How GOD MOVES PEOPLE
Reading: Acts 13 chapter 13 verses 1-12:
Ill:
The Guide to Estate Agent Clichés
• “Would suit D-I-Y enthusiast” – MEANS - Would suit demolition
• “Bijou property” – MEANS - Microscopic
• “Convenient for motorway access” – MEANS - Triple-glazing a minimum
• “Efficient use of space” – MEANS - Cramped” doesn’t describe it
• “Incredible potential” – MEANS - Incredible cost to do up
• “Delightfully secluded” – MEANS - A week’s drive to the nearest shop
• “Up-and-coming-area” – MEANS - Expect to be mugged
• “Sought-after location” – MEANS - Flash post-code, inflated price
• “New price” – MEANS - On the market a year; not even a nibble
• “Deceptively spacious”: – MEANS - Guess who’s being deceptive
Ill:
• People move house for a variety of reasons;
• For some it’s because of a new job.
• For others to be closer to family members.
• Some the need is for more space,
• Some fly the nest or move to a bigger place to accommodate a growing family.
• Or may be for less space as the offspring leave home.
• To some the move is to improve life - a better district, or to escape a tricky situation.
• There are many reasons both good and bad for moving.
Christians can add another key factor regarding moving - God.
Ill:
• 24 years in the same house (even born there!),
• Then as I entered the ministry I had six different homes in two years.
We see this principle of God moving people:
• Perfectly illustrated in the book of Acts,
• Acts is a book of movement:
• It is a book of shallow tent pegs, as people are travelling here and there,
• Setting off in one direction or another in response to God’s call.
Ill:
• William Phelps taught English literature at Yale for forty-one years;
• Until his retirement in 1933.
• One year just before Christmas he was marking an examination paper,
• Phelps came across the note: "God only knows the answer to this question. Merry Xmas"
• Phelps returned the paper with this note:
• "God gets an A. You get an F. Happy New Year."
• God alone knows where we might move to in the future,
• Wise people move with God, they do not fight against his will!
• Acts chapter 13 is a great example of;
• When God clearly says it is time to move on!
(1). Behind the Scenes: A Plan
• The book of Acts is one of the few Bible books,
• That first gives us the outline and then gives us the content.
The outline is in Acts chapter 1 verse 8:
“You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,
and to the ends of the earth.”
• Jerusalem was where it all started,
• Sadly for many of the first Christians, that where it ended as well!
• That’s as far as God’s people went,
• They put their roots down and were content,
• So God had to send the stones of persecution into their calm waters
• And this persecution sent the Christians rippling outward;
• Into the second phase of God’s plan;
• Judea and Samaria.
• Yet here once again the Christians seem to have got themselves settled,
• They seemed to have forgotten the last part of Jesus’ command:
“And even to the remotest part of the earth”
Certainly, we can understand their desire to stay settled,
• We all like the comforts of home,
• And the need for security that we find there.
• But when God has a plan, that plan must be implemented!
• God knows what He is doing and at times for some of us that may include us moving on.
God’s plan is to get these Christians in Acts chapter 13 back on the road again:
• That is the subject of this passage.
• In Acts 13 and see how the Holy Spirit will move His people into a new territory,
These verses in Acts chapter 13 divide into two sections:
• Verses 1-3: first part.
• Verses 4-12: second part.
PART 1: VERSES 1-3:
(1). Making the Move: A Need
• The first few words of verse 1 provide a backdrop for the action that follows.
• Though his phrasing is simple,
• Luke conveys a wealth of information in his portrait of the situation.
• “In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers”
(1). The City (VERSE 1).
• Chapters 13 and 14 describes Paul’s ministry in six different cities,
• Beginning and ending at Antioch.
• Until now, Jerusalem had been the centre of ministry,
• And Peter had been the key apostle.
• But from this point on,
• Antioch in Syria would become the new centre and Paul the new leader.
Antioch was the Roman capital of Syria:
• It was the gateway to the east.
• It was a large cities, it was third only to Rome and Alexandrea.
• It was a commercial goldmine.
• And like most large cities, Antioch was multicultural,
• On the outskirts of town stood the temple of Daphne,
• A deplorable centre of prostitution and pagan worship.
Antioch was a competitive place:
• It was well known for its sports, especially chariot racing and horse racing,
• These events lured gamblers into the city,
• To summarise:
• Antioch was a large fast living, wealthy city,
• A city of low morals and pagan religion.
• And right in the middle of this city was the church of Jesus Christ.
(2). The believers (VERSE 1).
• “In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers:”
• Notice the words are plural, this was a well taught church.
(a). Prophets and teachers (verse 1):
Quote Everett Harrison helps us tell apart these two ministries.
“As a prophet, a person spoke in response to a distinct moving of the Spirit, providing edification, exhortation, and consolation.
As a teacher, one presumably had a more sustained ministry, making use of the Old Testament and the traditions of the life and teaching of the Lord Jesus as handed down in the church.
The teacher provided the basic information for living the Christian life; the prophet furnished special guidance from the Lord as needed.”
(b). five men are identified for us:
“Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.
• It’s easy to skip over a verse like this,
• Thinking that it’s just another list of difficult-to-pronounce names.
• But we’d miss a significant insight if we did,
• For these leaders reflect a great diversity of backgrounds.
Ill:
• Barnabas was a Jew from the island of Cyprus.
• No doubt you have already come across him in chapter 4 of Acts.
• Simeon also had the name Niger,
• Which, according to the experts, was “a Latin term meaning ‘black-skinned.”’
• Lucius was from Cyrene, which was west of Egypt on the coast of Africa.
• His name was Greek, so he was possibly a Gentile.
• Manaen was a member of high society,
• Having grown up with Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee.
• And then there’s Saul with his impressive education and rabbinical training.
• Later he would be known as Paul the apostle.
What a mix:
• A Cyprian Jew, a black man, a Gentile, an aristocrat, and a rabbi,
• This was a cosmopolitan leadership team!
• But with such back-grounds,
• They were better able to minister to the many ethnic groups in Antioch.
• Consequently, the church body had become a model of diversity within unity,
• A microcosm of God’s upcoming worldwide, multicultural ministry.
(3). The Divine interruption (verses 2-3):
• To launch this worldwide program, action was needed,
• The Holy Spirit interrupts the church’s thriving ministry with a sudden command.
(2)”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.”
Notice when it happened:
• It happened when the Holy Spirit spoke “while they were worshipping (or ministering).”
• The word means “Priestly activity” or “Service”.
It is a reminder to us that:
• We don’t always need to escape to a mountaintop to sense God’s leading.
• Often the best times to hear His voice is while we’re busy reaching out to others,
Ill:
Easier to steer a moving car, than a parked car.
• We’re most sensitive at these times,
• Because the Spirit is already empowering us for ministry.
Notice as well WHO they were serving,
• Not just to the congregation, but the Lord!
• True service involves a right attitude as well as right actions.
We don’t know exactly how the Holy Spirit:
• Led the congregation to set apart the two leaders for missions,
• It may have been a word from the prophets,
• It may have been some other way,
• We just do not know.
But we do know two things:
(1). GOD’S PLAN WAS SELECTIVE.
• The call wasn’t for everyone, just Barnabas and Saul.
• Not all 5 men but only two.
(2). GOD’S PLAN WAS SPECIFIC: “THE WORK”.
• “The work” refers to “The ends of the earth”.
• God’s original and unchanging plan for this early Church and the Church universal.
The plan was specific:
• Only two were called to go to,
• While the others teachers and prophets and the rest of the Church remained.
Be encouraged:
• The fact that God’s calling to ‘full-time’ service is selective and specific is encouraging,
• Because it reaffirms how personal His plan is for each of our lives.
• So we needn’t feel guilty or depressed when He guides some people in one direction,
• And does not lead us that same way.
• The great thing is God has a plan for each one of us,
• Each of us has to trust him, that the plan he has for US is the best one!
• Human nature says, “I could do better”
• Experience and the Bible teaches; “No you can’t!”
Verse 3: “So after they had fasted and prayed,”
• Twice fasting is mentioned and both times it is not alone,
• It is linked with worship (verse 2) and prayer (verse 3).
• Fasting is a negative action (abstaining from food),
• For the sake of a positive action (worship, service & prayer).
Some have suggested that the church fasted and prayed to:
(1).
• To test and affirm God’s call to Barnabus and Saul.
• And partly to intercede for the two being sent out.
(2). Others have suggested the praying and fasting was for the Church:
• To determine how they were going to support these missionaries,
• Seeking the role that THEY should play in world missions.
Verse 3: “They placed their hands on them and sent them off”
• This affirmation of Barnabas and Saul was a sign of the church’s maturity.
• They didn’t cling to their friends but released them, knowing that God’s will was best.
• Nobody wants to lose their best workers, their best teachers, their best leaders,
• But often that is who God calls and the Church at Antioch was willing to let them go.
For the believers at Antioch this would also be a huge challenge:
• They too would also have to trust God to take up the slack in leadership,
• And replace these men with other gifted teachers and prophets.
Verse 4 begins,
“Being sent out by the Holy Spirit . . .”
• The people give Barnabas and Saul their BLESSING, “Laying hands on them”
• But the Holy Spirit gives them His AUTHORITY – he called them!
God’s plan to reach the rest of the world is then set in motion,
• And with great anticipation,
• The missionaries launch out to deliver the good news of Jesus Christ.
• Having been enthusiastically set to sea by their fellow Christians,
• They Jump on board ship and wave good-bye to Antioch.
Section Two: Verses 4-12:
(1). Departure: Excellent (verses 1-3):
• Well for these missionaries it was an excellent start,
• A good beginning:
• They started in a way that many missionaries never experience:
• With the backing of their local fellowship.
(1). Church support (verse 3):
"So after they had fasted and prayed,
they placed their hands on them and sent them off".
• The church at Antioch was a;
• Praying, supportive, encouraging, and I would suggest a giving church.
(2). God’s blessing (Verse 4):
"The two of them (vs 2: Paul & Barnabus) sent on their way by the Holy
Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus".
Even more important than the church’s blessing:
• They had the confidence, assurance, guarantee,
• That what they were doing was right in God’s sight.
Quote Theodore Epp:
"Once a man is satisfied that he is in the centre of God’s plan and God is working out his will through him, that man is invincible".
Commissioned by God:
• Barnabus, Saul & John Mark (verse 5b:"...........John was with them as their helper").
• Travelled the 16 mile journey west to Selucia and there they sailed for Cyprus.
We do not know why they chose to go to Cypress:
• It maybe the Lord told them to start there,
• That was part of there calling.
• It maybe the link was Barnabus,
• We know he was a Cypriot, and maybe he was burdened for his own people.
(3). Smooth departure (Verse 4).
• No mention of any difficulties.
• It was all plain sailing
ill:
• No lost luggage, no illness, no disappointments, it was literally
• All plain sailing (good beginning).
(2). The mission field: Cyprus.
(1). A unique island (Verse 4b-5a):
“…went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. 5When they arrived at Salamis”
• Barnabus, Saul and John Mark,
• Who was taken along to carry the suitcases etc
• Landed On the east coast of Cyprus.
• At the major administrative centre of Salamis,
Ill:
• "Cyprus" means "Copper".
• A name given because it was a place rich with copper deposits.
• Cyprus also had another common name:
• "Mak-ar-ia" which means: "Happy island".
Quote: William Barcley:
"The Happy Isle, because it was held that its climate was so perfect and its resources so varied that a man might find everything necessary for a happy life within its bounds".
• Sounds like the Hawaii or Bermuda of the first century.
• A beautiful island.
(2). An unusual response (verse 5):
"When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of the God in the Jewish synagogues".
Salamis was the largest city on the island:
• Note: the plural "Synagogues",
• They preached in many different places – and yet no response!
• Now throughout the book of Acts,
• Doctor Luke always mentions a response;
• I suggest the fact that he did not mention it,
• Is because there was no response to their preaching.
(3). A difficult experience: Pathos.
(1). Exhaustion (verse 6):
"They travelled through the whole island until they came to Paphos".
• They left the Salamis the city,
• They tried evangelising the rural areas.
Now use your imagination:
• Don’t skip over the verse, they are not walking down the street
• This will be a journey of 150 miles - on foot!
• Average days travel was 10 miles,
• If you made 12 miles a day then you were in 5th gear and really shifting.
• Verse 6 says that they arrived at Paphos after a long, hard, tiring journey,
• Again no mention of any response in the rural areas of Cyprus.
• In fact it went from bad to worse;
• Opposition arose:
(2). Opposition (Verse 6-8):
6They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, 7who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. 8But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.
At this point the tired, maybe disillusioned missionaries:
• Fresh from Jerusalem:
• Memories of those prayer meetings fresh in their minds.
• Suddenly they are in a new culture, among new people.
• They have just experienced a long tiring 150 mile journey.
• They’ve apparently had no response or encouragement to their preaching.
• And suddenly they are ’eye to eye’ with spiritual, satanic opposition.
The opposition is in the form of a man called: "Bar-Jesus".
• Verse 6 describes him as: “A Jewish sorcerer”
• That’s a contradiction, its like saying someone is a Christian thief!
Notice his name
• “Bar-Jesus” which means: "Son of salvation." He is also called: "Elymas".
• An Aramaic word; which means the "skilled magician".
• They are quite formidable titles, which describe a craftsman of his trade.
• He is proclaiming himself as having supernatural understanding & deliverance.
Verse 7 Tells us who he worked for, he was employed by the proconsul:
• The proconsul, was a representative of the Roman government:
• Much like our governor’s today.
• Verse 7 describes him as “An intelligent man”.
• A reminder that it is not just simple people who get led astray by the occult.
(3). Confrontation by Paul (verses 9-11).
Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, 10“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? 11Now 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.”
Notice in verse 9 the name change over:
• Saul from now on will become Paul.
• Saul was a Hebrew, Jewish name, Paul was a Greek name,
• It was common for Jews to take a Greek or Roman second name.
• As an apostle to the Gentiles, he would from now on use a gentile name.
As Paul encountered this man Elymas:
• He would not do it in his own strength;
• Verse 9: “Filled with the Holy Spirit”.
• He did not back down and he was not intimidated.
• Verse 9: “He looked him straight in the eye”, He faced the problem head on.
• Paul tells him he is not the “Son of Salvation” but “A child of the devil”.
• “You are not proclaiming truth but a lie”.
Irony in verse 11:
• Elymas was a man who practiced of the occult,
• He had led many people like the proconsul into spiritual darkness,
• And now he would experience physical darkness.
• And all his skill in the magical arts could not help him.
(4). Salvation of the proconsul (verse 12).
12When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed,
for he was amazed (NEB: “Shaken to the core”) at the teaching about the Lord.
More irony in this verse:
• God blinded the magician because he refused to see the truth,
• But the proconsul who was spiritually blind, had his eyes opened to the truth.
Notice: Sergius Paulus is brought to faith by two things:
• (1). Demonstration of spiritual power, “What he saw”.
• (2). What he heard, “Amazed at the teaching about the Lord”.
True today people come to faith in Jesus Christ by 2 things:
(1). WHAT THEY SEE – OUR WITNESS.
• Ill: Woman of Samaria
• Quote: “The greatest sermon we ever preach is our lives”.
(2). WHAT THEY HEAR – THE WORD OF GOD.
• Quote: Romans chapter 10 verse 17:
• “Faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God”.
Final application:
• When people look at us, what do they see?
• When people speak to us, what do we say?
Ill:
Swedish au-pair.
• Meant to say: “What on earth are you doing?”
• Instead she said: “What are you doing on earth?”
Note:
• You and I are still God’s plan A to reach the world!
• There is no plan B!
Quote:
“You are either a missionary or a mission field”.
