Acts 13:1-12
Thank you all for being here this morning. Today we are
going to see what God’s word has to say about sending
missionaries into the field. My daughter Meghan is going
to be leaving for Paris, France in a few short weeks.
Today we are going to have a commissioning service and
a time of prayer for her and to commit to praying for
her while she is overseas and for her to commit to
being the hands and feet of Christ in France.
Our text this morning is found in Acts 13. We will be
studying the first 12 verses.
Several years ago I was about to go on a mission trip to
the Ukraine with my father in law. I felt God telling me to
ask my dad to go on the trip with me. I was nervous
about asking him over the phone so I sent him an email.
I explained the details about the trip and asked him to
pray about it. Well, he did pray about it and in fact he
asked God to give him a sign if he was supposed to go on
the trip with me. The next Sunday their church had a
missionary speaking to them. The missionary had the
kids up at the front and was asking them if they knew
what a missionary was. She told them “a missionary is
someone who says yes to God to go.” She repeated
those 8 words over and over again. “Someone who says
yes to God to go.”
Needless to say my dad got his sign and we went to the
Ukraine together and had an incredible time watching
God work.
Acts 13:1-3
Luke tells us in verse 1 that there were 5 prophets and
teachers among the church at Antioch.
Barnabas – Acts 4 we read of his generosity to the church
Simeon – who was called Niger probably from Africa
Lucious of Cyrene – also in Africa
Manaen – the friend of Herod the tetrarch
Saul – the prosecutor of Christians
These were the men who were serving in the church.
They were the staff who were devoting themselves to the
teaching/preaching of the word.
Isn’t it amazing that God uses imperfect people to
complete His plan?
David Jeremiah wrote, “God doesn’t usually ask people
who are doing nothing to do something. He calls people
who are doing something to do something more—more
important, more urgent, more sacrificial.”
Verse two explains that while the church was worshiping
the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit spoke to them.
Church, when we are focused on worshiping the Lord and
serving Him, that is when He speaks to us and guides us
to complete the work that He wants us to complete.
Called by the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit said to the church, “set apart for me
Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called
them.”
The Greek word proskaleo means to call toward oneself,
summon or invite. It’s a divine calling.
God is the one who calls a person to missions or the
ministry.
God was inviting Paul and Barnabas to serve Him by
taking the gospel to the ends of the earth.
Meghan has received a similar calling from the Holy
Spirit.
What is the church’s role in supporting
missionaries?
Notice how the church in Antioch responded.
Prayer and Fasting
They were already worshiping the Lord and fasting.
The church understood that fasting was a great way to
draw near to God and remove distractions so we can hear
from Him clearly. They gave up the physical to focus on
the spiritual.
Verse 3 says after fasting and praying they laid their
hands on them and sent them off.
Laying on of Hands;
is an extension of the body of Christ saying to the one being sent –
as you go we go.
Later on we are going to have Meghan come to the front
and we are going to allow anyone who wants to come up
and lay their hands on Meghan and pray for her.
We want her to know that we are here supporting her
ministry through prayer and through our giving.
Acts 13:4-5
Verse 4 clarifies that Paul and Barnabas had been sent
out by the Holy Spirit.
Sent by the Holy Spirit
How should a Christian respond when he/she is sent by
the Holy Spirit?
Let’s see how Paul and Barnabas responded
They responded in obedience.
They responded by proclaiming the word of God in the
synagogues of the Jews.
Acts 13:6-12
Mission Truths
These verses teach us a two things
The Gospel message requires a response.
There are some people who seek God. The proconsul
who was a man of intelligence summoned Paul and
Barnabas because he was seeking to hear the word of
God.
There are some people who reject God. The false
Jewish prophet and magician Bar-Jesus opposed Paul and
Barnabas, trying to keep the proconsul from believing the
truth.
Filled by the Holy Spirit
Before we get into conflict with those who oppose God:
we must be filled with the Holy Spirit
We must be prepared to confront spiritual error
Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:18 not to be drunk with wine
but to be filled with the Spirit. That is in the present
tense which means a continuous action. We should
constantly be seeking God so that we are filled with the
Spirit so we can withstand the attacks of the devil.
Paul also writes in Ephesians 6:11-18 the believers are to
put on the full armor of God because the battle is not
against flesh and blood, but against the rulers,
authorities, cosmic powers, and spiritual forces of evil.
When we confront spiritual errors and those who oppose
the gospel we must be led by the Spirit. It’s always good
to pray asking God to give us the response that He wants
and that He would bring to mind Scripture to help share
the truth.
APPLICATION
Our response to the message this morning is for both the
church and for Meghan.
For the Church:
Would you commit to praying for Meghan regularly?
Would you consider fasting and seeking God’s guidance
as you lift up Meghan in prayer?
Would you consider giving to the special offerings that
support the various missions both home and abroad?
Would you consider going on a short term trip to assist
the missionaries in building relationships and sharing the
Good News?
Meghan:
Would you commit to being the hands and feet of
Christ?
Would you commit to sharing the Gospel at every
opportunity?
Would you commit to staying in communication with the
church and keeping us posted on your ministry?
Before we have our time of prayer I would like to pause
for a time of invitation.