Session #6

Acts 11:19-30
“A View Of Things To Come” • 10.28.08 • The Power Of One: One Man, One Life, One Mission

Intro.
- The Gentile conversion of Cornelius and Peter’s involvement has changed the game. Up to this point, only Jews were included into the gospel of Christ.
- The Cornelius episode brought illumination to God’s ultimate plan, but the practice of the church remained very focused.
• Acts 11:19 : “Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only.”
- The scattered went to Antioch, northwest from Jerusalem, preaching only to the Jews. However, some among their number reached out to the Hellenists and preached Jesus to them. They were very successful.
- The news hit the church in Jerusalem, who now had some context, and a sense of responsibility toward the burgeoning works throughout that region.
- They sent a representative, Barnabas, to check out the work in Antioch.
• Acts 11:23,24 : “When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.”
- At this point, Barnabas enlists the help of Saul, who is still in Tarsus. Barnabas makes the trip and gathers Saul from his work.
• Acts 11:26 : “And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”
- The Christians at Antioch were so healthy and in such a place of growth that they were in the position to reach out to the struggling church in Jerusalem.
• Acts 11:29,30 : “Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.”
- In this short section of scripture, I believe we have a microcosmic view of how a genuine work of God begins and is sustained. This is what happened here in this section. This work of God in Antioch

I. Started In Obscurity (v.20-22)
II. Sustained In Humility (v.23-25)
III. Succeeded In Responsibility (v.26)
IV. Served According To Their Ability (v.27-29)

Text

I. Started In Obscurity (v.20-22)

- Let me draw your attention to a few words.
- Note the words in verse 19 : Those who were scattered. Then again in verse 20: Some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene.
- Notice however, what is not mentioned. These people are not even named! They were persecuted men, scattered from home because of persecution.
- All we get is where they came from, Cyprus and Cyrene, a Greek Island and a Lybian port.
- These men were not necessarily connected to the church in Jerusalem officially, but they were connected to Christ and preached HIm to the Gentiles.
- These guys were the first to see it in practice. Peter had opened the door and these guys were the first to knock on and run through it with reckless abandon. Notice the effect:
• Acts 11:21 : "And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord."
- The "hand of the Lord was with them." Let me remind you here that if God was not "in this," these guys could have plotted and spoke with the greatest eloquence and nothing would have happened!
- What is it about God's hand? Much is made of God's "right hand" in the book of Psalms. We can check a few verses and see just what His hand is all about.
- Turn with me to Psalm 16. God's right hand symbolizes His provision.
• Psalm 16:11 : "You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
- Turn over a few pages to Psalm 18. God's right hand also symbolizes His protection.
• Psalm 18:35 : "You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great."
- Finally, turn with me to Psalm 80 and see that the right hand of the Lord also symbolizes His planting! The context is that the vine has been decimated, but it was God who planted it and could raise it again.
• Psalm 80:14-17 : "Return, we beseech You, O God of hosts; Look down from heaven and see, And visit this vine And the vineyard which Your right hand has planted, And the branch that You made strong for Yourself. It is burned with fire, it is cut down; They perish at the rebuke of Your countenance. Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand, Upon the son of man whom You made strong for Yourself."
- Antioch was God's Work! His hand was with them. His hand of providence. His hand of protection. His hand of favor.
- What is the lesson? God's work doesn't need a superstar with a name and a gift! He needs a vessel, willing to do His work! He may put His hand heavily upon that person and that work.

II. Sustained In Humility (v.23-25)

- Word of this great work, this outbreak of the Spirit's work, got back to Jerusalem and the church decided to send a man.
- The church sent the right guy: Barnabas. He saw that this was a great work and he did what Barnabas did best: He encouraged!
- Unlike the last episode, the church did not merely content themselves with hearing about the work. They sent Barnabas to witness it.
- Barnabas saw it and was thrilled! Literally, he rejoiced! He could not have been happier!
- He told them, "Just keep doing what your doing!" Don't stop! Don't quit!
- A wise word to workers in the kingdom: When something is working, just keep doing it!
- Too many guys try to overthink or get real slick in their ministries. Just keep doing what you are doing and the Lord will bless. Barnabas encouraged them and they did it. The results were great.
• Acts 11:24(b) : "For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord."
- Notice this: A great many people were added to the Lord! Not to the anonymous men from Cyprus and Cyrene. Not to Barnabas. They were added to the Lord! This was His Work.
- This is the second time that Luke mentions this. You'll note that he says the same thing in verse 21. These are markers for us to follow.
- This work was sustained in humility. Barnabas did not try to Lord over this work, asserting his authority. The men who started it did not try to do something new and exciting. They stuck to what was working. But notice the final note of humility.
• Acts 11:25 : "Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul."
- Barnabas could have stood there and made himself the Pastor of this work. But Barnabas did something very wise. He recognized that his gifts could only take that group so far.
- What he needed, he himself could not provide, so he humbly stepped aside! Saul, now here was a teacher who could take this group to the next level!
- Barnabas made a decision that would alter the course of his and Saul's life.

III. Succeeded In Responsibility (v.26)

• Acts 11:26 : "And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch." : Barnabas brought Saul back to Antioch.
- For a year, they assembled with the church. Saul was in his first Pastorate. He was a wise teacher, having both the background and training of his former Pharisaical life, as well as the 12 year plan that he had been living on in Tarsus!
- Turn with me to Galatians 1. Paul is discussing his training with the Galatian church. It had been a very personal and powerful course of study.
• Galatians 1:10-12 : "For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ."
- Now, 12 years later, Saul is ready and for that year, he did it week by week.
- Note the change in emphasis: They taught a great many people. Before Saul came, they had "caught" a great many people. Those who were caught would now get taught!
- The early part of Antioch's ministry was all evangelism. But now a transition was necessary.
- This church succeeded in their mission and responsibility. They had seen converts and were now taking the next step in making disciples.
- Note again how important those years of obscurity and training were to Saul for this moment in time when he would pour it all out upon the Antioch church. Don't despise the days of preparation!
- God has a purpose and a people in mind in your season of preparation!
- This church succeeded in the two fold mission of the church. Their success is poignantly measured in the final phrase of this verse: "And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch."
- At first glance, this might seem very flattering. Make no mistake: This was no compliment!
- This was a derisive statement. Literally, they were called "Little Christs." This was mockery to the world, but a banner of pride for the disciples. They were identified with Jesus Christ.
- When a church can be identified simply as Christ-like, that work is meeting it's goal.
- They were not marked by personality or program. They were simply like Jesus. That drew the ire of men, but brought the glory to Christ. Mission: Accomplished!

IV. Served According To Their Ability (v.27-29)

- By the end of this section, many are crowding into Antioch.
- One of these people was a prophet named Agabus. He is a brother that is gifted with the ability to foretell the future, God speaking a warning through him.
- This gift has never been intended to be used for sensationalism. In the Old Testament, the gift of prophecy was used to call people into action, usually repentance.
- Here, God speaks prophetically through Agabus, in order for the church to respond. The response to news of a world wide famine was immediate and immediately positive.
• Acts 11:29 : "Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea."
- This church was built upon the right stuff and therefore, when the need arose, the right thing happened at the right time!
- These disciples, each according to his ability. Notice those words. Each one had a certain level that they were able to attain to.
- For some, they were able simply to pray. Others were highly active in providing equipment. Still others gave time. The point is, they all played a part and they determined to act toward one goal.
- The intended to send relief. The Antioch Christians were going to feel the effects of the famine as well. They were not immune, but their maturity is exemplary.
- Their first thought was not selfish. Their first thought was on others who would be in a tighter spot than themselves. Pastor Saul was teaching them well.
- When it came time to consider how that relief should be sent, the church made a great decision. Their heart was to send the best gift, by the best possible hands.
• Acts 11:30 : "This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul."
- Barnabas and Saul were chosen for this task. They were the best and the church was blessed to send their very best out for ministry.

Conclusion

- This work of God was forged out of a desire in the heart of God, coupled with the willingness of some ordinary men. Today, you might be one of those ordinary guys.
- They preached Jesus Christ, humbly held the course, made disciples and served according to their ability. Can't that be your story?