SERIES: “LESSONS FROM THE EARLY CHURCH”
TEXT: ACTS 13:13-43 (Read with points)
TITLE: “BE ENCOURAGED”
INTRODUCTION: A. Andor Foldes was a great Hungarian concert pianist. He once recounted a kiss that
changed his life. He was 16 years old, and feeling very low because of an ongoing
conflict with his piano teacher, when Emil von Sauer visited Budapest. von Sauer was
a famous pianist, and the last surviving pupil of the another famous pianist: Franz
Liszt..
Von Sauer asked Foldes to play for him. A very anxious Foldes performed some of
the most difficult works of Bach, Beethoven and Schumann. When he had finished he
nervously awaited the great master’s response. Von Sauer got up from his chair,
walked over to Foldes, kissed him on the forehead and said, "My son, when I was
your age I became a student of Liszt. He kissed me on the forehead after my first
lesson, saying, ’Take good care of this kiss - it comes from Beethoven, who gave it me
after hearing me play.’ I have waited for years to pass on this sacred heritage, but now
I feel you deserve it." It was that kiss that changed Foldes life, and spurred him to
continue with his piano studies and playing even through the darkest periods of his life
B. Many of you are going through distressing times:
1. You’re facing health problems and physical disabilities
2. Some are facing problems concerning children or other family members
3. Others have lost a loved one in the recent past
4. Some maybe having a difficult time at work
5. Some maybe having a difficult time finding work
6. Maybe someone has wronged you
7. Maybe someone thinks you have wronged them
C. When you continue to have to fight against these kinds of problems; when your life is
constantly bombarded with difficulty it is common to suffer discouragement and
depression.
1. Depression is considered the #1 health problem in the US today
2. Over 200 million prescriptions have bee written just to threat the symptoms of
depression over the last few years.
3. Some have even estimated that as many as 1 out of every 3 people suffer from
some form of mental illness.
4. Considered telling a joke at this point in the message about depression or mental
illness but its just not a laughing matter to those who are hurting deeply.
D. Some great and famous people have suffered from great bouts with discouragement
and depression. Consider this person’s story:
At the age of seven, he had to go to work to help support his family. At age nine,
his mother died. At 22, he lost his hob as a store clerk. At 23, he went into debt and
became a partner in a small store. At 26, his partner died leaving him a huge debt.
By the age of 35, he had been defeated twice while running for a seat in Congress.
At one point in his life, he wrote in his journal that he struggled with a great
depression and could not see any reason for going on with his life – but he did keep
going. His faith was strong.
At the age of 37, he won the election for a congressional seat. At 39, he lost his bid
for re-election. At 41, his 4-year-old son died. At 42, he was rejected for a position as
a land officer. At 45, he ran for the Senate and lost. At 47, he ran for the Senate again
and lost again. At the age of 51, he was elected President of the United States.
During his presidency, there was a great Civil War and his country broke apart.
During his second term of office, he was assassinated. But his name lives on as one of
the greatest people in United States history – I’m sure you’ve figure out by now that
I’ve been talking about Abraham Lincoln.
H. The Bible gives us a number of reasons for hope during the times that we feel
pressured and trampled on; for the times when life just seems burdensome.
--In our passage this evening, I find 10 reasons for us to be encouraged in our walk
with Christ on this earth
I. BE ENCOURAGED: Even when people don’t do what you think they should
--Acts 13:13 – “From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them
to return to Jerusalem.”
A. Are you frustrated with someone this evening?
--Two things you need to understand
1. What you think is best might not be
2. What you think is best might be best but you can’t force people to make right decisions
B. John Mark
1. Acts 12:25 – “When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem,
taking with them John, also called Mark.”
2. Acts 13:4-5 – “The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and
sailed from there to Cyprus. When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the
Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.”
3. As verse 13 tells us, Mark quit the missionary journey and went back to Jerusalem.
a. Harder work than he expected
b. Scarier work than he expected
--“Facing the False Prophet”
4. Paul and Barnabas saw great promise in John Mark, but he cut out early in this first missionary
journey.
--They depended on John Mark for his help but he disappointed and frustrated them by being
unreliable.
a. People do things for various reasons
--Some for logical reasons; others for illogical reasons
b. We need to be careful
--We need to remember that in the course of our life that WE have disappointed and frustrated
people.
c. Paul and Barnabas split up over the issue of accepting John Mark back on the team for the second
missionary journey
--Be assured that they made up because in a later letter, Paul mentions his good relationship with
Barnabas and even John Mark
II. BE ENCOURAGED: When asked to give your testimony
--Acts 13:14-15 – “From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the
synagogue and sat down. 15After 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."”
A. People have seen something in you that is encouraging to them
B. Present your testimony the best way that you know how and then let God use your testimony to touch
others.
--Some of the most touching and meaningful messages I’ve heard have come from people who were not
professional public speakers
III. BE ENCOURAGED: Because God is in control
A. Acts 13:16-20 – “16Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: "Men of Israel and you Gentiles
who worship God, listen to me! 17The 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, 18he endured
their conduct for about forty years in the desert, 19he overthrew seven nations in Canaan and gave their
land to his people as their inheritance. 20All this took about 450 years.”
B. Is. 46:9b-11 – “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. 10 I make known
the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand,
and I will do all that I please. 11 From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to
fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do.”
IV. BE ENCOURAGED: Because God provides
--Acts 13:21-22 – “"After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. Then the people
asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years.
22After 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.’”
A. Phil 4:19 – “And my God will meet all of your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”
B. 1 Tim. 6:17 – “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their
hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God who richly provides us with
everything.”
C. Gen. 22 – Abraham asked to sacrifice Isaac.
--“God will provide” and named the place, “God will provide”
V. BE ENCOURAGED: Because God sent His Son
--Acts 13:23-25 – “"From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he
promised. 24Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel.
25As 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.’”
A. Gal. 4:4-5 – “But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under law,
to redeem those under law that we might receive the full rights of sons.”
B. Jn. 3:16-17 – “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in
Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the
world, but to save the world through Him.”
VI. BE ENCOURAGED: Because Jesus died for our sins
--Acts 13;26-29 – “"Brothers, children of Abraham, and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this
message of salvation has been sent. 27The 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. 28Though they
found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29When they had
carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb.”
A. Rom. 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
B. Rom. 6:23 – “For the wages for sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our
Lord.”
C. Rom. 5:8 – “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died
for us.”
D. What do those scripture verses teach us?
1. Everyone has sin in their life and sin separates us from God.
2. What we deserve (the payment for our work) is death because of our rebellion and disobedience to
God.
3. Christ died in our place
--He took the punishment for us
4. I owed a debt I could not pay. He paid a debt He did not owe.
VII. BE ENCOURAGED: Because Jesus rose from the grave
--Acts 13:30-37 – “But God raised him from the dead, 31and 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 33he 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.’ 34The
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.’ 35So 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. 37But the one whom God raised from the dead did not
see decay.”
A. 1 Cor. 15:14 – “If Christ had not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.”
1. Paul acknowledges that the resurrection is the most important even in Christianity
2. If the resurrection is not true then nothing about Christianity is true.
3. Yet, no one – I repeat, no one – has ever produced the dead body of Jesus!
a. The Jewish leaders couldn’t do it, the Roman officials couldn’t do it.
--If anyone could have pointed to a dead body, the fight would have been won.
b. It was the resurrected Jesus that provided so much hope and strength in the lives of the apostles.
--Why would they have suffered so much torture, persecution, and death for something that was
not true?
c. 1 Cor. 15:20 – “But Christ has indeed risen from the dead…”
C. The resurrection shows us that nothing is stronger or more powerful than God
--Not sin, not death, not even being buried after death
1. It shows us the truth of the biblical statement: “All things are possible with God.”
2. It also shows us that there is a better existence
--It’s a much better existence than living in this body in this world because God has promised a
place with Him for eternity.
VIII. BE ENCOURAGED: Because He forgives sins
--Acts 13:38 – “"Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is
proclaimed to you.”
A. God is not just a God of righteousness, judgment, and justice
--He is a God of mercy, grace, and forgiveness
1. Neh. 9:17b – “But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and
abounding in love…”
2. Ps. 86:5 – “You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to You.”
3. 1 Jn. 1:9 – “IF we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us
from all unrighteousness.”
B. Satan is called the “accuser of the saints” in Rev. 12:10
1. Satan wants to point out our failures and our unrighteousness
2. God wants to point out that forgiveness of sins is readily available to those who trust in Jesus
Christ and His death on the cross.
IX. BE ENCOURAGED: Because God gives you a choice
--Acts 13:39-41 – “Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be
justified from by the law of Moses. 40Take 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.’"
A. God has given us a free-will.
--We are not robots nor are we conscripted into loving and serving Him.
B. Josh 24:15 – “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day
whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the
Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD ."”
C. Jn. 7:17 – “If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God
or whether I speak on my own.”
X. BE ENCOURAGED: Because God wants to have a relationship with you that will never end.
A. Think back over relationships in your life that have ended: girlfriend or boyfriend; neighbor; relative;
spouse; friend
1. Human relationships end because we are imperfect
2. Our love is imperfect. Our patience is imperfect. Our mercy and forgiveness are imperfect.
B. A relationship with God can last for eternity
1. Not because of anything we do
--It’s because God’ love is perfect. God’s grace and mercy are perfect. God’s forgiveness is perfect.
2. Take a few short minutes sometime and read Ps. 136.
a. Just in the psalm alone, the statement “His love endures forever” is repeated 26 times!
b. Every verse in Ps. 136 mentions that God’s love is forever
3. Rom. 8:38-39 – “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the
present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will
be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
CONCLUSION: A. Be encouraged!
1. God loves you
2. God cares what happens in your life
--Life has meaning and purpose because of His love for us!
3. Paul clearly understood that concept when he wrote in Phil 4:13 – “I can do all things
through Him who strengthens me!”
B. Two adventuresome teenage boys who were good friends liked to go cave exploring.
On one of their expeditions, they were inside of a cave that neither of them had been in
before. As they slowly walked through one of the long, cavernous tunnels, they saw what
appeared to be huge bear tracks. They bravely decided to keep going, but moved ahead
even more cautiously, keeping their eyes and ears open for a bear.
Suddenly, from around a bend in the tunnel, the biggest, meanest-looking grizzly bear
lumbered out into the open. He stood there and growled and then roared the loudest roar
they had ever heard. Scared to death, the two boys immediately turned and ran back
toward the cave entrance.
NO matter how fast they ran, it seemed as if the bear was catching up. All of a sudden
one of the boys flopped to the ground and took his hiking boots off. He then reached into
his knapsack and pulled out a pair of running shoes. His friend was watching in disbelief.
He said, “Come on, man! Let’s get out of here! Why are you changing shoes! We don’t
have that much of a chance to outrun this bear anyway!”
His buddy jumped to his feet and started to run. He yelled back over his shoulder, “I
don’t have to outrun the bear. All I have to do is outrun you!”
1. Do you feel like life treats you like bear bait?
--Do your friends bail out on you just when you need them the most?
2. Heb. 13:5-6 – “…God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." 6So
we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do
to me?"”
