Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, ‘I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.’ ” And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.
Acts 13:46-52
Barnabas
Religions Resistance
There are many times when the message of Christ is clearly presented that there will be resistance, even persecution, because the gospel of Christ turns religion upside down. It is as true in 2017 as in the days of the apostles of Jesus.
“Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.” Acts 13:46-52 (KJV)
Paul and Barnabas were in a town where there was a Jewish synagogue, and they went there to fulfill the word of God, “To the Jew first…”. They were made bold by the power of the Holy Spirit within them and upon them.
They had shared the history of the people of Israel; reminding them of the power of God on the people, His love, His grace, His mercy; upon the people in their journey in the wilderness. All these as well with the Judges and the Kings of Israel, and how the LORD had called the Jews to be the messengers of God to the whole world.
Religion of men seeks to control men, women and children, and keeps people in bondage of sin. Christianity, following Jesus frees men, women and children from the bondage, death, and scourge of sin.
What should the messenger of Christ do when opposed by the religious elite? Do as Paul and Barnabas did. Keep on preaching, teaching, living for the Lord. “Shake the dust off your feet”, and go on doing the work of the ministry.
Day 75 – Loving The Lord Unto Life
We have heard it said, “I will love the Lord, even unto death”; Peter said something similar to that; even as the Lord told him “You will deny Me three times”.
My reading this morning was in Acts 6 through chapter 15. These events give us some details of the work of the Holy Spirit at work in people’s lives. Even the life of a young Pharisee who was intent on killing those Christians has his life dramatically changed when he meets Jesus Christ as he is on his way to Damascus to capture, chain and return to Jerusalem with them for trial and death (Acts 9).
Stephen was one of the men who were chosen in chapter six by the church to be a servant, feeding the Greek widows among them. Stephen was also an evangelist proclaiming the word of God, the gospel of Jesus Christ and showed his love for the Lord even unto life.
Hear what Luke writes in his accounts of the work of the Spirit of God –
“And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. Then they suborned men, which said, ‘We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.’ And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, and set up false witnesses, which said, ‘This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: for we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.’ And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.” Acts 6:8-15 (KJV)
Stephen was full of faith and power, by the Holy Spirit. He stood strong for the gospel even though it could mean the loss of life for him. His love for Jesus Christ and the gospel was stronger than his love for this world, and the life he now had. He stands in chapter seven with conviction and proclaims the word of God from the Old Testament; and they fall under conviction.
Do we know what “conviction” is today? The conviction I speak of is where you feel some guilt for your sin; and shame for your behavior; there is repentance; and you are drawn to see that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God; and that through Him alone there is forgiveness, peace and eternal life. Sometimes this conviction, with those who hate God, will cause them to do cruel, evil and vile things; in rebellion against God and His children. Just as it happened with Stephen.
Luke records the sermon Stephen preached, and records these final words,
“Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.” Acts 7:51-53
This was the final straw for this rebellious crowd. They were “cut to the heart” then they ran upon him, and Stephen saw “Jesus standing on the right hand of God” (v. 56). In the home going of Stephen we can see traits of the Lord Jesus in him. As he is being stoned by the mob he says, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (v. 59). Then as he breathes his final breath on earth Stephen cries out with a loud voice, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge” (v. 60).
There is another who loved not their life unto death, and that was that young Pharisee; who has now become a Christian, preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. His name was Saul and he was from Tarsus. His name became Paul and he has written 14 of the New Testament Epistles.
In a place called Lycaonia Paul and Barnabas were believed to be gods, because they had healed a crippled man, but Paul and Barnabas rejected the worship and tried to convince them they were not gods, but only men. When some Jews came from Antioch they stoned Paul, dragged him out of the city, believing him to be dead;
“And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.” Acts 14:19-20
The apostle Paul did not quit; nor did he soften the gospel message. He got up from where they left him, went back into the city, shook the dust off his feet (Matthew 10:14; Mark 6:11; Luke 9:5), and went on preaching the gospel; loving the Lord unto life.
Let the Christians of our day Love the Lord unto Life. Eternal life.
-Tim A. Blankenship
A Journey To Rest
Acts 9:26-31
It was at Saul’s feet the stoners of Stephen laid down their garments. I suppose he was responsible for caring for their clothing while they stoned a man to death. That sounds so heartless, because it is, and it was, however; at least it seems to have been this event; his hearing the word from Stephen, seeing and hearing his dying testimony; which had an impact on Saul coming to faith.
When Jesus confronts Saul as he is traveling to Damascus to capture, persecute, and jail Christians; Jesus says to Saul, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.” Acts 9:4-5 (KJV). His “kick against the pricks” is evidence that before the Lord confronted him he was deeply under the convicting power of the Spirit of God. Saul met Jesus Christ on that day, and he has been a blessing to Christians, the Church and the world ever since; because of the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
THE CONVERSION OF SAUL, AND THE CHURCHES REACTION (v. 26). Upon his salvation Saul is led to a man named Ananias, who shows Saul the way he is to go for the Lord. He is received by the disciples of Damascus. Saul had spent time in Damascus preaching the gospel. He was new to it for sure, but he started in faith and kept on faithfully until the day he died by losing his head at the hands of Rome.
The church of Jerusalem was reluctant to receive him into their midst. He had been their persecutor, he had shown them nothing but hate, and now he’s wanting to come into our fellowship. Can you understand their doubtful thinking about him? I can. He had received orders from the religious establishment of Jerusalem, and it was in Jerusalem where most of the persecution was still going on, and Saul had been the chief persecutor.
The Jerusalem church could not believe that their chief persecutor was now one with them. The disciples there – not the apostles – were afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple of Jesus now.
It is an awesome thing when one who has been against the church of Jesus Christ is changed and begins to walk, live, serve and glorify our Lord. Their testimony will be one of glorious change and the glory will belong to Jesus Christ. The glory will not return upon the professing individual, but go to the Lord.
BARNABAS RECEIVES SAUL, AND ENCOURAGES HIM AND THE CHURCH, AND THEY WALK AND WORK TOGETHER (vv, 27-28). Barnabas sees the rejection Saul experiences, sees a life who has been changed by the blood of Jesus Christ and takes Saul and makes him his disciple. The call of the great commission of Jesus Christ is to “Go and make disciples” there are more than twelve disciples; there are only twelve apostles; thirteen counting Saul – who later became Paul. We are not commanded to “make apostles” but disciples which is a “follower of Jesus Christ”
Known as an “encourager” Barnabas walks along side Saul when no one else will. He even takes him to see the apostles, and Saul shares with them his testimony of how he met the Lord on the road to Damascus, and they are told of his bold preaching in Damascus. After his visit with the apostles he is then seen leaving and entering the city with the apostles; they have received him as one of themselves.
The work of an encourager is a great work, and is much needed in the work of Christ and His Church. We all need someone to come alongside us, to pick us up when we are down on occasions. There are also occasions where we need to be the encourager, and pick up a friend, family member, church member, or a neighbor who needs to just get things clicking and right between them and the Lord.
SAUL’S PREACHING IN JERUSALEM IS BOLD, AND HE IS RUSHED OUT OF TOWN TO HIS OWN TOWN (vv. 29-30). Why is it a lot of preachers think they are called to popularity. Jesus was popular while He did His miracles, but when He got bloody and doctrinal concerning His body and the blood many of “His disciples left Him” (John 6:60-68). If popularity, or drawing a crowd, was the agenda of our Lord, the message would not be so hard and difficult for people to hear and believe. The message of the gospel of Jesus Christ is the simplest message ever proclaimed, yet people do not want to hear it.
Have you ever been run out of town for your preaching? I have not, but there are some places I have not been asked to return. I am grateful for the church where I am currently pastor. The Carr Lane Baptist Church maybe small in number, but we are big in heart for hearing the word of the Lord. When a preacher can stand in the pulpit week after week, Sunday after Sunday, and preach expository messages straight from Scripture, and you hear no negative comment, and you hear an “Amen” ever once in awhile you just got to know that they are hearing God, and not you.
The preacher when he is preaching the word of the Lord can boldly proclaim the message of God without fear or favor to those who are listening; and will glorify the Lord in the preaching. An Old Testament Prophet name of Jeremiah was one who convinced me that I needed to come out of my shell, preach the word and be faithful to the Lord. Jeremiah says, “Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them.” Jeremiah 1:17 (KJV). When you know you are delivering the word of God you have nothing to fear. Be bold, proclaim from the rooftops what God says in His Word.
Though Saul did get rushed out of town it was for a greater purpose. He would return to Jerusalem at a later time, and then be shipped to Rome. Saul’s/Paul’s message of Jesus Christ was not loved nor appreciated. Check your message; if you have crowds following you; change your message to the message of Jesus and Saul.
THE CHURCHES OF JERUSALEM THEN, HAD REST (v. 31) It was because of the change in Saul’s life that there was rest in the Jerusalem churches. The persecutor of persecutors was now one of them and being persecuted.
A few years ago I took the thirty first verse, disected, prayed, and developed a sermon, and called it THE THREE R’s FOR THE CHURCH getting the idea from what used to be the words for education Reading, ‘Riting’ and ‘Rithmetic; but changing that to be Reverence, Rest, and Results, as three points for the sermon. You can see the Reverence, “walking in the fear of the Lord”; the Rest in, “Then had the churches rest…” and the Results, “in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.” Acts 9:31 (KJV).
There is little fear of God, even in church these days we live in. There is more talk of “perfect love casts out fear”, so we don’t fear God. NOT! John’s writing has absolutely nothing to do with the reverence and fear of God. It does have to do with the condemnation of our sins, the lies of the devil, the lies of friends and family. It has to do with everyday events of life. Someone has said, “When we fear God; we need to fear nothing else.” If there is no fear of God, there will be fear of all else. Paranoia, schizoprenia, trouble and danger lurking behind every closed door, fear of darkness, fear of storms, fear of failure, fear of bankruptcy, fear of world financial failure. When even the child of God is not right with Him, out of His fellowship, we too can be fearful of these things.
Rest has come to the Jerusalem churches because the one who pursued them unto death was now one of them. He now was being persecuted. He had been pushed out of town; but unto a great endeavor of preaching the Word elsewhere; to his own home of Tarsus.
Results, come when the Christian and the church practice their faith, and live by that faith through their everyday lives. We have seen examples of this multiplication earlier in the book – 3000 saved on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), more were saved according to Acts 4:4. It seems that people were being saved everyday in the early church. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to baptize at least one every Sunday during a worship service, maybe even more? Remembering it is the Lord who adds daily to His church. It is not programs, or money, but by and through the faithful witness of the Spirit of God through His faithful witnesses.
The rest you need can be found only in the Lord Jesus Christ. You may despise the gospel right now but realize, as did Saul, that Jesus died for your sins, was buried, and rose again the third day that we all who call on His name have eternal life with Him. Call on His name believing Him, and trusting Him with all your life, confessing your sins and repenting of them.
-Tim A. Blankenship
This is the study notes for a sermon preached in the morning worship at Carr Lane Baptist Church on October 12, 2008.
The Fire and Hammer 