Fusion Community Church

The Gift of Hope because God is Great

Part of ChristmasThe Gift is Waiting November 29, 2020

  “Messiah” is also understood to be _____ ____ Genesis 3:15

From that moment forward humanity was given hope Isaiah 9:6-7

What is hope?

Not just a desire_ for something good, but you are expecting_ it to happen

We have HOPE because God is great_

He is our Creator & Ruler over all creation

He is our Dad who makes us promises_

He is our Savior who already demonstrated His

power over life, death, and the grave.

He has the authority to make His promises come true

Luke 1

         

Elizabeth had HOPE in God’s word_ & promises_ Mary had HOPE in God’s calling_ & timing_

We can have HOPE in God’s plan & my role_

WE CANT STAY HERE ANYMORE. -WEEK 12 

“Maybe I’m not such a loser.”

-Honestly... it’s not easy for us to figure out Gods will all the time is it?

-Abraham pack your things. 

-Moses God in the burning bush. 

Read Acts 15:36-39

Read Acts 16:6-10

 

Takeaways.  Keys to discerning Gods will. 

 

1)Obeying God always puts me on the path of His will.

*Read Romans 1

 

2)Avoid ink, use a pencil ✏️ 

 

3)Facing a challenge doesn’t mean you failed. 

 

4)There’s always plan “z”

We can’t stay here anymore. 

Week 11

“A skeptic is transformed”

Acts 15. 

 

Takeaways 

We tent to drift from....

1)GRACE back to law

2)INTERNAL transformation to external conformity

3)MISSIONAL to comfortable 

ACTS 15

The Jerusalem Council

1 ver. 24 But some men came down from Judea and were teaching ver. 3, 22, 23, 36, 40; See John 21:23 the brothers, “Unless you are ver. 5; Gal. 5:2; [1 Cor. 7:18; Gal. 2:11, 14] circumcised ch. 6:14; Lev. 12:3according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and ver. 7 debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and [Gal. 2:1, 2] some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to ver. 4, 6, 22, 23; ch. 16:4; See ch. 5:12; 11:30the apostles and the elders about this question. 3So, ch. 21:5; Rom. 15:24; 1 Cor. 16:6, 11; 2 Cor. 1:16; Titus 3:13; 3 John 6; [ch. 17:15] being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, See ch. 14:27 describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and ch. 11:18 brought great joy to all ver. 1the brothers.15:3 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 22 4[ch. 21:17] When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and ver. 2 the apostles and the elders, and [See ver. 3 above]they declared all that God had done with them. 5But some believers who belonged to See ch. 24:5 the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, ver. 1 “It is necessary Gal. 5:3to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”

6 [ver. 12, 25] The [See ver. 4 above]apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. 7And after there had been much ver. 2 debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, ch. 10:20 that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear [Eph. 1:13; Col. 1:5; 1 Thess. 1:5] the word of ch. 20:24the gospel and believe. 8And God, ch. 1:24 who knows the heart, ch. 14:3 bore witness to them, ch. 10:44, 47; 11:15, 17; [ver. 28; Gal. 3:2]by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9and ch. 11:12; Rom. 3:22-24; Eph. 3:6; [ch. 10:28, 34] he made no distinction between us and them, Ps. 51:10; [ch. 26:18; 2 Cor. 7:1; 1 Pet. 1:22] having cleansed their hearts See ch. 10:43by faith. 10Now, therefore, why Ps. 106:14; Isa. 7:12 are you putting God to the test Gal. 5:1; [ver. 28] by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples [Matt. 11:28; 23:4; Luke 11:46]that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11But we [ch. 16:31] believe that we will be Eph. 2:5, 8; 2 Tim. 1:9; Titus 2:11; 3:7; [Rom. 3:24; 1 Thess. 5:9] saved through Rom. 5:15 the grace of the Lord Jesus, [See ver. 9 above]just as they will.”

12And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul ver. 4; See ch. 14:27as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. 13After they finished speaking, See ch. 12:17James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. 14[ver. 7] Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them [ch. 18:10; Deut. 7:6; Isa. 43:21; Rom. 9:24-26]a people for his name. 15And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,

 

16 Cited from Amos 9:11, 12; [Jer. 12:15] “‘After this I will return,

and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen;

I will rebuild its ruins,

and I will restore it,

17that the remnant15:17 Or rest of mankind [ch. 17:27] may seek the Lord,

and all the Gentiles Isa. 43:7; Jer. 14:9; Dan. 9:19who are called by my name,

says the Lord, who makes these things 18[Isa. 45:21]known from of old.’

 

19Therefore [ver. 28] my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who See ch. 14:15turn to God, 20but should write to them ch. 21:25 to abstain from [ver. 29; Ezek. 4:13, 14; Dan. 1:8; Mal. 1:7, 12] the things polluted by idols, and from 1 Cor. 10:7, 8; Rev. 2:14, 20; See 1 Cor. 6:18 sexual immorality, and from See Lev. 3:17what has been strangled, and from See Lev. 3:17blood. 21For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, ch. 13:15; 2 Cor. 3:14, 15; [ch. 13:27]for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”

The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers

22Then it seemed good to ver. 2 the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called [ch. 1:23] Barsabbas, and See 1 Pet. 5:12 Silas, leading men among ver. 1the brothers, 23with the following letter: [See ver. 22 above] “The brothers, both [See ver. 22 above] the apostles and the elders, to the brothers15:23 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 32, 33, 36 who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, ch. 23:26; James 1:1; [2 John 10, 11]greetings. 24Since we have heard that ver. 1; [Gal. 2:4; 5:12; Titus 1:10] some persons have gone out from us and Gal. 1:7; 5:10troubled you15:24 Some manuscripts some persons from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, 25it has seemed good to us, having come See ch. 1:14 to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our [2 Pet. 3:15]beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26ch. 9:23-25; 14:19 men who have [ch. 20:24; 21:13; 2 Cor. 4:11; 1 John 3:16]risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27We have therefore sent ver. 22, 32Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28For it has seemed good [ver. 8; ch. 5:32; John 16:13; 1 Cor. 7:40] to the Holy Spirit and [ver. 19] to us [ver. 10; Rev. 2:24]to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: 29See ver. 20 that you abstain from ch. 21:25; 1 Cor. 8:1, 4, 7, 10; 10:19; Rev. 2:14, 20what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”

30So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. 32And Judas and Silas, who were themselves See ch. 13:1 prophets, encouraged and See ch. 14:22 strengthened ver. 1the brothers with many words. 33And after they had spent some time, they were sent off Gen. 26:29; Heb. 11:31; [1 Cor. 16:11] in peace by [See ver. 32 above]the brothers to those who had sent them.15:33 Some manuscripts insert verse 34: But it seemed good to Silas to remain there 35But ch. 13:1Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

We can’t stay here anymore. 

 

What matters more? 

Week 10 

Acts 14:1-28 

“Reflecting light in a dark word”

 

Greek News “the gods got power you needed”

Good news “God is holy and set apart, pure humble and at perfect unity in himself. “

 

Greek news. “If you want a happy life you need to do what they want”

 

Good news “God is generous and sacrifices himself for YOU, wanting to be with You.”

 

Greek news “never know if you are at peace with Zeus or not.” 

 

Good news “God promises that through faith in Jesus “

 

Is your theological belief system more similar to the ancient Greeks or the gospel Paul is presenting?

 

 

“The same thing happened in Iconium. Paul and Barnabas went to the Jewish synagogue and preached with such power that a great number of both Jews and Greeks became believers. Some of the Jews, however, spurned God’s message and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas. But the apostles stayed there a long time, preaching boldly about the grace of the Lord. And the Lord proved their message was true by giving them power to do miraculous signs and wonders. But the people of the town were divided in their opinion about them. Some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles. Then a mob of Gentiles and Jews, along with their leaders, decided to attack and stone them. When the apostles learned of it, they fled to the region of Lycaonia—to the towns of Lystra and Derbe and the surrounding area. And there they preached the Good News. While they were at Lystra, Paul and Barnabas came upon a man with crippled feet. He had been that way from birth, so he had never walked. He was sitting and listening as Paul preached. Looking straight at him, Paul realized he had faith to be healed. So Paul called to him in a loud voice, “Stand up!” And the man jumped to his feet and started walking. When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in their local dialect, “These men are gods in human form!” They decided that Barnabas was the Greek god Zeus and that Paul was Hermes, since he was the chief speaker. Now the temple of Zeus was located just outside the town. So the priest of the temple and the crowd brought bulls and wreaths of flowers to the town gates, and they prepared to offer sacrifices to the apostles. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard what was happening, they tore their clothing in dismay and ran out among the people, shouting, “Friends, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings—just like you! We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things and turn to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them.

 

but he never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts.” But even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could scarcely restrain the people from sacrificing to them. Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds to their side. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead. But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe. After preaching the Good News in Derbe and making many disciples, Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia, where they strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God. Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church. With prayer and fasting, they turned the elders over to the care of the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. Then they traveled back through Pisidia to Pamphylia. They preached the word in Perga, then went down to Attalia. Finally, they returned by ship to Antioch of Syria, where their journey had begun. The believers there had entrusted them to the grace of God to do the work they had now completed. Upon arriving in Antioch, they called the church together and reported everything God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles, too. And they stayed there with the believers for a long time.”

Acts of the Apostles 14:1-15, 17-28 NLT

https://www.bible.com/116/act.14.1-15,17-28.nlt

Paul’s Sermon in Antioch of Pisidia

 

13Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia, but John left them and went back to Jerusalem.Ac 12:12; 13:6; 15:38 14They continued their journey from Perga and reached Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down.Ac 9:20; 14:19,21; 16:3; 17:2; 18:4 15After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, you can speak.”Mk 5:22; Ac 15:21

16Paul stood up and motioned with his hand and said, “Fellow Israelites, and you who fear God, listen!Ac 10:2; 12:17 17The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors, made the people prosper during their stay in the land of Egypt, and led them out of it with a mighty13:17 Lit with an uplifted arm.Ex 1:6; 6:6; Dt 7:6–8; Ac 7:17 18And for about forty years he put up with them13:18 Other mss read he cared for them in the wilderness;Dt 1:31; Ac 7:36 19and after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan,Dt 7:1; Jos 14:1; 19:51; Ps 78:55; Ac 7:45 he gave them their land as an inheritance. 20This all took about 450 years. After this, he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.Jdg 2:16; 1Sm 3:20; Ac 3:24 21Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.1Sm 8:5; 9:1; 10:1 22After removing him,1Sm 15:23,26; 16:13 he raised up David as their king and testified about him, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse to be a man after my own heart,13:221Sm 13:14; Ps 89:201Sm 13:14; Ps 89:20 who will carry out all my will.’

23“From this man’s descendants, as he promised, God brought to IsraelPs 132:1; Mt 1:1; Lk 2:11; Ac 13:32 the Savior, Jesus.13:23 Other mss read brought salvation 24Before his coming to public attention, John had previously proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.Mt 3:1; Mk 1:4; Lk 3:3; Ac 1:22; 19:4 25Now as John was completing his mission, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not the one. But one is coming after me, and I am not worthy to untie the sandals on his feet.’Mt 3:11; Mk 1:7; Lk 3:16; Jn 1:20,27; Ac 20:24

26“Brothers and sisters, children of Abraham’s race, and those among you who fear God, it is to us that the word of this salvation has been sent.Ac 4:12; 5:20 27Since the residents of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize him or the sayings of the prophets that are read every Sabbath, they have fulfilled their words by condemning him.Lk 24:27; Ac 3:17 28Though they found no grounds for the death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him killed.Mt 27:22–23; Ac 3:14 29When they had carried out all that had been written about him, they took him down from the tree and put him in a tomb.Mt 27:59; Lk 23:53; Ac 5:30 30But God raised him from the dead,Mt 28:6; Ac 2:24 31and he appeared for many days to those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people.Mt 28:16; Lk 24:48; Ac 1:3 32And we ourselves proclaim to you the good news of the promise that was made to our ancestors.Ac 5:42; 26:6; Rm 4:13; 9:4 33God has fulfilled this for us, their children, by raising up Jesus, as it is written in the second Psalm:

You are my Son;

today I have become your Father. 13:33 Or I have begotten you 13:33 Ps 2:7 Ps 2:7; Heb 1:5; 5:5

34As to his raising him from the dead, never to return to decay, he has spoken in this way, I will give you the holy and sure promises of David.13:34Is 55:3Is 55:3; Ac 13:30,37 35Therefore he also says in another passage, You will not let your Holy One see decay.13:35Ps 16:10Ps 16:10; Ac 2:27 36For David, after serving God’s purpose in his own generation, fell asleep,Ac 7:60; 1Co 11:30; 15:6,18,20,51; 1Th 4:13–15 was buried with his fathers, and decayed,1Kg 2:10; Ac 2:29; 13:22; 20:27 37but the one God raised up did not decay. 38Therefore, let it be known to you, brothers and sisters, that through this man forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you.Lk 24:47; Ac 2:38 39Everyone who believes is justified13:39 Or freed, also later in this versethrough him from everything that you could not be justified from through the law of Moses.Rm 3:28; 10:4 40So beware that what is said in the prophets does not happen to you:

41 Look, you scoffers,

marvel and vanish away,

because I am doing a work in your days,

a work that you will never believe,

even if someone were to explain it to you.”13:41 Hab 1:5Is 29:14; Hab 1:5

Paul and Barnabas in Antioch

42As they were leaving, the people13:42 Other mss read they were leaving the synagogue of the Jews, the Gentiles urged them to speak about these matters the following Sabbath. 43After the synagogue had been dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking with them and urging them to continue in the grace of God.Ac 11:23; 14:22

44The following Sabbath almost the whole town assembled to hear the word of the Lord.13:44 Other mss read of God 45But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what Paul was saying, insulting him.Ac 18:6; 1Th 2:16; 1Pt 4:4; Jd 10

46Paul and Barnabas boldly replied, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first. Since you reject it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we are turning to the Gentiles.Mt 21:43; Ac 3:26; 18:6; 22:21; 28:28 47For this is what the Lord has commanded us:

I have made you

a light for the Gentiles

to bring salvation

to the ends of the earth.”13:47Is 49:6Is 42:6; 49:6; Lk 2:32

48When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and honored the word of the Lord, and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed. 49The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. 50But the Jews incited the prominent God-fearing women and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them from their district.Ac 14:2,19; 2Tm 3:11 51But Paul and Barnabas shook the dust off their feetMt 10:14; Mk 6:11; Lk 9:5; Ac 18:6 against themAc 14:1,19,21; 16:2; 2Tm 3:11 and went to Iconium. 52And the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

We can’t stay here anymore week 8

"Paul and Barnabas scatter."

Preparing for the Mission Field

1Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, a close friend of Herod the tetrarch,Mt 14:1; Ac 4:36; 11:19,22,27; 1Co 12:28 and Saul.

2As they were worshiping13:2 Or 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.”Ac 8:29; 9:15; Rm 1:1; Gl 1:15 3Then after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off.Ac 6:6; 14:26

The Mission to Cyprus

4So being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5Arriving in Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. They also had John as their assistant.Ac 9:20; 12:12 6When they had traveled the whole island as far as Paphos, they came across a sorcerer, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus.Mt 7:15; Ac 8:9 7He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and wanted to hear the word of God.Ac 18:12; 19:38 8But Elymas the sorcerer (that is the meaning of his name) opposedEx 7:11; 2Tm 3:8 them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith.Ac 6:7; 8:9

9But Saul — also called Paul — filled with the Holy Spirit, stared straight at Elymas 10and said, “You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery, you son of the devilMt 13:38; Jn 8:44 and enemy of all that is right. Won’t you ever stop perverting the straight pathsHs 14:9; 2Pt 2:15 of the Lord? 11Now, look, the Lord’s hand is against you.Ex 9:3; 1Sm 5:6–7; Ps 32:4; Heb 10:31 You are going to be blind, and will not see the sun for a time.” Immediately a mist and darkness fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.

12Then, when he saw what happened, the proconsul believed, because he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.Ac 13:49; 15:35–36

Paul’s Sermon in Antioch of Pisidia

13Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia, but John left them and went back to Jerusalem.Ac 12:12; 13:6; 15:38 14They continued their journey from Perga and reached Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down.Ac 9:20; 14:19,21; 16:3; 17:2; 18:4 15After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, you can speak.”Mk 5:22; Ac 15:21

16Paul stood up and motioned with his hand and said, “Fellow Israelites, and you who fear God, listen!Ac 10:2; 12:17 17The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors, made the people prosper during their stay in the land of Egypt, and led them out of it with a mighty13:17 Lit with an uplifted arm.Ex 1:6; 6:6; Dt 7:6–8; Ac 7:17 18And for about forty years he put up with them13:18 Other mss read he cared for them in the wilderness;Dt 1:31; Ac 7:36 19and after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan,Dt 7:1; Jos 14:1; 19:51; Ps 78:55; Ac 7:45 he gave them their land as an inheritance. 20This all took about 450 years. After this, he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.Jdg 2:16; 1Sm 3:20; Ac 3:24 21Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.1Sm 8:5; 9:1; 10:1 22After removing him,1Sm 15:23,26; 16:13 he raised up David as their king and testified about him, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse to be a man after my own heart,13:221Sm 13:14; Ps 89:201Sm 13:14; Ps 89:20 who will carry out all my will.’

23“From this man’s descendants, as he promised, God brought to IsraelPs 132:1; Mt 1:1; Lk 2:11; Ac 13:32 the Savior, Jesus.13:23 Other mss read brought salvation 24Before his coming to public attention, John had previously proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.Mt 3:1; Mk 1:4; Lk 3:3; Ac 1:22; 19:4 25Now as John was completing his mission, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not the one. But one is coming after me, and I am not worthy to untie the sandals on his feet.’Mt 3:11; Mk 1:7; Lk 3:16; Jn 1:20,27; Ac 20:24

26“Brothers and sisters, children of Abraham’s race, and those among you who fear God, it is to us that the word of this salvation has been sent.Ac 4:12; 5:20 27Since the residents of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize him or the sayings of the prophets that are read every Sabbath, they have fulfilled their words by condemning him.Lk 24:27; Ac 3:17 28Though they found no grounds for the death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him killed.Mt 27:22–23; Ac 3:14 29When they had carried out all that had been written about him, they took him down from the tree and put him in a tomb.Mt 27:59; Lk 23:53; Ac 5:30 30But God raised him from the dead,Mt 28:6; Ac 2:24 31and he appeared for many days to those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people.Mt 28:16; Lk 24:48; Ac 1:3 32And we ourselves proclaim to you the good news of the promise that was made to our ancestors.Ac 5:42; 26:6; Rm 4:13; 9:4 33God has fulfilled this for us, their children, by raising up Jesus, as it is written in the second Psalm:

You are my Son;

today I have become your Father. 13:33 Or I have begotten you 13:33 Ps 2:7 Ps 2:7; Heb 1:5; 5:5

34As to his raising him from the dead, never to return to decay, he has spoken in this way, I will give you the holy and sure promises of David.13:34Is 55:3Is 55:3; Ac 13:30,37 35Therefore he also says in another passage, You will not let your Holy One see decay.13:35Ps 16:10Ps 16:10; Ac 2:27 36For David, after serving God’s purpose in his own generation, fell asleep,Ac 7:60; 1Co 11:30; 15:6,18,20,51; 1Th 4:13–15 was buried with his fathers, and decayed,1Kg 2:10; Ac 2:29; 13:22; 20:27 37but the one God raised up did not decay. 38Therefore, let it be known to you, brothers and sisters, that through this man forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you.Lk 24:47; Ac 2:38 39Everyone who believes is justified13:39 Or freed, also later in this versethrough him from everything that you could not be justified from through the law of Moses.Rm 3:28; 10:4 40So beware that what is said in the prophets does not happen to you:

41 Look, you scoffers,

marvel and vanish away,

because I am doing a work in your days,

a work that you will never believe,

even if someone were to explain it to you.”13:41 Hab 1:5Is 29:14; Hab 1:5

Paul and Barnabas in Antioch

42As they were leaving, the people13:42 Other mss read they were leaving the synagogue of the Jews, the Gentiles urged them to speak about these matters the following Sabbath. 43After the synagogue had been dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking with them and urging them to continue in the grace of God.Ac 11:23; 14:22

44The following Sabbath almost the whole town assembled to hear the word of the Lord.13:44 Other mss read of God 45But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what Paul was saying, insulting him.Ac 18:6; 1Th 2:16; 1Pt 4:4; Jd 10

46Paul and Barnabas boldly replied, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first. Since you reject it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we are turning to the Gentiles.Mt 21:43; Ac 3:26; 18:6; 22:21; 28:28 47For this is what the Lord has commanded us:

I have made you

a light for the Gentiles

to bring salvation

to the ends of the earth.”13:47Is 49:6Is 42:6; 49:6; Lk 2:32

48When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and honored the word of the Lord, and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed. 49The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. 50But the Jews incited the prominent God-fearing women and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them from their district.Ac 14:2,19; 2Tm 3:11 51But Paul and Barnabas shook the dust off their feetMt 10:14; Mk 6:11; Lk 9:5; Ac 18:6 against themAc 14:1,19,21; 16:2; 2Tm 3:11 and went to Iconium. 52And the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.Mt 5:12; Jn 16:22; Ac 2:4

 

 

“The Gospel washes away our old identity” 

 

"The Antioch church was diverse yet Unified.... hungry and passionately pursuing the spirit.... Generous and wholly Unselfish."

We can’t stay here anymore week 7

 

Acts 12:1-19

 

What weapon will they reach for in a desperate moment? PRAYER

 

LUKE 11:2-13

 

Persistent Prayer 

 

The Jerusalem Church was desperate so they PERSISTED in Prayer

 

“The one concern of the devil is to keep the saints from prayer. Our enemy fears nothing from prayer less studies, prayer less work, prayer less religion. 

He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom but tremble when we pray. 

 

-What is YOUR personal prayer life like? 

Persistent?  Prevailing? 

 

“For many of us prayer is not a first choice, but a last resort. Fraser had learned out of sheer necessity to pray fervently and continuously.”

We can’t stay here anymore week 6

 

In over my head. 

Acts 11

 

1-A gentile come to faith in Jesus 

 

2-the Holy Spirit always leads us in over our head. 

 

“If, then, God gave them the same gift that he also gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, how could I possibly hinder God?” When they heard this they became silent. And they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has given repentance resulting in life even to the Gentiles.””

Acts 11:17-18 CSB

https://www.bible.com/1713/act.11.17-18.csb

 

“Now those who had been scattered as a result of the persecution that started because of Stephen made their way as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews.”

Acts 11:19 CSB

https://www.bible.com/1713/act.11.19.csb

 

3- Evidence of gods grace

 

-A true sense of my wretchedness

I loathe myself on account of my sin 

 

-My confession of sin is filled with deep authentic grief because I know I don’t 

 

-I feel connected and love for the people of God in my church, my family 

 

-I deeply desire to submit to all of Gods commands in my life. 

 

-I want to increase in obedience to the Holy Spirit more today then yesterday 

 

-I adore the Gospel message. It is my life blood. My greatest definition of who I am. I belong to him 

 

-I find I am the subject of spiritual warfare because of the constant battle between my flesh and his Spirit

 

-I am experiencing a beautiful reconciliation with a former enemy of mine because of Jesus. 

 

-I find opportunities to show extreme generosity on a regular basis far beyond my human tendencies. 

 

IS THERE EVIDENCE IN YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW OF GOD’s  GRACE AT WORK? 

 

“When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged all of them to remain true to the Lord with devoted hearts, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And large numbers of people were added to the Lord. Then he went to Tarsus to search for Saul, and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught large numbers. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.”

Acts 11:23-26 CSB

https://www.bible.com/1713/act.11.23-26.csb

 

 

When you are in over your head 

Remember 

-the Holy Spirit is a WHO not a thing 

-the Holy Spirit role is to transform us 

-the Holy Spirit send us to reach one more.

Here are some notes to help you understand the message a little more. 

 

Acts 10:1-48 CSB

https://www.bible.com/1713/act.10.1-48.csb

 

Luke 10:1-2 CSB

https://www.bible.com/1713/luk.10.1-2.csb

 

-Cornelius was CONTINUALLY SEEKING GOD MORE. 

 

-3 leves of spiritual engagement 

Pressing in seeking MORE

complacent, comfortable, and more coasting 

Withdrawing or pulling away for God. 

 

Why send Cornelius 35 miles away to Peter when Philip is in the same area?

God wants to do something in Cornelius AND Peter

 

“Then he told them many things in parables, saying, “Consider the sower who went out to sow. As he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn’t have much soil, and it grew up quickly since the soil wasn’t deep. But when the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it. Still other seed fell on good ground and produced fruit: some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times what was sown.”

Matthew 13:3-8 CSB

https://www.bible.com/1713/mat.13.3-8.csb