Acts: The Gospel Unleashed Part 22
Notes
Transcript
“We must be global Christians with a global vision because our God is a global God.”
John Stott
World Missions is the responsibility of the local church.
World Missions is the responsibility of the local church.
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.
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.”
Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
MAP of Antioch and Cyprus
MAP of Antioch and Cyprus
Global Missions is primarily the job of every local church. David Platt
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
As a church we are responsible to discern the voice of God collectively.
As a church we are responsible to discern the voice of God collectively.
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.”
As a church we are responsible for sending the gospel out emphatically.
As a church we are responsible for sending the gospel out emphatically.
Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
Commission!
As a church we are responsible for gospel proclamation despite Satanic opposition.
As a church we are responsible for gospel proclamation despite Satanic opposition.
So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them.
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.
He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.
But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.
But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him
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?
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.
Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
When we proclaim the gospel some will be receptive.
When we proclaim the gospel some will be receptive.
When we proclaim the gospel some will be resistant.
When we proclaim the gospel some will be resistant.
Resistance doesn’t change our responsibility.
Resistance doesn’t change our responsibility.
“In verse 9 Luke writes, “But Saul, who was also called Paul…” Why did Luke start referring to Saul as Paul? Notice, this is not a new name given to Paul. The text says he was already “called Paul.” Thus, Paul’s parents probably gave him several names at his birth. Saul would have been his Jewish name, while Paul was his Roman name. Luke shows the reader that Saul, now Paul, will have a mission which increasingly departs from Jewish lands and people, and ventures into the Gentile world. Paul will live as the grand missionary and apostle to the Gentiles.”