God’s Mission Chapter Acts 13:1­13 (Read Vs. 1­6 first) B) This chapter is the “missionary chapter” of the Bible Intro: A) Our chapter picks up in the city of 1) Henry Martin, sainted missionary to Antioch India and Persia, once said: 1) You will remember chapter 11 with the x The spirit of Christ is the spirit of martyrdom of Stephen missions, and the nearer we get to x Many saints fled for their lives from Him, the more intensely missionary Jerusalem minded we must become.” 2) The church was further dispersed by 2) God desires our eyes to be lifted from James’ death and Peter’s capture these walls and ourselves 3) We see a transfer of activity from x Lift our eyes to the regions beyond Jerusalem to Antioch x If you’re following Christ, you’re x Barnabas had been sent from concerned about following missions Jerusalem to Antioch to access x He sent for Paul’s help C) Luke mentions for us five different men x Antioch is where we see Paul taking ministering in the church on more leadership 1) Barnabas 2) Simeon (called Niger, latin for black) 3) Lucius – probably one of the founders at the church in Antioch 4) Manaen – a friend of Herod Antipas, who killed John the Baptist 5) Saul – (Paul) who is about to step up as a strong leader x Paul had served teaching in Antioch up to this point D) We will look at the missionary’s calling and ordaining tonight I. The Calling of the Missionaries A) The missionaries were proven men 1) They were spiritual men x They were teachers and preachers 2) God always calls those busy for Him B) The missionaries had the power of the now Holy Spirit over them (Vs. 4) x You don’t bring someone on “hoping 1) This church at Antioch had much going they will be” for it x You do so because “they are” x Well established church (impressed Jerusalem) B) The missionaries were called men (Vs.2) x Well taught church (prophets and 1) I believe in a definite calling in a teachers) like Barnabas and Saul person’s life x An integrated church (Barnabus a x I’m careful to not tell someone they Levite, Simeon, probably a black have been called of God man, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, a x Yet I am overly sure God indeed Hellenistic Jew, and Saul, a former does call! Pharisee) 2) Their calling was confirmed 3 ways x A multiple staff church (most were) x They were busy serving the Lord x A seeking church (praying and x They prayed fasting) x They fasted 2) The last quality seems most important to being a missions sending church II. The Commissioning of the Missionaries x They sought the mind of Christ x They were obedient to that mind A) The church made necessary preparations 1) The church prayed and fasted (Vs. 3) x Fasting is you sacrificing what you want (food) to show you want God’s will accomplished in your life x It is a pathway for closeness to God 2) Prayer is purely and simply talking to God! x Both prayer and fasting show a seriousness to God Conclusion: III. The Confrontation of the Missionaries A) It takes a balanced church to be (Vs. 6­13) missions minded x Established A) Missionaries faced immediate x Well taught opposition x Reaching all people there 1) Amazing how people think, “difficulties B) The priority a church should place on mean God’s not in it.” missions x You don’t get that mindset from the C) Times of trials do not mean God is not Bible with you! 2) Barjesus, a false prophet (and a D) God will propagate His church! misnomer) x Barjesus translates, “son of Jesus” *Slides of foreign and home missionaries x The devil is always at work too! B) The opposition faced immediate Sources: judgment (Vs. 9­11) 1) The Outline Bible, Harold Wilmington x In God’s judgment, Sergius Paulus 2) The Bible Exposition Commentary, Warren gets saved! Weirsbe 3) Acts: An Expositional Commentary, Boice James.