Sermon – Believers Commissioned for Missions
Scripture Lesson Acts 13:1-4
“Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas, and Saul. 2 One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” 3 So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way."
Introduction - The First Missionary Journey as Barnabas and Saul Are Commissioned.
Taking the gospel to the end of the world required the Church to change. Each of us has the opportunity to change and grow until our very last breath. Every living thing must change to survive and fulfill its purpose. Change is necessary to life. If we are unwilling and refuse to change, we elect to live the balance of life in stagnation. Many lives could be drastically improved if people would only embrace change. To change, there must be a change of mind, a change attitude, a change of lifestyle and a change of direction. The church at Jerusalem had begun a good work but were slow to embrace change. Yes, they willingly sent representatives to Samaria and then to Antioch, but control was limited. The church at Jerusalem was basically a Jewish congregation whose background limited their vision for expansion. Yet the church with a vison for worldwide ministry, must embrace a broader vision. The book of Acts can be divided into three areas: The ministry of the church at Jerusalem, the ministry of the Church at Samaria and Antioch, and the ministry of the church to the world. In today’s lesson, we see the church in transition. This is the beginning of missionary ministry to spread of the gospel message around the world. Paul replaces Peter as the central figure in the book of Acts. This lesson begins the first of Paul’s three missionary journeys.
After delivering the famine relief money to the elders at Jerusalem, Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch. They took with them John Mark, a cousin of Barnabas. The Church at Antioch now became the base of operation for Paul's missionary ministry. Jerusalem was still the mother church, but the missionary church was Antioch. The Mother Church was basically Jewish, but the Missionary church was filled with men of diverse background. The diversity in the Church at Antioch shows the inclusive nature of this Missionary church. Acts 13 reveals the general makeup of the Church at Antioch. First listed was Barnabas, an open-minded Jew from Cyprus, who recognized that God was sending the gospel to everyone. Then Simeon, also a Jew, but his name "Niger" indicates that he was a black man, who moved in Roman circles. Some believe that he may have been the Simon who was compelled to carry the cross of Jesus. Then Lucius is mentioned, a man from Cyrene in North Africa. Manaen, an influential, well-connected Jew with friends in high places, for he was well educated and had been raised with Herod the Tetrach, actually Herod Antipas, who beheaded John the Baptist. Then there was Saul, a trained Jewish Rabbi who could speak seven different languages.
Two things stand out about this diverse church. First, they were people committed to the leading and working of the Holy Spirit, and secondly, they were gifted prophets and teachers who gave themselves to prayer and fasting, seeking God’s will for the next move of the church. At times, the church has been guilty of deciding, planning, and then asking God to bless their plans and ideas. These prophets and teachers were actively seeking God’s will, plan and direction for the Church. God, what is the plan? What is the next move? Read the following verse.
Acts 13:2 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."
God was getting ready to take His ministry to the next level. “Take it to the Next Level", today that phrase has become a common expression. What does it mean? What does it require? Do we have the right stuff to take ministry to the next level? The church at Antioch was positioned to take the gospel to the next level. In Acts 1:8 Jesus said, “ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. In the book of Acts, Chapters 1-7 deals with the gospel in the city of Jerusalem; chapters 8-12 deals with the gospel in Judea and Samaria; and Chapter 13 marks the beginning of taking the gospel unto the utmost part of the world, the whole earth.
Chapter 13 marks a clear change in the direction of the church. The church at Antioch were willing to embrace change. Many of us realize that change inevitable. Growing things must change. The Church must change to survive and fulfill their purpose. Change is necessary for the life of the church. If the church is unwilling to change, she elects to live the balance of her existence in stagnation. Many Churches could drastically improve their outreach, if only they would embrace change. Real change means a change of mind, a change of attitude, a change of style and sometimes even the environment or location. The church at Jerusalem had begun a good work, it would always be the foundation, God was on the move. I believe disruption comes so we will not become too satisfied and complacent. The pandemic brought about a disruption. The disruption brought about the need for change. One again, the church embrace change because God is on the move.
No matter where we choose to stop, remember God is on the move. God still on mission and His church still has a mandate. In the early days of Christianity, Jerusalem was the center of operations. But now God move his center of operations to Antioch. Why would God move the headquarters, his center of operations? Many historians and Bible scholars say that the Church at Jerusalem were narrow and restrictive in its focus. They were unsure about the limitations of the gospel message. They were reluctant to move too fast because they unsure of what it meant for their personal future. God simply moved on. God always moves on when a church loses its missions mindedness and compassion for souls. Many today have lost their mission mindedness, thinking only of themselves, pursuing self-gratification. Many fail to realize that the fulfilment they seek, the joy they hunger for is found in obeying the call and giving instead of receiving. That’s another lesson for another time.
Antioch was a newly formed nimble church, so God choose to use it as the launching pad to take ministry to the next level! Throughout history, God’s mission has been to take the Gospel message to the whole world that all could be saved. The book of Acts reveals God’s pattern for advances His mission and expanding His Church. God chose to use men. God began at Jerusalem with a small group of men, but they became narrow in their focus and God moved on. Then a fresh move of God began at Antioch with a small group of multicultural, multiracial men, devoted servants. God selected men who accepted the call and embraced His mission. There are several things that positioned the Church for missionary ministry. First, they were called out by God. Not every believer in the church at Antioch could be used for this special kingdom Expansion.
Acts 13:2 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."
God selected Barnabas, a Levite from the island of Cyprus, and cousin to John Mark. The name Barnabas means “son of Consolation” or “son of exhortation.” When we first learn of him, Barnabas had moved to Jerusalem, and acquired property there. He sold "a field," and contributed its price to the support of the poorer members of the church at Jerusalem. His unique gifts would be extremely valuable in carrying gospel to unknown regions of the world. Then God selected Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles who speak several languages. He was a visionary Christian statesman and strong evangelist with the shepherd heart. Paul grew up as a prominent citizen of Tarsus. The city of Tarsus surpassed all other universities, such as Alexandria and Athens, in the study of philosophy and educational literature. Paul was a well-educated, free born Jew with an expanded world view. God selected these two men for this special assignment.
In our zeal to share the gospel, we underestimate the importance of the call of God. God had uniquely gifted Barnabas and Paul for the beginning phrase of this ministry expansion. They were uniquely gifted with the right educational background, linguistics skills, openness with a consuming desire, physical strength and spiritual sensitive necessary for the assignment. I believe all the men in the church at Antioch were gifted, but not all were chosen for this special assignment. Not all believers can do effective street ministry. Not all ministers can plant new societies. As the saying goes, “If God guides, He will provide. If it’s God’s choice, it’s God invoice. If it’s God’s will, then its Gods bill.” The church at Antioch prayed and fasted, and then God selected Barnabas and Paul for the new expansion of the work. A side note, John Mark, who was a cousin to Barnabas chose to accompany them on their journey soon became homesick and turn back. Not everyone can be used in the pioneering stage of laying the groundwork for new ministry. God must select them. To be commissioned for missions, we must be prayerfully open.
1. These Believers Were Prayerfully Open.
The Believers at Antioch was open to God. They were opened to one another, and they were opened to Change. This church did not follow the exact pattern of the Church at Jerusalem. They used a leadership team of prophets and teachers to guide the church. They all expected to hear from God. They understood and appreciated their Jewish background but did not allow it to hinder the flow of the Spirit. They were opened to one another, appreciating the gifts and abilities of one another. Even though they were enjoying the fellowship, they were opened to the Holy Spirit. If we are going to be commissioned for mission, we must be prayerfully open.
Ac 13:l, 2a Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said....
Isa 43:18, 19 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
This church was willing embrace God doing something new. There are still some new things in God. God has new styles, new approaches, new songs, and even new dances. God never changes his standards, but his methods often change. Message and the mission are the same, but the methods always changed. Transportation is still transportation, but the methods of transportation has changed. Church is still the church, but its methods of reaching the masses have changed and will change. If we are going to be used today, we must embrace new effective methods of spreading the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Today, the church uses websites, social media, podcast, radio, television, books, tapes and CDs, a quarterly newsletter, giant screens, power point and a host of other things. Ministers are using every available means to spread the gospel. I believed Jesus would be using everything at his disposal, so did Paul and Peter. The Church at Antioch was open to new things. The church must remember to gather to glean and then scatter to sow. There is a time to gathering to learn and grow, but there must also be a time to scatter and sow. The church at Antioch was open to God and open to one another.
2. These Believers Recognized God’s Voice and Embraced The Door of Opportunity
Acts 13:2 “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.” The Church at Antioch was able to recognize God’s voice and embrace this new door of opportunity. They did not see their church as an end. Their church was a means to an end. God was calling leading members of their church to enter new harvest fields of kingdom enterprise. It would be a missionary journey, with little creature comfort, long days, sleepless nights, much opposition, relentless persecution, and suffering. It was an assignment full of possibilities. Barnabas and Paul saw it as a great door of opportunity. 1Co 16:9 Paul describes his work, “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.” Paul recognized it as "a great door for effective work." We must be prayerfully open to see the wonderful doors of opportunity in our generation. This commission would take these believers to many major cities and regions like Corinth, Ephesus, and Macedonia. God working with them confirming his word with signs and wonders. These were areas where few Christians would venture. Some cities were major financial and commercial center, rich and cultured. These cities were full of idolatry, wonders of the ancient world filled with immorality and legalized prostitution. Yet Paul saw these cities with thousands of lost souls as opportunities for the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The difference between a pessimist and an optimist is that a pessimist sees a problem in every opportunity…and an optimist sees an opportunity in every problem. God provides gifted ministers and wonderful ministry opportunities that lives can be touched with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Each believer must catch the vision of reaching the lost in their personal world and seize the opportunities by sharing the gospel with other as the Holy Spirit leads. Are you ready to do your part in this kingdom of God enterprise? I hope you hear His voice and embrace your opportunity.
3. These Believers Accepted the Challenge As Their Life’s Obligation.
Acts 13:3 "And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away."
The believers at Antioch embraced this new call of God as their life obligation. Barnabas and Paul became spiritual debtors. When the church had prayed for them and laid hands on them, they release them to the work. Barnabas and Paul accepted their new assignment as a divine obligation to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. I wonder if believers today feel an obligation to take the gospel to the world? Or do most believers leave it ordained the clergy? There was no ordained clergy in the church at Antioch, just prayerful believers who took the great commission seriously. Every believer has a part to play in carrying the gospel to all the world. If you cannot go, at least assist in sending some faithful evangelist. These believers accepted the mission as their life’s obligation.
Each believer has been uniquely gifted to fulfill their respective roles in the kingdom. I can’t do your part of the work for you, and you can’t do my part of the work for me. We are all called and commissioned to the work. Paul didn’t say here that “a great door” had opened for Barnabas and Timothy. Paul said “a great door has been open unto me.” He felt the obligation. He was obligated to God, to the church that sent him and to lost people everywhere. Paul embraced the mission and did the work. God is still opening doors, but it is our responsibility to go through them. Do we really care what happens to the unsaved people around you? Barnabas and Paul embraced the challenge by declaring, “Yes, we care and yes we can!” The church at Antioch was positioned and commissioned for missionary ministry because they were prayerfully open: open to God open to change, and open to one another. The church was positioned for ministry because they recognized the voice of God and His door of opportunity. The need was great, the crowds were massive, and the laborers were few. This church answered the call. They embraced the mission and accept the challenge as an obligation. Each person accepted their assignment as an obligation. Paul felt himself a debtor to Christ for all the grace he had received. Regardless of the opposition, Paul was willing to press on. He was willing to face opposition if necessary.
Ro 1:14-16 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. 15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
4. These Believers Faced the Problems, but Saw the Possibility in Every Problems.
They move in faith, willingly faced every problem because they could see the possibility. Whenever God moves, there are always people who want to oppose Him. Some oppose the work of God without realizing what they are doing. Others knowingly oppose the word of God and good. The first problem, Barnabas and Paul was Elymas, a sorcerer who withstood the faith and the Message of the gospel. Later, at Ephesus, it was open opposition from the worshippers of Diana and businessmen who made their living by selling idols of Diana. Opposition will always come from outside forces that resist the advancement of Christ and His Kingdom message. Then came opposition from within the movement. Immature Christians who will oppose other Christians because of the lack of knowledge. Paul and Barnabas were opposed by Jewish Christians who should have been glad to see the spread of this new movement. God was working among the Gentiles was a concept that many Christian Jews could not receive. Barnabas and Paul pressed on because the saw the possibility in every problems and souls were added to the kingdom.
But perhaps the worst opponents of the gospel today, we face is not persecution from our enemies from without or within, but its nominal Christians who hear the messages, understand the mission, see lost people, but do nothing to make a difference. Those who never ask themselves, “What am I doing to make a real difference in our church, our community, our work, our school?” Am I really a soldier of the cross? Maybe it is time to Re-Think our assignment.
Those commissioned for the mission are Christians prayerfully open to God, open to change, open to one another; Christians, who recognized the voice of God, His door of opportunity, see the need, value people and will seize the moment. Christians who are positioned for ministry will embraced the opportunity and accept the challenge as an obligation. Finally, Christian believers must expect opposition and be willing to work and press on despite the opposition.
All kinds of doors will open before sincere Christians. Christians must prayerfully consider every opportunity. Some are just distractions. Others are good ideas masquerading as God ideas designed to consume precious resources. There will be opponents, from within and without, but Christians should not meditate on the problem, they must seize the opportunities within the problem. Christian must choose to be a part of the solution, not the problem. I choose to do my part! I choose to be open to the Holy Spirit and to other Christians; I seek to hear God’s voice and recognize His doors of opportunity: I choose to embrace that opportunity as a divine obligation; and I choose to do my part in the Kingdom of God even in the face of opposition. As born again believers we are commissioned for missions. Amen
