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review. As we began Chapter 13 we saw that WORSHIP was the TRADEMARK of the early Church - It was the PRIORITY of the church in Antioch. As we spent time together in those first few verses we saw that the missionary endeavors of the early Church were birthed in the context of worship. review.
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review As we began Chapter 13 we saw that WORSHIP was the TRADEMARK of the early Church - It was the PRIORITY of the church in Antioch. As we spent time together in those first few verses we saw that the missionary endeavors of the early Church were birthed in the context of worship.
review We saw that as they were ministering to the Lord the Holy Spirit DIRECTED the believers to send Saul and Barnabas out as missionaries.
the journey an overview As we pick up in Acts 13:4 Paul and Barnabas will make the 15 mile journey from Antioch to Seleucia, the sea port of Antioch. They are going to sail 134 milesacross the sea to Cyprus where they will preach at Salamis and Paphos.
the journey an overview In Paphos, as Paul is sharing the Good News with a Roman procounsel named Sergius Paulus, they are openly opposed by a false prophet.
(Acts 13:9-12 KJV) Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, {10} And said, O full of all subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? {11} And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee,
and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. {12} Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
the journey an overview From Paphos they will sail another 156 milesto Perga in Pamphylia. (= 305) They would immediately leave Perga and travel 125 miles inland to Antioch in Pisidia.
the journey an overview There was a reason for their brief stay in Pamphylia.
the journey an overview Not so very long afterwards Paul would write a letter to the people we will soon find him ministering to - We know it as the Book of Galatians as these towns were in the Roman province of Galatia.
the journey an overview (Gal 4:13 NLT) Surely you remember that I was sick when I first brought you the Good News of Christ.
the journey an overview So when he came to Galatia he was a sick man. William Barclay suggests that he was the victim of a vicious form of Malaria which was prevalent in that low coastal strip of Asia Minor.
the journey an overview Quote A traveller says that the headache characteristic of this malaria was like a red-hot bar thrust through the forehead; and another likens it to a dentist's drill boring through a man's temple.
the journey an overview Key Insight This sickness was so severe that it took a tremendous toll upon Paul’s life. It apparently disfigured him to the extent that many people treated him with contempt.
the journey an overview (Gal 4:14 NLT) But even though my sickness was revolting to you, you did not reject me and turn me away. No, you took me in and cared for me as though I were an angel from God or even Christ Jesus himself.
the journey an overview It apparently damaged his eyesight. Gal 4:15 (NKJV) What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me.
the journey an overview Key Observation It never struck him to turn back. Even when his body was ravaged by Malaria Paul never ceased to drive on and to be an missionaryfor Christ.
the journey an overview (Acts 13:14 KJV) But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia,
the journey an overview Key Observation One of the amazing things about this passage in Acts is the courage that is passed over in a sentence.
the journey an overview Key Insight Antioch in Pisidia stood on a plateau 3,600 feet above sea-level. To get to it Paul and Barnabas would have to cross the Taurus range of mountains by one of the hardest roads in Asia Minor.
the journey an overview Key Insight It was a road which was also notorious for robbers and criminals. It is very possible that this journey is what Paul was referring to when he wrote to the Corinthian Christians -
the journey an overview (2 Cor 11:26 NLT) I have traveled many weary miles. I have faced danger from flooded rivers and from robbers.
the message Key Observation When they arrived there he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath. When asked if he had anything to share Paul jumped at the opportunity and began to share with them the good news.
the message Key Observation His words are recorded in Verses 17-41. In Verses 17- 25 Paul lays a foundation for the Gospel by reviewing for them the history of God’s gracious dealings with Israel.
the message Key Observation In Verses 26-37 Paul then makes a direct declaration of the Gospel. He focuses upon the death and resurrection of Jesus .
the message Key Observation He concludes in Verses 38-39 by telling his listeners that there is a wonderful PROMISE for those who RECEIVE the Gospel.
(Acts 13:38-39 NKJV) "Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; {39} "and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
this Man Note Well This little 2 word phrase is a crucial one to note as we study the MESSAGE of the early Church. REMEMBER - This Book of Acts is THE MODEL for the Church.
this Man Note Well Countless numbers of people REFUSE to come to grips with the FACT that: REAL CHRISTIANITY is all about this man.
this Man Christianity is not merely about values or morals or principles. It is not merely about the benefits of belonging to a church. It is about this man.
this Man It is amazing how in so many pulpits today the subject will be about virtually anything and everything except this man.
this Man Key Application There is one thing that WE, and YOU and I, MUST do - not in a rude, confrontational way, but in a loving and clear way - bring people to the place of dealing with this man.
this Man Example I once got an e-mail from a man in which he said that he couldn’t see himself becoming a Christian because Christianity didn’t FEEL right to him.
this Man Example I replied by saying that it is not about what he feels, it is about this man. I think I should add that there are those who choose to “become Christian” because it feels right to them.
this Man Key Point The GOSPEL, the GOOD NEWS, centers around this man.
this Man Mark begins his account of the life of Jesus with these words - (Mark 1:1 NLT) Here begins the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.
this Man Paul said to the Corinthians - (1 Cor 2:2 NKJV) For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
this Man Peter said in the first sermon ever preached – (Acts 4:12) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
through this Man Note Well Christianity BEGINS and ENDS with this manbecause it is throughthis man (and this man alone), that we can find forgiveness of sins.
through this Man (Eph. 1:7 NKJV) In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
through this Man Crucial Insight Man’s GREAT problem is the problem of sin.
through this Man Crucial Insight All of man’s FRUSTRATIONS LACK OF PEACE DISSATISFACTION come from the FACT that man was made to KNOW God and RECEIVE life from love from God.
through this Man Crucial Insight BUT man’s sins have SEPARATED him from God.
through this Man Note Well The great need of man is NOT a new environment. (The Great Society”) Belonging to a Church – (“Got Church?”) Having a sense of Community. (postmodern-man)
through this Man Note Well The great need of man is to REMEDY the one thing that stands between him and God. The Good News is this - God has provided a REMEDY for sin in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ!
through this Man (Eph. 2:12-16 NKJV) that at that time you were without Christ… having no hope and without God in the world. {13} But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
through this Man {14} For He Himself is our peace… {16} and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross,
through this Man (Col 1:20-22 NKJV) and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself… having made peace through the blood of His cross. {21} And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works,
through this Man yet now He has reconciled {22} in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight;
justified by Him Job asked the question (Job 25:4) How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?
justified by Him Key Insight The Book of Roman uses the term justified a lot. It answers the question of Job in the negative: