God Is At Work In Our World - Part 2 Series

God Is at Work in Our World - Part 2

The Book of Acts - Part 44

Acts 13:21-41

Sermon by Rick Crandall

Grayson Baptist Church - June 1, 2014

BACKGROUND:

*In Acts 13, God sent Paul and Barnabas out from Antioch on the first mission trip to spread the good news about Jesus all over the world. Miraculous things happened when they got to Cyprus in vs. 5 and began to preach "the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews." One miracle was that God temporarily blinded an evil sorcerer for opposing the gospel. But the greatest miracle was that Sergius Paulus, the ruler of the whole province was saved!

*Please listen to what happened next in vs. 13-23:

13. Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John (Mark), departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.

14. But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down.

15. And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, "Men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.''

16. Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, "Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen:

17. The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He brought them out of it.

18. Now for a time of about forty years He put up with their ways in the wilderness.

19. And when He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land to them by allotment.

20. After that He gave them judges for about four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.

21. And afterward they asked for a king; so God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.

22. And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.'

23. From this man's seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior Jesus."

*As Paul began to preach in vs. 16-23, he spoke about how God had been at work in the people of Israel. Last week, we saw God at work choosing His people, protecting His people, patiently leading His people, righteously judging all people, and in vs. 22, passionately seeking for His people.

*Tonight, we will finish Paul’s sermon and take a much closer look at the Lord’s saving work. With this background in mind, let's begin by reading Acts 13:21-41.

MESSAGE:

*King Duncan told about a young man who lost his job. He was getting desperate, so he went to see an old preacher he knew. As he poured out his heart to the preacher, he angrily said, "I've begged and begged God to say something to help me, preacher. Why doesn't God answer?"

*The old preacher was sitting across the room, and he spoke a reply so quietly that the young man couldn’t make it out. The young man stepped closer, and asked, "What did you say?" The preacher then repeated himself, again too low to be heard. And the young man moved closer, until he was leaning on the preacher's chair. "Sorry," he said. "I still didn't hear you." Then the wise, old preacher softly replied, "Sometimes God whispers, so we will move closer to hear Him." (1)

*That time the young man heard, and he understood. God wants to speak to us, but we must draw close and listen. That's why when Paul began this sermon back in vs. 16, he said: "Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen."

*Then Paul began to show them how God works in our world. Tonight, we will finish Paul’s sermon, and take a close look at the saving work of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

1. First: God is at work in our world through His revelation.

*God is at work the revelation of His promise about our Savior. As Paul said in vs. 21-23:

21. "And afterward they asked for a king; so God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.

22. And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.'