Someone Needs to Go To Them
Warren Wiersbe writes that Antioch was one of the most immoral cities of their day. Second only to Corinth. Yet it was this very city where brave Christians ventured to share the Gospel...
Acts 11:20–21 (ESV) But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.
Do we realized the power of the hand of the Lord? He was with these men and they ventured into the dark and dangerous spiritual waters of one of the most pagan cities of its day. The Gospel has crossed into the Gentile World with a Roman Centurion's house. Now the Gospel is making headway into a leading gentile city with a reputation for gambling, prostitution, brothels, chariot races and brutal gladiator style games.
And you think God can't change your city? The hand of the Lord is enough! He's just looking for someone with the guts to go to them.
Notice, there is no program or strategy... they simply spoke! This word had power. Believe in the power of the Gospel. Don't let satan keep you speaking the power of Jesus to those far from God.
Shortly after this, Barnabas is sent to admonish the new-born church.
Acts 11:22–24 (ESV) The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.
What did he see? The Grace of God, faithfulness to God and purpose for living.
What did he then do?
Acts 11:25–26 (ESV) So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.
It is in Antioch that Paul gets his first exposure to the power of the Gospel. He spends a year in formative faith to see the Lord's Word at work. Could it not be this time in his life that would be the impetus for the Holy Spirt inspired words of Romans 1:16 (ESV) I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
There is POWER in the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
PRAYER:
Father I want to believe. I want to have faith and confidence in the power of the Gospel. Thank you that Your Word is enough. Help me to proclaim Christ with absolute confidence! In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Acts 11:20–21 (ESV) But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.
Do we realized the power of the hand of the Lord? He was with these men and they ventured into the dark and dangerous spiritual waters of one of the most pagan cities of its day. The Gospel has crossed into the Gentile World with a Roman Centurion's house. Now the Gospel is making headway into a leading gentile city with a reputation for gambling, prostitution, brothels, chariot races and brutal gladiator style games.
And you think God can't change your city? The hand of the Lord is enough! He's just looking for someone with the guts to go to them.
Notice, there is no program or strategy... they simply spoke! This word had power. Believe in the power of the Gospel. Don't let satan keep you speaking the power of Jesus to those far from God.
Shortly after this, Barnabas is sent to admonish the new-born church.
Acts 11:22–24 (ESV) The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.
What did he see? The Grace of God, faithfulness to God and purpose for living.
What did he then do?
Acts 11:25–26 (ESV) So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.
It is in Antioch that Paul gets his first exposure to the power of the Gospel. He spends a year in formative faith to see the Lord's Word at work. Could it not be this time in his life that would be the impetus for the Holy Spirt inspired words of Romans 1:16 (ESV) I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
There is POWER in the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
PRAYER:
Father I want to believe. I want to have faith and confidence in the power of the Gospel. Thank you that Your Word is enough. Help me to proclaim Christ with absolute confidence! In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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