Month: July 2014

Great News for Great Commission Bible Institute in Sebring, Florida!

24The number of credits a student can receive in Bible if they transfer after their year at GCBI to Grace College in Winona Lake, IN is TWENTY FOUR! Considering credits at GCBI are TUITION FREE, this can mean a HUGE SAVINGS for a student that wishes to go on and complete a Bachelor’s degree at Grace. How thankful we are to have the acknowledgement of our program from a quality school like Grace. Here is what you can get…

Since all the courses are Bible or Bible-related, the credit is only available to students either majoring in Biblical Studies (42 hour major) or Bible (30 hour major). This includes the following 8 classes…These courses are Gen Ed and required for all Grace College students):

  • BIB 1050 Exploring the Bible
  • BIB 2010 Scripture and Interpretation
  • BIB 3300 Essential Doctrinal Themes

(These courses are part of the Biblical Studies and Bible majors):

  • BIB 2010 Understanding the Old Testament
  • BIB 2020 Understanding the New Testament
  • BBL 3140 Biblical Backgrounds
  • BIB 3290 NT Bible Exposition
  • BIB OT Bible Exposition

This would all come in as transfer credit. For more information about Grace College’s other programs, check them out on the web at www.grace.edu and think about 24 credits at NO tuition!

Following His Footsteps: “The Incredible Shrinking Man”- John 3:22-36

shrink vertIn 1957, Jack Arnold adapted a novel into a sci-fi movie that was titled: “The Incredible Shrinking Man”. The film went on to gain awards in 1958, and was considered by some to be a minor classic in its field. The story was a tale of a businessman who vacationed with his family off the California coast and encountered a strange radioactive cloud that left a sparkled coating on the man’s skin. About six months later, the man began to notice he was visibly shrinking. Doctors studied the man and determined the cloud, and a later exposure to an insecticide caused his body to begin to shrink. As he grew smaller, he became famous for his malady, but sunk deeper into a depression. Now very small, he was eventually trapped and attacked in a famous and chilling scene, by his former family pet, a common house cat. Thought to have been killed, he actually escaped into his basement and was forced to navigate its terrors at an ever smaller and smaller size. Much of the time in the basement is spent battling a voracious spider, trying to stem off his own hunger, and facing a lasting fear that he would eventually shrink down to oblivion. Eventually, he escaped the basement, but continued to shrink. He eventually came to terms with his fate and concluded he still “mattered in the universe” because, as he put it, “To God there is no zero.” Comforted he faced his future without fear.

Getting smaller is a very real fear to many people – but not in the way the movie was depicting it. They are not afraid of radioactive clouds causing them to be reduced in size – but they do not want to shrink in the eyes of men and women around them. Many are hungry to have, and keep, an impact. They hunger for significance, and fight to remain relevant. As we age, many of us learn enough about ourselves to recognize our own self-protection and our reactions to feeling marginalized.

The truth is this: I must choose to become less significant in myself to have God work through me powerfully. If I contrive and strive to be relevant, my memory will be swept away in short order. This isn’t a new idea…

In Yorkshire, England, during the early 1800s, two sons were born to a family named Taylor. The older one set out to make a name for himself by entering Parliament and gaining public prestige. But the younger son chose to give his life to Christ. He later recalled, “Well do I remember, as in unreserved consecration I put myself, my life, my friends, my all, upon the altar. I felt I was in the presence of God, entering into covenant with the Almighty.” With that commitment, Hudson Taylor turned his face toward China and obscurity. As a result, he is known and honored on every continent as a faithful missionary and the founder of the China Inland Mission (now known as Overseas Missionary Fellowship). For the other son, however, there is no lasting monument. When you look in the encyclopedia to see what the other son has done, you find these words, “the brother of Hudson Taylor.” “…he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (1 John 2:17). (A-Z Sermon Illustrator).

What was clear to Hudson Taylor, must become clear to every believer if they are to be powerfully used for God’s positive purpose…

Principle: Godly people learn to shrink, allowing the words and work of the Master to displace their own self-importance.

I can think of no one who overtly exemplified this truth in the Bible (about shrinking to self) better than the “cousin” of Jesus – John the Baptizer. Before we dig into that truth, let’s refresh our memory with a few Biblical details about John:

• First, we know that his birth was announced by the angel Gabriel to Zacharias his father, as we have studied in a previous lesson.

• Second, the Gospels make clear that he prepared the way for Jesus’ ministry (Mark 1:2-8; John 1:23) and was, in that way, the promised “Elijah type” from Malachi 4:5 “See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.”.

• Third, he was an unusual man who grew up in the desert wilderness (Luke 1:80). Matthew 3:4 records a certain eccentricity of John: “Now John himself had a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.”

• Fourth, John preached a preparatory message of repentance, baptizing people in the Jordan river (Mark 1:4,5). Along with that, John baptized Jesus at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry (though John expressed unworthiness to do so – Matthew 3:13-17).

• Fifth, John wasn’t self-effacing, he was humble. John was a man of conviction and was not swayed by popular opinion and openly rebuked the “religiously correct” (of the parties of the Pharisees and Sadducees) telling them that works (fruit) not just words show that they have a repentant heart (Matthew 3:6-10).

• Sixth, Jesus held John in very high regard and said concerning John (see Luke 7:28) “I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

• Seventh, John was not a superhero – but an ordinary man. In a more “human” story concerning him, at a moment of apparent doubt during his imprisonment, John sent his followers to ask Jesus if He was the “One” (anointed) or if there was another (Luke 7:18-20). Herod put John in prison because he spoke against the Tetrarch’s stealing of his brother Philip’s wife and other wrong things he had done (Luke 3:19-20). Herod later reluctantly had John beheaded in order to keep a promise he made to his stepdaughter (Matthew 14:1-10).

That set the stage for our study, but we need to spend a few moments looking at what the Gospels record about John’s understanding of “shrinking to self”… First, let’s establish that John DID understand the concept, and then let’s look at what details the Gospel writers offer us to recognize how John got there in his life. That will help us make the journey ourselves…

After Jesus was baptized, and after He began to have a significant following, we read of an incident in John’s Gospel that highlighted John’s character and his desire to shrink in size behind the Savior:

John 3:22 “After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He was spending time with them and baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and [people] were coming and were being baptized—24 for John had not yet been thrown into prison. 25 Therefore there arose a discussion on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, He is baptizing and all are coming to Him.” 27 John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven. 28 “You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’ 29 “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full. 30 “He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 “He who comes from above is above all, he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 “What He has seen and heard, of that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. 33 “He who has received His testimony has set his seal to [this], that God is true. 34 “For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure. 35 “The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. 36 “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

Seven Character Traits of a Godly Man

The simple record of the encounter at Aenon near Salim offered a window into John’s maturity of heart. Look briefly at the passage what contains John’s response to questions, and you will see seven character traits that model a godly man who is ready to shrink before the Lord’s greatness and exalt his Savior above himself.

First, there is GODLY CONFIDENCE (3:27): John stood before his own disciples and answered one who attempted at divisiveness through encouraging envy. “Jesus is gaining more popularity than you, sir!” the man said. John didn’t blink. He wasn’t upset about being upstaged by another preacher. He soothed the envious hearts of his own disciples with these words – “You get what God gives you!” Out of context, these words could be used for one who was simply hiding laziness, but that wasn’t the case! John acknowledged that he served a Sovereign God, and he (like all who follow Him) needed to be content in God’s hands. Godly men and women lose their self-confidence and gain a “God confidence”! Self-confidence thrives on human affirmation. God confidence thrives on Heaven’s smile revealed by the Spirit within. John was courageously confident about what God had in store for him. I cannot help but smile at Zig Ziglar’s comment: “Confidence is going after Moby Dick in a rowboat and taking the tartar sauce with you.”

Have you ever watched Olympic sports on TV? Put yourself into that picture. Imagine you are competing and you have done your absolute best, but you have one more time to perform in the competition. Just as you prepare your muscles and your mind, your trainer breaks in with a message: “You have already scored enough points for the gold. No one can catch you. Now go out and do this one for fun!” After thousands of hours of training, hundreds of hours of turning down the foods you most want to eat, conditioning, practicing, disciplining…you will go out on the floor with an excitement. You aren’t EARNING the medal, you are ENJOYING the sport. You’re DONE competing against others, now you are just working on your craft to hone yourself to do it better. That is a picture of godly confidence.

Second, there is a SENSE OF PURPOSE (3:28). John made the point that he was not unclear within or in his speaking about who he was and why he spoke. He recognized his purpose and place in life. He was the center – not the quarterback. He would have the ball first, but he would have it only for a moment before it was in the hands of the One Who would determine the rest of the play. He was not to be the center of anyone’s universe. Only a mature godly man or woman really grasps this. Though we all have a deep longing to be the center of someone’s universe – our place as believers is help others put the Lord at the center – not a relationship with US. Godly men and women answer the question, “Father, what have you made me to be?”

Third, there were expressions of JOY (3:29): John moved the discussion about Jesus to a “betrothal” and a “wedding” – times of great JOY! John learned the secret of taking JOY in being what God created him to be. He didn’t “settle” for his lot in life, he REVELED in the joy of his God-given identity as a “close friend of the groom”. No one in the bridal party should distract people from the couple – it is their day! Godly men and women seek to take the joy of the journey on each step with them – the resolute assurance that God has not lost interest in them, nor lost the ability to care for them.

Singer MICHAEL CARD told the story of a man named Joseph who came to Christ out of a Muslim background. One day walking a hot, dusty African road, the man met someone who shared Christ with him. He accepted Jesus as his Savior beside that road and the power of the Holy Spirit overwhelmed him with such joy that the first thing he desired was return and tell his whole village. He walked about, door to door, telling of the cross and the forgiveness for sin. He expected the faces of his neighbors to light up as they encountered this wonderful truth. Much to his amazement they became violent, seized him and held him to the ground while the women beat him with strands of barbed wire. He was dragged and left to die alone in the bush. After a time, he was again conscious and made it to a water hole where he spent days recovering and hiding. He was confused and finally decided that he must have left something out or not told the story correctly. After rehearsing the message he returned. Stood in the circle of huts and began to proclaim Jesus. Again grabbed by men and beaten by women, reopening the wounds that had just begun to heal. He was again dragged while unconscious and left to die. Days later he awoke and determined to go back. This time he was attacked before he even opened his mouth. Before he passed out the last thing he saw was that the women who were beating him had begun to weep. This time he awoke in his own bed, the ones who had beaten him were now trying to save his life. The villagers were challenged by their own hatred, and many came to know Jesus Christ. The man did not come to them to condemn them for not believing, but was compelled to come because he was released from his own sin, and he couldn’t contain that!

Fourth, John had CLARITY (3:30) one can only have when they see the truth. He recognized Who the Savior was, and without hesitation he said: “He must increase and I must decrease!” The was the crystal clear sound of a voice that has embraced TRUTH. John not only knew who he wasn’t – he knew Who the main character WAS in the story. Godly men and women recognize that even what we call “our lives” are not our own. The story is not about US; it is not about God’s Son!

A person who calls himself frank and candid can very easily find himself becoming tactless and cruel. A person who prides himself on being tactful can find eventually that he has become evasive and deceitful. A person with firm convictions can become pigheaded. A person who is inclined to be temperate and judicious can sometimes turn into someone with weak convictions and banked fires of resolution . . . Loyalty can lead to fanaticism. Caution can become timidity. Freedom can become license. Confidence can become arrogance. Humility can become servility. All these are ways in which strength can become weakness. Dore Schary, Bits & Pieces, December 9, 1993, pp. 3-4… It is only by connecting our lives to the foundational truth – seeing clearly what God says, that we can take our weaknesses and allow them to become our strength!

This is not small affair. The failure of our nation will come as we disconnect ourselves from the truth that government does not bestow rights – God does. He made us, and we made government. As that truth falls from our classrooms, it falls from our children’s hearts. They will be ready for tyranny – and they will even invite it as an expedient answer to some supposed emergency. Connection to God’s Word offers protection from God’s enemy.

Fifth, there was a simple, noticeable and humble SUBMISSION (3:31): John answered his disciples’ complaints with a straightforward claim that Jesus is Lord from Heaven, and worthy of all submission. No man or woman can ever truly be considered Godly that does not understand submission to the Creator. It doesn’t mean we will live every moment with our spiritual knees bowed, but it means that is our GOAL – to serve on earth as God’s servants do in Heaven. Angels don’t add God to their schedule – He IS their schedule. They don’t wonder if they have a better way to pull off life – they KNOW they do not. I tell you the truth: Self-willed and stubborn Christians are doing more to damage the Gospel than atheists ever will.

Sixth, he possessed keen DISCERNMENT (3:32-34): John claimed that Jesus spoke that which He knew first hand, that is was the absolute truth of the Word of God and that it was infused with the limitless power of the Spirit of God. He trusted what Jesus taught, and he had the discernment to see it as truth and label it as such. Godliness presupposes the ability to discern truth from nonsense. No godly man or woman will truly walk as they ought without discernment that acts as a screen to filter out the false and allow the truth to permeate.

“George Hunter contends that the first characteristic of a secular person in the modern world is that he or she is ignorant of basic Christianity. It has been said of the Baby Busters, those born between 1963 and 1977 and the first generation to grow up in a postmodern context, that they lack even the memory of a hope-giving gospel. Today many people outside of the church struggle with the concept of Christ’s deity. They think he was a good man, perhaps even a prophet, but not God in human form. Further, seventy-two percent of Americans now deny the existence of absolute truth, and few have confidence in the historical accuracy or ethical authority of the Bible. Two-thirds of the population does not know what John 3:16 refers to, and less than four out of every ten Americans have any idea what the term gospel means. Ten percent believe that the name of Noah’s wife was Joan of Arc.” – James White, Rethinking the Church, p. 41

I am honestly concerned about how many people are “churched” but not “Bibled”.

They manage to join programs, listen to sermons, attend conferences and yet don’t seem to be growing in their grasp of the Word of God – which is usually the STATED purpose of most of those settings. Without grasping God’s Word with discernment, they will be swept into the ever-adapting popular forms of “tolerance morality” which is really cloaked self-will and immorality. Because people call evil good does not make it so – and believers must know the difference. Discernment was never a luxury – but now it will determine survival in a world setting that is increasing in flagrant and egregious sin.

Finally, John had CONTEXT because he had UNDERSTANDING (3:35-36) of the broader picture of life and afterlife. His frame of decision making wasn’t only about EARTH, but about the reality of HEAVEN and what GOD WAS DOING. He was not so ego bound that all he could perceive was how everything affected him – life held a bigger picture before him. In this larger window view, what God was calling him to do made real sense. John understood that God was from the beginning a God of relationship. He loved, and because of that, it was easy for God the Father to offer authority to the Son. If the Father could do that, so could John! He loved Jesus, so surrendering crowds and accolades to Him was not a sacrifice he couldn’t accept!

That understanding is where the great truth was revealed from John’s lips. Because John saw that the Father in Heaven loved the Son, and trusted the Son completely – John could follow suit and give up any position, title, fame or importance to Jesus. God – out of love – gave the Son authority, how could John give less than his passing fame? He knew that Jesus’ coming wasn’t just a political stunt or an earthly religious control play.
I cannot find the statement, but in my memory it should be ascribed to John Piper. Years ago I heard it, and it stuck with me (I am adapting as memory serves)…

“What other religion do you know that shares the love of God by that very powerful and majestic being coming to die for a rebel? What other personality claimed openly to be God and died for that claim, yet have millions that follow Him? Buddha never made such a claim. He didn’t say he came from God, nor that he was God. Mohammed never made the claim that he was God in human skin – only that he was a prophet that died and remains in the tomb like all other men. In every other religion the word of God is a verbal revelation, a book or a set of moral codes. Only in Christianity does God become flesh. Only in our Savior does He subject Himself to wicked men to win their hearts.” (adapted from unknown author).

John recognized the sacrifice of God, and he made his own sacrifice to God…

On March 5, 1994, Deputy Sheriff Lloyd Prescott was teaching a class for police officers in the Salt Lake City Library. During a break he stepped into the hallway, and as he did he saw a gunman forcing 18 hostages into a nearby room. Prescott, who was dressed in street clothes, fell in line with the group and became the nineteenth hostage. The gunman had not noticed him, and Prescott followed them into the room, and shut the door. The gunman announced the order in which hostages would be executed, and then it was that Prescott identified himself as a police officer. A fight ensued, and Prescott, in self-defense, shot the gunman. All of the hostages were released unharmed. The officer placed himself at great risk, but he was not thinking of himself, he was thinking about the danger the hostages were in. (sermon central illustrations).

Why would the Officer Prescott do that? The answer is simple: He thought of another first. He shrunk, and they grew. So did John, and it wasn’t philanthropy, it was surrender to Jesus.

Godly people learn to shrink, allowing the words and work of the Master to displace their own self-importance.

If you ever get the opportunity to go to Florence in Italy – do it. Near the Ponte Vecchio is a church called Santa Felicita. One piece of artwork in that church was painted by Antonio Ciseri in 1863 called “The Martyrdom of the Seven Maccabees”. It recalled a story from 2 Maccabees 7, when about 160 years before Jesus, a tyrant general tried to make seven sons of one woman eat pork. One after another the boys were horribly killed in front of their mother, yet she did not tell them to capitulate – because she taught them to observe the Law of Moses. Faced with the loss of all of her sons, she would not relent – nor would they… What kind of person stands up to pressure like that? The kind that is convinced that following God is more important than physical life itself. “Too radical!” you say? It may seem so. Yet, if we are not willing to stand for God’s word, but try to tolerate and compromise our way through – we will have loved this life and lost our opportunity to show Jesus to others when it really counted.

God on the Move: “What do you expect?” – Acts 13 and 14

what to expectFor any thoughtful young woman, expecting their first baby can be very exciting, but also a little scary. How do I know that is true? Well, for one thing, I am a dad. But even if I weren’t, all I would have to know is that “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” is a perennial New York Times bestseller and was rated by “USA Today” as one of the twenty-five most “influential books of the past quarter century”. Some authorities report that more than 90% of pregnant American women have picked up this book for a look, with over 14.5 million copies in print in its four editions. It has spun off a website and a whole genre of other works in the subject area. Obviously, the author struck a nerve with child bearing women, and that nerve was apprehension and uncertain expectation.

What we expect from an experience has much to do with how we pass through that experience. I mention the book because the author obviously felt that explaining the birthing process and offering insights and testimony from those who have passed through the process would be incredibly helpful to one who is facing the experience. What is true in the process of birthing a child is also true in the process of birthing a church and a Gospel movement in a pagan world. The book of Acts offers the “What to Expect When You’re Expecting New Births in the Kingdom” – and has been a bestseller for centuries! The book includes a record of “men on a mission from God” to reach into a pagan world, armed with God’s Spirit and power, effectively fighting against God’s adversary, the Devil. It isn’t just a “nuts and bolts” look at outreach and church planting; it is a very personal, sometimes remarkably painful reflection of frail men on an exalted mission. It isn’t the men you should be impressed with – but the gains God makes through, and always in spite of, these men as the Gospel powerfully changed lives.

If we are to see paganism again pressed by the power of God – we must know what we are “up against” in the spiritual world. We must know what to anticipate and how to prepare. We must be ready as individual believers for Satan’s counterattack to the Gospel in our personal lives (where temptation can derail us), in the privacy of our own homes (where interpersonal strife can easily develop), in the ministry of our churches (where a group of natural hypocrites must come together and be transformed by renewing of our minds and hearts) and in our communities (where the Gospel is generally ignored, except when it is attacked). I am convinced that is why God gave to us the Book of Acts.

Key Principle: God’s Word can help us reset expectations so that we can navigate life thoughtfully and positively as individuals and as a Gospel movement.

In this lesson we move from the early steps and preparations of the Apostle Paul to his first team ministry outreach – sent by the Spirit of God to unbelieving people who did not yet have any local church witness. That was the essence of Barnabas and Paul’s job – to establish the church in new places by preaching the Gospel. They were to arrive, get an audience with local people (which began in the local synagogue of each town) and present the truth that Jesus replaced the atonement system of the Hebrew Scriptures – the killing of animals in sacrifices and the need to continually maintain one’s right standing before God by regular participation in the sacrificial ceremonies. God had done a new thing that was GOOD NEWS, called “the Gospel”. The message of the Gospel was that a full, complete and everlasting JUSTIFICATION (a permanent declaration of full payment for sin) before God could now be obtained by the surrender of one’s heart and life to Jesus Christ. Because Jesus Himself bore the payment for all of our sins, Jesus could cancel the debt anyone had with God. As a perfect sacrifice, Jesus offered a “one size fits all” payment that need not be repeated in any further installments, nor amended in any way.

The Good News was, and still IS this: When a man, woman or child recognizes they are in need of a relationship with a Holy God, but are not righteous in and of themselves, they are able to ask Jesus to take His perfect payment (made in His own blood) to wash away their sin. All the remains of the breach between God and their heart is erased, and God willingly dwells within the life surrendered. When one asks for this, Jesus has promised in the Bible He would apply the payment and cancel their “rebellion caused” debt – and God acknowledged His agreement with His Son’s sacrifice by raising Jesus from the dead. That was the essence of the Good News, and is the same Gospel that true followers of Jesus offer to a lost world today. It isn’t a “get out of jail free” card – because the Gospel is costly – but not to the sinner. The good news of the Gospel is that I cannot pay, but Jesus already DID PAY.

The Prayer Room Pre-launch

Go back in the room where the first declared and intention outreach mission began in the first century. The record of what happened should help us set our expectations as people who follow God. I warn you, the record isn’t what some are saying. It isn’t the story of how people came to Jesus and everything got easy… not at all. Let’s look at the beginning of Acts 13…

Acts 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 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.

The mission started with the leadership of a local church body in a prayer meeting. These were mature men. They were dedicated, reputable followers of Jesus that knew the source of spiritual power – from God’s throne. Look at the names of the other men kneeling beside Paul:

• Barnabas was a Levitical Jew from Cyprus (Acts 4:36) who was actually named Joseph, but was more known as “Mr. Encouragement” than his family name!

• Simeon (Shim’on) was a Jew who was likely a black man from North African descent, and may have been the Cyrenian who carried the Cross of Jesus (though this is not certain). What we can assume is that he was a traveler in the Empire, and used his Latin name “Niger”.

• Lucius of Cyrene may have been another black man, but many Cyrenians were transplants from the Italic peninsula, so we aren’t sure.

• Manaen is a man we believe we know more about. The text reminds us that he was “brought up with Herod the Tetrarch (called Herod Antipas in the Gospels). He appears to have been raised by the mother of Archelaus and Antipas, both of whom were schooled in Rome as children. By the time of this prayer meeting, both “princes” were in exile to the Rhone region, banished from their former post. If Manaen were here, he’d be able to tell us some very interesting things about the Herodian dynasty. The fact is, though, he was a man of background and means, and now he was following Christ.

These were men of prayer. I cannot say it loud and long enough… no church and no Christian will ever become effective in the battle without prayer. It isn’t a distraction and it isn’t a luxury. When troubles come, prayer meetings fill… but in times we perceive “success” we become lax about the spiritual wrestling that happens from the knees.

These were also men of service. They didn’t just “come to church to get something out of it” – they came, that day, to “minister to the Lord”. They fasted and fixed their gaze on Heaven. There were no forms and programs – there was prayer and fasting. The forms may now be necessary, and the programs may attract the less fervent – but none of it replaces the prayer of godly people.

These were obedient men. They heard from God, and they followed God’s Word. When God told them who to send and where, they fasted more, prayed more (in case God had more to add), and after some time they publicly placed on Barnabas and Saul (Paul) the responsibility and public symbol of a call to a specific ministry.

Let’s stop for a moment and ask what we can learn from their experience. Could it be that our expectation for ministry ought to be like their experience? When serious believers seek God in fixed times of prayer and fasting might we be assured that God would direct the movement forward? Can we expect that God will move because we ASK Him to direct? Did not Jesus tell His disciples in the “Sermon on the Mount” (Matthew 5-7) that their Father knew what they needed and would not give them something else when they took the time to ask Him? Let’s say it directly…

Expectation One: We should expect to need direction and supply from God. We will not always know what to do next in life or ministry – but God gave us prayer and our solution.

Salamis Proclamation

Acts 13:5 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.

Barnabas and Saul left Antioch and walked the fifteen miles to board a ship docked in nearby Seleucia that was bound for Barnabas’ native island – Cyprus. They sailed about 100 miles, and harbored in at Salamis. For their time in that city, Luke (the author) offers only one verse – but it is not unimportant to our understanding. Look closely, and we can see three important details:

• When they arrived, the script they followed was the Word of God.

• They began in the synagogue, because that is where people with a background in atonement would be gathered, and the Gospel would make more sense in that audience. They didn’t start at the pagan end of town – but at the place where people had some comprehension of the God of Abraham and His Word.

• They went as a team, but they added a younger helper. We have no information that leads us to conclude that God told them to seek out John Mark, but when they got to Cyprus, they added him to their team (probably at the behest of his uncle Barnabas).

Can you recognize how that informs our expectations of ministry? Let me suggest that we would be wisest to stay on script by preaching and teaching God’s Word and not our political thoughts and practical musings. We all love a good story, and often they are helpful to illustrate a truth – but no church can survive on a Christian “Mark Twain” that offers a sermon of stories with little of God’s Word. It may keep the crowd emotionally happy, but it will not grow them to be spiritually strong.

Expectation Two: We must anticipate building a team, seeking the spiritually sensitive, and giving a message from the Word of God.

Paphos Public Distractions

Barnabas, Paul and John Mark didn’t stay long in Salamis, but made the more than 100 mile journey by Roman road to Paphos, where Luke pauses to add a story of the conversion of the Roman Proconsul Lucius Sergius Paulus:

Acts 13:6 When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a magician, a Jewish false prophet whose name was Bar-Jesus, 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. 8 But Elymas the magician (for so his name is translated) was opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 But Saul, who was also [known as] Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze on him, 10 and said, “You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord? 11 “Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time.” And immediately a mist and a darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking those who would lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord.

Barnabas, Paul and John Mark came for the expressed purpose to share the Gospel and build discipleship circles that would initiate local churches. God sent them – that was clear in the text. Yet, the enemy didn’t LEAVE because he heard the message of the Gospel was about to pour in – he set up confusion and conflict ahead of their arrival. That isn’t unusual, it is the norm.

Expectation Three: We should anticipate the confusing words of the deceiver to try to “douse” those we attempt to reach. Sometimes outreach will include direct answers to those who are deliberately being deceptive.

Some Christians believe that one can only “play nicely” with others in their presentation – and certainly believers are to strive for peace. At the same time, failing to contend for the hearts of those who are lost is surrender to deception.

When our schools insist on representing naturalism as the only truth, and wrap it in a scientific lab coat – we will respond. We will tell them that they are betraying the foundation of the country in which we have enjoyed mutual blessing. Our fathers knew that our rights didn’t come from government, but we God given an inalienable – they said so. “It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor,” said George Washington. Yet that won’t be at the core of our argument – the Bible will. We will continue to press for the truth of the Gospel and the place of the Word in the lives of students. Teaching Western history while ignoring the influence of the Scriptures is a rouse strategically planned in modern education. We don’t want conflict, but we won’t surrender the Word for a peace that damns those without the truth. Expecting no conflict in sharing truth ignores the story God presented in the Book of Acts.

Perga Disappointments

From Paphos, the men set sail almost due north for a distance of about 175 miles to the landing near Perga, and then made their way into the town:

Acts 13:13 Now Paul and his companions put out to sea from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia; but John left them and returned to Jerusalem.

Yet, later Paul recalled the first entry to the region of greater Galatia as one in which he struggled physically (some scholars believe the Galatian letter embraced the entire area of central Anatolia, and there is ample evidence that he named the region but meant a broader territory):

Galatians 4:13 but you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time; 14 and that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or loathe, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus [Himself]. 15 Where then is that sense of blessing you had? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.

The mission team went through a time of division, and (it appears) physical weakness. I believe that John Mark didn’t simply leave because he got home sick. I don’t think he was simply young and inexperienced and unaccustomed to the size of the Taurus mountains the team was about to embark on crossing. Those things may have been true, but I don’t think any of them were the deciding factor for why John left a hole in the team that later ruptured into an argument that broke the team up.

What was his problem? I think Paul said tough things to Elymas, and that surprised John Mark, and may have rattled him a bit. I think that Paul got sick and wasn’t doing well, and that eroded the confidence in the team that John began with. That may be why Paul reacted so strongly later, just as a team for the second mission journey was coming together. Coming inland, Barnabas and Paul were hurt by the loss of John Mark – and it got between their relationship.

Expectation Four: We shouldn’t anticipate a team without disappointment and conflict – that is part of God’s story from the first journey.

People on the team will let us down, and we must be ready for it. Our hope is in the Lord and His Word, not in the vessels that transport it to the world.

Pisidian Preaching

Moving inland, Barnabas and Paul made their way to Pisidian Antioch, gained a large audience, and began to preach to the Jews of that town. The account is long, so we will offer an overview of Paul’s six point message:

Acts 13:14 But going on from Perga, they arrived at Pisidian Antioch, and on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the reading of the Law and the Prophets the synagogue officials sent to them, saying “Brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say it.” 16 Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen:

1: God was at work in our collective Jewish past (13:17-22)

• He chose us and set us free from Egypt (17)
• He brought us through the wilderness (18)
• He cleared Canaanites off the land of our inheritance (19)
• He provided Judges until Samuel (20)
• He provided Kings – including Saul and David (21-22a)
• He gave a promise to King David (22b)

2: God is at work in our day (13:23-26)

• He sent His promised Savior – raising Him from the dead (23)
• He sent the announcer before Him – John the Baptizer (24-25)
• He sent US to YOU – to announce the message of salvation (26)

3: You cannot look to Jerusalem for the answer (13:27-32)

• They refused Him and rejected Him (27)
• They gave Him to Romans for execution (28)
• He was killed, but He was raised (29)!
• God was at work in that tomb (30)
• Many people witnessed Him risen and walking among us (31)
• We declare HE was the delivered of the promise of God (32)

4: You can confirm our message in the Scriptures (13:33-37)

5: The message is the total forgiveness of sins to those who believe – atonement has been replaced by justification (13:38-39)

6: Don’t walk past your opportunity to respond to God’s message (13:40-41).

From the moment of the delivery of their message, response and reaction began. Gentile proselytes (followers of Judaism who were not born Jews) begged for more information and kept following Paul and Barnabas (13:42-43). Unbelieving Jews resisted, became jealous and argumentative (13:45) and pushed Paul and Barnabas to spend more time with Gentile converts until they were pushed out of the area (13:46-51). The missionaries left behind in the region followers of Jesus who were joyful in spite of the pressures (13:52).

Expectation Five: We should not measure the work too early. Some of our engagements are to plant seed and will not bear the fruit we anticipate quickly. Our work is faithfulness, God’s work is found in the results.

Iconium Plots

They pushed on to Iconium:

Acts 14:1 In Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a manner that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of Greeks. 2 But the Jews who disbelieved stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against the brethren. 3 Therefore they spent a long time [there] speaking boldly [with reliance] upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that signs and wonders be done by their hands. 4 But the people of the city were divided; and some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles. 5 And when an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and the Jews with their rulers, to mistreat and to stone them, 6 they became aware of it and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the surrounding region; 7 and there they continued to preach the gospel.

Just when they were getting real response by a larger crowd, the opposition rose and became personal and dangerous. God empowered them with signs and wonders, but they knew when a plot was uncovered they should get out of town.

Expectation Six: Just because we carry God’s Word doesn’t mean we go in unwise of the atmosphere.

Boldness is not stupidity. We must be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. There is no real ministry without conflict – because the enemy will not surrender the field of battle without a fight.

Lystra Confusion and Anger

The went on from Iconium to Lystra and Derbe. Luke picked up one anecdote from the trip that summarized the problems encountered:

Acts 14:8 At Lystra a man was sitting who had no strength in his feet, lame from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. 9 This man was listening to Paul as he spoke, who, when he had fixed his gaze on him and had seen that he had faith to be made well, 10 said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he leaped up and [began] to walk. 11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have become like men and have come down to us.” 12 And they [began] calling Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 The priest of Zeus, whose [temple] was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. 14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out 15 and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, WHO MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM. 16 “In the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways; 17 and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” 18 [Even] saying these things, with difficulty they restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them. 19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. 20 But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe.

No sooner had Paul brought the truth of Jesus which was validated by a sign miracle, the people were led into a “side street” of faith. They became fixated on the power, and dropped the message of Jesus into the end of their paganism.

Expectation Seven: People will always be tempted to add Jesus to their pagan lifestyle and modify the message of surrender.

They want eternal life and a relationship with God – but they want to keep their old ways of seeing the world. That defines the battle line of the message – surrender is what God is looking for from people. Jesus won’t be added to a formula of other answers to life.

Derbe Calm and the Return Pass

The end of the passage tells of the return and offers a very important detail…

Acts 14:21 After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and [saying], “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” 23 When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. 24 They passed through Pisidia and came into Pamphylia. 25 When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 From there they sailed to Antioch, from which they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had accomplished. 27 When they had arrived and gathered the church together, they [began] to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they spent a long time with the disciples.

Groups of believers were revisited. They were encouraged, but not with the fluff of some guarantee of peace, prosperity and safety. They were told that it would be TOUGH to follow God. Not left to flounder around, leadership was appointed and churches were formed. Before they had a Bible study – with leadership and accountability structure it became a church.

Expectation Eight: Sustainable ministry isn’t just about sharing the Gospel or promising people Heaven – it is about building accountability structures in the body of Christ that can help people navigate the hard times we face in this world.

Let me close this lesson on expectations by reminding you of something that, by now, may be incredibly obvious. People are going to fail us because fallen people hurt each other. We must construct in our lives the proper mechanisms to forgive them. Yet, real forgiveness doesn’t begin with focusing on the people who hurt me. I must first deal in my heart with God – and my deep desire to hold on to the wrong until I feel the satisfaction of justice. Bitterness is a reflection that I don’t trust God to make things right in His time. When I release the wrong committed against me into God’s hands, I begin to gain the ability to forgive the one who wounded me. My forgiveness then, starts between me and God, and the healing between me and another is the effect of that – it is not the primary focus.

God’s Word can help us reset expectations so that we can navigate life thoughtfully and positively as individuals and as a Gospel movement.