THE FIRST MESSAGE OF PAUL
Acts 13:13-43 From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem. 14 From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue rulers sent word to them, saying, "Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak." 16 Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: "Men of Israel and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! 17 The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt, with mighty power he led them out of that country, 18 he endured their conduct for about forty years in the desert, 19 he overthrew seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to his people as their inheritance. 20 All this took about 450 years. "After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. 21 Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. 22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.' 23 "From this man's descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised. 24 Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel. 25 As John was completing his work, he said: 'Who do you think I am? I am not that one. No, but he is coming after me, whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.' 26 "Brothers, children of Abraham, and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. 27 The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. 28 Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29 When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people. 32 "We tell you the good news: What God promised our fathers 33 he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: "'You are my Son; today I have become your Father'. 34 The fact that God raised him from the dead, never to decay, is stated in these words: "'I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.' 35 So it is stated elsewhere: "'You will not let your Holy One see decay.' 36 "For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed. 37 But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.
38 "Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39 Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses. 40 Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you: 41 "'Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.'" 42 As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. 43 When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.
INTRODUCTION: IN THIS PASSAGE WE FIND PAUL AND BARNABAS WITH THEIR FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE COMMUNITY THEIR IN CYPRUS. PAUL AND BARNABAS ENTER THE SYNAGOGUE AND AWAIT THE RIGHT OPPORTUNITY. AFTER THE READING OF THE OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES, THEY ARE ASKED IF THEY HAVE SOME ENCOURAGING WORD TO BRING TO THE CONGREGATION THERE. THIS TEXT, THEN IS WHAT FOLLOWS THAT INVITATION
I. OPPORTUNITIES AND DISTRACTIONS
a. THE DISTRACTION – THE LEAVING OF MARK
i. THIS WOULD BE A DISTRACTION FOR PAUL UNTIL THE END OF HIS MINISTRY.
ii. WHAT WE DO NOT KNOW IS THE REASON FOR THE LEAVING.
iii. OFTEN WE WILL MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON WHAT WE THINK RATHER THAN WHAT WE KNOW.
1. PERHAPS HE WAS DISILLUSIONED WITH THE CHANGE OF LEADERSHIP?
2. THE NEW EMPHASIS ON THE GENTILES MAY HAVE BEEN TOO GREAT A CHANGE FOR JOHN MARK, WHO WAS A JEW.
3. PERHAPS HE WAS FEARFUL OF THE ROAD, AS IT WAS DANGEROUS.
4. THE TEAM MAY HAVE HEADED NORTH TO AVOID FURTHER ILLNESS AND “ABANDONED” WHERE MARK THOUGHT THEY SHOULD BE GOING.
5. MARK MAY HAVE BECOME SICK OR LONELY FOR HIS MOTHER AND RETURNED HOME.
iv. WHATEVER THE REASON, JOHN MARK LEFT AND IT WAS A DISTRACTION TO PAUL. ONE THAT HE WOULD CARRY WITH HIM FOR QUITE A WHILE.
Acts 15:38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.
v. AS POWERFUL AS THIS DISTRACTION WAS, PAUL DID NOT ALLOW IT TO AFFECT WHAT HE WAS THERE TO DO.
b. THE OPPORTUNITY – TO BRING “ENCOURAGEMENT” AT THE REQUEST OF THE PEOPLE
i. THERE IS NO GREATER PLEASURE THAN TO SHARE SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ASKED TO SHARE
ii. WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE EITHER BY CHALLENGING THEM OR ENCOURAGING THEM.
1. AS BELIEVERS WE NEED TO BE CONSTANTLY CHALLENGED TO LIVE OUT OUR FAITH, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES OF DISCOURAGEMENT
2. AS BELIEVERS WE NEED TO BE CONSTANTLY ENCOURAGED BY OTHERS TO “KEEP THE FAITH” AND TO REMEMBER THAT GOD DOES NOT AND WILL NOT LEVE OR FORSAKE US!
3. FOR THOSE THAT DO NOT KNOW CHRIST AS SAVIOR, WE NEED TO BE A SOURCE OF CHALLENGE AND ENCOURAGEMENT. CHALLENGE IN THE SENSE OF KNOWING THEIR ETERNITY, AND ENCOURAGING IN THE SENSE THAT THERE IS A WAY TO BE ASSURED OF THEIR ETERNITY.
a. IN THE END ALL MUST MEET GOD.
b. WHICH WAY WE CHOOSE TO MEET HIM IS OUR CHOICE.
WE NEED TO SEE DISTRACTIONS IN MINISTRY FOR WHAT THEY ARE – DISTRACTIONS. WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL THAT WE DO NOT ALLOW MINOR DISTRACTIONS (AND EVERYTHING WHEN COMPARED TO ETERNITY IS MINOR) TO TAKE US AWAY FROM WHAT GOD WOULD HAVE US TO BE DOING.
WE CAN BE CONSUMED BY DISTRACTIONS IF WE LET THEM OVERTAKE US!
II. THE MESSAGE OF PAUL TO THEM AND TO US
a. MESSAGE PART 1 – INTRODUCING THE TRUTH
i. PAUL OPENS UP HIS MESSAGE WITH AN INTRODUCTION
ii. PAUL HAS BEEN ASKED TO BRING A MESSAGE OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO THOSE IN ATTENDANCE
iii. PAUL WAS READY FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY
1. HE HAD THE MOVEMENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
2. HE HAD THE PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
b. THE MESSAGE PART 2 – HEARING THE TRUTH
i. ALL SCRIPTURE POINTS ITS WAY TO A REDEEMER, TO A MESSIAH
ii. PAUL USES THE OLD TESTAMENT TO SHOW HOW GOD MOVED HIS PEOPLE ALONG.
iii. FROM THE BOOK OF GENESIS FORWARD, GOD HAS REVEALED THAT HE WOULD SEND A SAVIOR
1. CRUSH THE HEAD -- Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."
2. ROD OF JESSE -- Isaiah 11:1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit
3. BRUISED FOR OUR INIQUITIES -- Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
iv. THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL HAVE SEEN THE TRUTH OF GOD’S PROVISION
1. THROUGH THE PATRIARCHS
2. THROUGH THE EXODUS
3. THROUGH THE TRAVEL TO THE PROMISED LAND
4. THROUGH THE JUDGES AND SAMUEL
5. THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A KING
6. THROUGH THE PREACHING OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
a. THE MESSAGE PART 3 – SEEING THE TRUTH
i. THROUGH THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST
1. TAUGHT WITH AUTHORITY
2. CAST OUR DEMONS
3. HEALED THE SICK
4. RESTORED SIGHT TO THE BLIND
5. FULFILLED PROPHECY
ii. BROUGHT TO TRIAL FOR WHAT HE DID
iii. CRUCIFIED FOR WHO HE WAS
iv. IN DOPING SO, THE Y FULFILLED PROPHECY CONCERNING HIM
v. WAS BURIED AND ROSE AGAIN BY THE POWER OF GOD!
PEOPLE HEARD THE TRUTH AND SAW THE TRUTH, BUT NEITHER OF THESE CONDITIONS IS ENOUGH TO CHANGE THE COURSE OF INDIVIDUAL ETERNITY.
PAUL KNEW THIS AND THE IS WHY HIS MESSAGE DID NOT STOP THERE.
d. THE MESSAGE PART 4 – DO NOT MISS THE TRUTH
i. Acts 13:40 Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you
ii. KNOWING WHAT GOD IS DOING DOES NOT CHANGE OUR SPIRITUAL DESTINY
iii. SEEING WHAT GOD IS DOING DOES NOT CHANGE OUR SPIRITUAL DESTINY
iv. ACTING ON WHAT WE KNOW AND SEE CHANGES OUR SPIRITUAL DESTINY
1. PAUL QUOTES THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK WHERE THE PROPHET IS SPEAKING ABOUT THE JUDGMENT GOD IS GOING TO BRING ON THE LAND THROUGH THE NATION OF BABYLON.
2. PALS MESSAGE IS CLEAR – LISTEN AND CHANGE OR BE JUDGED!
v. THE RESULT IS THAT HE WAS ASKED OT RETURN AND CONTINUE WHAT THEY HAD STARTED.
vi. FOR US THE QUESTION IS WHY? APART FROM THE SPIRIT OF GOD MOVING THEIR HEARTS, WHAT DID PAUL DO THAT BROUGHT ABOUT SUCH A POSITIVE RESPONSE?
1. IT WAS PAUL’S PASSION AS SEEN IN VERSES 38 AND 39
2. IT WAS PAUL’S CHALLENGE IN VERSES 40 AND 41
3. WHAT EMPOWERS OUR MESSAGE IS THE VALIDITY OF OUR TRANSFORMATION AND THE PASSION OF OUR BELIEF.
WE NEED TO BE VISIBLY PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT WE BELIEVE IN. IF WE ARE NOT EXCITED ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST, HOW CAN WE EXPECT ANYONE ELSE TO BE?
