02.15.2009 Grace Summit Sermon - Acts 13 – to become a community empowered by the Spirit to do Christ’s work in the world

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Mike Marette: Let’s pray…We need your goodness and kindness and mercy – to stand in that mercy because of what you did – not because of who we are.

We are plowing through the book of Acts – Peter is arrested in Acts 12 – and is miraculously freed –

17 But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had led him out of the prison. And he said, "Report these things to James and the brethren." And he departed and went to another place.
And this concludes Peter’s ministry in Acts. From this point on, we don’t know, from Luke, what happens to Peter – he does return in Acts 15 – from other parts of the Bible, we do know that he went to Galatia and probably ended up in Rome.

Now we turn to Paul’s ministry – Paul’s “First Missionary Journey”
13:1 Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was [there], prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 And while they were ministering to 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 Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. 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 reached Salamis, they [began] to proclaim the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews; and they also had John as their helper.

Paul, Barnabas and John – The original PB&J …I know that is really bad – I did that to embarrass you.
Map – Antioch –
I want to ask you…Do you remember a time when God spoke to you and the profound influence it had – maybe it was a decision you had to make – I’m not interested in the HOW of how he did it – but how it changed the course of your life. Or maybe you were struggling and God came and spoke to you.

I’d like to give you three ways that God does this:

Ways in which this happens – FIRST - through reading the Bible.
This is the primary way God speaks – I have discovered – most of the time – I am going through something and am reading through the Bible – and God uses His word to speak to me about my circumstance and situation. He speaks to my need. That is - encouragement and direction and whatever I need at the time - that is the majority of the way He speaks to me. He never speaks contrary to His word. If you hear a voice

Cindy was in an accident a few weeks ago. There is one part of Bath Road – real sharp curve – and flipped the car in the ditch. She thought – This is it! She landed on the ditch – tried to figure out which way was up. Felt like God spoke to her – you know – I am not finished with you yet. Not that she heard a voice – but the circumstance of it spoke to her.

Last week I spoke at Kent’s H2O group. Early in ministry – I was going through some things – doing some dirty-work jobs – and God communicated to me – Ministry is like this – doing the dirty work – Jesus, washing people’s feet in John 13 is what I was speaking on.

That has completely changed my ministry for life – God wants to do that in our life.

Acts 13 – to become a community empowered by the Spirit to do Christ’s work in the world.
This became the base of all Gentile missions in the world. They heard and obeyed the voice of the Spirit as He called them to mission.

God speaks first to draw us to Himself – to fall more in love with Him.
Second that He might call us to mission.

Let me break this passage down –
This was a church where the word was taught and proclaimed.
Through the reading and teaching of His word – we know that God’s word was taught in Antioch. There is this sense of constant teaching in Antioch – because they were teaching and listening they were prepared to hear His voice. It is really important.

2nd – a church ministering – worshiping. Those words are interchangeable in the Bible. They were devoted to the Word – they were devoted to Worship and prayer – and also, partnership and fellowship – just like Acts 2:42.

" 3 Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
If you remember Acts 4 – that is where Barnabas was from.


When God spoke, they were obedient to what God said. The church sent them. Sometimes we don’t hear the voice of God because we are not prepared to do what the voice of God has to say. When they are called to mission – they did it in a way that was very natural – it wasn’t weird. It is true that God will call people to special circumstances – To go to Africa or wherever – but for the rest of us, there are natural normal ways to be involved in Mission.

7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God

Then they go to Perga, and to Pisidian Antioch

Plaque dedicated to Sergius Paulus – They ended up there because he was from there.

Start where you are and with your natural ties –
One day I went down to get my tires changed. I was talking to Dennis Leopold – and he told me about Urban Vision – “You ought to check them out – it might fit in well with your church.” Then we called them – and the rest is history. Now, Joe Heindel and the Yackleys will share about their involvement with Urban Vision...