Cornerstone Church March 6, 2005
SET APART FOR THE GOSPEL
Acts 13:1-12
INTRODUCTION:
This morning I stand to speak in the middle of two major portions of our service.
We have just completed Communion and soon the Elders, along with the Congregation, will be Commissioning Pastor Jim with a time of prayer and the laying on of hands as he prepares to minister in Bosnia – March 11 – 19, 2005.
The Bookends of our service are not distinct or separate pieces but are matching pieces of the same message.
Communion reminded each of us again of the immense love God the Father and the LORD Jesus Christ have for each one of us.
Their sacrificial love defiles all logic and reason, and yet is undeniable!
1 John 4:9-10 NIV This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
God the Father responded for our need of a Savior by sending His ONLY SON – Jesus God the Son to pay for our sins.
We were bankrupt individuals whose account is marked: “Paid in Full!”
Rom 8:1 NIV Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
How are we to respond to God?
Rom 12:1 NIV Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
Our love for Christ compels us to serve HIM and to reach out to others who need to hear the most powerful message that world will ever hear:
John 3:16 NIV “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Communion and our Commissioning Pastor Jim this morning are inseparably linked to the God’s will and plan.
Cornerstone Church and each one of us are equally a part of God’s plan for the world.
This morning we are going to look at Acts 13:1-12. This portion or Scripture records the time when the Church at Antioch laid hands on Barnabas and Saul and sent them forth to proclaim the Gospel Message.
Message: “Set Apart for the Gospel”
www.snappysermontitle.org
wasn’t any help!
The message might have been called: “Tag, You’re it.”
Acts 13 marks the beginning of the Missionary Era. All who want to be missionaries as well as all missionary sending agencies would do well to study Paul’s three missionary journeys to develop a “Theology of Missions.”
Found throughout these passages is God’s way of reaching the world for Christ.
Acts 13 opens for us the third major section in Acts.
Acts 1:8 NIV But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
My Witnesses in Jerusalem - Acts 1-7
My Witnesses in all Judea and Samaria - Acts 8-12
My Witnesses to the remotest part of the earth - Acts 13-28
Starting from Jerusalem, Yuba City, California is part of the remotest part of the earth. It is at least for people in Ohio where I’m from!
THE KEY THOUGHTS THAT WE WILL SEE IN THIS SECTION ARE:
The Church – God’s Sending Unit (Acts 13:1-3)
The Work of the Holy Spirit – Calling, Equipping and Enabling (Acts 13:4)
The Work of Evangelism – It’s struggles and blessings (Acts 13:5-12)
THE CHURCH – GOD’S SENDING UNIT
Acts 13:1-2 NIV
In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 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.”
In the church at Antioch…
Imagine being part of this church! It had a plethora of active godly leaders.
How and When did this church began?
Acts 11:19-21 NIV Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
It only takes a spark to ignite outreach and the birth of something new for God.
God used persecution and the death of Stephen to disperse Christians from the safe confines of the Jerusalem Church and scatter them all over the area
So much was happening at The Church of Antioch that news of what was going on reached Jerusalem.
So they sent Barnabas to check it out!
Acts 11:22-23 NIV News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.
Barnabas was overwhelmed with what was going on and so he want to Tarsus to find Saul (Paul) to serve with him at the church.
Acts 11:26 NIV …and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
Concerned for the saints who were suffering in Jerusalem, The Church of Antioch sent a love gift to the saints. Barnabas and Saul delivered the gift.
Here is the context for this morning:
Acts 12:25 NIV When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.
WHAT MADE THIS CHURCH SPECIAL?
“In the church at Antioch there were
prophets and teachers…”
This church wasn’t led by a one man band!
Everyone was active in the ministry of this church. People were being reached with the Gospel, Discipled and actively Serving.
Prophets = proclaimed God’s message (personal/practical)
They ministered in local congregations expounding on revelation.
Main purpose of Apostles and prophets:
1. Lay the foundation for the church
2. Receive and declare the revelation of God’s Word
3. Confirm the Word by signs and wonders
Teachers – Those gifted to teach the message of the Word.
Antioch was an cosmopolitan church. It was an urban church. Individuals from every race, ethnic background, class, educational level attended. Antioch was the third largest city of the ancient world equal to Rome and Alexandria Egypt.
Population: Over 1/2 Million
Political Center: Greek General Ptolemy took it from Seleucus. The Roman Pompey took it from the Greeks. Rome used it as an official capital. Arabs, Jews, Persians, Romans and Greeks interacted here.
Commercial Center: It is where east met west. Shipping and trade. Armies traversing the globe to their next assignment. It reminds me of the outlaw town in Star Wars.
LOOK AT THE CHURCH’S CONSTITUTION OF LEADERS:
Barnabas
A Jew who was a Levite from Cyprus who was known to be an encourager.
Simeon who was called Niger
(Niger = black in Latin) Some have argued that this was Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus). It really is hard to prove this. Perhaps that is why he was called Simeon the Niger so the people would not confuse the two.
Lucius of Cyrene
Probably a Roman by name. He seems to be one of the church’s founding members.
Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch
Manaen is the Greek version of a Hebrew name. He may have been a Hellenistic Jew. It is quite interesting that he was brought up with Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great. Remember that Herod Antipas was the one responsible for John the Baptist’s death.
Saul
A Jewish Rabbi, former persecutor of Christians and one we know a lot about!
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.”
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting,
The church was actively pursuing what God wanted them to do. They were fasting, worshipping, evangelizing and teaching the Word.
They might have been from different backgrounds but God had knit their hearts together in one accord for the Lord! No specialized ministry like you read about today in books.
I want a teaching church
I want a worshipping church
I want a missionary minded church
I want, I want, I want.......!!!!
The church knew why it existed and what it was hoping to accomplish. It had a unified vision. It was actively seeking to fulfill God’s will for them.
While they were busy faithfully serving the LORD the following took place:
“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work
to which I have called them.”
They weren’t seeking to implement some new program. They didn’t say, we are a new church, let’s now add missionaries to our church budget. They were busy for God and He brought all this to pass!
God invaded their already active ministry. They were already reaching and teaching effectively.
It is my opinion that it is easier for the LORD to call one of HIS servants to another task or redirect them if they are already busy in their service for HIM than to get an uninvolved person to join the game!
The LORD looks on the heart and sees faithful people that HE can increase their responsibilities. People honing their skills!
Examples:
Like a baseball pitcher warming up in the Bullpen waiting for the coach to call them into the game.
Like a baseball player playing with all of their heart in the minor league waiting to be called to the Majors!
It seems logical that you cannot support the world-wide effort until your ministering effectively in your own backyard!
“…the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul
for the work to which I have called them.’”
DID YOU SEE WHO THE HOLY SPIRIT WANTED?
“...Barnabas and Saul..”
Not the least likely.
Not the ones who couldn’t do anything else in life so they became missionaries.
Not the ones who weren’t serving in some capacity.
God wanted the best!
Antioch was quickly becoming a “Mega Church.”
The people might have thought:
Don’t leave us we want to keep you here!
Your messages are so good who is going to feed us?
Everything is going so well, we are growing, why send Barnabas and Saul?
The Holy Spirit had prepared hearts so none of these questions were asked! The world-wide mission of the LORD Jesus Christ is bigger than a local church.
“The Spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions,
and the nearer we get to Him, the more intensely Missionary we become.”
Henry Martyn
So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed
their hands on them and sent them off.
Acts 13:3 NIV
They sent them away = they let them go / released them
The laying on of hands symbolized for Barnabas and Saul that the Church at Antioch was committed to God’s purpose and committed to them as HIS Servants.
“You go, We Go!”
Lt. Steven McCaffrey
Back Draft
Imagine people serving to the point that they stayed at their post until released! Maybe that is how it is suppose to work. Once you start teaching two year olds, your are there for life!
The church is the sending unit!
No Individualism is present – I want to go to the mission field, my church doesn’t recognize my talent, so I’m going any way.
No Institutionalism is present – We are the church and we can decide who goes and who does not go.
Missionary Agencies exist as a compliment to the local church’s ministry. They are not a substitute for the work that the church is called to do. The local church is authorized by God. They are the one who either places their approval or disapproval on whether the person who is interested in missionary work should pursue missionary work.
THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
– CALLING, EQUIPPING AND ENABLING
Acts 13:4 NIV
The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit,
went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.
The Holy Spirit is active:
The Holy Spirit called the missionaries forth
The Church confirmed the calling
The Holy Spirit sends them on their way
The Holy Spirit appears to lead in the direction they should go
The Holy Spirit opens the hearts of the people to hear
The Holy Spirit protects Barnabas and Saul
THE WORK OF EVANGELISM
– IT’S STRUGGLES AND BLESSINGS
Acts 13:5-12 NIV
Like most missionaries they left from a Port and arrived at a Port somewhere. Today missionaries depart largely from airports. Ports abounded in the Pacific Northwest.
Barnabas and Saul set sail for Cyprus an Island 100 miles by 60 miles (which could be seen on a clear day some 60 miles in the distance).
Cyprus was a place where many liked to vacation. It was the Hawaii of the Ancient world.
What did they do when they got there?
When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed
the word of God in the Jewish synagogues.
It is the Word of God that sets people free from sin! They first preached to those with some religious background. The Jews had a portion of the truth and they were trying to bridge the empty gap in what they were looking for spiritually.
John was with them as their helper.
This privileged young man is going to bolt when the going gets tough. He was on the trip without the same conviction as Barnabas and Saul. Maybe he had some romantic vision or ideal about missions.
They traveled through the whole island
until they came to Paphos
They landed at one port and preached throughout the island until they reached the capital on the other side. These church planters are planting seeds.
Remember this is Pioneering work. The dirt is hard. The ground needs to be broken up so that seeds can be planted that will mature properly. Soon the men find a heart God had prepared.
A Prepared Heart:
Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man,
sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted
to hear the word of God.
Sergius Paulus, Proconsul wanted to hear from the men
Proconsuls were like governors (obviously an influential man).
Proconsuls were used on Cyprus after, 22 BC, when this area was turned over to the senate to rule. It was no longer under the Roman Emperor.
This was on of the first individuals to hear the gospel massage totally from a “pagan” mindset without a background or association with Judaism.
Spiritual Warfare Begins:
There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named
Bar-Jesus, who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus.
THE RESISTANCE
Bar - Jesus – Son of Jesus was his name
A Jewish false prophet (which was really odd considering the Jews had all but eliminated idolatry after the captivity).
Magician – Magi
This false prophet gets extremely agitated. He realized that the men were moving in on his turf. He is the resident spiritual advisor for the islanders. He obviously has some fame because the governor has been seeking his advice.
But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means)
opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.
Acts 13:8 NIV
Everywhere in the world the gospel is advancing Satan and spiritual warfare will be present.
2 Cor 4:3-4 NIV And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Elymas is like Agent Smith in the Matrix trying to keep Neo from finding the truth!
Let’s hope Pastor Jim doesn’t hear: Mr. Anderson!
WATCH WHAT PAUL DOES:
Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun.” Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand.
The Son of Jesus is called the Son of the Devil! The one who claimed to know the light and who led many into spiritual darkness and blindness will be made physically blind for a period of time!
The Proconsul’s response:
When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.
Sir William Ramsay – found inscriptions not only attesting to the fact that Sergius Paulus was Proconsul of Cyprus but that he and his family were Christians.
Eventually a church was founded and it is my understanding that it is still in existence today.
Until now it was Barnabas and Saul.
Then Saul, who was also called Paul,
filled with the Holy Spirit,
Acts 13:9 NIV
From here on Barnabas will fade and Paul will rise. Throughout the beginning of this chapter Paul was referred to as Saul. It was Barnabas and Saul. Paul is now ready to fulfill God’s call upon his life.
Acts 9:15 NIV But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.
Paul had spent
3 Years in Arabia
7 Years in Asia Minor
2 Years at Antioch
Now he will take the gospel to the world. He will take the gospel to 40 different cities throughout Acts. He hits the main urban centers with the gospel.
Rom. 15:19 NIV by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.
This brings us back to March 6, 2005!
The message of the gospel is still going forth in the world!
The church is God’s Global Franchise!
We aren’t peddling Pepsi
We aren’t peddling Starbucks
We aren’t peddling some 10 step program that helps people find satisfaction on Planet Earth.
Our duty isn’t to peddle but to proclaim the Gospel!
We have a universal message that needs to be proclaimed
We have the universal cure
All are going to die!
All can live eternally if you put your faith and trust in the LORD Jesus Christ as your Savior!
“We are beggars, telling other beggars
where we found food.”
Pastor Jim will be leaving soon to proclaim this message in Bosnia
Our Mexico Ministry Teams will be leaving soon to proclaim this message in Mexico
Pray for Pastor Jim and the Mexico Teams!
Pray for safety
Pray for protection
Pray for darkness to be removed from blinded hearts
Pray for people to be set free!
Who knows what will happen as the message
of the gospel is proclaimed!
Who knows what will happen when each one of us at
Cornerstone Church faithfully shares our faith!
