The Door of Faith Is Open
- Marc Erickson
- Aug 29, 2010
- Series: God's Irrespessible Spirit
- Passage: Acts 13-14
God’s Irrepressible Spirit #11
Marc Erickson … August 28-29, 2010
The Door of Faith Is Open
Acts 13:1-14:28
For this is what the Lord has commanded us:
“ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the eart’ ”
I. FINALLY, THE INSTRUMENT IS READY!
forged in the Cross
revealed by the Resurrection
constructed in Antioch
'Christians'
II. PLACED IN THE HANDS OF THE SPIRIT
serious teaching
mature leadership
worship, fasting and prayer
immediate obedience to the Word from God
III. TO DO THE WORK GOD CALLED FOR
enlighten the Empire of Rome
bring down the strongholds of Evil
markedly expand the new humanity of Christ
IV. WATCH OUT WORLD, GOD IS RECLAIMING YOU!
Cyprus......and it's Proconsul
using the Jewish beachhead
Perga, Pisidian Antioch
using the Law, the Prophets, David
recent history of Jesus
forgiveness and righteousness
Word spread thru whole region
disciples filled with joy & Holy Spirit
Iconium, great numbers believed
Lystra, man healed
turn from idols to the Creator
Paul stoned and survived
Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, Antioch,
won a large number of disicples
leaders appointed; prayer, fasting, call to
endure hardship on their way to Kingdom
Syrian Antioch, started there in the grace of God
reported the opening of a great door of faith
Acts 13:1-14
In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2While 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." 3So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
4The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. 5When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.
6They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, 7who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. 8But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. 9Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, 10"You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? 11Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun."
Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.
13From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem. 14From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down.
Acts 28:1-31
Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. 3Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 4When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, "This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live." 5But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
7There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and for three days entertained us hospitably. 8His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. 9When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. 10They honored us in many ways and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.
11After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island. It was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux. 12We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. 13From there we set sail and arrived at Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up, and on the following day we reached Puteoli. 14There we found some brothers who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. 15The brothers there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these men Paul thanked God and was encouraged. 16When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.
17Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had assembled, Paul said to them: "My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. 18They examined me and wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death. 19But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar--not that I had any charge to bring against my own people. 20For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain."
21They replied, "We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of the brothers who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you. 22But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect."
23They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. 24Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. 25They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: "The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your forefathers when he said through Isaiah the prophet:
26" 'Go to this people and say,
"You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving."
27For this people's heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts and turn,
and I would heal them.'
28"Therefore I want you to know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!" 29
30For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.
For Life Group, Discipleship Triads, Small Group Discussion
The greatest people movement in human history has now begun, which continues to the present moment. Are we? Are You? part of this.
- Note how the entire Christian Community participated in this enterprise. Discuss and apply to your church
- Discuss also the pre-evangelism provided by God to these pagan people.
- How critical was the immediate obedience of the new converts in the success of the mission? Here I am thinking about the widespread reach of Paul's word.
- From the start hardship dogged the steps of the evangelists. Talk about your hardships in this regard.
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