reflection holy spirit led ministry – acts 12:25-13:12...
TRANSCRIPT
Reflection
1. Are you in urgent prayer for the Lord’s leading on a regular basis?
2. When the Spirit prompts you to go, do you obey? [If you’re not hearing the Spirit’s prompting, this indicates you may not be in urgent prayer for the Lord’s leading.]
3. Is your Christian faith based on the Bible?
4. Think about the idea Christianity is a missionary religion – is your faith based on the Bible or human opinion? Reflect on what follows:
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
5. Is your evangelism based on the Bible or human opinion?
Note: Christianity is a missionary lifestyle, and when we endeavor to live this lifestyle it causes us to grow in holiness as we depend on the Lord and other Christians for our edification.
Holy Spirit Led Ministry – Acts 12:25-13:12 March 22, 2015
I. Intro –
II. Barnabas and Saul return to Antioch – (Acts 12:25)
Acts 12:25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark.
III. The diverse leadership of Antioch – (Acts 13:1-3)
Acts 13:1 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
− Diversity in leadership:
Barnabas – Jew from Cyprus
Simon called Niger – he was African
Lucius of Cyrene (present day Libya) – he was African
Manaen lifelong friend of Herod the Tetrarch – a Jew who was brought up with the man who beheaded John the Baptist.
Saul – Jew from Tarsus
− Prophecy & Teaching – we call this “Preaching” – these are two very important roles for the growth of the church –
Prophets – provides special Holy Spirit guidance as needed –
Teachers – provide basic info for living the Christian life –
Acts 13:2 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.”
− Worshiping = leitourgeo – ministering – doing public pastoral work (Phil.
2:25 & 2:30, 1 Tim. 5:17) like priests and Levites in the Temple (Gen. 14:18-20 & Deut. 26:12-14 & Luke 1:23).
− Fasting = without food to focus on the Lord’s will
“Fasting gives evidence of an ‘atmosphere of urgent desire’ in the church.” – Ajith Fernando
BI: Pray with urgency for Spirit led evangelism based on the Bible.
− “Set apart for me (now)…”
Acts 13:3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
IV. Barnabas and S(P)aul first went to Cyprus (Acts 13:4-12)
Acts 13:4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from
there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them.
− Their strategy – go to big cities & start in synagogues (Rom. 1:16)
− John Mark “assisted” them = to be a synagogue attendant
John Mark wrote the Gospel of Mark as the “Amanuensis” or “secretary” of the Apostle Peter.
Acts 13:6 When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. 7 He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned
Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.
− Sergius Paulus – Proconsul of Cyprus – a Governor of a Province… − Elymas (Bar-Jesus) – a magician and false prophet…
o Elymas = Jewish
o Bar-Jesus = “son of…”
o The Magician – “Magus” = 3 meanings:
(1) A quack magician –
(2) An Eastern Priest –
(3) A diviner –
Acts 13:9 But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?
− Paul rebuked “Bar-Jesus” calling him “Bar-Satan” – son of diablos.
Acts 13:11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished [deeply impressed] at the teaching of the Lord.
V. What can we learn about evangelism in this passage? 1) Christianity is a missionary religion
2) We need to pray with urgency that the Lord leads us
3) We need to go out and engage in Spirit led evangelism
4) Our evangelism needs to be based in the Bible
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May 10 ·········· Mothers Day
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March 22, 2015
GOOD FRIDAY FAMILY SERVICE - APRIL 3 @ 7PM
AWANA GRAND PRIX Come out and support the kids as they
race in the Awana Grand Prix on
Wednesday, April 1. Cars will be on
display in the lobby on Sunday, March
29th. Schedule for April 1 evening:
5:30p Hotdog dinner 6:15p Cubbies races with matchbox cars 6:30p Sparks competition 7:15(ish) T&T competition
FINANCIAL PEACE UNIVERSITY
COMING SOON! This 9 week class starts Wed, April 22 at
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FIESTA DAY CAMP FUNDRAISER
Swing Band, Dancing and Dessert Auction
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YOUTH ALL-NIGHTER AT GRACE
On Friday, May 27th, there is a Youth All
-Nighter for Sr. and Jr. High students.
The cost is $20 per student. Students
should arrive at 7:00pm, and be picked
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will be roller-skating, food, games,
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AWANA VERSE-A-THON WOW! When God blesses an event, He
blows us away. At last Wednesday’s
Awana Verse-A-Thon, which is raising
money to train Awana leaders to start new
clubs in Papua New Guinea, the kids really
came through. They combined to say 905
verses, and raised over $4,000. This
money will be sent to the PNG Awana
program, where an anonymous donor is
doubling all money going to support PNG
Awana which brings our kids donation
closer to $10,000. This will help expose
over 400 PNG kids to the Gospel, possibly
for the very first time. Thank you to all the
leaders who listened to the kids’ verses,
and to the parents who worked with their
kids to gather pledges. What a fantastic
first Awana Verse-A-Thon at Grace!
As part of our partnership with Young Life we are pleased to announce
THE TONIGHT SHOW Wednesday, April 1 at The Hall at
Fauntleroy 9131 California Ave SW. You’re
invited to the Tonight Show Young Life
West Seattle Fundraiser. Appetizers and
mingling at 6:15pm, program begins at
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We are at 87% of budget for the year.
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1st-3rd grade will be dismissed
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