A Long Road Of Service Series

“A Long Road Of Service”

Acts 12:25 - 13:13

When describing the faith of a believer in Christ it should be explained that although we are in a race; it is not a sprint but a marathon.

Don't Quit (By: Edgar Albert Guest 1920’s)

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,

when the road you're trudging seems all uphill,

when the funds are low and the debts are high,

and you want to smile but you have to sigh,

when care is pressing you down a bit - rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is strange with its twists and turns.

As everyone of us sometimes learns.

And many a fellow turns about when he might have won had he stuck it out.

Don't give up though the pace seems slow - you may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than it seems to a faint and faltering man;

Often the struggler has given up when he might have captured the victor's cup;

and he learned too late when the night came down,

how close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out - the silver tint of the clouds of doubt,

and when you never can tell how close you are,

it may be near when it seems afar;

so stick to the fight when you're hardest hit - it's when things seem worst, you must not quit.

Often days are long and nights seem short.

The roads seem endless and danger is all around us, even today.

Yet we find our text today filled with inspiration.

I. The Completion On The Trip

Acts 12:25 “And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.”

We find the return after they had taken the relief to Jerusalem and a note that John Mark had joined them in the trip.

He was a cousin of Barnabas.

We find John/Mark several times in the New Testament but prominently John/Mark is the author of “Mark” which is written to the Roman believers and is the account from the eyes of Peter whom John/Mark traveled with.

II. The Calling On The Trip

Acts 13:1-3 “Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.”

We so often hear the testimony of an individual that they “Surrendered to the ministry.”

I find it interesting here that it was not Barnabas nor Saul that declared their calling, but rather it was others who, while fasting, found direction from the Holy Ghost to send Barnabas and Saul out on this first journey to plant churches.

And laid their hands on them, they sent them away. - This was not an ordination because Saul was ordained by God and not by man.

Rather it was a prayer time, sending them out with blessings and the backing of the church in Antioch.

Just an observation: God calls into His service those who are walking in obedience to the Word Of God.

III. The Consent On The Trip

Acts 13:4-5 “So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. 5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.”

Departed unto Seleucia - This city was situated at the mouth of the river Orontes, where it fails into the Mediterranean. Antioch was connected with the sea by the Orontes River.

At this time they sailed up the river in one day; the distance from Antioch to Seleucia by water is about 41 miles, while the journey by land is only 12-16 miles.

They sailed to Cyprus - An island in the Mediterranean, not far from Seleucia.

And when they were at Salamis - This was the principal city and seaport of Cyprus. It was located on the southeast part of the island.

In the synagogues of the Jews - Jews were living in all the countries adjacent to Judea, and in those countries they had synagogues. The apostles uniformly preached first to them.

Why the synagogues and to the Jews?

Romans 9:1-5 “I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,

2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: