Acts 13

Quick Version of Chapter 13

Holy Spirit tells Christians at Antioch (the place where believers were first called Christians/lost of Gentile believers) that God has a work for Barnabas and Saul. It’s the first recorded purposeful missionary work - other was kind of “Accidental”

So they send them on their way, John Mark is helping them

they encounter a false prophet named Bar-Jesus who was friends with a very powerful Roman leader.

Bar-Jesus (Elymas) trued tried to keep leader from believing the gospel, but through the power of the Holy Spirit, Saul made him temporarily blind. when the leader saw that, he believed.

Archeologists have found inscriptions with this leader’s name that show he and his family were Christians

They kept on their missionary journey, but John Mark left in the middle.

At one city called Pisidian, Paul preached at the local Jewish synagogue . . . some became believers, and other people were interested enough to ask Paul to come preach again the next week.

When Paul prepared to speak the next week, the crowd was so large (nearly the whole city) that the Jewish people got jealous and spoke against Paul. Probably included a racial component, and they didn’t like all of these gentiles showing up to hear Paul.

I probably would be mad too, lol

Paul and Barnabas declared that if the Jews didn’t want to hear it, they would focus on the Gentiles. Word of God began to spread, but Jews stirred up leading women and men of the city and drove them out.

Pau and Barnabas shook of the dust and continued their journey with joy

Discussion Time: Lessons from verses 1-3

listen to church members

Acts 13:1 NASB95

1 Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Lesson - God has assigned roles for us in his church, we are not just supposed to be, “a member”

a couple of roles are listed - prophets and teachers

1 Corinthians 12:4–6 NASB95

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.

different gifting, different ministries (service) . . . same God

get in where God fits you in

in 1 Corinthians 12 some of these titles/gifts are mention

special knowledge, great faith, healing, miracle worker, prophecy, discernment, speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues, teacher, helps, administration . . . in all of that, make sure you have love

How do I know my role: prayer, be faithful in what you are doing now, even if it is just attendance . . . show the Lord that you can be responsible

Lesson: God can use/will use a mixture of people from different backgrounds

God’s choosing is the most important component: not heritage, family history, personal history, wealth, part of city/world you are from

don’t assume either way - listen to God

I never assumed I would be pastor because of my father

among the prophets and teachers at Antioch, we have

Barnabas - strong Jewish background, a long time respected church leader from Jerusalem

Simeon who was called Niger (not the N-word) - Niger: a black man, probably from Antioch since city is not listed,

Lucius of Cyrene (city of North Africa) - probably black or mixed, different continent

Manaen - brought up with Herod, probably a rich guy, political influence guy, came from an anti-God background (didn’t turn out like Herod)

God can use you in anyway, God can use others in any way

Acts 13:2 NASB95

2 While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Lesson: why they were being spiritual, they heard from the Spirit

ministering to the Lord - worshipping/praising, in service?

fasting - automatically includes fasting

ministering/fasting - trying to plug into God, and unplugging from the world

people often want to hear from God but . . .

not dedicated to come to church

not dedicated to come to Bible Study or watch Bible Study

not dedicated to prayer

not dedicated to fasting

only Christian music is heard on Sunday

won’t praise God at church . . . but want a word

surprise, surprise, many of my spiritual revelations come

during my devotion time

at the gym - listen to an hour of Christian music straight

someone else is preaching/teaching - I am focused on the Word

so I get what they are teaching and extra stuff

all times when I am trying to plug into god and unplug from the world . . . draw night to God and he will draw night to you

lesson: when God calls, there is some type of being set apart or separating

there will be a change

can’t go with God and stay the same

Here it is geography - they will have to leave the church at Antioch and travel, even though things are going well in Antioch

sometimes we have to set apart from people, previous goals, lifestyle changes

Lesson: the best way to leave the local church is with agreement and purpose

agreement on what God is saying to do

the church as a whole, and the ones leaving agree (One Spirit)

the body working together

won’t always be the case because people can miss God (the church or the individual), but this is how God would have it

but, if someone comes to me, “God has called me to . . . “ I will give my honest assessment, if they want it (most people don’t)

ministry is kind of like marriage - once they fall in love it’s too late to talk to them

once they get that ministry fever - it’s too late

good to talk to someone in the early stages of romance/ministry

if there is disagreement, everyone should at least pause to pray, consider, reflect . . . because one side or both sides are missing God!

purpose - leave because of a work for God to be one

not because of restlessness - want to try something new; my friend said the church down the street is popping! (some church will always be “popping”)

not because someone sat in my seat last Sunday

not because of non-spiritual reasons - I want a coffee bar/family life center/fine women or men at that church

people have left for wrong reasons and God blessed them in the long run to get to the work . . . . but . . . .

unnecessary suffering and detours

reaping what they have sown

A combination of agreement and called to a specific work, has happened at WMBC - the Solcos to Beaumont

there are other legit reasons - marriage, false teaching, bad leadership

but best way is with agreement and purpose

Acts 13:3 NASB95

3 Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

Lesson: Keeping seeking God after you’ve hear from God

don’t get so excited that you just just run off with the piece of info you have

They got a revelation and sought more revelation: assurance, clarity, ect. . . . so they kept doing spiritual things (fasting and praying)

ex. me saying, “I am going to give you $10K . . . and you run off and spend your rent money . . . . you didn’t let me say, “next year”

get clarity: when, cash, check, Zelle, cash app

if you get a dream that you know is from God, pray/fast for revelation

we often will tell/ask one or two people and then forget about it

if you feel a calling, spiritually investigate it . . . assurance, clarity (what, where, who, when)

if you get a spiritual understanding, find out what you are supposed to do with it

could be just for you

could be just for a particular person

could be for the masses

hold it for the right time to share it

Ex. I have preached sermons meant for me to the church . . . so excited about a spiritual understanding that I just knew everyone needed to hear it

Lesson: Christians are not supposed to be lone wolves

“the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way” - not only was this prayer, but spiritual endorsement; support, protection, and accountability . . . connection to the BODY of Christ

people who have a word for you, but don’t have a church, no church backing . . . watch out . . . something’s wrong . . . they will lead you astray more than not

some people are outright tricksters and remembering this will help protect you from that

others mean well, but have separated from other believers because of :

trials/changes in their life and just stopped being a part of the church and never went back

church hurt (valid or not)

often pride in hearing from God or have a gift from God (think they are better than those churches/these pastors out here) - most dangerous ones, tend to really get off track

whatever the reason, these people are not being faithful to a basic part of Christianity: being joined to the body of Christ

I love Jesus, but I don’t want to be joined to his body

I love Jesus, but can’t stand the people he died for

I love Jesus, but I don’t want to be associated with Chritians, people who bear his name

something’s wrong, they need a word rather than trying to give it

parts of the body are not meant to operate away from the body . . . just a foot laying in the ground can’t do much for you

God has set it up, that we need each other, no matter how spiritual you are, no matter how much Bible you have memorized

we help each other - some of my best decisions/ideas have come straight from God, others from God through members

we keep each other in check - anyone can get off base, we are humans, even Peter (thou art the CHrist). . . speaking of Antioch

Galatians 2:11–12 NLT

11 But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong. 12 When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile believers, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision.

Real life example: Pastor friend will email his power point of a new Bible teaching series to pastor friends . . . you all see any errors

When I prepare to preach, I go over scripture, and write down what God has revealed to me . . . but then I consult commentaries (what other Christians have said about the scripture I am using) to see if I have accidently gotten off.

If there is a big disagreement, I go back and study and pray

so you are an evangelist, prophet, man/woman of God? that’s great, what local church you come out of?

“man didn’t call me!”

“I hope not. But I am asking, what part of the Christian body will validate that man didn’t call you?”

Even Paul (Saul), who met Jesus in person on the Damascus Road . . . was not a lone wolf

if anyone could say, “man didn’t call me” . . .would be Paul

Ananias, well respected Christian had to vouch for him first, God told Ananias that Paul was called

Then Barnabas vouched for him

now the church of Antioch vouches for him

but some of these people out here think, they are more anointed than the man God used to write most of the New Testament . . . “I don’t need approval by man”

but you do need to follow God’s program . . . and the program calls for the body of CHrist to work together

Special Lesson

Acts 13:52 NASB95

52 And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

just had been rejected, but still had joy

filled with joy and the Holy Spirit

joy - not giddy happiness, but strong contentment, pleased, gladness

sign that the Holy Spirit is really having his way in you . . . you have joy

because joy is a fruit of the spirit

don’t have joy?

The Holy Spirit fills you when you avail yourself to do what He has asked you to do

He says, “you are wiling to empty yourself? Well I will fill you!

the chapter started off with them being obedient to the Spirit, so therefore they don’t lose their joy because of circumstances

not saying that you won’t ever be sad or grieve, there is a time for everything. But if your joy always depends upon circumstance, you probably need to follow the will of the Holy Spirit more closely

. . . . so get spiritual . . . . and then obey

Mentor Moment

beware of scams

someone tried to scam Elijah through drumming lessons

paid him too much and then ask for refund

text message scams/email scams

your account has been suspended - don’t click the link or call, go to the source and check

your package has been delayed, we need

$100 gift card

sound to good to be true, it usually is

real bad English in emails or text messages, bad sign

Announcements

Church planning center info is legit, that is from WMBC, new software