THE CHURCH HAS LEFT THE BUILDING – Until the Whole World Hears
Acts 13:1-3 (pg. 768) July 26, 2015
Introduction:
We currently live in a world of turmoil. ISIS beheads Christians and seems to be growing in power as converts flock to Syria and Lebanon and other places. American leaders this last week hammered out some sort of nuclear limitations deal with Iran in connection with Russia, Britain, China, France, Germany (The UN security council must approve this deal)...as well as the US Congress.
All this on the heels of the United States Supreme Court making landmark decisions on Health Care, and the issue of gay marriages being legal in all 50 states...not to mention racial tensions being at an all time high in many of our major cities.
Scary times as we encounter wars and rumors of war...hatred, bigotry, evil, and changes politically that we may or may not agree with...that divide not only believers from the world...but family members from family members.
A world divided...a nation divided...communities divided...families divided...
What’s the answer...how does the Church of Jesus Christ, His committed followers, respond to such dire circumstances and situations...first of all...
I. WE RESPOND WITH DISCERNMENT AND TEACHING WITHIN
“Now “in” the Church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers” (v. 1)
Luke even names them in this 13th chapter of Acts. Barnabas, Simeon, Lucius, Manaen and Saul (yep...that Saul!)
Let me give you a little background about what was going on in the life of two of these “prophets” are “teachers” right before our text...right before they get to the church at Antioch.
Acts 12 tells us that King Herod (yes, the same one that dealt with Jesus) arrested some who belonged to the church intending to persecute them...He put James, the brother of John to death with the sword...and he arrested Peter and put him in prison...the king discovered that this made the Jewish community happy in Jerusalem...so Herod had plans to bring Peter out for a public show trial during the Festival of Unleavened Bread.
Lots of political maneuvering and decisions being made to appease people. And if you think it’s difficult to be a Christ follower in America in 2015...think about what it was like under Roman rule in Jerusalem in 34 AD.
Acts 12:5 says, “so Peter was kept in prison but the Church was earnestly praying to God for him.”
So what happened...listen
ACTS 12:6-11 (p. 767)
King Herod had political plans...God had different ones...God wins.
But King Herod still was on the throne...dealing with world conflict...He was quarreling with the people from Tyre and Sidon who joined together, with the help of a political official named Blastus (I love that name) to ask the king for peace...why? “Because they depended on the king for their food supply according to Acts 12:20.
All this going on in and around Jerusalem. John put to death, Christians persecuted and arrested, Peter’s escape miraculously from jail. Herod making political decisions to please the majority. But God is in control. I love this part of the background story. On the day that King Herod addresses the people of Tyre and Sidon he is adorned with all the trappings of political power, royal robes, the throne of a king, and when he speaks...it’s impressive...powerful...listen.
ACTS 12:21-22 (p. 768)
He’s not God though...He is just a man and God is still in control...and God wins.
ACTS 12:23-25 (p. 768)
Sometimes God deals immediately with situations. Sometimes God lets servants be killed and persecuted. Sometimes God breaks people out of prison and sometimes He strikes dead the one who put them there.
The prophets and teachers at Antioch understood this truth. They saw the world through eyes of faith. Servants who had to finish their mission even when the world was in conflict and divided.
It requires Holy Spirit discernment for spiritual leaders to stay on point...to speak prophetic truth...and scriptural truth when most of the world is arguing and divided and in conflict over other issues.
If you are a Christ follower...a witness to this resurrection, and His salvation...a believer of His commandments and teaching...your goal...your mission, your purpose for living is for the whole world to hear about Him.
I had a leader tell me the other day...“As we get older our world gets smaller.”
I agree...it’s so easy for us to become more focused on our worlds because of natural changes...physical limitations, loss of friends and family, inability to drive or travel...I understand those difficulties in my mom’s life and my own.
It’s probably why the greatest man ever born, according to Jesus, not me...John the Baptist at the end of his ministry and life sent word to Jesus... “Are you the Messiah...or should we look for another?”
Persecution...prison...and life had caused John’s world to get small in a jail cell...with death by beheading in his near future.
Jesus responds...not with condemnation or chastisement...He understands but says:
LUKE 7:22-28 (p. 721)
Please realize John the Baptist is the last old covenant prophet. He is the introducer of Jesus and His new covenant...He calls for repentance in preparation...but salvation will come when the bridegroom ushers in a new union with His bride through the cross, the resurrection and the indwelling of His Holy Spirit...John would die under the law...after the resurrection and Pentecost...The New Covenant came into reality...the law was the shadow...the reality was the Savior it revealed.
Saul had met that Savior on a road to Demascus...Peter, James and John had experienced the resurrection and Pentecost...Barnabas and the others were disciples made under their ministries.
It’s just easy for a world to get small when we don’t have or don’t listen to Jesus’ Spirit. And Jesus understands that...so should we...If our worlds stop being about Him it’s easy to stumble in our faith...Jesus said.
“Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
In our lives we need spiritual leaders who focus on the big picture of salvation through discernment and Biblical truth...we need Christ followers who speak truth with love courageously...and how can we become those people and stay focused on this truth amid a world in conflict?
II. KEEP WORSHIP A PRIORITY IF YOU WANT TO HEAR FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT
In our text in Acts 13 we learn something really important from these godly prophets and teachers at Antioch...In the midst of a world and a community in turmoil like ours...Here’s what they did...
“While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said.” (v. 2)
God’s Spirit can speak to your spirit anytime...but during worship with others who are seeking His guidance is one of the most powerful.
Our world gets smaller when we begin to focus on self. God is magnified and His glory is made bigger in our lives when we worship Him.
Jesus, in His own words clearly said, “Our Father seeks worshippers who worship Him in Spirit and in truth. God is spirit and His worshippers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” (Jn. 4:23-24)
Church isn’t some place you go to fulfill a religious duty...even a place you do something in service, like care for the nursery or fix meals...our first priority is to worship...it’s why our forefathers met on the first day of the week. It’s where we exhibit and magnify our Lord.
It’s where we lift Him up...and His Spirit speaks to ours...only when this is a priority can the world be conquered and our lives have power.
If you avoid worship or have no desire to connect with God and others in this powerful way...then whatever you’re doing is about you and it’s not about Him...It’s why scripture says.
HEBREWS 10:19-25 (p. 843)
We enter through the blood of Christ, we connect with God sincerely, it keeps us faithful to our real purpose, it encourages others (including your preacher and leaders). If we really are looking forward to Jesus’ return so we can worship Him face to face...we should do it “all the more” in preparation.
Worship isn’t about liking the preacher, or the style of service...it’s about coming into the presence of God, through the blood of Christ so there can be unity and the Holy Spirit can say.
III. NOW GO OUT INTO THE WORLD
The Holy Spirit spoke guidance to worshipping prophets and teachers...and what He said to them was
“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I’ve called them.”
I’m pretty sure it wasn’t a flashing neon sign or parchment from heaven that the Holy Spirit used to reveal His plan...it was an inward spiritual discernment “voice” that brought about this plan.
By the way...this fasting they’re doing is so they make God’s speaking more important than even food. It’s not a diet...but a time that says...God hearing from you is more important than even my meals...As your stomach rumbles it triggers your soul to pray for what you really need...God!!!
Barnabas and Saul were called by God to be His first missionaries to the Gentile world...To begin the calling that went beyond Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria...to the whole world.
It’s what led Charlie & Betty to Africa...discipling Denford Chizanga with Africa Development Mission in Zimbabwe...Don and Aleta Hulsey, my friends and a mission we support to do the same. It’s what drove us to partner with the Navajo Indian Mission and Dennis Herko and his family in Jamaica. This calling is why we give almost $20,000 a year to Russell Cave impacting the African American community and Mission Journeys to “reach out to Kentucky and the world...It’s why we believe sharing the Word of God in new languages through Pioneer Bible Translators is worthy of our gifts...and I haven’t mentioned our local outreaches...including Iglesia Nueva Vida, Assurance Pregnancy Help Center, Blue Grass Christian Camp and Sayre Christian Village. Somewhere around 17% of our total budget is missions to help those called to witness so the whole world can hear the good news of a Savior.
[I will never forget the night at camp when I dedicated my life to full time Christian ministry...I know God had called me to share my life in a ministry to students and young people...standing at that campfire with Brewster and my friends...I knew it was “a calling.” I knew the Holy Spirit was moving me, to “GO.” I had no idea what all that would mean...and all the places He would take me, but I know this without a doubt...If you and I have been saved...we have been saved for a purpose...and that purpose is to witness to a world in conflict that there is hope...there is a Savior...there is abundant life and joy...and if we are not being obedient to “go” to where He’s called us, whether it’s Africa or Refuge for Women there will be no joy...because we are not fulfilling the will of God for our salvation...but if we are serving God through our life experiences and our testimony...then no matter what happens in this worldly kingdom, we will have joy because the kingdom of God is in us...and our king is pleased.]
Let’s pray.
