’s strengthening impact.
We are filled with joy comes when our priorities align with God’s priorities. (1 Ths 5:16-18)
We will be filled with joy when the Gospel is our first and only priority. Paul and Barnabas were not driven by personal comfort or gain. The Gospel was their first priority. Their life priorities completely lined up with God’s priorities. There was no tension in that relationship, that is why they responded with abundant joy.
God’s priority is to continually sow the seed of the Gospel, so that however the crowds responded, the Gospel was still going out. Hatred, in Acts has never slowed the spread of the Gospel. Hatred has always strengthened the Gospel’s beauty and importance. God used hatred in Antioch of Pisidia to spread the Gospel just as equally He used joy to spread the Gospel. All the apostles understood this, and God strengthened their feet… they could pick themselves up off the ground and move on to a new mission field.
Joy comes when our priorities align with God’s priorities, for joy is the will of God...
1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (ESV)
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
God’s people should be joyful all the time and that happens when..
We are filled with joy when we are full of the Spirit. (Jas 1:2-4)
When fruit is pressed, juice comes out. When trials squeeze us, joy should naturally flow out of our lives. Jesus brother James, another apostle, also agreed that trials should produce joy. He wrote in...
James 1:2–4 (ESV)
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Trials test our faith and cause fruit to grow. Trials cause us to be more complete and better prepared to stand before God. Verse 52 is remarkable because joy is not a natural response to persecution: joy is a supernatural response. It is a response that only occurs in God’s people and only when God’s people are full of the Holy Spirit. Verse 52 states, “they were full of joy and with the Holy Spirit” but it is also Biblical to read it this way, “They were full of joy BECAUSE they were full of the Holy Spirit.” The supernatural fruit of joy in the midst of trials and persecution is proof that we are God’s children.
Spirit-filled people do not focus on what we lost. Spirit-filled people focus on what God gained!
When we are in challenging situations, our response should cause us to evaluate our spiritual health. If anything other than joy squirts out, that is a sign that we are spiritually sick. If anything other than joy squirts out, we need to immediately taking spiritual medicine so that the Spirit can be in full control of our lives…our priorities should be God’s priorities, we should be full of the Spirit, and finally....
We are filled with joy when we wholly depend on God’s sovereignty.
This is what Paul and Barnabas believed and taught in the synagogue. This is the perspective Luke recorded back in verse 48, “as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.” What was gained for Christ? Every person God appointed to be saved in that city at that time turned to Christ to forgive their sin-debts. They served the only God who always wins and who always accomplishes His will. God continually completes His purpose, and no earthly forces nor spiritual forces will slow nor stop Him.
Rejection closes some doors but opens new ones. Do you remember how long Paul and Barnabas stayed in the other Antioch? They remained for a whole year for the work was great. God had other plans for them in this other Antioch… their work only required one week before God moved them on to another community. God’s mission objective was complete.
We can be full of joy when we wholly depend on God’s sovereignty. One theologian explained God’s sovereignty this way...
“God is sovereign in absolute control of all things. If this were not so, man would have abolished Him long ago. Nothing in the universe can happen without God’s direction or permission… yes, it was man who sentenced (Jesus) to die. It was man who drove in the nails. But it was God who ordered it.
So, I ask, in what area do you need to be strengthened to do God’s will? How has the Gospel given you encouragement and hope this morning? Perhaps God is challenging your priorities, or your level of Spirit-filling, or your dependence on His sovereignty. Perhaps you are excelling in all three areas and simply need to find rest and joy in God’s strength. Whatever it is you are dealing with, God will take care of you. (go right into song!)
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