In Pisidian Antioch

HOOK

DO NOT FORGET TO UNMUTE

It’s the 23rd day of November— Monday!

Last Thursday right here at “The Message” we looked at the events during the journey of Saul and Barnabas while they were in Cyprus— two things came out clearly— their encounter with Bar-Jesus [also known as Elymas], and the salvation of governor Sergius Paulus— from that part of history we learned:

I MUST NOT TURN TO MEDIUMS AND BE ON GUARD AGAINST FALSE PROPHETS

I WILL GO AND PREACH THE WORD SO THAT PEOPLE MAY BELIEVE

Let’s continue to look at what happened as Saul and Barnabas continued with their first missionary journey— open your Bible to ACTS 13, we will see what happened while they were in Pisidian Antioch— it’s quite long, so we will divide this section into two— we will read from verse 13-42 today, and finish up the rest of the section tomorrow— once you got there type, “In Pisidian Antioch!”

When studying passages in the Bible, carefully ask yourself the right questions [what, where, when, who, why and how]— because by doing so, you will see timeless biblical principles applicable to our lives today— keep in mind the Bible said, “be transformed by the renewing of your mind”— it’s God’s words that will transform us— understanding it is a critical part of this transformation

READ ACTS 13:13-42

BOOK

Acts 13:13–42 NIV

13 From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem. 14 From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.” 16 Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: “Fellow Israelites and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! 17 The God of the people of Israel chose our ancestors; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt; with mighty power he led them out of that country; 18 for about forty years he endured their conduct in the wilderness; 19 and he overthrew seven nations in Canaan, giving their land to his people as their inheritance. 20 All this took about 450 years. “After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. 21 Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. 22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’ 23 “From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised. 24 Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel. 25 As John was completing his work, he said: ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not the one you are looking for. But there is one coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’ 26 “Fellow children of Abraham and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. 27 The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. 28 Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29 When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people. 32 “We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors 33 he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: “ ‘You are my son; today I have become your father.’ 34 God raised him from the dead so that he will never be subject to decay. As God has said, “ ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’ 35 So it is also stated elsewhere: “ ‘You will not let your holy one see decay.’ 36 “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed. 37 But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay. 38 “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39 Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses. 40 Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you: 41 “ ‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.’” 42 As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath.

WHAT: Events that took place when Paul and Barnabas was at Pisidian Antioch

WHERE: From Paphos [in the island of Cyprus] to Perga in Pamphylia [now Turkey], Pisidian Antioch [100 miles north of Perga, in the region of Phrygia— It had a large Jewish population— SHOW MAP

WHEN: This was already after the death of King Herod [Agrippa I]— so it could be sometime after 44AD

WHO: Saul, Barnabas, John Mark [left them at Perga went back to Jerusalem], Rulers in Pisidian Antioch, a mixture of Jewish and Gentile crowd at the Synagogue

WHY: To continue their ministry farther from Jewish territories— moving into Asia Minor for the first time— they preached the gospel and offered repentance

LOOK

I HAVE FOUND DAVID SON OF JESSE, A MAN AFTER MY OWN HEART

He will do everything I want him to do— Paul actually quoted prophet Samuel— 1 SAMUEL 16:7

David has the heart of God— Paul made the distinction between physical conformity and true spiritual conformity to God’s will and purpose

WHEN DAVID HAD SERVED GOD’S PURPOSE IN HIS OWN GENERATION, HE FELL ASLEEP

This truly struck me from way back the first time I read it— it became one of my life’s serving principles— to serve God’s purpose in my life before I die

Do you know God’s purpose in your life?

If you do not know your purpose in life— you’re not living— you’re just existing!— it is so easy to miss God’s purpose in our lives if we don’t pay attention on His words— pride, arrogance, busyness in life are just some of the factors that can prevent you from discovering your God given purpose

I’d like to recommend this book— “What on Earth Am I Here For?”— The Purpose Driven Life— authored by one of my mentors— Pastor Rick Warren— We’ve gone through this at the church early this year— and it was amazing!— it was eye opening— I gave a copy to my daughter Jada as a gift, and after she read it— she told me that it changed the way she looks at her life— it has 42 days of daily reading

Let me know if you want resources that you can use to either study or teach this and I’ll be very happy to share them to you at no cost!

Two things came so clear out of our daily devotional study of the Bible today:

TOOK

PEOPLE LOOK AT THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE, BUT THE LORD LOOKS AT THE HEART

I WILL SERVE GOD’S PURPOSE IN MY LIFE BEFORE I DIE

SING

Agape Worship Team— Spirit