The Power of a Calling

The Power of a Calling

Good morning church family. I am so glad to see all of you here in the house of the Lord. Today we will be in Acts Chapter 13 verses:1-19. But before we start can you do me a favor and please greet someone close to you

Again my name is Juan Cordero and I am the Lead Pastor at Mission Church. If you are visiting us for the first time today, I want to welcome you personally to Mission Church. You don't have to be a member of our church to be here. We encourage you to come and meet with us let us love on you and have gospel conversations with you. We pray that you might encounter Jesus and the Holy Spirit as you come and listen to the preaching and teaching of God's Word with us.

We are in week 20 of our sermons Series called "To The Ends of The Earth" This morning we will be in Acts 13:1-52

For those of you taking notes the title of my sermon is

The Power of a Calling

Family this morning we will see that God chose the Antioch church to be the main center for spreading His message across the world. God was prepared to share His Word with everyone. The first stages of the mission to spread the gospel had already begun. Jesus' followers had shared their message in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria. Now, it was time to reach out to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8).

This is an important warning for every church especially for us Church Family: You see God had selected a different church instead of the Jerusalem church to start the worldwide mission. The Jerusalem church was too focused on its own traditions and narrow views. Many of its Jewish members were biased and had negative feelings towards non-Jewish people. They were unwilling to fully commit to the mission of sharing the Gospel with everyone around the world. They didn't want to change their exclusive mindset or their prideful attitudes. As a result, God moved past the Jerusalem church and chose another church to lead His mission on earth.Lets look at how this begins.

Please get your Bibles or mobile devices ready as we will be in Acts Chapter 13:1-52 Please stand for the reading of God’s Word

Barnabas and Saul Sent Off ​1Now 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. Acts 13:1-3

Let me Set the Scene (Acts 13:1-3):

The church in Antioch was a diverse, Spirit-filled community where leaders from different backgrounds gathered. As they fasted and worshiped, the Holy Spirit called Barnabas and Saul for a special mission. Lets look at this leaders that are mentioned in scripture

1) Barnabas: he was a wealthy Cyprian 2) Simeon who was called Niger: from Africa. His name is also a Roman name which shows that he moved about in Roman society. 3) Lucius of Cyrene: he was one of the poor persecuted believers who had fled to Antioch for safety 4) Manaen: he was of the higher class of society, being a foster brother to Herod Antipas. 5) Saul of Tarsus who is Paul: he was one of the religionists of society.

Paul is mentioned last as though he was considered least important among the leaders. However, Paul’s deep love for the Lord and his driving commitment to the Lord’s cause would soon lead God to use Paul beyond imagination.

We see that the church was worshiping and fasting when the Holy Spirit spoke to them, setting apart Barnabas and Saul for a specific mission. The church didn’t question the call but laid hands on them and sent them—a model for how the church should function today.

Family we have experienced this same thing. As you saw your church leaders ordained and how the whole church laid hands on them. We followed the examples of the church in Acts.

Family this men chosen were men of prayer and fasting. The point is clear: God can use only those who sense the desperate needs of the world, those who can sense the needs so deeply that they will set food and everything else aside to seek God’s face.

But family How desperately God is still seeking men and women who will fill the gap as these men did. What a tragedy! We have seen Generation after generation that has rolled in upon the other and the world is still unreached.

Where are those... • who will be faithful in ministering right where they are?

Where are those... • who will be so concerned that they will set food and everything else aside for prayer? Acts 13:2.

Family, where do we stand? Will you join the men and women that God is calling, or will you be like the generations before you? Are you going to let time go by without making a difference? I encourage you to seriously reflect on this question and take a look at your heart to find the answer.

Lets continue with verses 4-12

4So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them. 6 When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. 7 He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

The servants of God were “sent forth by the Holy Spirit,” meaning they weren’t simply acting on their own ideas or feelings. They weren’t being sent out by the church or choosing missions as a career. Their mission came directly from the Holy Spirit, as noted in verse 4.

These faithful servants helped others become followers of Christ. Paul and Barnabas took John Mark with them, and he worked alongside them, learning and helping in any way he could, even though he was younger. However, John Mark eventually returned to Jerusalem, and it’s unclear why he left. Some believe he might have felt overwhelmed by the challenges of missionary work or struggled with the journey itself.

This pattern can often be seen in churches across America, where people start off strong in their faith, attend church, join small groups, and begin serving. But when things get difficult or inconvenient, they tend to fall away from their faith.

Many people think that coming to Christ will be easy and that God will fulfill all their desires, but I can assure you that is not true. Truly committing your life to Christ can cost you—friendships, family, jobs, and material possessions. God will remove anything that keeps you from getting closer to Him. However, the promise is that you will never be alone again. Trusting in Jesus means relying on His constant presence and support in life's challenges, so you are never truly by yourself.

Lets look a Jeremiah 31:3the LORD appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.

Just like John Mark found hope and redemption when he strayed from his faith, any believer can also return and be restored. Later on, John Mark came back and went on missions, and he did something significant that we still benefit from today—he authored the Gospel of Mark, which is one of the key books in the New Testament.

God's love remains constant, even when we wander away from Him. Like the Prodigal Son in Luke chapter 15, anyone who returns to God is welcomed back with open arms, no matter how far they've gone. The important point is that God never gives up on us; He actively seeks us out and rejoices when we come back to Him.

One of Paul's main missions was to mentor young men, and he often traveled with several disciples. Even during his journey, he had some disciples with him, even if they aren’t named in Acts 13:5.

Now, think about what Jesus meant when He commanded us to "make disciples." Isn’t He asking us to follow His example? What did Jesus do? He came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). He looked for people who were ready to commit their lives to Him. When He found someone willing to do this, He saved them and formed a close relationship with them, aiming to shape them in His image. The idea of "attachment" is essential; it truly captures what discipleship is about. Jesus built disciples by nurturing personal relationships, allowing them to observe His life and teachings. As they watched and listened, they absorbed His character and actions, which helped them follow and serve Him more closely. This is the example we should follow—it's not just about telling someone about Jesus; it’s about building relationships and sharing life with our brothers and sisters in faith.

Illustration:

When Paul and Barnabas reached Cyprus, they met Sergius Paulus, a Roman official who was interested in the gospel. However, they encountered Elymas the sorcerer, also known as Bar-Jesus, who tried to turn the governor away from Christ. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Paul confronted Elymas, calling him a “child of the devil” (v. 10).

This confrontation highlights the struggle between light and darkness, demonstrating the power of the Gospel to overcome falsehood. It is important to consider the judgment given by the Holy Spirit regarding Elymas. While many believers may be reluctant to judge others the way Paul did, such judgments are made through God’s Word and are meant for those who reject Him.

Elymas's immediate judgment is clear: he actively worked against the preaching of God’s Word and continually tried to prevent the governor from believing in Christ. There is a serious danger in stopping someone from accepting Christ, as indicated in Mark 9:42

Mark 9:42: “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.”

Elymas’s judgment was executed “by the hand of the Lord,” meaning it was God's power that delivered this punishment. This judgment was fair—blindness for his spiritual blindness, darkness for the darkness he chose to live in. Elymas, though a Jew with access to the Scriptures, had blindingly turned away from the truth. He intentionally chose to be a proponent of false doctrine while ignoring Christ's claims.

Being struck blind and needing others to guide him would undermine his claim to be a minister of light. It also served as a warning to him: he needed to repent or face eternal separation from God in darkness. (Acts 13:8)

Illustration Picture a person drowning, and a lifeguard swims to rescue them. Suddenly, a bystander jumps in, trying to pull them away from the rescuer. Paul recognized that Elymas was actively keeping someone from salvation—and he would not stand for it.

Application to Today:

· When the gospel is preached, opposition is inevitable. Many forces today—whether political, cultural, or spiritual—seek to keep people from the truth.

· Paul didn't argue with human reasoning; he confronted opposition in the power of the Holy Spirit. Do we rely on the Spirit’s power when faced with resistance?

· Elymas’ blindness was symbolic—those who resist God are spiritually blind. Today, many reject the gospel because they are blinded by sin, pride, or deception.

Now lets look a verses

Paul and Barnabas at Antioch in Pisidia 13 Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem, 14but 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. 17 The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. 18And for about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. 19And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance. 20 All this took about 450 years. And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. 21 Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22 And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ​‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’ 23Of this man's offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised. 24 Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’

Paul stands up and speaks to the audience in the synagogue, sharing the history of Israel and how God’s promises are fulfilled through Jesus. He stresses the importance of repentance and accepting Jesus as the Messiah.

From the beginning, God has been active in history, patiently dealing with the ways of Israel and humanity (see v. 18). Paul’s message closely mirrors what Stephen preached before him. He highlights how God has engaged with people throughout history, focusing on:

God's special relationship with Israel, showing His patience in dealing with human behavior. How God cared for humanity like a loving father throughout history (see Deut. 1:31).

Paul’s message highlights that God chose Israel as His people and delivered them from Egypt, where they had become comfortable and enslaved by a cruel Pharaoh. Despite their troubles, God loved and rescued them, supporting them in the wilderness with a cloud for shade during the day and fire for warmth at night, along with manna to eat. Even when the Israelites complained and rebelled, God continued to care for them. He helped them conquer Canaan, leading them to victory despite their lack of faith and obedience. After they settled the land, God appointed judges to lead Israel, raising them up to save the people when they turned away and faced attacks from other nations. God provided Samuel, the first of the great prophets and a judge, but Israel wanted a king like the other nations. God granted their request and gave them Saul, who seemed like the ideal choice because of his height, but when Saul failed to follow God’s will, He removed him and chose David as king. Jesus is regarded as the fulfillment of God’s promise to David.

John the Baptist announced the coming of the Savior, preparing the world for this significant event. God sent him to share the message of repentance through baptism. John declared that he was not even worthy of tying the sandals of the one coming after him, who would baptize with the Holy Spirit in a much greater way than he did with water.

26 “Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation. 27 For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. 28 And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29 And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead, 31and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. 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, Acts

“‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you.’ 34 And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no 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, 37but 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.’”

Jesus is the One whom God raised from the dead, and He is God's Son, born of a Virgin; He is the "Holy One" who did not decay, and through Him, people can have their sins forgiven. Everyone who believes in Jesus is made right with God, despite the fact that the Savior was rejected and crucified. God, however, raised Him from the dead, and there is strong evidence from eyewitnesses and close followers who could not be mistaken about this truth. Jesus alone has the authority to forgive sins because He died for them and has now risen again, living to grant forgiveness to all who seek it.

Acts 13:42-52

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. 46And 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. 47For 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. 52And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Responses to the Gospel (Acts 13:42-52):

The people's response to the gospel was varied. Some Gentiles were eager to hear more because they were tired of the immorality and injustices in their society, and their empty religions had left them unfulfilled. They were drawn to the Jewish belief in one Supreme Being and often attended Jewish services, even though they didn’t understand much of the Scripture. They hadn't been taught about the Scriptures growing up, nor did their friends or neighbors know much about it either, and their religions offered little truth about God while their society was far from godly. However, their hearts were touched by the gospel, and the Holy Spirit was at work within them, inspiring a desire for forgiveness of sins and justification from all things.

Many people today are unaware of the Scriptures and know little about the messages we share. They may not have had Christian parents or ever met genuine believers, so they haven't had the same opportunities to hear the gospel that some of us have experienced. Because of this lack of exposure, their hearts can be open and receptive to the gospel. When they hear the truth, the Holy Spirit can more easily convict and transform them than He can with someone whose heart has become hardened to the message of the gospel.

Lets see what happens next. They were filled with envy toward the preachers, Paul and Barnabas. The preachers were preaching a message that was meeting the needs of the people and the people were flocking to them. The regular priests and teachers (rabbis) were jealous of their success, for the people did not support their ministries like they were supporting Paul and Barnabas. Acts 13:42

Next, we see that the regular priests and teachers were filled with envy towards the preachers, Paul and Barnabas. The message they preached was addressing the needs of the people, and as a result, many were drawn to them. This made the priests and rabbis jealous because the people were supporting Paul and Barnabas far more than they supported their own ministries.

The servant of the Lord can expect rejection and opposition, just as he can expect openness and reception to the gospel. Acts 13:42

Rejection should not discourage us from sharing the gospel. Like Paul and Barnabas, we must remain faithful and rejoice when people are saved.

Conclusion

Acts 13 is a powerful example of how God calls, equips, and empowers His servants to spread the gospel.

Key Takeaways:

1. God Calls and Sends His People: The Holy Spirit directs missions.

2. Opposition is Inevitable but Overcome by God’s Power: Stand firm in faith.

3. The Gospel is for Everyone: Both Jews and Gentiles are invited to believe.

4. Rejection Should Not Discourage Us: Keep preaching with boldness.

Call to Action:

· Are you listening for God’s call in your life?

· Will you remain faithful even when facing opposition?

· Will you trust in Jesus alone for salvation?

Heavenly Father, We thank You for the power of Your Word and the example of Paul and Barnabas, who faithfully carried the gospel despite opposition. Lord, we recognize that You are still calling people today—to preach, to serve, to share Your truth. Help us to be attentive to Your voice, obedient to Your call, and courageous in the face of resistance.

For those who have not yet surrendered to You, open their hearts to receive the salvation found in Jesus Christ. For those struggling with fear or doubt, fill them with the boldness of the Holy Spirit. Let us not be silent but proclaim Your truth in a world that desperately needs it.

Strengthen Your church, Lord, that we may be like the church in Antioch—prayerful, Spirit-led, and mission-minded. We commit ourselves to Your will, and we trust that You will guide us as we go forth in obedience.

In Jesus’ mighty name, we pray. Amen.