As members of God’s family, we have the incredible opportunity to participate in God’s plan for saving people. With such privilege comes great responsibility. As servants of God, believers should commit to prayerfully seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance and responding quickly to His calling. When we do, we are fulfilling God’s purpose for the Church to take the Good News of Jesus to the world.
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God can do amazing things through ordinary people who are empowered by the Holy Spirit. In the book of Acts, the Holy Spirit was given to all believers and the church was born. The church is God's chosen instrument in the world for sharing the good news about Jesus Christ. The book of Acts is all about the unhindered movement of God throughout the world as the gospel of Jesus Christ is proclaimed through the church. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, the early church was an unstoppable movement that proclaimed the Kingdom of God and Jesus Christ as the only way to eternal life. Today, the church empowered by the Holy Spirit is called to continue God's redeeming work in the world by fulfilling God's mission of making Jesus known to the ends of the earth.
Acts of the Apostles 13:1-12 NLT
Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul. One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way. So Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit. They went down to the seaport of Seleucia and then sailed for the island of Cyprus. There, in the town of Salamis, they went to the Jewish synagogues and preached the word of God. John Mark went with them as their assistant. Afterward they traveled from town to town across the entire island until finally they reached Paphos, where they met a Jewish sorcerer, a false prophet named Bar-Jesus. He had attached himself to the governor, Sergius Paulus, who was an intelligent man. The governor invited Barnabas and Saul to visit him, for he wanted to hear the word of God. But Elymas, the sorcerer (as his name means in Greek), interfered and urged the governor to pay no attention to what Barnabas and Saul said. He was trying to keep the governor from believing. Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he looked the sorcerer in the eye. Then he said, “You son of the devil, full of every sort of deceit and fraud, and enemy of all that is good! Will you never stop perverting the true ways of the Lord? Watch now, for the Lord has laid his hand of punishment upon you, and you will be struck blind. You will not see the sunlight for some time.” Instantly mist and darkness came over the man’s eyes, and he began groping around begging for someone to take his hand and lead him. When the governor saw what had happened, he became a believer, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.
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1. Some people will be open to hearing God’s Word. (v. 1-7)
2. Some people will be opposed to God’s Word. (v. 8-11)
3. Some people will believe God’s Word and be saved. (v. 12)
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Supporting Texts:
Matthew 28:16-20
Acts 1:8
Romans 1:16-17
Romans 8:29-30
Ephesians 1:4
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Challenge: Be available for whatever God wants you to do and for wherever God wants you to go! Our best preparation for discovering how God wants to fulfill His mission through us is to start with prayer. Here is a simple prayer that may be helpful in getting you started today. God, grant me the willingness to serve you wherever you send me, in total dependance upon your power and grace to enable me to speak the gospel well and to trust God with the results. Amen!
