Missions: unto the ends of the earth

• 1^st – Missionary church… vs. 12:24-13:1
  • 1^st – Growing Church… vs. 24-25
    • Word of God… vs. 24
      • [Now] the word of God grew and multiplied!
      • But [δὲ] even though there was PERSECUTION…
      • James was DEAD – and Peter had to leave Jerusalem [departed for Antioch] – Galatians 2:11
      • Rather than HINDERING the work of the Gospel – instead it ACCELERATED it…
      • The WORD of God [λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ] was [active] continually [imperfect] GROWING…
      • Because the STORY of the book of ACTS continued [it was not stopped]
      • The book did NOT end with the death of James – the work kept going…
      • And because it was GROWING – it was also [passive] continually [imperfect] MULTIPLYING…
      • Referring to the number of DISCIPLES being added to the CHURCH – Acts 6:7
      • The CHURCH is NOT limited to a particular leader or personality…
      • Leaders come and go – sometimes they DIE [James] – others move on [Peter]
      • What matters is that the WORD of God [imperfect] continues…
      • Because when the church teaches the WORD – they will see disciples MULTIPLY!
    • Back to Antioch… vs. 25
      • Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry.
      • And they also took with them John whose surname was Mark!
      • The story picks up where it left off [before the death of James]
      • Barnabas and Saul leave Jerusalem after delivering the GIFT to the elders…
      • Financial aid to help the church in Judea during the FAMINE – Acts 11:28
      • They returned to the church in ANTIOCH – and brough MARK with them…
      • This is the same MARK whose mother MARY hosted the prayer meeting for Peter…
      • Suggesting that Barnabas and Saul were likely there when Peter was set free by the ANGEL!
    • Healthy Sheep…
      • Barnabas and Saul had been teaching in Antioch for over year – Acts 11:26
      • As a result people there had become MATURE in their walk with Jesus…
      • These BOLD believers were stirred to go out and tell OTHERS about Jesus…
      • This MULTIPLICATION of the believers – gave birth to MISSIONS…
      • MISSIONS was the result of the WORD of God being taught in the LOCAL church!
      • If a shepherd NEVER fed his sheep [malnourished] – they would NOT multiply…
      • But if they are well FED sheep – then he will have LOTS of little sheep!
      • If believers are NEVER fed the Word of God – they are spiritually weak [malnourished]
      • And there is little to NO chance they will be BOLD with the GOSPEL…
      • But well FED believers – are going to become MATURE in the Lord…
      • The natural result is they will want to SHARE the Word with others…
      • So a church that teaches the WORD of God – is GOING to send MISSIONARIES!
• 2^nd – Raised up… vs. 1
  • 1^st – Diverse Group…
    • The Leadership… 
      • There were certain prophets and teachers!
      • The CHURCH [ἐκκλησία] in ANTIOCH was led by FIVE men [prophets and teachers]
      • BARNABAS – a LEVITE who seems to have been the SENIOR pastor of the church…
      • SIMON [שִׁמְעוֹן] – who was also called NIGER [black]
      • LUCIUS – whose name means WHITE or BRIGHT from Cyrene [north Africa] – Acts 11:20
      • MANAEN – who was from a rich family [brought up in the house of Herod Antipas]
      • SAUL – who had been a Jewish Pharisee till he converted to Christianity…
      • It was very diverse group – because God uses all DIFFERENT kinds of people!
      • There is a common misconception that God only uses the BEST…
      • In order to be used by God we have to have TRAINING [degree]
      • That is the wisdom of MEN – a worldly idea that has crept into the church…
      • We do NOT see any Bible colleges or seminaries in the Bible…
      • God does NOT care if we are DARK or LIGHT – RICH or POOR…
      • He is just looking for those who are AVAILABLE – Isaiah 6:8
        
    • Foolish…
      • God chooses the FOOLISH [μωρός] people of the world – I Corinthians 1:26-28
      • We might be thinking that God could NEVER use us…
      • Thinking that we do NOT have the right QUALIFICATIONS!
      • What we may not realize is that we just gave ourselves all the RIGHT qualifications…
      • We are exactly what God chooses to go and share the message of the cross…
      • Because when God uses FOOLISH people – they do NOT give credit to the person…
      • They instead stand amazed because they see Jesus working through us!
  • 2^nd – The Core…
    • Qualified…
      • The first missionaries came from this CORE leadership of the church…
      • The church sent out their BEST – because they were prepared!
      • If we are BUILDING a house – we would not hire a man who had never used a hammer…
      • If we need to FIX our car – we would not hire the guy who has never driven a car!
      • In the same way when God build His CHURCH – He uses those with EXPERIENCE…
      • Men who KNOW how to share the Gospel – teach the Word of God…
      • Who can stand up to trials – and have experience being directed by the Lord!
    • The Best…
      • Many churches hesitate to send out their BEST…
      • They fear if they lose their BEST – it may harm the church…
      • But that could NOT be farther from the truth – a church MUST send out their BEST…
      • Because if they stay – they become COMPLACENT in their walk…
      • Everything becomes too familiar – NO need to step out in faith…
      • Or worse yet – people become CRITICAL of others…
      • Because it is NO longer a work of the Lord – so they become BITTER!
      • I knew a senior pastor who was concerned about the other pastors at the church…
      • He noticed they were no longer being stretched – they had become apathetic…
      • So one day he FIRED them all – and told them all to go and start new churches…
      • It caused them to step out in faith – and dozens of NEW churches were started!
      • The moment we stop stepping out – we STOP growing in the Lord…
      • And run the risk of losing our excitement – falling into an empty routine!
    • Opportunities…
      • If no one ever steps out – the church becomes STAGNANT…
      • Everything role is filled – so there are NO opportunities for others to step out…
      • It takes someone leaving [missions] for others to be able to step up…
      • And when those new people step up – they mature – so they can also be SENT out…
      • When a church sends its best – God will use it to start countless others churches!
• ·      3^rd – Sent out… vs. 2-3
• 1^st – Preparation… vs. 2
  • Focused on Jesus…
    • As they ministered to the Lord and fasted!
    • As they were [present] MINISTERING – to work [ἔργον] for the people [λαός]
    • A word commonly used to describe working for [dative] the Lord [κύριος] – Hebrews 10:11
    • Because the BEST way for them to help the people – was to LISTEN to God…
    • Therefore the PASTORS in Antioch were [present] FASTING…
    • To remove ALL distractions – so they could HEAR from the Lord!
      
    • I admit that when I wake up in the morning – I check my cell phone…
    • It follows me throughout the whole day – a CONSTANT distraction!
    • God is NOT silent – He is always looking to talk to His people…
    • The problem is we are so BUSY – it becomes hard to LISTEN…
    • If we are having a hard time hearing from the Lord – we might need to FAST…
    • Remove the DISTRACTIONS – sit quietly – and listen for the voice of our Master!
  • Flexible…
    • The Holy Spirit said: Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul!
    • As they were FASTING and SEEKING the Lord…
    • The Holy Spirit SAID – set apart [imperative] Barnabas and Saul…
    • He called them to LEAVE the CHURCH – and do a NEW work…
    • There was NO argument – the leaders were FLEXIBLE…
    • They did NOT come with their own ideas – they were open to whatever God wanted to do!
    • It is easy to get COMFORTABLE – and refuse to be open to anything NEW…
    • But in order to be used by God – we must be FLEXIBLE…
    • Our identity is NOT in what we have DONE – or where we are SERVING…
    • Our IDENTITY is simply in Christ – and we need to OPEN in what He wants to do!
  • No fear…
    • When God called us to start a church in the mountains – I had my doubts…
    • My background is in computer science – not agriculture…
    • Relating to farmers is NOT something I had ever done before!
    • One of the hardest things to do in life – is to take a step of FAITH…
    • We often hesitate because – we think we might FAIL – we might NOT be able to do it…
    • Or we hesitate because – what if we are WRONG and this is NOT what God wants…
    • But with God NOTHING is impossible – it is NOT about our ability…
    • And we will NEVER go wrong if we take a step of FAITH – God will direct our steps!
  • 2^nd – Called out… vs. 2
    • Holy Spirit…
      • For the work to which I have called them!
      • The WORK the Spirit called [perfect] Barnabas and Saul to – was to be MISSIONARIES…
      • We are NOT told how the Spirit SPOKE [prophecy or through a Bible verse]
      • The Holy Spirit can speak in LOTS of ways – the key is EVERYONE heard…
      • And becoming a MISSIONARY was NOT their idea – it came from God!
      • People have LOTS of ideas of what they want to do…
      • But the question we always have to ask is – is it OUR idea or GODS idea…
      • If we do something that is OUR idea – we are on our own…
      • But if it is GODS idea – He will be the one who does all the work!
    • Not easy…
      • It is important to hear the Spirit – because things will NOT always be easy!
      • I know a lot of MISSIONARIES – in a lot of different countries…
      • And they all have one thing in common – serving God is NOT easy…
      • People are SINNERS – and they are more than willing to prove that to us…
      • When someone has been pouring their life into a community for years…
      • And ONLY a handful of people are showing up – it can be discouraging!
      • When times get tough – if we are NOT convinced God has called us – we WILL give up…
      • It is too EASY to think – maybe I made a MISTAKE – and go back home…
      • But if we have the confidence God called us – then we can ENDURE!
  • 3^rd – The choice… vs. 3
    • Then having fasted and prayed – and laid hands on them – they sent them away!
    • When the leaders finished FASTING and PRAYING [aorist]
    • They put their hands on Barnabas and Saul to SEND [ἀπολύω] them…
    • They could have said NO – they did not have to answer the call…
    • They leaders did NOT make them go – it was their CHOICE!
    • God uses us to reach the lost – but NOT because He needs us – Romans 10:14
    • He uses us because He LOVES us – and wants us to be a part of His work…
    • But if we do NOT share the Gospel with someone – God will just use someone else…
    • The question is do we CHOSE to be blessed – take part in the work God is doing!
    • Esther 4:14 – “If you keep quiet… deliverance… will arise from some other place.” [NLT]
• 4^th – Preach the Word… vs. 4-5
  • 1^st – The destination… vs. 4
    • Being sent out by the Holy Spirit.
    • They went down to Seleucia – and from there they sailed to Cyprus!
    • Therefore [οὖν] – having INDEED [μέν] been sent out [passive] by the Holy Spirit…
    • Barnabas and Saul traveled to SELEUCIA [port city 25km from Antioch]
    • And from there they sailed to the Island of Cyprus!
    • The common view of missions is leaving the COUNTRY – to travel to a FAR off land…
    • Yet Barnabas and Saul NEVER left their country – NEVER left the Roman Empire…
    • Their FIRST missionary journey was only about 100 kilometers – Bacolod to Himamaylan!
    • It does NOT matter where God calls a MISSIONARY – God is not about GEOGRAPHY….
    • We do NOT become a missionary when we cross a manmade boundary…
    • We become a MISSIONARY when the Holy Spirit calls us out!