MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
We must continue to go back to the first chapter of Act as we study the entire book. The mission handed down by Jesus to his disciples and how it was carried out is the book of Acts. Jesus told his disciples, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” Progress has been made on this assignment by the power of the Holy Spirit as we have studied so far. Acts chapter 14 documents a major milestone as Apostle Paul and Barnabas concluded their first missionary journey.
The first mission had not come easy. Opposition by the Jews and some Gentiles confronted Paul and Barnabas. In verse 2, “But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers”. Also, in verse 19, it says, “Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead”. In our day, we would probably conclude that God was not with them and brand it “unsuccessful” because of the many troubles. What are your criteria for “success” in life? Is it life without hardship?
Acts 14: 21-28:
21They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said. 23Paul and Barnabas appointed elders[a] for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. 24After going through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia, 25and when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.
26From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. 27On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 28And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. You should take a look at one of the maps in a study bible and see how the first missionary journey was covered. It started at Antioch and covered multiple towns and cities such as Seleucia, Salamis, Paphos in Cyprus, Attalia and Perga, Pisidian Antioch (different from the base Antioch) Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, back to Perga and back to Antioch the base. These were all Gentile cities but usually you will have some Jewish settlers.
2. Paul made it a point to first visit the Jewish synagogue when he came to any of the towns or cities (see vs. 1 of Acts 14 “went as usual”). Why? It is because, Paul was a Jewish rabbi and the synagogue is the first place you would at least expect an audience for his message of the Christ. Unlike the general public of the Gentiles, the Jews would have more familiarity with the prophecies concerning the Christ. The results of Paul’s visits were always mixed. Some Jews would believe but majority would oppose him and his message and eventually throw him out.
3. The new church in these cities did not stay and continue at the synagogues and would end up meeting in places such as people’s homes and houses. It tells me that the Church is not a building but people who are filled with the Holy Spirit and are hearing and obeying the voice of God. The people were the Church and the Church was everywhere the people where. Let’s stop “going” to Church and “be” the Church. When we accept this, it will change the way we live and “do church”. What will you do differently going forward? Change your emphases.
4. Paul and Barnabas “preached the good news” vs. 21, where ever they went. The good news is the news of Jesus’ divine birth, death, burial and resurrection. It is good news because every other news is bad news for the entire world. The bad news is that we cannot save our selves from the wrath of God because of our sins. The good news is that Jesus has been crucified and paid for our sins and have reconciled us to God the father. Those who believe become God’s children and Christ’s disciples. It is good news and no wonder in Acts 13: 52, it said “And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit”. Are you full of joy and filled with the Holy Spirit? We must preach the good news and be joyful if for no other reason than the good news.
5. The mission is accomplished and we see Paul and Barnabas appointing elders to oversee the churches in various cities. 23”Paul and Barnabas appointed elders[a] for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust” vs. 23. We can see the qualifications of the elders in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 (above reproach, manages his own family, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, not a lover of money and etc). Notice the seriousness of the appointment – “with prayer and fasting”. It was not by voting and/or any casual means.
6. We also see Paul and Barnabas strengthening and encouraging the church to “remain true to the faith”. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said”. Vs. 23. How are we encouraging the church these days? Paul’s words would not fit into the “prosperity gospel” of these days. Is there room for hardship in your life and my life or are we expecting everything to be a smooth sail every time just because we believe in Jesus? Jesus already told us (John 15 and 16) and the early disciples lived through hardship. Why should it be any different for us? No wonder the good news is not in our mouth as frequent as it should be. We spend most of our time seeking the “easy life” than taking risk for the gospel. Lord, please help me because I am speaking to myself and not to these readers.
7. Mission accomplished. “He (God) has opened the door of faith to the Gentiles” vs. 28. What a mission at a great expense. You and I are beneficiaries of this open door through the mission of Paul and Barnabas. Lord, we are grateful for reaching us with the good news. Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch for a long time to disciple the Church. They did not cut lose and run. Their daily lives were observed by the other disciples to see that it matched their rhetoric.
What will be recorded for each of us if another book of Acts is recorded for our day? In fact, God is keeping a record of our day and at the end, everyone’s work will be made known. Yes, Jesus has paid the price for our salvation and yes, we are God’s children when we believe. But we all have a mission to accomplish. The mission is possible through the power of the Holy Spirit. Lord, help us accomplish your mission even with “hardships”. Amen. Will you take risk to share the good news?
We must continue to go back to the first chapter of Act as we study the entire book. The mission handed down by Jesus to his disciples and how it was carried out is the book of Acts. Jesus told his disciples, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” Progress has been made on this assignment by the power of the Holy Spirit as we have studied so far. Acts chapter 14 documents a major milestone as Apostle Paul and Barnabas concluded their first missionary journey.
The first mission had not come easy. Opposition by the Jews and some Gentiles confronted Paul and Barnabas. In verse 2, “But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers”. Also, in verse 19, it says, “Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead”. In our day, we would probably conclude that God was not with them and brand it “unsuccessful” because of the many troubles. What are your criteria for “success” in life? Is it life without hardship?
Acts 14: 21-28:
21They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said. 23Paul and Barnabas appointed elders[a] for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. 24After going through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia, 25and when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.
26From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. 27On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 28And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. You should take a look at one of the maps in a study bible and see how the first missionary journey was covered. It started at Antioch and covered multiple towns and cities such as Seleucia, Salamis, Paphos in Cyprus, Attalia and Perga, Pisidian Antioch (different from the base Antioch) Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, back to Perga and back to Antioch the base. These were all Gentile cities but usually you will have some Jewish settlers.
2. Paul made it a point to first visit the Jewish synagogue when he came to any of the towns or cities (see vs. 1 of Acts 14 “went as usual”). Why? It is because, Paul was a Jewish rabbi and the synagogue is the first place you would at least expect an audience for his message of the Christ. Unlike the general public of the Gentiles, the Jews would have more familiarity with the prophecies concerning the Christ. The results of Paul’s visits were always mixed. Some Jews would believe but majority would oppose him and his message and eventually throw him out.
3. The new church in these cities did not stay and continue at the synagogues and would end up meeting in places such as people’s homes and houses. It tells me that the Church is not a building but people who are filled with the Holy Spirit and are hearing and obeying the voice of God. The people were the Church and the Church was everywhere the people where. Let’s stop “going” to Church and “be” the Church. When we accept this, it will change the way we live and “do church”. What will you do differently going forward? Change your emphases.
4. Paul and Barnabas “preached the good news” vs. 21, where ever they went. The good news is the news of Jesus’ divine birth, death, burial and resurrection. It is good news because every other news is bad news for the entire world. The bad news is that we cannot save our selves from the wrath of God because of our sins. The good news is that Jesus has been crucified and paid for our sins and have reconciled us to God the father. Those who believe become God’s children and Christ’s disciples. It is good news and no wonder in Acts 13: 52, it said “And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit”. Are you full of joy and filled with the Holy Spirit? We must preach the good news and be joyful if for no other reason than the good news.
5. The mission is accomplished and we see Paul and Barnabas appointing elders to oversee the churches in various cities. 23”Paul and Barnabas appointed elders[a] for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust” vs. 23. We can see the qualifications of the elders in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 (above reproach, manages his own family, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, not a lover of money and etc). Notice the seriousness of the appointment – “with prayer and fasting”. It was not by voting and/or any casual means.
6. We also see Paul and Barnabas strengthening and encouraging the church to “remain true to the faith”. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said”. Vs. 23. How are we encouraging the church these days? Paul’s words would not fit into the “prosperity gospel” of these days. Is there room for hardship in your life and my life or are we expecting everything to be a smooth sail every time just because we believe in Jesus? Jesus already told us (John 15 and 16) and the early disciples lived through hardship. Why should it be any different for us? No wonder the good news is not in our mouth as frequent as it should be. We spend most of our time seeking the “easy life” than taking risk for the gospel. Lord, please help me because I am speaking to myself and not to these readers.
7. Mission accomplished. “He (God) has opened the door of faith to the Gentiles” vs. 28. What a mission at a great expense. You and I are beneficiaries of this open door through the mission of Paul and Barnabas. Lord, we are grateful for reaching us with the good news. Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch for a long time to disciple the Church. They did not cut lose and run. Their daily lives were observed by the other disciples to see that it matched their rhetoric.
What will be recorded for each of us if another book of Acts is recorded for our day? In fact, God is keeping a record of our day and at the end, everyone’s work will be made known. Yes, Jesus has paid the price for our salvation and yes, we are God’s children when we believe. But we all have a mission to accomplish. The mission is possible through the power of the Holy Spirit. Lord, help us accomplish your mission even with “hardships”. Amen. Will you take risk to share the good news?
Comments