Acts 11:19-29 The SAVING Grace of God Working in the Church.

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Good Morning .. Pause

I welcome you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Out Scripture meditation is from

Psalm 148:1-2 “Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts!”

PRELUDE — Use these moments to prayerfully consider the Scripture meditation above, so you may properly give God the glory due to His name.

THE LORD CALLS US TO WORSHIP HIM

*God’s Word of Greeting

Call to Worship

Psalm 150:1-6 “Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!”

*Psalm of Praise Psalm

Let us rise for the singing of Gods Word

Turn in your In your Trinity Psalter Hymnal

Psalm #20A The Lord in Your Distress Attend

INVOCATION:

Father we now call upon you to be with us and be in our presence.

And illuminate our minds by your Spirit and Word.

We thank you Father in all things in Christ name Amen.

OUR RESPONSE TO GOD’S CALL

Responsive Reading Exodus 20:17 pg. 1049 in your pew Bible

Exodus 20:1-17 “20 And God spoke all these words, saying,

2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

3 “You shall have no other gods before me.

4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,

6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work,

10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates.

11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

13 “You shall not murder.

14 “You shall not commit adultery.

15 “You shall not steal.

16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

*LET US PRAY

Prayer of Confession and Repentance

Our Father in heaven

Grant, Almighty God, that inasmuch as we are so inclined to all kinds of errors, to so many various forms of superstitions,

and as Satan also does not cease to lay in wait for us,

and spreads before us his many snares

Grant that we may be preserved in obedience to you by the teaching of your Word,

That we may never turn here and there,

Either to the right or to the left,

But continue in that pure worship which you have prescribed,

So that we may plainly testify that you are indeed our Father

by continuing under the protection of your only begotten Son,

who you have given to be our pastor and ruler to the end.

Who calls us to Worship the true and living God,

and gives rest unto those who labour and are heavy laden;

Who did come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance.

Purify us from all uncleanness,

both bodily and spiritual,

and teach us to fulfill holiness in the fear and knowledge of you

That we might approach you with a pure conscience,

Through the Blood of your Son and our Savior alone.

In Christ name Amen

Assurance of Pardon

1 John 1:8-9 “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Let Us rise for the Sining of Gods Word

Psalm of Thanksgiving

Turn in your In your Trinity Psalter Hymnal to 29B

Psalm of Thanksgiving #29B Now unto Jehovah, Ye Sons of the Mighty

Congregational Prayer

Grant, Almighty God, that since you daily exhort us,

and though you see us often turning aside from the the right path,

You are kind Father because you do not cease to stretch forth your hand to us,

and you also continue to wake us up by many reproofs,

that we may repent—

Father grant that we may not be permitted

to reject your Word with perverseness;

But rule us by your Spirit,

That we may meekly and obediently submit to you,

Help us to be teachable, so that if we have not been willing to submit to your correction,

That we may not continue in our sins.

Father help us to heed your spirits correction.

Heal our diseases so that we may truly repent,

Help us to be so wholly given to obey you,

as never to attempt anything beyond the rule of your Word,

and help us to heed the wisdom which you have revealed to us,

not only by Moses and your prophets,

but also by your only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

father we pray for the congregation

Father we Pray for _____________ and we ask for all these things in the powerful, glorious, majestic, and wonderful name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Remain Standing and turn in your Trinity Psalter Hymnal to 32B

Psalm of Preparation

Turn in your Trinity Psalter Hymnal to Psalm 32B How Blest Is He Whose Trespass

YOU MAY BE SEATED

Turn in your Bibles to Psalm 32 on page ___ in your pew Bibles

Here Now the Very Word off God.

Old Testament Reading Psalm 32

OLD Testament Reading Psalm 32

32 A Maskil of David.

1  Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,

whose sin is covered.

2  Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,

and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

3  For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away

through my groaning all day long.

4  For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;

my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah

5  I acknowledged my sin to you,

and I did not cover my iniquity;

I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”

and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

6  Therefore let everyone who is godly

offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;

surely in the rush of great waters,

they shall not reach him.

7  You are a hiding place for me;

you preserve me from trouble;

you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah

8  I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;

I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

9  Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,

which must be curbed with bit and bridle,

or it will not stay near you.

10  Many are the sorrows of the wicked,

but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.

11  Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous,

and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

May the Lord add his blessing to this Reading of His Word

NEW TESTAMENT READING

Turn now in your New Testament to Acts 11:19-30

I have entitled the Sermon today

The Grass withers the Flower Fades But the Word of Our God Will Stand Forever.

HP- The SAVING Grace of God Working in the Church

Here now the Very Word of God

English Standard Version (Chapter 11)

The Church in Antioch19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. 25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.27 Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). 29 So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. 30 And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

HP- The SAVING Grace of God Working in the Church

Vs 19-21 Persecution and Growth

English Standard Version Chapter 11

19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews.

The Word of God says that the believers were scattered because the stoning of Stephen.

And you might flee your homes or towns or city

If you were being actively persecuted by the the Jewish leadership the Pharisees and the Sadducees.

We learned the Church was thus scared and feared persecution or death so they kept silence,

They didn't share the Gospel with strangers

Only Jews that they New according to verse 19

They were being selective with who they shared the good news with.

Maybe this was becasue they didn't want to end up like Stephen.

Or because not all the people had taken to heart that which the circumcision party had taken to heart.

Maybe some of them were still thinking it was not allowed to give what was holy “The Gospel” to the unclean as they saw the gentiles.

Maybe they are still looking at the Gentiles as people not worthy of the Gospel.

So either way whether they are fearful of persecution .

Or if they are keeping the Gospel to themselves because they are looking down upon their neighbor.

Both are sinful motives.

Becasue if we don’t share the gospel with others out of fear.

That is sin.

And if we don’t share the gospel because we look down upon a race or region of people because we think of them as unclean

or so sinful they are not worthy to hear the Word of God.

That is Sin.

We must keep some things in mind when we attack such wrong headed thoughts and practices.

Stephen Died for sharing the Word of God

But his REWARD WHEN HE DIED WAS He saw the Lord Jesus as he was dying.

He was going to be with his bridegroom.

He was going to be with his Lord.

You might be fearful to share the Good News of the Gospel with those at your Job.

Or those in your neighborhood or community.

You might work for the Air-force

Or You might Work for the Postal Service

Or you might Work for fill in the blank.

And they might have policies that prevent you or discourage you from such behavior.

Your superiors or Boss’s might say “You can’t tell people they are headed to Hell if they don’t know the Lord Jesus.

if they don’t Kiss the Son of God

Or Bow the Knee to King Jesus.

You might hurt their feelings.

Should I be concerned about obedience to The Word of God or whether someone will reject the Word of God and attack me for sharing it.

You Can share the Good News of the Gospel with them.

You have the ability too.

But Will you

Even if you are a Babe in Christ you can share how you came to faith.

Or you can learn more of how Christ called you to himself and how he calls sinners to repentance.

How God regenerates a Man or a Woman through His Word which declares that they are in need of a savior.

And through the Spirit of God who awakens them from the slumber in this sin darkened World.

Because Christ is the light that can waken dead men and women.

So You have the ability too.

But Will you?

Will you follow the behavior of these early Christians and be fearful Or wrongfully judgmental.

Or will you push through that fear Like Stephen a Deacon in the church, and share the Story of Redemption.

The Story of the Fall and the Story Of God working throughout History to Redeem a people to himself.

Becasue according to the book of 2 Timothy God has not given you a spirit of fear

Lets read 2 Timothy

2 Tim 1:7-9 “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,”

So there is hope we find out from these verses in timothy

And in verse 20-21 of our text today.

so it came to pass through their flight and scattering abroad, that the gospel was spread abroad in nations which were far off

Verse 20-21 says 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.

When some of the believers who fled after the execution of Stephen.

they preached to the helenists in Antioch.

Antioch is not Jerusalem.

And if you remember the Helenists were the Jews who primarily spoke Greek because they had lived abroad and spoke the English of their day which was Greek.

But some of these early believers spoke to the Helenists

Preached to the Helenists

And what did they preach.

the Lord Jesus Christ.

And verse 21 tells us that the Hand of the Lord was with them.

The Holy Spirit was blessing their efforts

their Words to these men and women.

And when God is with us brothers and Sisters

Who can be against us.

NO ONE

By the preaching of the Lord Jesus “A great Number of Believers turned to the Lord.

Why was this

Becasue “THE SAVING GRACE OF GOD WAS WORKING IN THE CHURCH”

And those that are called by God

Will be converted by God

Through the Foolishness of preaching and the Spirit of God according to our text and 1 Cor 1:21

1 Cor 1:21 “For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly “ or Foolishness” of what we preach to save those who believe.”

the gospel sounds like foolishness to those who have not been converted.

but once they are awakened it sounds like the sweetest thing they have ever heard.

God sent his son to redeem a sinner like me.

what a gospel and what a savior.

Next lets look at how the church responds to THE SAVING GRACE OF GOD WAS WORKING IN THE CHURCH in verses 22-26

Vs 22-26 Church Faithfulness and being taught the Word of God.

English Standard Version (Chapter 11)

22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. 25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

So their is a work that continues on after believers come to Faith.

Those that have been elected as Elders in the church or teachers in the church are to be sent to new church's sent to new believers to continue teaching them every Lords day and maybe at mid week studies Or at other times during the week.

Barnabas was so happy that he not only exhorted them in the Faith to remain Faithful.

That means there is work to be done on your part church.

Remaining Faithful.

What does Remaining Faithful to the Lord entail.

Well alot.

And it doesn’t happen all at once in the believers life.

Thats why Sanctification is a work of the Spirit that is ongoing in a believers life.

But remaining Faithful is

“Children listen up.”

Jesus said this is how you remain faithful to him.

this is how you love him

this is how you show gratitude to him.

John 14:21 “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.””

This is how we Remain faithful

we learn the laws of the King who called us and redeemed us.

And we keep them to the best of our ability because we love Jesus.

Jesus said don’t lie.

Jesus said don’t covet.

Jesus said don’t take my name in vein.

Jesus said to keep the Sabbath Holy.

Jesus said to Honor your Mother and Father.

Brothers and sisters to Remain Faithful and Love God we must be a student of his Word.

And come under the rule of his Word.

Becasue that is how we can show love to Jesus.

And we continue in it with Steadfast Purpose.

That means to be diligent

Not quitting and always learning every Lords Day what are Lord would have you to do through His Word and Spirit.

So Barnabas was described as a good man who was full of the Holy Spirit and of Faith in Verse 24

Barnabas was sent by the church to exhort these new believes.

Similar to what we are doing here in Wichita Falls.

I will give you a current example.

Mark Sumpter was sent by the Presbytery of the Southwest to exhort you Old and New believers and other men have been sent by the Presbytery to exhort those who have been in the faith a long time and those that are new to the Faith to be Stedfast and to learn more of the Lord Jesus in developing a church here in Wichita Falls.

You See the Early church was Presbyterian and Not independent of each other. But rather worked together for the Lord Jesus in building up His Church.

We see this developed in our text more in verse 25-26

Which says

English Standard Version Chapter 11

25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians

Barnabas realizes brother Saul can help in this work so he goes to get him.

And Barnabas and Saul teach the church what it means to be a believer in Christ.

this is how the church is to function.

Their is not just one man in charge of the church

like the Roman Catholics would have you believe the Pope is the head of the Church.

there is only one head of the church and that is King Jesus.

So Barnabas at Saul are their to instruct these new believers as the Lord Jesus has commanded them.

as under shepherds

to show these new believers

How they are to live out their faith.

And that this is not just a one time decision in their lives.

But rather a lifetime of repentance and conforming to the Word of God through the Spirit of God.

And they continued to meet with the people over a whole year.

Have we been meeting here in Wichita Falls for over a year.

it has been many years and the Lord is growing and maturing the church

Despite the

Government Shutdowns we have experienced.

We preached the Word of God in the Parking lot during Covid via a FM transmitter.

Becasue gathering and teaching is important in the development of a church.

We break bread together every Lords Day to have more fellowship amoung each other.

So our relationships will not be superficial.

You meet every Wednesday to sing and to pray and to fellowship.

And we pray that the result will continue to be the result in which Banabas and Saul had.

And what was the result for Barnabas?

According to verse 24 A great many people were added to the Lord from his continued teaching of the things of God.

So Keep on Keeping on Church

This is the great Work that Christ has called you to and he is blessing it.

We can Keep on Keeping on by being attentive hearers and doers of the Word.

And we can Keep on Keeping on by sharing the good news with our Friends neighbors, and relatives, what Christ has done to forgive sins to all those who call on his name.

Lastly we see in verses 27-30 people helping those in need through the church.

Vs. 27-30 Helping those in need through the Church

English Standard Version (Chapter 11)

27 Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). 29 So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. 30 And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

The SAVING Grace of God Working in the Church is not limited to our Spiritual needs but also our Physical needs.

And we see this in the last three verses of chapter 11

The text says that one named Agabus was fortelling by the spirit of God that their would be a famine that would be coming to the early church.

This shouldn't surprise us

God had used other men to do the same thing by his spirit in the time of Joseph and the famine in Egypt.

But what you should notice is that Agabus is doing this by the Spirit of God.

And he is predicting a famine over all the world. ( this took place in the days of Claudius)

This is confirmed in other sources in the Fifteenth Book of Antiquity of Josephus

Which talks about a continual drought

Calvin quotes Josephus sying “Which happened under Claudius also maketh mention of this famine, who said that there were crusts or shards thrown at Claudius’ head in the midst of the market, and that he was so very afraid of stoning, that he had a singular care afterward, during his whole life, to make provision for victual.” That food for his people.

So Agabus’s prediction came true in History.

Not that the Word of God needs validation.

But he was a True prophet of God.

God did use Agabus to warn the people of God of an impending Famine.

And who controls the Wind and the rain and things such as Tornadoes?

God does.

Remember when Jesus said to the Wind to Stop and it did.

And so sometimes God sends judgment on the Just and the unjust in this world.

And sometimes this means death or injury or famine to those around us or ourselves for the sins we or the world are committing against God.

And God is just in his punishment or Sanctification in our lives through these difficult events.

ELABORATE if you want on difficult providences.

And what was the church’s response to Agabus’s prediction?

Agubus your Crazy.

God only has a wonderful plan for my life - isnt that the message of Joel Olsteen and other prosperity gospel False preachers

No they said this is the Spirit of God showing Mercy to us and warning us that we will indeed see Famine

This is the Saving Grace of God Working in the Church warning of the coming Famine.

Becasue Christ is Not only our Savior but he is also our King

and the WSC 26 says

The Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 26

Christ executeth the office of a king, in subduing us to himself, (Acts 15:14–16) in ruling, (Isa. 32:22) and defending us, (Isa. 32:1–2) and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies. (1 Cor. 15:25, Ps. 110)

This is the Saving Grace of God Working in the Church warning of the coming Famine.

Christ is defending us

Christ is ruling us and subduing us to himself.

Christ is protecting his people from an upcoming famine in the early church.

And how do the saints respond.

by giving aid

And not under compulsion but out of the generosity the Spirit of God has worked in their hearts.

because we are not naturally a very generous giving people.

Maybe some of us are.

But it is not the Norm.

But in Christ we learn to become more giving people.

His spirit stirs it up in us.

Becasue His Word says it is more blessed to give than to recieve.

Acts 20:35 (ESV)

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

And 2 Corinthians says

2 Cor 9.7 “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

If God has blessed you with alot

And brothers and Sister if he redeemed you from your sin and misery

If he snatched you from Hell

He has blessed you with lot.

He has blessed you with redemption

But if he has blessed you financially with more than enough for not only yourself.

Not only your family.

Then he calls you to a blessing.

The blessing of Giving to those in need.

And if you have the ability to send relief to brothers and sisters in Need

then you are encouraged by the Word of God to send help to those in need.

And so they even did this with great care.

They sent it to the Elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

I can think of the saints in Neon Kentucky who have experienced Flooding.

And the OPC sent aid by their Elders and Deacons to help those in Need.

And not Just help with Material aid but to re establish the Worship Service and the Proclamation of the Gospel.

Why Because people have both Physical and Spiritual needs that are to be met by the church.

SoBrothers and Sisters we have seen the Saving Grace of God Working in the Church in the Book of Acts today.

Acts 11:19-29 The SAVING Grace of God Working in the Church.

HP- The SAVING Grace of God Working in the Church.

We have seen in

Vs 19-21 Persecution and Growth

Vs 22-26 Church Faithfulness and being taught the Word of God.

Vs. 27-30 Helping those in need through the Church

In all these things we see

HP- The ongoing Saving Grace of God Working in the Church.

Both in the Time of Barnabus and Saul in Antioch.

And Now here and today in Wichita Falls.

Let us spur the flame of the Gospel in our Community.

And show the community of Wichita Falls the Saving Grace of God that is Working in the Church.

Praise God

Let us Pray.

CLOSING PRAYER

Father I pray that today your people have heard you speaking to them this morning.

Help us to apply this in our walk with you and with our brothers and Sisters in Christ And those around us who are unbelievers.

Help us to show the Love of Christ to others in sharing your Word and Gospel Call to Salvation with this lost and this dying world.

Help us to be generous with our abundance with those who are truly in need.

Help us to be witness for you Lord here in Wichita Falls and good disciples.

Help us to have comfort in the knowledge that we will live forever with you.

And help us to look forward to that day when you will say well done you good and faithful servant enter into the rest of your Lord.

And we pray in Jesus Christ name.

Amen

LET US RISE for the Singing of Gods Word

*Hymn of Response #463 O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus

WE ARE DISMISSED WITH GOD’S BLESSING

Let us Pray

Father in heaven be with and keep this your people throughout the week.

Father in heaven encourage these your people to discuss with their families the sermon and how they can apply this to the people who they run into through the week.

And father help them through your spirit to have a stronger walk with you and to make this word preached effectual in their lives.

In Christ name

Amen

Closing Hymn TPH 567 Doxology

Praise God from whom all Blessing Flow; praise him all creatures here below; Praise him above ye heavenly host praise Father Son ands Holy Ghost Amen.