You Can Lead A Horse To Water...
Notes
Transcript
This morning we are picking back up in our study of the Book of Acts.
If you’re new to our church today, it would be helpful for you to know that we practice a form of preaching called “Expository Preaching”.
What that means is we believe the Bible is best taught by taking books of the Bible, and then breaking them down from beginning to end, chapter by chapter, verse by verse, in order to understand what the Bible is saying and what it means in our lives today.
With that said, we are currently working our way through the book of Acts. A NT book written by a First Century Disciple named Luke, who wrote it for two primary reasons:
First, to give us a history of the church. How it started, who started it, and the circumstances that surrounded it.
Second, to give us a template for how to accomplish the mission Jesus gave us to take the Gospel to the entire world.
So, if you haven’t been with us, I would encourage you to go to www.mcf.life where you can listen to previous messages in this series.
Today however, we are back in as Luke continues the Missionary Journey of the Apostle Paul.
You may recall last week we left off as Paul and Barnabas led a high ranking Roman official named Sergius Paulus to faith in Jesus. A conversion that was met with great opposition by a man named Bar Jesus. A man that Luke says was a Magician and Jewish False Prophet.
But as we learned last week, Bar Jesus was no match for the Apostle Paul.
Why not? Was it because Paul was smarter? Was it because Paul was more educated? Was it because Paul was a better communicator? No. It was because unlike Bar Jesus, Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Meaning, he was supernaturally empowered by the Holy Spirit to deal with the situation. An empowerment that Jesus promised to give those who are committed to sharing the Gospel. An empowerment that is available to any Christian who desires to be used by God in order to reach and lead people to Jesus. Jesus puts it like this:
11 And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
And so because Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit, he was able to overcome his opponent.
And the fact is, if we are filled with the Spirit, it will be very difficult for the enemy to stop us as well. Because when a church and its people are operating in the power of the Spirit, the enemy loses his advantage as God’s Spirit works in and through us.
And so because Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit, Bar Jesus didn’t stand a chance.
So, with his mission complete
So, that’s where we left off last week as Paul and Barnabas wrap up their time on the Island of Paphos.
Today then begins a new adventure for Paul and Barnabas as they travel to a new region and a new city. A city where they will once again lead many to Jesus while at the same time facing great opposition.
So, to get us started, and help us get our hearts and minds around this next story, I want to begin by asking you a question. A question that I think will help lay some framework for what we are about to read.
Question - How many of you have every heard the saying, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink”?
Sure, I think we’ve probably all heard that saying, right? So, let me ask you this, “What exactly does that phrase mean?”
Well, what it basically means is, you can give someone an opportunity but you can’t force them to take the opportunity, even though it would probably be in their best interest.
For example, maybe you have a friend that is looking for a job, and so you go out of your way to find a job that fits their skill level, you even put a good word in for them and arrange an interview for them. But on the day of the interview, they don’t show up.
Picking back up in , Luke writes:
For that person it could be said, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink”.
Let me ask you something, “Have you ever dealt with somebody like that?” Somebody that you were trying to help. Somebody that you went out of your way for, but in the end, they dismissed your help or ignored your advice.
Yeah, I’d say we probably all have experienced that.
The reason I ask you to consider this phrase, is because as we come back to today, that’s what Paul is dealing with as he shares the gospel with a new group of people. A group of people who are in desperate need of the gospel, but in the end refuse to drink from the tank of life that Jesus offers them.
And so, in order to understand what this passage is all about, and determine how it applies to our lives, I want to approach it from a couple of different angles.
First, In order to determine what Paul is facing, we’re going to walk through the passage step by step and answer three questions.
Question #1 - Who are these people Paul is trying to lead to Jesus?
Question #2 - How is Paul trying to lead these people to Jesus?
Question #3 - In the end, why do they oppose him and refuse to listen to him?
And then Second, after answering those questions, I want to close by asking and answering three questions:
Question #1- “How does Paul’s situation apply to our lives?
Question #2 - What does it look like for us to lead somebody to Jesus?
Question #3 - How should we respond when the people we’ve tried to lead to the truth refuse to drink.
Now, you might be thinking, “Pastor, what do you mean by refuse to drink?”
When I say that I’m referencing something Jesus said concerning those who come to Him. Listen to what He says in :
John 7:
37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ”
Jesus says He is the life source of life and salvation. And to drink from Him means to accept that He is Lord and make Him Lord of your life. And when I say Lord of your life, I’m talking about every part of your life, not just certain parts.
But here’s the challenge with that. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.
So, with that as our basis, let’s get started as Luke introduces us to this next story. Beginning in Luke writes:
Acts 13:13-
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.
We’re going to stop here for a second because in the initial part of this passage, Luke gives us enough information to answer our first question. The question beging, “Who is Paul trying to lead to Jesus?”
So, who are these people? Well, Luke just told us, because he says as they left Paphos they journeyed to the city of Antioch in Pisidia, which would have been a Greek/Gentile city. However, he says upon arriving there, the first place they went was the synagogue on the Sabbath day.
So, let me ask you this, “Who do you think Paul is trying to reach as he visits the Synagogue on the Sabbath day?”
Well, he’s trying to reach the Jews, right? Because that’s whose going to be at the Synagogue on the Sabbath day. In fact, that’s pretty much all that’s going to be there outside of a few Greek converts to Judaism.
So, what that tells us is the first people group Paul tries to reach in this Greek city is the Jewish population.
Now, a great question would be, “Why is Paul going there first. Because isn’t his focus in reaching Gentiles?”
It is, but as we learned a couple of weeks ago, regardless of the city he went to, he always started with the Jewish population first, and he did it for a couple of reasons:
#1 - Biblically speaking, the Jews were chosen by God to be the people group that the promised Messiah would come from. A promise that dates all the way back to the book of Genesis where God promises Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation, that through his offspring the promised Messiah would come.
That being the case, it would make sense that they would be the first to talk to since they are the direct decedents of that promise.
#2- By going to the Jews first, Paul knows there is common ground. Common ground in that they are all followers of God. Common ground in that they all believe in the OT scriptures. Common ground in that they are all seeking the Messiah. That being the case, by going to the Jews first he stands a good chance of establishing a strong foundation for a church if he can convince them that Jesus is the Messiah.
So, that’s why he goes there first.
Another detail I want to mention, is that Luke says on their journey to this new destination, John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem.
So, a great question would be, “Why does he leave them?” Honestly, we don’t know. What we do know is down the road this is going to become a point of contention between Paul and Barnabas, and so we’ll talk more about that when we get to it.
That being said, let’s keep reading as Paul now attempts to lead these Jews to faith in Jesus, which leads us to our second question, “How does Paul try and lead these Jews to Jesus?”
Acts 13:15-
Let’s find out. Picking up in verse 15, Luke writes:
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.
Acts 13:15-
Luke says after entering the Synagogue, Paul and Barnabas find a place to sit as the Sabbath service begins. A service that would have included a reading from the OT and an explanation of what was read. Very similar to what we do here at MCF.
But Luke says as the scripture is read, the rulers of the Synagogue, the pastors so to speak, ask Paul and Barnabas if they have anything to share. And apparently, without even thinking about it, Paul stood up, and he begins to speak by saying, “Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen.”
So, what’s going on here? What’s going on is Paul is about to preach a sermon. A gospel sermon. A sermon that is meant to lead people to faith in Jesus. So, what does he say?
We’re going to look at it, but just to give you a heads up, this is a long sermon, so we’re going to break it into three parts. The first part we’re going to call "The Promise”, the second “The Promise Fulfilled” , and the last “An Invitation to Receive the Promise”. So, let’s start with the Promise. Picking up in verse 17 Luke writes:
Acts 13:17-
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.’
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.’
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.’ ”
What I want you to notice first, is Paul begins his sermon by reminding his Jewish brothers of the promise God gave to Israel. A promise as we said a moment ago started with Abraham in the book of Genesis. But that’s not wear Paul picks up. Paul actually starts with the Israelites when they were slaves in Egypt, which would have been 400 years after the promise was given to Abraham.
So, why does Paul start there? He starts there for a couple of reasons.
#1 - While God has been working during the 400 years, it’s at this moment in Biblical history that God begins to move the ball forward rather rapidly, as God sends a man named Moses to lead the people out of Egypt.
#2 - Paul starts here as a reminder. A reminder that God is a God of faithfulness who is always true to His Word. That’s why Paul says:
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.
What Paul is referencing here is the story of the Exodus found in the OT book of Exodus. A story the Jewish people would have been well familiar with. A story that involved God nearly destroying the land of Egypt as Pharoah refused to let the people go.
A story that was meant to remind the Jewish people of God’s faithfulness. This now leads Paul to a second reminder. Verse 18:
So, where does Paul go from there? Let’s find out. Verse 18:
Acts 13:18-
18 And for about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness.
Paul then says it was an Exodu
Paul now references with wilderness journey. The 40 year period between the Israelites leaving Egypt and arriving in the Promised Land of Israel. Again, a well known Biblical fact for these Jews. And once again a reminder of God’s faithfulness. But Paul doesn’t stop there, he keeps going. Verse 19:
Acts 13:19-
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.’
“Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem, but they went on from Pera and came to Antioch in Pisidia...” (ESV)
Acts 13:16-2
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.’
Acts 13:
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.
Acts 13:
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.’ ”
12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’ ”
1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.
In all 4 gospels, but John’s gospel is closest match to what Paul says:
20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”
John 1: