The Father, Son and Holy Spirit Go to Work (Acts 13)
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Do you get up and go to work? To school? Do you get up and have responsibilities?
Have you ever thought about God going to work? He’s always working and today we get to see the work of the risen Lord Jesus, through his working people, by the power of the Holy Spirit who is at work, to accomplish the will of the Father who is always at work in the world.
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.
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.
9 But 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.
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.
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.
18 And for about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness.
19 And 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.’
23 Of 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.’
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,
31 and 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, “ ‘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,
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.
Sent from Antioch
The Holy Spirit (13:2,4,9,52)
Holy (13:34-35)
Set apart - 13:2; ;
helper - hypereten
13:6 - magos - magi - counselor, gentleman, false sorcerer (context)
13:7 - helper vs attendant
Roman name Paul - Jewish name Saul
13:10 - 2nd of 4 demonic accounts
Bar Jesus - Son of YHWH is salvation - tried to block the salvation of a gentile
13:11-12 - a gentile named Paul coverts and a Jew is blind - a description of the greater picture
There is now a new transition in the Book of Acts - Paul leads the mission to the gentiles
First miracle and first sermon
13:15 - share a message of encouragement for the people - Jews and gentiles
13:43 - devout converts to Judaism - BKC - worshipers (pagan worshipers of YHWH)
5 times 13:30-31 - witnesses (2:32; 3:15; 5:32; 10:39-41)
13:33 - raise up (anestimi) - exaltation
13:38-39 - forgiveness of sins (2:38; 5:31; 26:18)
The message of Paul
1 - History has a purpose - it points to Jesus. History is not aimless - it is His Story
2 - God keeps his promises
The ministry of Paul
1 - proclaim, see fruit, see opposition, stay faithful, see fruit
📷
(1) The Holy Spirit is working in the Church. Is He working in your life?
The Holy Spirit (13:2,4,9,52)
17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Ephesians
17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
The doctrine of sanctification - becoming like Jesus through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is God’s personal agent in your life to lead you, guide you, empower you. Through the Bible he wants to speaks to you and reveal to you what you should and shouldn’t be doing. As you immerse yourself in the word, He will then poke you and prompt you and bring up within you thoughts and words and decisions. But you have to be filled with the word of God in order to have the Spirit of God work in your heart and your mind and your life. Anything else is simply emotionalism and personal opinion. (I think we should do this!)
Are you seeking the Spirit’s leading in your life? Are you allowing the Spirit to fill you? Are you experiencing the joy and the fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life?
(2) Jesus wants to rule the hearts of men and woman. Are you letting Him rule your heart?
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.’ ”
Acts 13:
Acts 13:48
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.
52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Proclaimed to YOU
Everyone who believes
Beware - a warning to not neglect this great salvation
Will you let Jesus into your heart?
(3) The Father works to accomplish His will. Is He working in your life?
Set apart - 13:2; ;
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.”
15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace,
1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,
37.97 ἀφορίζωb: to set aside a person for a particular task or function—‘to appoint, to set apart for.’ ἀφορίσατε δή μοι τὸν Βαρναβᾶν καὶ Σαῦλον ‘set apart for me Barnabas and Saul’ Ac 13:2.
17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.”
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.
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 30.92 ἐκλέγομαι; ἐκλογή, ῆς
30.92 ἐκλέγομαιb; ἐκλογήa, ῆς f: to make a special choice based upon significant preference, often implying a strongly favorable attitude toward what is chosen—‘to choose, choice.’
ἐκλέγομαιb: οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ υἱός μου ὁ ἐκλελεγμένος ‘this is my Son, whom I have chosen’ Lk 9.35; ὁ θεὸς τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου Ἰσραὴλ ἐξελέξατο τοὺς πατέρας ἡμῶν ‘the God of this people of Israel chose our ancestors’ Ac 13:17.
ἐκλογήa: ἵνα ἡ κατ’ ἐκλογὴν πρόθεσις τοῦ θεοῦ μένῃ ‘in order that God’s purpose according to his choice might remain’ or ‘in order that God’s choice (of one son) might be completely the result of his own purpose’ Ro 9:11; κατὰ δὲ τὴν ἐκλογὴν ἀγαπητοί ‘because of (God’s) choice, they are his friends’ Ro 11:28; πορεύου, ὅτι σκεῦος ἐκλογῆς ἐστίν μοι οὗτος τοῦ βαστάσαι τὸ ὄνομά μου ἐνώπιον ἐθνῶν ‘go, because I have chosen him to serve me, to make my name known to Gentiles’ Ac 9:15.
Acts 1:17
20 All this took about 450 years. And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.
Acts 13
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.
37.98 δίδωμιe: to assign a person to a task as a particular benefit to others—‘to appoint, to assign (on behalf of).’ μετὰ ταῦτα ἔδωκεν κριτάς ‘after this he appointed judges (for them)’ Ac 13:20. It may be possible in some languages to render δίδωμι in Ac 13:20 as ‘he gave them judges,’ but more frequently it is necessary to use a phrase such as ‘he appointed judges to rule over them.’
History is not an accident - you are not an accident
History is not an accident - you are not an accident
God is purposefully working and choosing and seeking to appoint - are you waving your arms at God - When God says whom shall I send are you saying send me? Are you being faithful in your own quiet way and being the kind of person that the Father can whisper to and prompt and call on at His appointed time?
Give your life to Jesus completely
Fill your life with the word of God so that the Holy Spirit can fill you and speak to you
Ask the Father what you should be doing, ask him to show you where you should serve, who should you witness to, how can you make a difference in even one person’s life, ask Him to show you at least one thing you can be doing to build His Church.