Set Apart to Work Acts 13:1-12 SS Lesson for 10/26/08

Transcription

1 Set Apart to Work Acts 13:1-12 SS Lesson for 10/26/08 Devotional Scripture: 1 Thess 1:1-10 OUTLINE INTRODUCTION OVERVIEW AND APPROACH TO LESSON LESSON INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND From the NIV Standard Lesson Commentary From the Bible Expositor and Illuminator MAJOR THEME ANALYSIS SET APART BY THE HOLY SPIRIT (ACTS 13:1-3) Set apart for assignment (1) Assignment to do the will of God (John 4:34) Assignment to keep the faith (2 Tim 4:7) Assignment to finish the task (Acts 20:24) Assignment to run the race of faith to win (1 Cor 9:24-25) Assignment to press onward toward the goal God has provided (Phil 3:14) Assignment to give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord (1 Cor 15:58) Set apart for service (2) Service without regard for life is true love (1 John 3:16) Service that considers life nothing compared to completing our servant tasks (Acts 20:24) Service while remembering that whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord (Rom 14:8) Service that starts with offering self to God (Rom 12:1) Service that is steadfast in commitment (Acts 21:12-14) Service that reaps rewards (Mark 10:29-31) Service that is according to God's will (2 Cor 8:3-5) Set apart with prayer and commissioning (3) Commissions can happen from birth (Gal 1:15-17) Commissioning is a form of being set apart for duty (Acts 13:1-3) Commissioning is a stewardship bestowed by God (Col 1:25) Commissions can be administered by other Christians (Gal 2:9) SENT OUT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT (ACTS 13:4-8) Sent out to teach God's word (4-5) Teaching with wisdom (Col 3:16) Teaching with ability from God (1 Tim 3:2) Teaching sound doctrine (Titus 2:1) Anointed teaching (1 John 2:27) One of the functions of the Church is to provide teaching (Eph 4:10-13) Teaching of God's Word should lead to being able to distinguish between good and evil (Heb 5:13-14) Teachers will be judged more strictly, so respect and learn from them (James 3:1) Sent out to face opposition (6,8) Opposition that is never too large for God (Judg 7:4-7) Opposition where God helps the powerless against the mighty (2 Chron 14:9-12) Opposition that cannot be overcome by strength and size (Ps 33:16-19) Opposition that may seem to be overbearing, but reliance on God will always bring deliverance (2 Cor 1:8-10) Jesus says that there will be opposition because men hate Him (Matt 10:22) Jesus proclaimed that it is a blessing to be hated for His sake (Luke 6:22) Opposition is really a rejection of God not man (1 Thes 4:8) We should respond to opposition with the hope that godly instruction to the one who opposes leads to his repentance (2 Tim 2:25) Sent out to assist those who seek God (7) Set Apart to Work Page 1 of 13 SS Lesson for 10/16/2008

2 Those who are seeking for the gospel to be preached in the whole world (Matt 24:14) Those who are seeking God while He is near (Isa 55:6-7) Those who are seeking, now knowing that God has already found them (Isa 65:1) Those who are seeking and finding, knocking and having the door opened (Matt 7:7-8) Those who are seeking to dine with Jesus and to overcome the world (Rev 3:20-22) STRENGTHENED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT (ACTS 13:9-12) Strengthened through being filled with the Holy Spirit (9) Filled with the Holy Spirit so that the word of God can be spoken boldly (Acts 4:31) Filled with the Holy Spirit as part of living wisely (Eph 5:15-18) Filled with the Holy Spirit to serve (Acts 6:2-6) Filled with the Holy Spirit as evidence of the grace of God (Acts 11:22-24) Strengthened by God's Hand being upon us (11) God's Hand makes one steady and yet limber (Gen 49:24) God's Hand is powerful (Josh 4:24) God's Hand can cause people to believe (Acts 11:21) God's Hand can bring unity (2 Chron 30:12) God's Hand can be gracious (Neh 2:8) Strengthened through God working in and through us (12) God works in and through us to give us strength (Phil 4:13) God works in and through us to do what He promises (Rom 4:19-21) God works in and through us to be our competence (2 Cor 3:5) God works in and through us to provide power to the weak (Isa 40:29-31) God works in and through us because His power is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor 12:9-10) God works in and through us because we can only be strong in the power of God (Eph 6:10) God works in and through us to equips us (Heb 13:21) CONCLUSION AND OTHER THOUGHTS CONCLUDING THOUGHTS FROM THE NIV STANDARD LESSON COMMENTARY CONCLUDING THOUGHTS FROM THE BIBLE EXPOSITOR AND ILLUMINATOR PRACTICAL POINTS FROM THE BIBLE EXPOSITOR AND ILLUMINATOR HEART OF THE LESSON FROM THE BIBLE EXPOSITOR AND ILLUMINATOR The appointment of Barnabas and Saul (Acts 13:1-3) The mission work at Salamis (Acts 13:4-5) The conflict for Sergius Paulus (Acts 13:6-12) THE JEWISH ASPECT Set Apart to Work Page 2 of 13 SS Lesson for 10/16/2008

3 Introduction Overview and Approach to Lesson The lesson ouline came from The Bible Expositor and Illuminator. The lesson examines being Set Apart. The study's aim is to understand what constitutes the purpose and process of missionary work. The study's application is to reach out to others by supporting Christian missions. Lesson Introduction and Background From the NIV Standard Lesson Commentary A generation ago, the North American church was very enthusiastic about missions. A substantial portion of the budget was devoted to the support of missionaries. Missionary speakers were frequent guests in the Sunday morning pulpit. Missions conferences were guaranteed to draw large crowds. The regular members in the pew were encouraged by reports of conversions and church planting in exotic, distant lands. Things have changed. While churches still contribute large amounts of money to causes outside their walls, many such causes would not have been defined as missions in previous years. Missionaries find it hard to schedule speaking engagements in churches while home on furlough, for schedules are packed and preachers guard their pulpits. Some would say that the church has moved beyond the missionary efforts of the post World War II period, and that she has outgrown (or at least rethought) missions as previously understood. As we ponder this change, it will be helpful to see missions within a biblical framework. The church is called to the task of evangelism (see Matthew 28:19, 20; Acts 5:42). As understood historically, missions suggests something more than general evangelism. Missions is intentional and strategic crosscultural evangelism. This requires specialized training, enormous commitment, and generous funding. The need for churches to support missionary efforts has not changed. Today s lesson tells the story of a little church far, far away and long, long ago that pioneered the idea of strategic cross-cultural evangelism. The resultant missionary activity had an impact that is still felt today. Antioch of Syria was one of the great cities of the ancient world. This city was founded in 300 B.C. by Seleucus, one of the generals of Alexander the Great. The city was named in honor of Antiochus, the father of Seleucus. It became the capital city for the Seleucid dynasty. The city sat on the banks of the Orontes River, about 15 miles from the Mediterranean coast. The city seems to have had a Jewish community from the beginning, and this grew to such a large number that the Jews of Antioch were allowed to have a large measure of selfgovernment. In Paul s day, Antioch had become the administrative capital of the eastern Roman Empire. It was a very cosmopolitan city, having a mixture of Greek, Roman, Arabian, and Jewish cultural influences. Estimates put the population of Antioch at half a million people, making it the third city of the empire, behind Rome and Alexandria. It is not surprising that the new faith in Jesus as the Jewish Messiah had spread to the large Jewish community in Antioch (see Acts 11:19), which numbered between 25,000 and 65,000 at the time. Unlike the Jerusalem church, the Antioch congregation seems to have been an early adopter of the right of non-jews to be full members of the church (Acts 11:20). These believers were also the first to be called Christians (Acts 11:26), meaning of the Christ party. This name quickly gained popularity and has been a primary designation for the followers of Christ ever since. When the leaders of the Jerusalem church heard about the church in Antioch, they sent Barnabas to investigate (Acts 11:22). However, rather than impose the authority of the Jerusalem church upon the church in Antioch, Barnabas joined their leadership team. Realizing Antioch s need for a first-rate teacher, Barnabas remembered his old friend Saul (Paul), who was in his hometown of Tarsus. So Barnabas went to Tarsus, some 100 miles away, and brought Saul back to Antioch (Acts 11:25, 26). Saul was encouraged by Barnabas and the challenges of the Antioch ministry. The scope of this ministry was shown when the Antioch church sent support to Jerusalem for famine relief (Acts 11:28 30). This successful trip by the team of Barnabas and Saul sets the scene for today s lesson about a far more significant journey. Set Apart to Work Page 3 of 13 SS Lesson for 10/16/2008

4 From the Bible Expositor and Illuminator Have you been called? Is that a question you are reluctant to answer? When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he declared that they were "sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Cor. 1:2). When we confessed Christ as Lord (Rom. 10:9-10) and called upon Him for salvation (vs. 13), we were also called into service in His kingdom. Depending on the spiritual gifts we possess (12:3-8), that calling may be worked out in various ways. While God calls all His children to salvation and service, some have been called in special ways. For example, Christ had many disciples, but He called only twelve to be apostles. In this week's lesson we see how the Spirit called Saul and Barnabas to serve as missionaries from among those already gifted and called. After Saul was baptized at Damascus, he spent some time with Christians there and then began to preach the gospel in Jewish synagogues. Threatened with death, he escaped over the city wall in a basket and went to Jerusalem. Hellenistic Jews there plotted to kill him, and the brethren sent him home to Tarsus in southeast Cilicia, a province in Asia Minor (Turkey) (Acts 9:19-30). We do not hear of Saul again until Barnabas brought him back to Antioch, Syria, to help him in the fast-growing church there (Acts 11:.25-26). Persecution had scattered many believers from Jerusalem to other areas (Acts 8:1-4). Some went to Phoenicia, to Cyprus, to Antioch (in Syria), and to Cyrene (in Libya). Some of those from Cyprus and Cyrene witnessed to Greek-influenced Jews in Antioch. Many converts to Christ were made, and the church in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to pastor the flock. The work was so great that he sought out Saul in Tarsus to help him (11:19-26). Major Theme Analysis (Scriptural Text from the New King James Version; cross-references from the NIV) Set Apart by the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:1-3) 1 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. Set apart for assignment (1) Assignment to do the will of God (John 4:34) 34 "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Assignment to keep the faith (2 Tim 4:7) 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Assignment to finish the task (Acts 20:24) 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. Assignment to run the race of faith to win (1 Cor 9:24-25) 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Set Apart to Work Page 4 of 13 SS Lesson for 10/16/2008

5 Assignment to press onward toward the goal God has provided (Phil 3:14) 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Assignment to give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord (1 Cor 15:58) 58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. Set apart for service (2) Service without regard for life is true love (1 John 3:16) 16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. Service that considers life nothing compared to completing our servant tasks (Acts 20:24) 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. Service while remembering that whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord (Rom 14:8) 8 If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Service that starts with offering self to God (Rom 12:1) 12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God this is your spiritual act of worship. Service that is steadfast in commitment (Acts 21:12-14) 12 When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, "Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." 14 When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, "The Lord's will be done." Service that reaps rewards (Mark 10:29-31) 29 "I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first." Service that is according to God's will (2 Cor 8:3-5) 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. Set apart with prayer and commissioning (3) Commissions can happen from birth (Gal 1:15-17) 15 But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, 17 Set Apart to Work Page 5 of 13 SS Lesson for 10/16/2008

6 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus. Commissioning is a form of being set apart for duty (Acts 13:1-3) 13 In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. Commissioning is a stewardship bestowed by God (Col 1:25) 25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness Commissions can be administered by other Christians (Gal 2:9) 9 James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. Sent Out by the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:4-8) 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant. 6 Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, 7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. Sent out to teach God's word (4-5) Teaching with wisdom (Col 3:16) 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Teaching with ability from God (1 Tim 3:2) 2 Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, selfcontrolled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, Teaching sound doctrine (Titus 2:1) 2 You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. Anointed teaching (1 John 2:27) 27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit just as it has taught you, remain in him. Set Apart to Work Page 6 of 13 SS Lesson for 10/16/2008

7 One of the functions of the Church is to provide teaching (Eph 4:10-13) 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole verse.) 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Teaching of God's Word should lead to being able to distinguish between good and evil (Heb 5:13-14) 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Teachers will be judged more strictly, so respect and learn from them (James 3:1) 3 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. Sent out to face opposition (6,8) Opposition that is never too large for God (Judg 7:4-7) 4 But the Lord said to Gideon, "There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say, 'This one shall go with you,' he shall go; but if I say, 'This one shall not go with you,' he shall not go." 5 So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the Lord told him, "Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down to drink." 6 Three hundred men lapped with their hands to their mouths. All the rest got down on their knees to drink. 7 The Lord said to Gideon, "With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the other men go, each to his own place." Opposition where God helps the powerless against the mighty (2 Chron 14:9-12) 9 Zerah the Cushite marched out against them with a vast army and three hundred chariots, and came as far as Mareshah. 10 Asa went out to meet him, and they took up battle positions in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah. 11 Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, "Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. O Lord, you are our God; do not let man prevail against you." 12 The Lord struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah. The Cushites fled, Opposition that cannot be overcome by strength and size (Ps 33:16-19) 16 No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength.17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save.18 But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, 19 to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. Opposition that may seem to be overbearing, but reliance on God will always bring deliverance (2 Cor 1:8-10) 8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, Set Apart to Work Page 7 of 13 SS Lesson for 10/16/2008

8 Jesus says that there will be opposition because men hate Him (Matt 10:22) 22 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. Jesus proclaimed that it is a blessing to be hated for His sake (Luke 6:22) 22 Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Opposition is really a rejection of God not man (1 Thes 4:8) 8 Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. We should respond to opposition with the hope that godly instruction to the one who opposes leads to his repentance (2 Tim 2:25) 25 Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, Sent out to assist those who seek God (7) Those who are seeking for the gospel to be preached in the whole world (Matt 24:14) 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Those who are seeking God while He is near (Isa 55:6-7) 6 Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. Those who are seeking, now knowing that God has already found them (Isa 65:1) 65 "I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, 'Here am I, here am I.' Those who are seeking and finding, knocking and having the door opened (Matt 7:7-8) 7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Those who are seeking to dine with Jesus and to overcome the world (Rev 3:20-22) 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. 21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." Strengthened by the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:9-12) 9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, "O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? 11 "And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time." And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord. Set Apart to Work Page 8 of 13 SS Lesson for 10/16/2008

9 Strengthened through being filled with the Holy Spirit (9) Filled with the Holy Spirit so that the word of God can be spoken boldly (Acts 4:31) 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. Filled with the Holy Spirit as part of living wisely (Eph 5:15-18) 15 Be very careful, then, how you live not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Filled with the Holy Spirit to serve (Acts 6:2-6) 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word." 5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. Filled with the Holy Spirit as evidence of the grace of God (Acts 11:22-24) 22 News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. Strengthened by God's Hand being upon us (11) God's Hand makes one steady and yet limber (Gen 49:24) 24 But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, God's Hand is powerful (Josh 4:24) 24 He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God." God's Hand can cause people to believe (Acts 11:21) 21 The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. God's Hand can bring unity (2 Chron 30:12) 12 Also in Judah the hand of God was on the people to give them unity of mind to carry out what the king and his officials had ordered, following the word of the Lord. God's Hand can be gracious (Neh 2:8) 8 And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king's forest, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?" And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests. Set Apart to Work Page 9 of 13 SS Lesson for 10/16/2008

10 Strengthened through God working in and through us (12) God works in and through us to give us strength (Phil 4:13) 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength. God works in and through us to do what He promises (Rom 4:19-21) 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old and that Sarah's womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. God works in and through us to be our competence (2 Cor 3:5) 5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. God works in and through us to provide power to the weak (Isa 40:29-31) 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. God works in and through us because His power is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor 12:9-10) 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. God works in and through us because we can only be strong in the power of God (Eph 6:10) 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. God works in and through us to equips us (Heb 13:21) 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Conclusion and Other Thoughts Concluding Thoughts from the NIV Standard Lesson Commentary In Paul s day, a missions trip involved getting a group together, rounding up a little money, receiving the blessing of the church, and then booking passage on a wooden boat. How much more complex are these things today! Now we must worry about passports and visas, about forwarding agents and tax ID numbers, about proper equipment and shipping, about health care and education for children, about language learning and access the list goes on and on. All of this is expensive, very expensive. While the cost of living in some foreign countries may be low, the cost of having a missionary on-site is not. While such details of mission work may have changed dramatically in the last 2,000 years, basic strategy has not. Missionaries are called to find people who do not have the gospel, make effective contact with them, and preach the good news so that they too may become disciples of our Lord Jesus. But aren t there many legitimate needs close to home that cry out for funding? When such an objection arises, remember that we do missions for two basic and interconnected reasons. First, we do them because being Christlike means that we have compassion upon the multitudes of unsaved (compare Matthew 14:14). Second, we do them because the Lord Jesus has commanded that the gospel be taken to all peoples (Matthew 28:19). When we gain this perspective, we will begin to experience what used to be called a passion for the lost. From this Set Apart to Work Page 10 of 13 SS Lesson for 10/16/2008

11 perspective, support of Christian missions moves to a high place on our priority list. We must support cross-cultural evangelism with our attention, our prayers, and our finances. Concluding Thoughts from the Bible Expositor and Illuminator Last week we saw that God changed Saul into a believer in Christ. This week we will see how God used His new creation (cf. 2 Cor. 5:17) in the ministry He had prepared for him. The first thing God did was to notify the local body of believers there in Antioch of His plans. He wanted Saul (and Barnabas) to be His special instrument of a radical new idea: missions. It is not that missions were brand new. God had used missions before in His program of evangelism. The prophets were good examples. Most prophets preached to those nearby, but some (such as Amos) went to a different group (Amos 1:1). Perhaps the most extreme example was Jonah's ministry to the wicked people of Nineveh. You know the history of Jonah. He was not comfortable ministering outside his own nation. God may call you to minister to a group of people outside your comfort zone. They may be very bad people, or they may actually turn out to be nice. How will you respond? At the point where we see Saul in the lesson text, he was not fully aware that he would become God's apostle to the Gentiles (although he was probably aware that he would preach to Gentiles [cf. Acts 9:15]). It was astounding to a Jew that he would minister to Gentiles. It may be just as astounding to you that God would want you to minister to people different from yourself. What if He called you to proclaim deliverance to homosexuals suffering from AIDS? Such a ministry is outside most people's comfort zone. God wanted Saul and Barnabas to be separated to do the work He had for them. This is the meaning behind the word "sanctification." That word simply means to set apart for holy use. As Christians, we are all set apart for God's use. God may have a special task for you. Finally, God said that Saul and Barnabas were to be separated "for the work whereunto I have called them." There is no indication that either the church or Saul and Barnabas knew yet what this work was. Sometimes God does that; He does not always reveal His will right away. In the beginning of the book of Acts, Jesus told His disciples that they should wait in Jerusalem "for the promise of the Father" (1:4). Jesus further told them what that promise was: they would be "baptized with the Holy Ghost" (vs. 5). They had to wait about ten days. Waiting is something not many of us do well. But God waits well; He has all the time in the world! When God called Barnabas and Saul to minister abroad, they could not have imagined it to be an easy task. They had been to other places; Saul was born in Tarsus, and Barnabas came from Cyprus (Acts 4:36). But to travel as far as they did was, again, outside their comfort zone, especially as Jews. God may call you to go elsewhere. Will you go? Be assured that just as He was with Saul and Barnabas, so He will be with you. His call is always sure. Practical Points from the Bible Expositor and Illuminator 1. We can be sure of the Lord's direction if we are faithfully serving Him (Acts 13:1-2) 2. The church should confirm and support those whom God chooses to serve in missions (vs. 3-4) 3. If we are consistent witnesses, God will bring us those who are willing to listen (vs. 5-7) 4. We should expect opposition to the gospel and not be deterred from preaching it (vs. 8) 5. We should humbly, compassionately warn those who reject Christ's gospel (vs. 9-11) 6. The gospel has the greatest impact when it is demonstrated as well as heard (vs. 12) Heart of the Lesson from the Bible Expositor and Illuminator The appointment of Barnabas and Saul (Acts 13:1-3) The church at Antioch recognized five men who were considered prophets and teachers. From these five gifted individuals, the Holy Spirit selected two for a wider ministry. From our knowledge of Scripture, we know that God sovereignly prepares and chooses the talents and abilities of His servants to carry out His divine will (cf. Isa. 49:1; Gal. 1:15). From their perspective, we find that as the Holy Spirit revealed His will concerning them, they were already busy ministering to the Lord and fasting. God usually calls people who are already engaged in faithful service to Him to serve Him in greater roles. It is also important to note Set Apart to Work Page 11 of 13 SS Lesson for 10/16/2008

12 that even though the Holy Spirit chose Barnabas and Saul, He instructed the church to set them apart. God works through His church, not apart from it. The mission work at Salamis (Acts 13:4-5) As soon as Barnabas and Saul arrived at their destination, they immediately began preaching the gospel in the synagogues. They targeted the Jewish centers of worship and centered their messages upon the Scriptures. Ministry for God cannot be carried out apart from the Scriptures. The conflict for Sergius Paulus (Acts 13:6-12) When the two missionaries arrived in Paphos, they found themselves facing two individuals who seemed to characterize the Jewish community. Sergius Paulus was interested in the gospel message, but Bar-jesus, or Elymas, opposed the message. Barnabas and Saul faced spiritual warfare very early in their mission. Elymas was a Jewish sorcerer. Sorcerers were empowered by demons. Saul (whom Luke began to identify as Paul in this account) confronted Elymas and called him a "child of the devil" (Acts 13:10). In direct contrast, Luke had already mentioned specifically that Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit (vs. 9). This passage provides us with a glimpse of Satan's tactics. First of all, he opposes the work of God. He opposes righteousness. He uses individuals who are supposed to be God's people and turns them into his own servants. He uses deceit and fraud. Finally, he distorts the truth of the Lord. Luke used the Greek word diastrepho to describe how Elymas was perverting the message as well as how he was interfering with Paul and Barnabas's work with the proconsul. The word diastrepho means "to distort, to corrupt, or to turn someone away from the right path." Apparently, while Paul and Barnabas were presenting the gospel to an interested Serguis Paulus, Elymas made every attempt to heckle their message and distract Sergius's attention away from it. Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, announced that the Lord would deal with Elymas by striking him with blindness for a short time. The spiritual blindness that Elymas was attempting to perpetrate upon the proconsul fell instead upon his own eyes as a literal blindness. Because of the gospel message, the Holy Spirit, and the power of God displayed through Paul upon Elymas, Sergius responded in faith, accepting Christ. Paul and Barnabas demonstrated an unwavering dedication to their task and, by their complete submission to the Holy Spirit, overcame the enemy and won Sergius for Christ. The Jewish Aspect When the church at Antioch fasted (Acts 13:2-3), they followed a longstanding Jewish custom. Fasting is voluntarily abstaining from food or drink or both. It could extend over a day (1 Sam. 14:24), a night (Dan. 6:18), three days (Esther 4:16), or even seven days (1 Sam. 31:13). Although some scholars trace fasting back to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 34:28), that was simply a time when during "his private, intimate encounter with God Moses was beyond human needs and concerns" (Berlin and Brettler, eds., The Jewish Study Bible, Oxford). Jewish scholars assert that fasting began with the Day of Atonement. On that day God told Israel, "Ye shall afflict your souls" (Lev. 16:29). The rabbis understood the affliction to include fasting. Jewish tradition through the years, as well as the Dead Sea Scrolls (IQpHab 11.8) and the New Testament (Acts 27:9), recognized the Day of Atonement as a "fast." The earliest Scripture reference to fasting by name is when Israel inquired from the Lord as they fought against Benjamin (Judg. 20:26). Numerous texts in the Old Testament refer to situations where individuals fasted and where there was corporate fasting. "In the Bible, almost any situation that aroused deep emotion could provide an occasion for fasting" (Wigoder, gen. ed., "Fasting," Illustrated Dictionary & Concordance of the Bible, Sterling). These situations included prayer, sorrow, repentance, danger, calamities, and war. The Bible, significantly, never forbids fasting, nor does the Bible command it. The destruction of the temple (586 B.C.) and the Babylonian Captivity resulted in four particular fast days being established among Jews (Zech. 8:19). The fast in the fourth month remembered the fall of Jerusalem; the one in the fifth month memorialized the destruction of the temple; the fast of the seventh month recalled the murder of Gedaliah; and the one in the tenth month "the first attack on Jerusalem" (Gaebelein, gen. ed., "Fast," The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Eerdmans). During the intertestamental times, Jewish emphasis on fasting continued to grow. Apocryphal books show that fasting was encouraged for remorse over sin (1 Esdras 8:71-73), for repentance (Judith 4:13), and to aid prayer (1 Maccabees 3:47). The Jewish philosopher Philo (25-20 B.C. Set Apart to Work Page 12 of 13 SS Lesson for 10/16/2008

13 to A.D ) commends fasting in general ("On the Life of Moses" ) and especially in connection with the Day of Atonement ("On the Posterity of Cain" 13.48). Modern Jews continue to emphasize fasting on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Today's Jews still regard fasting as a way to afflict the soul. Many Jews believe that fasting on Yom Kippur is "more important than the prayers of the holy day" ("Fasting," Wikipedia, August 1, 2007). They also believe, however, that "there is no particular merit in making this fast any more difficult than it has to be" ("Tips for Yom Kippur Fasting," Judaism 101, August 1, 2007). Modern Judaism views fasting as achieving three purposes. One is commemorative mourning over past troubles of Israel. Another is to focus on the spiritual rather than the physical. A third purpose "is the achievement of atonement for sins" (Wikipedia). The New Testament assures us, however, that atonement for sins was achieved by the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Set Apart to Work Page 13 of 13 SS Lesson for 10/16/2008