Bible Study - Awake (6) - Return to the Task - Acts 13:1-3, 44-52 - August 23, 2015

Bible Study – Awake (6) – Return to the Task – August 23, 2015

This is lesson six (6) and the final lesson in our series entitled “Awake: The 

Call to a Renewed Life.”

Our focus scripture is Acts 13:1-3, 44-52.

A revitalized church spreads the gospel.

First, Christians must experience a revitalized life before the body of believers can experience a revitalized church. Allowing CHRIST to rule and reign in our lives through confession of our sins, repenting and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us is imperative. Christian leadership can plot a course of action and will achieve a result. When we seek the leadership of GOD, through the leadership of the Holy Spirit, the will of GOD is achieved according to HIS plan and purpose and not according to the dictates of man.

Supporting social issues are one thing but they do not define a Spiritual church. It is paramount that CHRIST is preeminent in a Spiritual body.

Second, unity is vital as Christians take action as led by the Holy Spirit.

Our lesson focuses upon the spread of the gospel of CHRIST. The early Christians leaders were obedient to the scriptures that instructed them that the promised Messiah was to be presented to the Jews first and then to the Gentiles. Some Jews received CHRIST as their Savior but many rejected HIM. The Gentiles have always been included in the plan of salvation.

Saul, who we know as Paul, was the apostle, appointed by GOD, to the Gentiles after his conversion from Judaism to becoming a Christian. This happened when he was traveling to Damascus, to capture Christians and carry them to Jerusalem as prisoners.

Saul, his Jewish name, became Paul, his Roman name sometime after his conversion experience. Barnabas took Saul under his wing and vouched for him as a true Christian.

The Christian church leaders in Jerusalem heard of Christian activity in Antioch and sent Barnabas to check it out. He found that Christians who had left Jerusalem, due to persecution, had relocated to Cyprus and Cyrene and then, in turn, traveled to Antioch. These displaced Christians were spreading and teaching the gospel of CHRIST and the Gentiles were responding.

There was such a hunger for the good news of CHRIST in Antioch that Barnabas went to Tarsus to locate Saul and to bring him to Antioch to help him in ministry. It was in Antioch that the phrase “Christian” was first associated with the followers of CHRIST or “CHRIST ones.” It was a designation given to them by the non-Christian community. Would those with whom we associated know that we were followers of CHRIST based upon our lifestyles and actions?

Let’s explore!

Let’s read Acts 13:1-3:

Preparing for the Mission Field

1 In the local church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen, a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 

2 As they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work that I have called them to." 

3 Then, after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off.

The Christian church in Antioch was well equipped Spiritually. They had prophets and teachers. They were in tune with the Holy Spirit. Being out of touch with the Holy Spirit is a tragic missing relationship in many of our churches today. When the Holy Spirit is absence, it leaves a void for unholy spirits to move in and believe me they will.

The Holy Spirit gave them direction for Barnabas’ and Saul’s first missionary journey. GOD commissioned them to go. The church leaders fasted, prayed and laid hands on them and sent them off. Likely, the reason they fasted and prayed a second time was to reconfirm the Holy Spirit’s instructions. They went to Seleucia and sailed to Cyprus and preached in Salamis and then in Paphos.

Any time we send those called into missions, we must commission them before they begin their journey. The leaders fasted, prayed and laid hands upon them before they went. Do we take our mission trips as seriously? Do we take our everyday life as an opportunity to minister? In essence, every Christian is called to serve each day where ever he or she is.

Let’s read Acts 13:26-41: (Background and lead-in to our next scripture.)

26 "Brothers, sons of Abraham's race, and those among you who fear God, the message of this salvation has been sent to us.

27 For the residents of Jerusalem and their rulers, since they did not recognize Him or the voices of the prophets that are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled their words by condemning Him. 

28 Though they found no grounds for the death penalty, they asked Pilate to have Him killed. 

29 When they had fulfilled all that had been written about Him, they took Him down from the tree and put Him in a tomb. 

30 But God raised Him from the dead, 

31 and He appeared for many days to those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now His witnesses to the people. 

32 And we ourselves proclaim to you the good news of the promise that was made to our forefathers. 

33 God has fulfilled this to us their children by raising up Jesus, as it is written in the second Psalm: You are My Son; today I have become Your Father. 

34 Since He raised Him from the dead, never to return to decay, He has spoken in this way, I will grant you the faithful covenant blessings made to David. 

35 Therefore He also says in another passage, You will not allow Your Holy One to see decay. 

36 For David, after serving his own generation in God's plan, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and decayed. 

David was a man after GOD’S own heart but when he had served according to GOD’S plan, he died and decayed. However, when GOD’S Only Son, JESUS, gave HIS life on the cross, HE died, was buried but GOD raised HIM from the dead to reveal to the world that HE had conquered both sin and eternal death. When a person asks CHRIST to forgive him or her for his or her sins and asks CHRIST to come into his or her life, HE does. At that instant, the person receives the miracle of rebirth into GOD’S kingdom as GOD’S Son or Daughter, eternal life and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

I believe that GOD has a plan and a purpose for every person. Some chose to accept CHRIST as their Savior and fulfill GOD’S plan and purpose. When GOD’S plan and purpose has been fulfilled it is time for us to go home to be with our Father.

37 But the One whom God raised up did not decay. 

38 Therefore, let it be known to you, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you, 

39 and everyone who believes in Him is justified from everything, which you could not be justified from through the Law of Moses. 

40 So beware that what is said in the prophets does not happen to you: 

41 Look, you scoffers, marvel and vanish away, because I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will never believe, even if someone were to explain it to you."

The people of Antioch were very interested in what was being taught and wanted more as we read in the next scripture. But some wanted more to debate Spiritual issues. When we will study the scriptures, they will not return void. They will enlighten and convict even when our hearts are not in harmony with CHRIST. I have heard of people who have studied the Bible in order to debate it and received CHRIST as their Savior.

Let’s read Acts 13:42-52:

Paul and Barnabas in Antioch

42 As they were leaving, they begged that these matters be presented to them the following Sabbath. 

43 After the synagogue had been dismissed, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking with them and persuading them to continue in the grace of God. 

44 The following Sabbath almost the whole town assembled to hear the message of the Lord. 

45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to oppose what Paul was saying by insulting him. 

46 Then Paul and Barnabas boldly said: "It was necessary that God's message be spoken to you (Jews) first. But since you reject it, and consider yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles! 

47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us: I have appointed you as a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth." 

Paul and Barnabas used the debate as an opportunity to enlighten. It is GOD Who brings conviction for sin and reveals CHRIST as a person’s Savior. The decision to accept or reject CHRIST is left up to the individual.

We need to keep in mind that Paul was trained in Judaism by the best Jewish teacher, Gamaliel. Paul understood the connection between what we know as the Old Testament which reveals the coming of the promised Messiah and CHRIST. He knew that CHRIST had fulfilled all prophesy and had come to earth as a human, yet GOD. The Holy Spirit had put it all together for him so he could teach others this Good News. His writings still teach us today, as we study and allow the Holy Spirit to give us insight, understanding and application.

When Paul stated:

46 Then Paul and Barnabas boldly said: "It was necessary that God's message be spoken to you (Jews) first. But since you reject it, and consider yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles! 

47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us: I have appointed you as a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth." 

The Gentiles responded as revealed in our next scripture. Why did the Gentiles respond with exuberance to Paul’s words?

Let’s read Acts 13:48-52:

48 When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the message of the Lord, and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed. 

49 So the message of the Lord spread through the whole region. 

50 But the Jews incited the religious women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them from their district.

51 But shaking the dust off their feet against them, they proceeded to Iconium. 

52 And the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

Jealousy blocks many from seeing truth. As the old saying goes, “you can lead a horse to water but you cannot make it drink.” Truth is truth regardless of what we think. JESUS said in John 5:24-30:

24 "I assure you: Anyone who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life. 

25 "I assure you: An hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

26 For just as the Father has life in Himself, so also He has granted to the Son to have life in Himself. 

27 And He has granted Him the right to pass judgment, because He is the Son of Man. 

28 Do not be amazed at this, because a time is coming when all who are in the graves will hear His voice

29 and come out-those who have done good things, to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked things, to the resurrection of judgment.

30 "I can do nothing on My own. I judge only as I hear, and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

Judgment day is coming. Truth is truth. 

Place your faith in CHRIST while there is still time. Salvation from sin, eternal death and not having to face judgment is CHRIST’S gift to all who will place your faith in HIM.

The choice is yours to make! Blessings!!!