"The Common Ground For A Missionary Journey” Series

In Jesus Holy Name September 18, 2022

Text: Acts 13:4-5 Redeemer Lutheran

“The Common Ground for a Missionary Journey”

Sometimes we used titles for different sections of Scripture. In our series through the book of Acts we have come to Acts 13-15. These chapters simply relate to us the missionary trips of Paul and Barnabas. But buried within these chapters we can find helpful suggestions for our own efforts to share the gospel. The bible never talks about Paul’s 1st missionary journey, his 2nd missionary journey, his 3rd missionary journey. We just number them every time Paul returns to Antioch.

What is interesting is that Paul is always sent out from the church in Antioch, not Jerusalem. The center of Christianity seems to have moved more to Antioch, a Gentile community rather than Jerusalem. There might be more opposition from the Pharisees and Herod in Jerusalem than we are told. Antioch is the first place the followers of Jesus were called Christians.

The key verse is Acts 13:2 “While the church in Antioch was worshiping the Lord and fasting the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I called them.” The work was to share the gospel with the Gentile world.

How did the Holy Spirit speak this message? We have talked about this in the past. How did the Holy Spirit speak to the congregation, how does the Holy Spirit speak to us today. Luke doesn’t tell us but it could have been through a prophetic message from someone in the congregation during worship and prayer.

Leonard Sweet has written an entire book on this subject, which he titled “Jesus Speaks”. The disciples had been with Jesus for three years. They watched His miracles, they listened to His parables and the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount. Once the resurrected glorified Jesus ascended into heaven they had to learn to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit who was now speaking to their hearts and minds without the physical body of Jesus.

Jesus said: “I know my sheep, and my sheep know me they will listen to my voice.” John 10:14-17 Countless Christians today want to know how to hear the voice of their Savior, how can they recognize His voice.

As a Christian you have a bible to read, which is the written voice of Jesus. You and I have prayer…which is conversation with God…but you have to be quiet and listen to the voice that isn’t a voice in your head. Have you ever been in prayer, sharing with God a problem and suddenly your brain tells us to look up a bible verse? Of course…there is the answer you needed. If you listened to that suggestion in your head it was the Holy Spirit giving you the answer.

Imagine you are talking to a friend who is reading an e-mail on her smartphone. As you are talking, she interrupts you saying, “Can you repeat what you just said? I missed what you were saying.” It’s the same in your house if your eyes are in the TV and your wife says something to you from the kitchen….What happens if you say: “Can you repeat that”….without adding the words. “I wasn’t listening”. Because you know she will say: “Do you need hearing aids!”

Your friend heard words….but really didn’t’ hear what you said. So it is with Jesus and us. The goal of listening to Jesus is so that we can have “fellowship” with Him. What is the purpose of your husband or wife and children in your home? It is to experience joy, peace and fellowship and harmony. Harmony in the home makes a happy home. Communication and listening enables fellowship and harmony.

One of my favorite stories in the bible is found in Genesis 3. “In the cool of the evening God was walking in His Garden. He had “fellowship” and “harmony” with His creation, Adam and Eve. One day when God came to visit….He called out… Adam where are you?” The Garden of Eden was God’s temple, His house on earth. He came often and talked with Adam and Eve. They experienced fellowship, and harmony.

This was normal until they cheated on God. If you cheat on your spouse, fellowship and family is broken. Adam and Eve cheated on God and listened to a different voice. They lost intimacy with their creator and each other.

Long story short….God spoke the following words through the prophet Ezekiel: “I, the Sovereign Lord will come and search for my sheep. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will shepherd the flock with justice.” In John 10 Jesus refers to Himself as the Good Shepherd. Jesus comes as the physical voice of God to His temple in Jerusalem. His miracles gave proof that God’s Messiah had arrived in Jerusalem. The blind were given sight (John 9) the lepers were healed. The dead were raised to life. (John 11) When Jesus worked miracles, it was God working miracles.