11th Sunday after Trinity – Sermon 73

Prayer to start

May every thought and every word be graciously received for the Glory and honour of our Lord Jesus Christ

AMEN

Introduction

It’s a sad fact – that many people today – think they can live their lives without God and without hearing about Jesus –

They recon they’re happy just as they are-

Convincing them otherwise is probably the hardest task the church has to face – but its one that each one of us has been called to do –

So in a world of hundreds of religions and thousands of languages how do we communicate Jesus?

 

Point 1 Paul’s first missionary journey

 

No doubt – the early church had those same concerns when they started to take the good news of Jesus to the people around them –

In the first 12 chapters of Acts – Luke tells us how God’s power spread throughout Jerusalem and Judea – all the action on evangelism over this period -was in Palestine and the Syrian mainland –

nobody had yet caught the vision – that Jesus set – of taking the word to the peoples overseas –

but all that was to change – with Paul’s first missionary journey into Cyprus and Galatia –

Last week in Acts we learnt how Paul and Barnabas were “set apart” by the Holy Spirit to go to preach to the gentiles

They went with John Mark to Cyprus – Barnabas’ home island –and preached to the Roman governor – but first had to neutralize a sorcerer – named BarJesus

The magician was rendered blind – and the governor became a believer – deeply impressed by what he had learned about Jesus –

Paul and Barnabas then sailed north from Pathos – to Asia Minor – to Perga and Pisidian Antioch – where they again preached with great effect –

They preached first in the local synagogue to the Jews – and God-fearing gentiles then more widely to the gentile population –

this brought great persecution from the Jews – and – they were forced out – so “they shook the dust off their feet and went to Iconium” –

At the start of chapter 14 we find Paul and Barnabas completing what they started – they traveled through three cities – Iconium, Lystra and Derbe – and received a different reception in each –

In Iconium they went to the Jewish synagogue to preach – as usual – this resulted in large numbers being converted – but some of the unconverted Jews agitated violence among the city leaders – and the two had to flee for their lives-

At Lystra – the pattern was different – Luke tells us that – Paul looked into the eyes of a crippled man – and could see that he had faith to be cured – and Paul healed him –

when the Lystrians saw this – they assumed Paul and Barnabas were divine visitations of Hermes and Zeus – reflections of their own God’s –

Paul’s miracle was completely misunderstood – and when the Lystrians made preparations for a pagan sacrifice – Paul and Barnabas had to show their ditress by “shouting and tearing their clothes” – in order to convince them not to go ahead – they only just managed to stop them

But that wasn’t the end of it – the antagonised Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived and turned the Lystrians against them – made them targets for violent assaults –

although previously worshipped as messengers of the immortals – they were now set upon – and Paul was stoned and left for dead –

At Derbe they again discipled believers – and then they went back to the towns they’d just visited – to encourage the newly converted to be true to their new faith – and to make sure they knew exactly what they were letting themselves in for – many hardships would be demanded of them – as disciples of Jesus

When the group returned to their sender church at Antioch they told them – how God had thrown open the gate of faith to the gentiles – that many had became Christians – churches were established – leaders appointed – their message had been confirmed by miracles – and the word of God had spread

They also told them about the opposition – about being kicked out – and stoned – and at times close to the point of death –

through it all they knew they would not be stopped – because the Holy Spirit sent them and went with them

 

Point 2

The whole of this first missionary journey was set up and directed by God – It was the Holy Spirit – that told the church at Antioch – to set Barnabas and Paul apart for the task – that sent them out – and led them from place to place – who gave them power in their preaching – that enabled them to perform miracles – It was through the Holy Spirit that converts were made and churches planted –

The Antioch church too had played its part – they committed the work to the grace of God – their leaders were united in support – and they setup an atmosphere of prayer and fasting – in which they could be sensitive to God’s voice – and purpose-

this first missionary thrust into the Roman world was seen by the church – as a great triumph of faith and blessings from God –

God helped Paul and Barnabas through their successes as well as the hardship – they were sent where the people were – the busy places – Cyprus was an island of great importance in those times – They could expect a lot of people to listen – the temptation of pride and compromise would be great

How easy it would have been for Paul and Barnabas to have kept quiet – and let the people of Lystra carry out their pagan sacrifice – to have accepted their praise or gave them up as a lost cause – said nothing – and gone on to the next town

But the Apostles didn’t waver from the truth – they used scripture as a basis for all they said and did –

Wherever the Apostles went – action swirled – and riots erupted – but a small church took root –

They encouraged and trained others – towards leadership – confronted the opposition and evil head on – and proclaimed the gospel to all who wanted to hear it

Point 3

So what can we take from this first missionary journey to help us today? –

Well first of all – they prepared well – with prayer and fasting – sought the guidance of the Holy Spirit in everything they did – they’re mission of evangelism didn’t come form a planning meeting – it came through prayer and the Holy Spirit –

We too have to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal – to us the things that hinders our growth – here in Lymm – to reveal to us – the things that prevent us responding to His call and keeping faith to it –

This missionary journey was a bold move – it took courage and commitment – and it turned out to be a story of trial and triumph – the crown and the cross – Just as Jesus endured the cross – to bring God’s kingdom – to us – so we have to face our own cross as we reach out – in His name – to others –

Christian character is enhanced by hard things – not easy things – by testing not resting – there was no resting for Paul and Barnabas – but like them we should remember – that whatever we do in faith and obedience of God’s purposes – will be rewarded –

Wherever they preached – some believed – and some didn’t – some wanted to follow – and some wanted to destroy – that same division occurs today – whenever we mention the name of Jesus society splits in two – but we should remember that no matter what others say about the Gospel – the when we take the word of God to others it grows – nothing can stand against it –

People misunderstand for all sorts of reasons – the people of Lystra thought they had legitimate reasons for thinking Paul and Barnabas were gods –
In our OT lesson – Rehoboam thought that using a harder policy than his father’s was the safest and most profitable approach –

Whatever the relationship with God people have – we must start from there – Paul preached to the Lystrians at a very basic level – about God’s gifts through creation – to persuade them away from their ancient fables – what’s important is that we encourage and nurture understanding of what God is doing today – and what a difference He can make to peoples lives –

God wants us not just too seek others – but to reach out to them – listen and respond to their situation with the same love that Christ showed us –

As Christians we know that something unique happens to us when we follow God’s will – When we repent of our sins – and receive Jesus as our Saviour – we are set free and given eternal life – and have fellowship with Him –

Jesus showed us the Father’s love through service and obedience and by dying for us – As His followers we must show Jesus to the world – through our faith and obedience to Him

 

Ending

The book of Acts is a story about transformed lives – an encouragement for us to recognize that the power that transformed the disciples is the same power that can transform our lives and those of our community today –

Through the Holy Spirit –we can understand God’s priority for discipleship – for prayer – and for fellowship – Through the Holy Spirit we can help others take their first steps of faith in Jesus – and encourage them to continue to grow – within the family of God

Prayer to finish

Jesus you called us to be missionaries, whether at home or abroad – send the Holy Spirit upon us – reveal to us all that prevents us from responding to you – keep us faithful to your word – empowers us to spread your Gospel – to all you bring before us –

AMEN