As Paul and Silas push forward to preach the gospel in places where it had not been proclaimed, there are common elements to their mission but different responses in each place. One of the common elements was their preaching in public places, often the synagogue, where people gathered and it would be easy to gain an audience. The other side of this coin is that not every place was receptive to the message of the gospel. In fact, some Jews were violent in their reaction to the message of salvation through Jesus Christ.Continue to unpack the key principles and apply them to the church today. This must not be a study of historical information, but the living truth in God’s Word worked out in church life today. Acts 17:1-9 – For three weeks, Paul “reasoned from the __________, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead.” God’s word must be our only authority for what we say and do in evangelism and church planting, even if it brings opposition. Acts 17:10-15 – The Jews in Berea “received the word with all _________, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” Many believed, but their labors were followed by opposition. Acts 17:16-21 – Prevailing idolatry in Athens provoked Paul to reason and preach with boldness. Acts 17:22-34 – In Athens, Paul used their “altar…to the unknown god” as an opportunity to proclaim “the God who made the world and everything in it…” Paul then preached repentance as the antidote to God’s judgment of the world. Remember in the beginning of Acts 16, Paul and Silas are clearly directed by the Holy Spirit where they should go. Opposition and difficult circumstances should not govern our path in ministry. How close are we walking with the Spirit? It will determine our attitude and boldness. In your outreach through the gospel, look for “eager” hearts that will search the Scriptures!
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“Here I am Lord, send me; send me to the ends of the earth; send me to the rough, the savage of the wilderness; send me from all that is called comfort from the earth, or earthly comfort; send me to death itself, if it be but in Thy service and to promote Thy Kingdom.” Smith, Oswald J., The Challenge of Missions, page 118.
Now we see the establishment of the church on the Aegean shores. The Holy Spirit is clearly directing the apostles to preach the gospel, to strengthen the disciples, and appoint elders in every church in places where Paul visited. As you look for the key principles in chapter 16, note how God was working in hearts before Paul and Silas arrived on the scene, i.e., Lydia.Wherever God sends us in His work, we should expect that He has been there before us preparing hearts to receive the gospel. This makes a highway for the work of the Spirit as the pure gospel is preached so those who believe are firmly established in the faith and become strong witnesses where they are and where they are sent. Acts 16:6-10 – Paul and Silas are forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in one place, but given direction in a vision to preach the gospel in another. Acts 16:11-15 – Through seeking a place to pray, God brings them to a group of women, one of whom was named Lydia. The Lord ______ her heart to ___ _________ to what was said by Paul. She and her household were __________. Acts 16:16-24 – A slave girl is freed from an evil spirit which angered her owners who publicly accused Paul and Silas. They were beaten and thrown into jail. Acts 16:25-34 – Paul and Silas use their jail time for prayer and worship. God intervenes with an earthquake that brings the jailor to his knees asking how to be saved. Having believed, “he was _________ at once, he and all his family.” Acts 16:35-40 – Paul used his Roman citizenship to achieve a public release and apology. Before leaving Philippi, they visited Lydia and the brothers, encouraging them. As you look at the events in Philippi, consider how strong a support and joy this church was to Paul and their fellowship with him in the gospel (Philippians 1:3-4). DO NOT MEASURE GOD’S WORK BY OUTWARD CIRCUMSTANCES OR APPEARANCES! In this next section of Acts 15:36 to 16:5, we see two cardinal principles that clearly impact the growth of the church and its leadership. The gospel of God’s grace proved itself to be true for any people group and any culture. But there was another vital step in establishing the church on the firm foundation of faith in Christ and making sure it perpetuated godly leadership. Let’s look at these two key principles.
Acts 15:36-41 – “Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in _______ city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” Though there was a disagreement between Barnabas and Paul regarding John Mark, “Paul chose Silas and departed, having been ___________ by the brothers to the grace of the Lord...[Paul] strengthened the churches.” Acts 16:1-5 – Paul found a disciple named Timothy who “was well spoken of by the brothers…Paul wanted Timothy to __________ him.” Through modeling disciple-making as Paul went from city to city, “the churches were ___________ in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.” Notice that in both models, returning to visit believers in every city and in mentoring a young disciple, the churches are strengthened and there is increase in numbers daily. When churches are planted, it is vital that church planters establish the new work, mentor and equip leadership that can sustain growth and expand further into unreached territory. We should expect that when there is a mighty movement of God, some who hold to tradition will question what is taking place. What resolves conflicts and disagreements like this? As we will see in this next section, there are two major witnesses that dissolve the conflict and bring unity in the body of Christ.
1. The testimony of what God is doing through the power of the Holy Spirit is a witness in itself. Peter, Barnabas, Paul and others had seen first-hand how God was working among the Gentiles and they could not return to tradition. 2. The witness in God’s word spoken hundreds of years before, confirming this transformation would take place, was authority enough to expand the church and include the Gentiles. As you study these verses, ask whether tradition is holding back God’s work where you are. If not, praise the Lord – He must be at work. If there are hindrances to His work, seek earnestly the Spirit’s help to remove obstacles so there will be a spontaneous expansion of the gospel. Acts 15:1-21 – Peter testified that God chose “the Gentiles should _____ the word of the gospel and believe” (15:7) without circumcision in order to be saved. Barnabas and Paul confirmed this and referred to Amos 9:11-12 as prophetic proof. (See also Romans 10:14). Acts 15:22-35 - God provides unity in the gospel of ______ which is communicated through a letter from Jerusalem, hand delivered by “our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have _____ their lives for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ” (15:25-26) as well as Judas and Silas. If these key principles were used in every church conflict, the church today would look much different than it does and we would experience a powerful work of the Spirit that can spread the gospel to every unreached people group. “Then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). As we dig into Acts chapter 14, reflect for a moment on all the programs and gimmicks we use in the western church to achieve church growth. Then consider Luke’s statement in verse one; “Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed” (Acts 14:1). What would cause this to happen? It is clear that they allowed the Holy Spirit’s work in them to equip and empower their ministry. Let’s look at other “key principles” that are timeless and supra-cultural that must be employed today if we are going to see the same kind of growth and expansion. Acts 14:1-7 – Barnabas and Paul “remained for a long time, speaking _______ for the Lord who bore witness to the word of His grace”. In a people group who had never heard the message before, God confirmed the message with signs and wonders. Acts 14:8-18 – Paul was able to discern that a man “had faith to believe” and was made well. Barnabas and Paul are very careful to reject the praise of men and point to the “living God who made the heaven and the earth”. Both spiritual skills are vital for effective ministry. Acts 14:19-23 – The stoning of Paul gives the believers opportunity to gather around him. They continued preaching the gospel and “_________ the souls of the disciples, ___________ them to continue in the faith”. Acts 14:24-28 – Barnabas and Paul returned to Antioch – the church that commended them to the work, and “declare all that God had done…and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles”. Can you imagine how encouraging this would have been to the saints in Antioch? For those of you who doubt this can take place today, I ask you; has the Holy Spirit changed His ability to do God’s work in and through us? If not, what has changed? In a blog many weeks ago, we emphasized the urgent need to STOP, REPENT AND RETURN TO THE SCRIPTURES! This is the path back to seeing God work in the same way today as He did at the beginning of the church. We concluded our study yesterday with these igniting words; “the word of God increased and multiplied” (12:24). The proof of that is in the next verse and chapter 13. The establishment of the Antioch church meant that it was now a ‘launching pad’, a sending church for the gospel to spread to the ends of the earth. The Holy Spirit sends out from Antioch two key men, Barnabas and Saul to an area of Asia Minor. The church is strengthened in faith and increases in numbers daily. Acts 12:25 – 13:3 – John Mark is added to the team with Barnabas and Saul and they travel from Jerusalem to Antioch. “While they were worshipping and fasting, the Holy Spirit said; “___ _____ for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them” (13:2). Learning to recognize the voice of the Holy Spirit and His calling us to Himself is vital to any ministry. Acts 13:4-12 – These men were “_____out by the Holy Spirit” and as they went, they found persons who “sought to hear the word of God” (13:7). Saul is now called Paul and is filled with the Holy Spirit so that he is able to confront falsehood and evil. Acts 13:13-52 – Even though John Mark left these two men, Paul continues to speak in power, using Scripture to validate what God was doing through the Holy Spirit. The Jews thrust the word of God from them causing Paul and Barnabas to turn to the Gentiles. We are seeing how central the Holy Spirit is, even to the selection of missionaries and sending them out under His direction and power. Is this the process that we use in our churches? Or is a committee formed to choose on a human level? Is your call by Him so clear that you will keep going even if those with you leave? That will depend on whether your focus in ministry is on man or on a close relationship with the Lord and the Spirit. I have read and personally heard from individuals in S. E. Asia that when they see what is happening to the church in America, they say they are praying that persecution will come to wake us up. That is a hard reality to swallow. Yet, as we look at the church in Acts we see that persecution was God’s way of bringing about some needed change. As we have noticed in previous chapters, persecution drove the church to prayer. But it was always a habit with the church (Acts 1:14; 2:42; 4:22-31) and these circumstances only intensified their commitment to prayer. They also prayed expecting God to answer.As you review the following “key principles”, ask yourself why prayer gatherings are so sparsely attended in most western churches? Acts 12:1-5 – Herod lays “violent hands on some who belonged to the church”. James is killed and _______ is arrested and put in prison. "But earnest ________...was made to God by the church.” Acts 12:6-19 – While Peter is asleep in prison, “an angel of the Lord” wakes him up and leads him out of the prison. While the believers are still praying, Peter arrives where they are praying, to their amazement. Acts 12:20-24 – God deals directly with a prideful ruler who refuses to give God glory. In the face of all these difficult situations, “the ______ of God increased and multiplied”. Do we really pray with earnestness, expecting God to answer our prayers in His way and time? Is our lack of expectancy an indicator of how deep and real our relationship and faith in God is? When we are actively committed to deep fellowship with the Lord, the word of God will increase and multiply! This section of Acts begs for our attention as we watch the Holy Spirit changing Peter, a very difficult personality before Pentecost. Now he is teachable and quickly learning how broad God’s plan for His church is. When the news reached the apostles “that the Gentiles also had received the word of God” (Acts 11:1), Peter had some explaining to do. This is where the work of God separates our tendency to please men (even in the church) from giving ourselves wholeheartedly to the work of the Spirit. As we see in this section of Acts, Peter is fully convinced that what he saw and experienced with Cornelius and his household was God’s plan. That made it easy for him to share with the apostles what God was doing, and doing so with powerful evidence and conviction. Let us examine the following verses. Acts 11:1-18 - “The opposition ____ _______, glorifying God that “the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life” (11:18). Acts 11:19-30 – God again uses persecution to scatter believers so the message of the gospel reaches Cyprus and Antioch. When the church in Jerusalem hears this, they send ________ who sees “the grace of God…and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose” (1:23). I have spent more time on this one chapter because of the critical development it gave the church. Are you allowing God’s purpose for the spread of the gospel and establishment of the church to form your heart and mind? How will this translate into ‘ACTSion’ that reflects the Early Church? What people group (ethnos) is God putting on your heart to reach with the pure gospel of grace? This is the third of six divisions in the book of Acts and another very exciting transition for the Early Church. Between God opening Peter’s heart to include the Gentiles and repeated persecution, the church expands to Antioch. The work of the Holy Spirit shifts primary leadership from Peter to the Jews, to Paul to the Gentiles. Through this transition, the Word of God continued to spread and multiply. As you go through the following “Key Principles”, consider how they should impact your life and church ministry. If we look at these principles merely as historic events, we will miss how the Spirit was setting in place at the beginning of the church, principles that must mark the church throughout time until the Lord comes. Acts 9:32-43 – Healing the sick and raising the dead confirm the presence and power of the Holy Spirit working through the Apostles. Acts 10:1-8 – God has prepared the heart of Cornelius ahead of hearing the gospel by his devout life, generosity and prayers. Acts 10:9-33 - Without realizing it, God is also preparing Peters heart to join Him in what God has already been doing. The vision forces Peter to think outside his ‘religious box’ to see God’s work in an unreached people group at that time. Acts 10:34-43 – Peter learned that God shows no ____________! This frees him to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, a people group God had in mind for eternal blessing. Acts 10:44-48 – Those who heard and received the word were filled with the ______ _______, and were __________ “in the name of the Lord Jesus” (10:48). What a joy to identify with what God is doing through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Are you eagerly looking for Him to work where you are or where God sends you? |
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