Dover Assembly of God
Last week we ended the account of Peter being released from jail as a result of the small group church praying fervently for him.
The keyword there is fervently, not just a flippant prayer and we’re done.
If we want God to move, we need to be fervent in our prayer life.
We’ll see that again in this next account. Acts 13 is the beginning of Paul’s first missionary journey. He has a total of 4 journeys and in each journey he writes to the churches. These are the books in the Bible that bear the names of the churches he writes to.
The timeline looks like this.
1) He attend the Council of Jerusalem in Acts 15.
2) He writes his first letter to the church in Galatia-Book of Galatians
But today we are going to see how he got his start.
Acts 13:1 NIV
Remember this is the break from the Jewish Christians. This is where the believers were first called “Christians”.
God would be starting his mission to the Gentiles. The Jews for the most part had rejected it, so now God was reaching the Gentiles.
The center of ministry up to this point was Jerusalem with Peter as it’s leader, but here on out it would be Antioch with Paul as the leader.
We believe that every church has enough people within it’s ranks to accomplish what God wants to do. It’s up to us whether or not we heed that call.
This was a new church, but yet, it already had people that God would use. These men were building the foundation of that church. They were teaching and training the newbies that were getting saved.
Because it is about making disciples.
Acts 13:2 NIV
As we spend time in worship and deny ourselves during a fast, we become sensitive to the move of the Holy Spirit.
The message was probably given by one of the people there that God spoke through, not unlike when God speaks through one of us.
It’s always when we are in an attitude of worship. Again, God using people to do His will.
Notice that when the Holy Spirit spoke it wasn’t to tell them something that they had not been praying and had knowledge of.
Paul already knew his call.
Acts 9:15 NIV
And Barnabus was already with Paul and knew he would be his helper. Also, their call was to preach the gospel. It was not to do any social or political work.
They were called to include practical acts of kindness and love along with the gospel, just like Jesus did.
Acts 13:3 NIV
Whenever we attempt something of faith that God is leading us to, we should take some serious time to pray and fast about our decision, but then we have to make a choice to go.
You can’t just pray forever and not choose, or not go.
There has to be a point of confirmation in your spirit. And in some instances, like Peter’s last week, God will lead you to a choice, and leave you to use your mind to make it.
The angel brought Peter out of jail and left him in the middle of town. Peter now had to decide on his own, using what knowledge he had, what to do next.
The point is, you can’t just delay what God is calling you to do by saying you are praying about it.
Yes, take time to pray about it, but don’t use that as an excuse for inaction.
Acts 13:3-5 NIV
This is the beginning of their missionary trip. It tells us that the Holy Spirit sent them on their way, but it doesn’t tell us that the Holy Spirit directed them to Seleucia or to Cyprus.
Barnabus was from Cyprus, so it’s safe to assume that they started in a familiar location, then branch out to the unknown areas.
When God is directing us, it’s ok to start with something familiar then call us to go to the unfamiliar, using your experience there.
We gain knowledge and confidence while cutting our teeth in the familiar so we can call upon it in the unfamiliar.
They picked up John Mark on their way. John was Barnabus’ cousin and some feel that Peter led him to Christ. John was there to help them with tasks that allowed Paul and Barnabus to preach.
He had the gift of helps!
Acts 13:6-7 NIV
Invariably when we are doing the will of God, you will encounter people who the enemy will use to stop you or dissuade you.
Many times it will be people who are close to you, or close to the folks you are helping.
Where God will do the miraculous, the enemy will try to counterfeit what God does.
Guaranteed, that you will face opposition when you are doing the will of God.
Acts 13:7 NIV
There are people out there who are deceived, but they really want to know the truth. It’s just what they have been hearing or have been taught is what they think is right.
We should pray for opportunities to share the truth with them.
This guy, the proconsul, also, since he was the ruler in that town, needed to hear for himself what these guys were teaching.
They were making their way around town, people were gathering, so he needed to know what they were saying.
So when it says he sent for them, it probably wasn’t a request.
Acts 13:8 NIV
If you are facing difficulty or opposition, chances are good that the enemy is trying to turn you from the faith.
If you are involved in a ministry or something you feel called of God to, you will have seasons of hardship and opposition.
For me, that is a good sign that you are being successful.
Acts 13:9 NIV
From here on out, Luke uses the name of Paul, not Saul. Saul was obviously a Jewish name, same as King Saul.
Since he was now going to be in the Gentile world, his name would change to a gentile (Greek) name.
Acts 13:9-10 NIV
Paul was also baptized in the Holy Spirit prior to this, but it tells us that we will need fresh fillings of the Holy Spirit.
We will need them when faced with that opposition, advancing the gospel and in challenging the enemy’s authority.
Paul had the gift of discerning of spirits. And the gift of prophecy. He knew the power behind this guy, and he knew what God was going to do.
Acts 13:11 NIV
God does the miraculous to verify his authority and power.
Most times they are healings and positive things, but sometimes they are negative and judgmental.
Last week we saw Herod coming under judgment, we saw Ananias & Sapphira get judged and now we see this guy’s being blinded.
Both instances are for the welfare of the church and the advancement of the gospel.
Acts 13:12 NIV
God uses the miraculous to draw people to himself.
Since God is still in the business of saving people and he will use the miraculous to validate his WORD, in order to accomplish it, we should pray, share and live in constant expectation of the next thing God is going to do.