Paul's Pattern Of Preaching - Acts 26:20
Acts 26:20 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.
I. Start From Where You Are
II. Back To Your Homeland
III. In All Land Outside Your Homeland
IV. Other Countries Worldwide
V. Content Of Paul's Message
A. Repent
B. Come Near To God
C. Prove Repentance By Your Works
Let us see how a successful patter of preaching of Paul led out to the revival of Damascus. This is one of his first preachings after He accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his own Lord and Saviour.
I. Start From Where You Are
Damascus is where he was fallen maybe from a horse or he fell down at his knees and arose blind. Then, from where he got off, he started preaching God's Words to the people. Don't look for a way out in your country, when called of God, determine where you are and obviously God wants you to start from where you are. Don't be zealous and starts worldwide preaching campaign when where you got off never heard of the gospel of Lord Jesus Christ.
Act 9:19 After he ate, he began to feel strong again. Saul stayed with the followers of Jesus in Damascus for a few days.
Act 9:20 Soon he began to go to the synagogues and tell people about Jesus. He told the people, "Jesus is the Son of God!"
Act 9:21 All the people who heard Saul were amazed. They said, "This is the same man who was in Jerusalem trying to destroy the people who trust in Jesus! And that's why he has come here--to arrest the followers of Jesus and take them back to the leading priests."
Act 9:22 But Saul became more and more powerful in proving that Jesus is the Messiah. His proofs were so strong that the Jews who lived in Damascus could not argue with him.
Act 11:26 When he found him, he brought him to Antioch. They stayed there a whole year. Every time the church came together, Barnabas and Saul met with them and taught many people. It was in Antioch that the followers of the Lord Jesus were called "Christ-followers" for the first time.
Act 11:27 About that same time some prophets went from Jerusalem to Antioch.
Act 11:28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and spoke with the help of the Spirit. He said, "A very bad time is coming to the whole world. There will be no food for people to eat." (This time of famine happened when Claudius was emperor.)
Act 11:29 The Lord's followers decided that they would each send as much as they could to help their brothers and sisters who lived in Judea.
Act 11:30 They gathered the money and gave it to Barnabas and Saul, who took it to the elders in Judea.
II. Back To Your Homeland
Jerusalem is everyone's homeland. If you're in the U.S., obviously always return to where you came from and preach God's Words there. Obviously, I'm from the Philippines and somehow I need to preach God's Words here in my homeland.
Act 9:28 And so Saul stayed with the followers and went all around Jerusalem speaking boldly for the Lord.
Act 9:29 He often had arguments with the Greek-speaking Jews, who began making plans to kill him.
Act 22:17 "Later, I came back to Jerusalem. I was praying in the Temple area, and I saw a vision.
Act 22:18 I saw Jesus, and he said to me, 'Hurry and leave Jerusalem now! The people here will not accept the truth you tell them about me.'
III. In All Land Outside Your Homeland
God wanted you to preach His Words as well on other lands outside your homeland, it might be a different country other than your home country.
Acts 26:17 I will keep you safe from your own people and from the non-Jewish people, the ones I am sending you to.
Act 13:46 But Paul and Barnabas spoke very boldly. They said, "We had to tell God's message to you Jews first, but you refuse to listen. You have made it clear that you are not worthy of having eternal life. So we will now go to those who are not Jews.
Act 13:47 This is what the Lord told us to do: 'I have made you a light for the other nations, to show people all over the world the way to be saved.'"
Act 13:48 When the non-Jewish people heard Paul say this, they were happy. They gave honor to the message of the Lord, and many of them believed it. These were the ones chosen to have eternal life.
Act 14:16 "In the past God let all the nations do what they wanted.
Act 14:17 But God was always there doing the good things that prove he is real. He gives you rain from heaven and good harvests at the right times. He gives you plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy."
Act 14:18 Even after saying all this, Paul and Barnabas still could hardly stop the people from offering sacrifices to them.
Act 14:19 Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and persuaded the people to turn against Paul. So they threw stones at him and dragged him out of the town. They thought they had killed him.
Act 14:20 But when the followers of Jesus gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. The next day he and Barnabas left and went to the city of Derbe.
Act 14:21 They also told the Good News in the city of Derbe, and many people became followers of Jesus. Then Paul and Barnabas returned to the cities of Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch.
IV. Other Countries Worldwide
You need to be constantly moving and spreading God's Words, now you're worldwide preaching God's Words.
Act 22:21 "But Jesus said to me, 'Leave now. I will send you far away to the non-Jewish people.'"
Act 22:22 The people stopped listening when Paul said this last thing. They all shouted, "Get rid of this man! He doesn't deserve to live."
Romans 11:18 But don't act as if you are better than those branches that were broken off. You have no reason to be proud of yourself, because you don't give life to the root. The root gives life to you.
Romans 11:19 You might say, "Branches were broken off so that I could be joined to their tree."
Romans 11:20 That is true. But those branches were broken off because they did not believe. And you continue to be part of the tree only because you believe. Don't be proud, but be afraid.
V. Content Of Paul's Message
A. Repent
Repent came from the Greek word "metanoeo" which means to think differently or afterwards, reconsider, simply means whatever is your mindset before you accepted the Lord Jesus Christ is to be different from what is your mindset after you have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord, Master and Saviour. As a result of changing your mindset or how you think, your hearts and lives are changed.
Act 26:20 I began telling people to change their hearts and lives...
Pro 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: (KJV)
Proverbs 23:7... What he thinks is what he really is. (GNB)
Act 2:38 Peter said to them, "Each one of you must turn away from your sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven; and you will receive God's gift, the Holy Spirit.
Act 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that he will forgive your sins. If you do, (GNB)
Act 3:19 So you must change your hearts and lives. Come back to God, and he will forgive your sins. (ERV)
Act 11:18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, "Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life." (ESV)
Act_17:30, Act_20:21; Jer_31:19-20; Eze_18:30-32; Mat_3:2; Mat_4:17, Mat_9:13, Mat_21:30-32; Mar_6:12; Luk_13:3, Luk_13:5, Luk_15:7, Luk_15:10, Luk_24:46-47; Rom_2:4; 2Co_7:10; 2Ti_2:25-26; Rev_2:5, Rev_2:21, Rev_3:3, Rev_16:11
B. Come Near To God
The word "turn" here came from the Greek word "epistrepho" which means revert, convert, come (go) again, as if you're turning the other way around and stopped following someone (devil) and convert following the Lord Jesus. You can only turn on one direction, when you turned your back on the devil, it means you're facing the Lord Jesus Christ and starts to pursue Him, and vice versa. Remember to turn your direction on the Lord Jesus Christ. Always make sure your backs are turned away from the devil.
Act 9:35 And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
Psalms 22:27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.
Colossians 1:13 He rescued us from the power of darkness and brought us safe into the kingdom of his dear Son,
1 Peter 2:9 But you are the chosen race, the King's priests, the holy nation, God's own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his own marvelous light.
C. Prove Repentance By Your Works
The real Christian does what he says, says what he does. No doubt about it. Practice what you preach.
James 1:23 If you listen to the word, but do not put it into practice you are like people who look in a mirror and see themselves as they are.
Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked leave their way of life and change their way of thinking. Let them turn to the LORD, our God; he is merciful and quick to forgive
Matthew 3:8 Do those things that will show that you have turned from your sins.
2Pe 1:5 For this very reason do your best to add goodness to your faith; to your goodness add knowledge;
2Pe 1:6 to your knowledge add self-control; to your self-control add endurance; to your endurance add godliness;
2Pe 1:7 to your godliness add Christian affection; and to your Christian affection add love.
2Pe 1:8 These are the qualities you need, and if you have them in abundance, they will make you active and effective in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Luk 3:8 Do those things that will show that you have turned from your sins. And don't start saying among yourselves that Abraham is your ancestor. I tell you that God can take these rocks and make descendants for Abraham!
Luk 3:9 The ax is ready to cut down the trees at the roots; every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown in the fire."
Luk 3:10 The people asked him, "What are we to do, then?"
Luk 3:11 He answered, "Whoever has two shirts must give one to the man who has none, and whoever has food must share it."
Luk 3:12 Some tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what are we to do?"
Luk 3:13 "Don't collect more than is legal," he told them.
Luk 3:14 Some soldiers also asked him, "What about us? What are we to do?" He said to them, "Don't take money from anyone by force or accuse anyone falsely. Be content with your pay."
Tit 2:2 Instruct the older men to be sober, sensible, and self-controlled; to be sound in their faith, love, and endurance.
Tit 2:3 In the same way instruct the older women to behave as women should who live a holy life. They must not be slanderers or slaves to wine. They must teach what is good,
Tit 2:4 in order to train the younger women to love their husbands and children,
Tit 2:5 to be self-controlled and pure, and to be good housewives who submit themselves to their husbands, so that no one will speak evil of the message that comes from God.
Tit 2:6 In the same way urge the young men to be self-controlled.
Tit 2:7 In all things you yourself must be an example of good behavior. Be sincere and serious in your teaching.
Tit 2:8 Use sound words that cannot be criticized, so that your enemies may be put to shame by not having anything bad to say about us.
Tit 2:9 Slaves are to submit themselves to their masters and please them in all things. They must not talk back to them
Tit 2:10 or steal from them. Instead, they must show that they are always good and faithful, so as to bring credit to the teaching about God our Savior in all they do.
Tit 2:11 For God has revealed his grace for the salvation of all people.
Tit 2:12 That grace instructs us to give up ungodly living and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this world,
Tit 2:13 as we wait for the blessed Day we hope for, when the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ will appear.
Ephesians 5:1 Since you are God's dear children, you must try to be like him.
Ephesians 5:2 Your life must be controlled by love, just as Christ loved us and gave his life for us as a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice that pleases God.
Ephesians 5:3 Since you are God's people, it is not right that any matters of sexual immorality or indecency or greed should even be mentioned among you.
Ephesians 5:4 Nor is it fitting for you to use language which is obscene, profane, or vulgar. Rather you should give thanks to God.
Ephesians 5:5 You may be sure that no one who is immoral, indecent, or greedy (for greed is a form of idolatry) will ever receive a share in the Kingdom of Christ and of God.
Ephesians 5:6 Do not let anyone deceive you with foolish words; it is because of these very things that God's anger will come upon those who do not obey him.
Ephesians 5:7 So have nothing at all to do with such people.
Ephesians 5:8 You yourselves used to be in the darkness, but since you have become the Lord's people, you are in the light. So you must live like people who belong to the light,
Ephesians 5:9 for it is the light that brings a rich harvest of every kind of goodness, righteousness, and truth.
Ephesians 5:10 Try to learn what pleases the Lord.
Ephesians 5:11 Have nothing to do with the worthless things that people do, things that belong to the darkness. Instead, bring them out to the light.
Ephesians 5:12 (It is really too shameful even to talk about the things they do in secret.)
Ephesians 5:13 And when all things are brought out to the light, then their true nature is clearly revealed;
Ephesians 5:14 for anything that is clearly revealed becomes light. That is why it is said, "Wake up, sleeper, and rise from death, and Christ will shine on you."
Ephesians 5:15 So be careful how you live. Don't live like ignorant people, but like wise people.
Ephesians 5:16 Make good use of every opportunity you have, because these are evil days.
Ephesians 5:17 Don't be fools, then, but try to find out what the Lord wants you to do.
Ephesians 5:18 Do not get drunk with wine, which will only ruin you; instead, be filled with the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:19 Speak to one another with the words of psalms, hymns, and sacred songs; sing hymns and psalms to the Lord with praise in your hearts.
Ephesians 5:20 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, always give thanks for everything to God the Father.
Ephesians 5:21 Submit yourselves to one another because of your reverence for Christ.
Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands as to the Lord.
Ephesians 5:23 For a husband has authority over his wife just as Christ has authority over the church; and Christ is himself the Savior of the church, his body.
Ephesians 5:24 And so wives must submit themselves completely to their husbands just as the church submits itself to Christ.
Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it.
