Getting the Gospel Out

Notes: Getting the Gospel Out 
Pastor John Collins
Valor 
Harvest OC
January 20, 2014

Getting the gospel out is what Acts 13 is all about.

It may not always be easy but it is always our command to do it.

2 Corinthians 11:26 NKJV
[26] in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

Acts 13:51-52 NKJV
[51] But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium. [52] And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

We can never lose sight of the fact, that on our Christian walk troubles are only temporary.

We must remember that the devil ends up in hell and Jesus Christ is going to reign forever.

Those who carry the gospel will not always be popular but there can even be joy in that.

Acts 13:1-3 NKJV
[1] Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. [2] As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." [3] Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.

Barnabas was born in Cyprus, but all the rest were from parts of the world, for example a Jew and 2 Africans.

Paul rises up in this chapter as a leader for the first time.

To be called is to be set free by the church to preach the gospel.

At Harvest they do not find men to train in the gospel, they look for men attending Harvest that are living out the gospel and ask them to join the Harvest staff.

Barnabas and Paul were called to preach to these people. The church simply released them to go out and proclaim the gospel.

They went to Cyprus first, it was known back in those days translated as the "happy isle".

Paul and Barnabas went with the message of the Bible, it was opposed by some and received by many.

Acts 13:4-12 NKJV
[4] So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. [5] And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant. [6] Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, [7] who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. [8] But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. [9] Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him [10] and said, "O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? [11] And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time." And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. [12] Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

This story gives us a glimpse of the apostles operating under the Holy Spirit, the same Holy Spirit available to us today.

This man operating under the influence of the devil was probably not noticeable but Paul was given a supernatural state to discern this.

The purpose of the Holy Spirit is to draw men to Christ. Just as Sergius Paulus became one in this chapter.

If we are faithful to Gods message and purpose, God will protect and let us know how to handle the wicked.

John Mark was here and makes a mistake, however Paul finds use for Mark in the future. He is the same Mark, author of the Gospel.

Acts 13:13-16 NKJV
[13] Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem. [14] But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. [15] And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, "Men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on." [16] Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, "Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen:

Here is where Paul begins a message, am amazing message. Paul's message was out to three different groups here, the Hellenist of Greece, Romans and the Jewish people. For the most part the audience knew nothing of Jesus Christ.

This message was a similar message that Stephen gave earlier and was stoned to death for giving.

Clearly, Paul carried this message close. 

This message really focuses on divine government and of divine grace.

Acts 13:17 NKJV
[17] The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He brought them out of it.

Acts 13:21 NKJV
[21] And afterward they asked for a king; so God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.

Acts 13:22 NKJV
[22] And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.'

Acts 13:23 NKJV
[23] From this man's seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior-Jesus-

Acts 13:29-30 NKJV
[29] Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. [30] But God raised Him from the dead.

All of these verses point to God as the divine government.

Acts 13:37 NKJV
[37] but He whom God raised up saw no corruption.

Acts 13:39 NKJV
[39] and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

God is the only one that can justify and offer forgiveness for sin.

To "justify", is when God looks at us "just-as-if-I" have never sinned before. 

Paul pulled the pieces of life's puzzles together and painted the picture of Gods grace and mercy.

God and the lens of the gospel can make sense of this world.

Acts 13:42-48 NKJV
[42] So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. [43] Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. [44] On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. [45] But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. [46] Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. [47] For so the Lord has commanded us: 'I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.'" [48] Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

There is victory in the Gospel and in this message.

The Jews rejected it and the Gentiles received it.

Acts 13:48 NKJV
[48] Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

Many Calvinist use that verse to back there claim that God has preordained. But that is not how it is suppose to be viewed.

Acts 13:49 NKJV
[49] And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region.

Is a verse showing that the Word of God must be preached to us first before we can spread it.

The Word of God is the greatest tool in our arsenal.

The point of all this is to say get up and do something to share the Gospel.