Jealousy: A Stumbling Block to Gospel Ministry.

English Standard Version (Chapter 13)

1 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 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.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

English Standard Version (Chapter 13)

13 Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem, 14 but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.” 16 So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said:

“Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen.

English Standard Version (Chapter 13)

36 For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, 37 but he whom God raised up did not see corruption. 38 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. 40 Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about:

41  “ ‘Look, you scoffers,

be astounded and perish;

for I am doing a work in your days,

a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.’ ”

42 As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath. 43 And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.

44 The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. 46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,

“ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,

that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”

48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. 50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Passage Outline

vs. 1-3 The call to gospel ministry.

vs. 13-16 The place of gospel ministry

vs. 36-39 The gospel of forgiveness apart from the law.

vs. 40-41 A warning against unbelief

vs. 42-43 Many Jews believe

vs. 44-46 The religious leaders stumble in jealousy

vs. 47-49 The gospel extends to the Gentiles

vs. 50 Jealousy festers into persecution

vs. 51-52 The gospel ministry continues through the joyful, Spirit filled.

Main Point

Ordinary God-fearing church-people will sooner participate in the enduring ministry of the gospel than the religious elite and leadership who are jealous.

Homiletical Outline

Enduring gospel ministry

The roots: the church and the Spirit

The heart: the gospel

A stumbling block: Jealousy

Intro Discussion

Jealousy in the world, the church, gospel ministry. Is there a holy jealousy we can employ as Christians? Jealous ambition vs. Holy ambition.

Point 1

The roots: the church and the Spirit

Text

English Standard Version (Chapter 13)

1 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 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.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

Discussion

By observation: How would you describe the context and character of Paul and Barnabas’s sending into the gospel ministry?

Explanation

A church is present. Believers are gathering.

Multiple gifted men are present.

They are worshipping and fasting. There is holy reverence and fear for God among them.

The Holy Spirit is present and active among them.

Fasting and prayer precedes the sending.

The church appoints and sends by the Spirit’s leading.

The Spirit is the one who sends the minister.

Illustration

Application

How often do we seek feedback? I need to be first to admit I have not done this well.

Do our peers affirm our ambitions for ministry?

Do we submit our ambitions to God in prayer?

Point 2

The heart: the gospel

Text

13 Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem, 14 but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.” 16 So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said:

“Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen.

.....

32 And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, 33 this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm,

“ ‘You are my Son,

today I have begotten you.’

34 And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, qno more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way,

“ ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’

35 Therefore he says also in another psalm,

“ ‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’

36 For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, 37 but he whom God raised up did not see corruption. 38 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.

Explanation

Paul is invited to provide a word of encouragement to the Jews and proselytes.

“Do I have a Word of encouragement?!? I have the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

The law and the prophets have just been read and Paul proceeds to summarize the law and cite the Isaiah the prophet so as to help everyone understand all of the Law and the Prophets have been anticipating Christ!

He emphasizes the fundamental problems we face: sin and death.

David died and faced corruption. Christ is risen.

In Christ’s resurrection there is forgiveness and freedom from those who believe?

Enduring gospel ministry continually addresses the enduring curse and calamity humanity faces: sin and death. The only faithful address to the reality of our sinful condition is the proclamation of the gospel. Anything else is either a mistreatment or misdiagnosis of a deadly disease.

Discussion

What might ministry look like from a misdiagnosis of the disease? … a mistreatment of the disease?

Illustration

Application

Point 3

A stumbling block: Jealousy.

Text

40 Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about:

41  “ ‘Look, you scoffers,

be astounded and perish;

for I am doing a work in your days,

a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.’ ”

42 As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath. 43 And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.

44 The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. 46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,

“ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,

that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”

48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. 50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Explanation

Throughout the remainder of chapter 13 we see the gospel enduring and going forth, but there are some who stumble over there own jealousy and are unable to participate in the spread of the gospel.

There’s nothing external which disqualifies them. The Jews and Greeks have all come to hear Paul preach, and many are responding.

The gospel also isn’t hindered by the inability of the elite to recognize it. It still goes forth.

The one recognizable thing that disqualifies them from participating is jealousy.

Application

We do not find ourselves as unbelievers looking at believers participating in a fruitful ministry or growing influence and are tempted toward jealousy. We are however perhaps tempted to look at the ministry of our brother in Christ and be tempted to jealousy. Paul in Philippians describes such a scenario.

English Standard Version Chapter 1

15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.

Paul describes a man who proclaims Christ out of ‘selfish ambition’ and kind of competitive preaching that is vying to be the best or reach the top of some corporate ladder like the world would.

The Holy Spirit is absolutely able to use the gospel proclaimed from a jealous, selfish ambitious person, but at the end of the day jealousy and selfish ambition work to glorify ourselves rather than Christ. That is not a pursuit the Holy Spirit will bless. Using God for our own personal gain is an unwise pursuit. The Holy Spirit is devoted to the glory of Christ!

Illustration

Fuel, spark, and air.

Discussion

How then do we avoid this stumbling block of jealousy?

Summary/ Conclusion

In closing, I believe that if we desire to be participants in the enduring gospel ministry of the church and the Holy Spirit, we need

Good roots

Be in a healthy church

Submit ourselves to the Lord in prayer

Submit ourselves to one another

The right message: the gospel.

A proper biblical diagnosis of the human condition demands only one treatment. The Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Let’s pray.