How God Makes a Missionary
Notes
Transcript
1) Surrounded (Acts 13:1-5)
1) Surrounded (Acts 13:1-5)
As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted...
a) By those who Showed a Godly Example (Acts 13:1-3)
a) By those who Showed a Godly Example (Acts 13:1-3)
i) Barnabus- Son of Consolation/Exhortation-
i) Barnabus- Son of Consolation/Exhortation-
And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
ii) Simeon that was called Niger
ii) Simeon that was called Niger
most likely from Cyrene- Libya
most likely half Jew and possibly African descent- called niger
Possibly the man that helped Christ with the cross
And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.
And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.
John Mark references his sons
And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.
The call to suffer for Jesus
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
iii) Lucius of Cyrene
iii) Lucius of Cyrene
iv) Manaen- Take the world but give me Jesus
iv) Manaen- Take the world but give me Jesus
By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
As they ministered unto the Lord and fasted
APPLICATION
Who am I surrounding myself with
He that walketh with wise men shall be wise
Who am I ministering and serving Jesus Christ under and alongside
two are better than one
Possibly why we are ineffective
ILLUSTRATION
Idaho- Snow Storm prayer meeting
b) By those who Showed the Grace of God (Acts 13:4-5)
b) By those who Showed the Grace of God (Acts 13:4-5)
i) John Mark (Acts 14:5, 13)
i) John Mark (Acts 14:5, 13)
And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
Have you messed up, have you denied Jesus Christ?
Peter- Denied Jesus Christ three times; is that the guy you want to preach at Pentecost
Yes- he is not going to go out in his own strength
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Get back in and become profitable for the ministry!
have you blown opportunity
Have you denied Jesus Christ
Have you been ashamed of Christ
ILLUSTRATION
Roe Dudley
Lady in Prison
2) Seeking (Acts 13:6-12)
2) Seeking (Acts 13:6-12)
a) God to Open a Door (Acts 13:6-7)
a) God to Open a Door (Acts 13:6-7)
They are completely relying on God
look at verses 1-4
No Schedule, No raising of support (I am sure the church gave to fund as they were very charitable)
No calendar
They just went on a circuit city to city staying as long or as little as they were dependent on Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit
notice his mention in vs 2, 4, 9
One of the reasons we are ineffective is we are not praying, fasting and relying on the wisdom of God versus the wisdom of men
We are completely schedule led rather than spirit led
We treat church like a corporation rather than the body of Christ
I recognize God is a God of order, but we need to be careful that we do not exalt like they did in the OT; ceremonialism, ritualism, and the outward over the inward
Notice Paul is sensitive to God’s leading; previously he would go and get letters, he would go and make things happen, now he seemingly is at the filling or control of the Holy Spirit
What would it look like to give God the Holy Spirit complete control of our lives, our day, one hour?
We have become so formula and pinterest driven we have forgotten it is all about Jesus Christ and our dependency on God
What would it look like if instead of google, and the internet, and friends
There reliance on God and their seeking God is rewarded
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
The problem is we are not seeking open doors
b) God to Guide in Opposition (Acts 13:8-11)
b) God to Guide in Opposition (Acts 13:8-11)
Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,
Not every obstacle is a Satanic attack…but when it comes to evangelism there will be times where there is a spiritual battle
That is why we need to be filled with the Holy Ghost
Have faith
Go to his Word
Go to what he has done through and for you
Paul allows the curse he was under to be transferred to this man
Then also Saul allows himself to be renamed Paul- just coincidentally also the name of his first recorded man that he directly leads to Jesus Christ
God has a new man in you
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
God has a new name for you
Are we seeking his guidance, or are we going to what we know and what is comfortable
Conclusion- See the Salvation of the LORD- (Acts 13:12)
Conclusion- See the Salvation of the LORD- (Acts 13:12)
God will give you fruit
handfuls of purpose
David killed the bear and the lion and then Goliath
Takes Faith
We have to trust that obeying God in our Surrounding and Trusting God in our Seeking
God will give the increase
Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
Look at why Sergius Paulus believed
the doctrine/teaching of the LORD
remember exalt Jesus Christ and him crucified
For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
Lift up Jesus
Pastor Cymbala- Man with gun
Who will you be today?
How God makes us a missionary/one sent on mission for him
Who am I surrounded by, who am I serving alongside?
Am I seeking God? or has opposition/failure stopped me from preaching Christ and him crucified?
Will you come to Christ and allow him to make you who he wants you to be?