THE DIRECTION OF WORTH
Acts 13:42-52 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. 44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: "We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. 47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us: "'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'" 48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. 49 The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. 50 But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. 51 So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
INTRODUCTION: IN PSALM 3, DAVID IS RUNNING FROM HIS SON ABSALOM. IT IS THIS SCENARIO, WHICH PROMPTS THE WRITING OF THIS PSALM; A PSALM THAT EXPRESSES GOD’S RELATIONSHIP TO DAVID AS PROTECTOR DURING THIS TIME OF TURMOIL. IN VERSE THREE, WE READ THESE WORDS, “But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.” WHAT I WOULD LIKE YOU TO SEE IS THAT DAVID SAYS GOD HAS BESTOWED GLORY ON HIM. WHAT HE IS SPEAKING ABOUT IS THE WORTH OR VALUE GOD HAS REGARDING HIM. THIS ISSUE OF WORTH IS OUR FOCUS THIS MORNING.
WE ARE OF GREAT WORTH TO GOD – EVEN IF WE DO NOT REALIZE IT OURSELVES. AT THE SAME TIME THERE ARE MANY IN THE WORLD TODAY THAT DOUBT THEIR INNATE WORTH, OR DENY THEIR WORTH, OR EVEN REJECT THEIR WORTH!
TRANSITION: YET, IN THIS WORLD OF FLUCTUATING WORTH, WE ARE CHARGED – AS WERE PAUL AND BARNABAS WITH COMMUNICATING THE WORTH GOD PLACES IN EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US TO A WORLD THAT EITHER EMBRACES, DOUBTS OR DENIES THEIR WORTH!
WORTH DETERMINED
ACTIONS ARE AMAZING THINGS TO WATCH. THERE IS A FRENZY OF ACTIVITY THAT CAN ERUPT AT A MOMENTS NOTICE THAT BRINGS A GROUP OF PEOPLE INTO A BIDDING WAR FOR WHAT WE MAY SAY IS LITTLE MORE THAN A DUST COLLECTOR, BUT THEY WOULD SEE IMMENSE VALUE IN. AS THE AUCTIONEER CONTINUES, THESE PARTICIPANTS DECLARE THE WORTH OF EVERY ITEM BY THEIR BIDS TO OBTAIN IT
FOR ALL OF MANKIND, GOD, MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE HAS ESTABLISHED OUR WORTH AND VALUE
OUR WORTH IS EXPRESSED IN THE DEATH OF JESUS ON THE CROSS FOR US. WE JUST FINISHED CELEBRATING THIS EVENT LAST SUNDAY.
OUR VALUE IS SEEN IN WHERE GOD WOULD ULTIMATELY HAVE US RESIDE.
WE PUT OUR MOST VALUABLE THINGS IN SAFETY DEPOSIT BOXES OR SAFES.
GOD PUT HIS MOST VALUABLE POSSESSIONS IN HEAVEN! THERE IS NO MORE SECURE A PLACE THAN HEAVEN
Matthew 6:19-20 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
THERE IS NO PLACE ON EARTH IMMUNE TO DECAY OR THEFT
THERE NO PLACE FOR DECAY OR THEFT IN HEAVEN!
GOD EXPRESSED OUR WORTH IN
CREATION
INCARNATION – SENT HIS SON TO SAVE US
REDEMPTION – ACCEPTED THE CROSS WORK OF CHRIST
COMMUNICATION – GAVE US A WAY TO HEAR AND A WAY TO SPEAK THE GOSPEL
PATIENCE – WITH EVERY MOMENT HE WAITS, IS A MOMENT WHERE HE SAYS THERE IS STILL TIME TO SPEAK TO ONE MORE ABOUT THE GIFT OF SALVATION!
ILLUSTRATION: IN 1911, THE MONA LISA TURNED UP MISSING AND COULD NOT BE FOUND FOR TWO YEARS.
IT HAD BEEN STOLEN.
BUT AN INTERESTING PHENOMENON OF HUMAN NATURED OCCURRED. IN THE TWO YEARS OF ITS ABSENCE, MORE PEOPLE LOOKED AT THE SPOT WHERE IT PREVIOUSLY RESTED THAN ACTUALLY SAW THE MONA LISA IN THE TWO YEARS PREVIOUS TO ITS THEFT.
MANY OF US SPEND OUR LIVES CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO NOT HAVE THAN WHAT WE DO HAVE. WE DO NOT SEE OUR OWN VALUE AND AS SUCH SEARCH FOR IT
IN HIS SON, GOD HAS GIVEN US EVERYTHING WE NEED FOR LIFE AND HAPPINESS. WE HAVE GOD’S BEST GIFT – YET WE LIVE AS IF WE LONG FOR SOMETHING ELSE.
FOR THOSE OF US WHO KNOW CHRIST AS OUR SAVIOR, THE SECRET IS TO COUNT OUR BLESSING, NOT ADD UP OUR TROUBLES!
WORTH COMMUNICATED
PAUL AND BARNABAS WERE SENT OUT TO COMMUNICATE THE WORTH OF PEOPLE IN THE EYES OF GOD, AND THAT IS WHAT THEY DID
THE FIRST WEEK THEY SPOKE THEY WERE ENCOURAGED TO RETURN AGAIN
THE SECOND WEEK THEY SPOKE THE CROWD WAS HUGE!
THEY WERE COMMUNICATING WHAT THE PEOPLE NEEDED
NOTICE THAT THEY DID NOT COME TO HEAR ABOUT FELT NEEDS
THEY DID NOT COME TO HEAR SOME COMMENTARY ON CURRENT EVENTS
THEY CAME TO HEAR THE WORD OF GOD!
LITTLE THING TO NOTE AT THIS POINT – WHAT IT WAS THAT INITIALLY MADE THE JEWISH COMMUNITY UPSET. THEIR SYNAGOGUE WAS OVERRUN WITH GENTILES! THIS IS THE EQUIVALENT OF PEOPLE TODAY GETTING UPSET BECAUSE SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THEIR PEW!
PAUL COMMUNICATED THE VALUE GOD PLACED ON THE JEWS!
THEY HAD REJECTED THIS
HAD TO HAVE THEIR CHANCE BEFORE THE MESSAGE OF WORTH COULD SHIFT TO THE GENTILES
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS THEY REJECTED THE MESSAGE OF SALVATION. THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT THEY HAD AND WERE GIVING UP
THERE IS A STORY OF A MISSIONARY WHO WAS ASSIGNED TO A POVERTY STRICKEN AREA OF SOUTH AMERICA. ONE DAY WHILE WATCHING SOME OF THE POOR CHILDREN OF THE AREA PLAYING MARBLES IN THE DIRT, HE NOTICED THAT THE MARBLES HAD A SHINE TO THEM. WHEN HE TOOK A CLOSER LOOK, HE REALIZED THAT THEY WERE NOT MARBLES AT ALL. THEY WERE DIAMONDS! NO ONE HAD ANY IDEA OF THE INCREDIBLE VALUE THEY HAD.
THE JEWISH COMMUNITY WAS UNAWARE OF THE INCREDIBLE WORTH OF THE GOSPEL, THINKING THEMSELVES TOO “GOOD” FOR THESE THINGS, YET JEALOUS OF THE GENTILES WHO WOULD EMBRACE THEM!
PAUL COMMUNICATED THE VALUE GOD PLACED ON GENTILES
GOD HAD A PLAN FOR THEM – ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE
Isaiah 49:6 he says: "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."
FULFILLMENT OF PROPHECY
ANGERED THE JEWS, BUT HOW CAN YOU ARGUE AGAINST THEIR OWN SCRIPTURES
JUST LIKE THOSE MARBLES, IF THE TRUE WORTH IS NOT COMMUNICATED, THEY WOULD REMAIN IN THEIR POVERTY. THE SAME IS TRUE SPIRITUALLY. IF WE NEVER COMMUNICATE THE VALUE OF ONE HUMAN LIFE
WORTH MULTIPLIED
FIRST STATE OF MULTIPLIED VALUE
THE GENTILES HEARD – GUESS WHAT? NO ONE WILL EVER HEAR IF WE DO NOT GET SERIOUS ABOUT TELLING THEM!
THOSE WHO HEARD WERE HONORED
THOSE WHO HEARD WERE GLAD
THOSE WHO HEARD WERE PREPARED
THE WORD IS APPOINTED
MILITARY TERM
MEANS TO ARRANGE OR ASSIGN
COMMUNICATES THE CONCEPT OF READINESS!
THOSE WHO WERE READY BELIEVED
WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PREPARE PEOPLE TO RECEIVE THE WORD OF GOD. THE SCRIPTURE ELUDES TO THIS:
1 Corinthians 3:6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.
SECOND STATE OF MULTIPLIED VALUE
THE WORD OF THE LORD SPREAD
THIS IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE THIS WAS A GENTILE AREA
THE JEWS WERE NOT GOING TO SPREAD THE WORD
THESE GENTILES SPREAD THE WORD
“YOU CAN’T KEEP A GOOD MAN DOWN”
I AM REMINDED OF THIS PASSAGE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
2 Kings 7:9 Then they said to each other, "We're not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves. If we wait until daylight, punishment will overtake us. Let's go at once and report this to the royal palace."
WHEN SOMEONE COMES TO KNOW THE LORD, THERE IS A DESIRE TO SHARE WHAT HAS HAPPENED. WHEN SOMEONE SHARES THE KNOWLEDGE OF VALUE IS PASSED ON!
SOMEONE HAS TO START THE BALL ROLLING. IT IS NOT EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. THERE IS NO GROUP DYNAMIC IN SHARING THE GOOD NEWS, THERE IS ONLY INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY!
WORTH CONDEMNED
THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL WILL ALWAYS FACE OPPOSITION
THE IMPORTANT THING IS WHAT WE WILL DO WITH THAT OPPOSITION.
HIDE FROM IT
BE STRONG THROUGH IT
REMEMBER THAT THE ARMOR OF GOD WAS MEANT TO PROTECT US WHILE WE ADVANCED!
WORTH ENJOYED
THIS IS PERHAPS THE BEST PART OF THE PASSAGE FOR ME.
WHAT IS THE RESPONSE OF PAUL AND BARNABAS TO THE OPPOSITION?
THEY WENT AND DID IT AGAIN IN THE NEXT TOWN.
HERE ARE SOME OF THE NOTES FROM THE JOURNAL OF JOHN WESLEY:
"Sunday a.m., May 5 -Preached in St. Ann's; was asked not to come back any more.
Sunday p.m., May 5- Preached at St. John's; deacons said, 'Get out and stay out.'
Sunday a.m., May 12 -Preached at St. Jude's; can't go back there either.
Sunday p.m., May 12-Preached at St. George's; kicked out again.
Sunday a.m., May 19- Preached at St. Somebody Else's; deacons called a special meeting and said I couldn't return.
Sunday p.m., May 19-Preached on the street; kicked off the street.
Sunday a.m., May 26- Preached out in a meadow; chased out of meadow when a bull was turned loose during the service.
Sunday a.m., June 2-Preached out at the edge of town; kicked off the highway.
Sunday p.m., June 2-Afternoon service, preached in pasture; 10,000 people came."
THERE IS A GREAT WORTH TO BE COMMUNICATED IN THE WORLD TODAY, AND WE ARE TO BE THE COMMUNICATORS OF THAT GREAT WORTH!
