Setting Up Leadership in the Churches

Transcript

GR 1612
07/17/11
Setting up Leadership in the Churches
Acts 14:20-28
Gil Rugh

We are in the book of Acts in your Bibles, Acts 14. Paul and Barnabas are coming to the end of what we call their first missionary journey. And this will be followed by a special meeting in Jerusalem to try to resolve a theological conflict that exists over the place of the Law in the gospel that is being presented. But Paul and Barnabas have had an eventful trip so far and it is not done. They are traveling in a portion of Asia Minor, the region that would have been part of Galatia, establishing churches that Paul will later write the letter to the Galatians to.

It's been an effective ministry. People have been saved. It has been a very difficult ministry. There has been intense opposition, opposition to a significant degree. We can put the emphasis as we read the history where we like. It's a very successful venture from the standpoint of a number of people are saved, churches are established, we'll see more of that at the end of the chapter, or you can look at the other side and say it caused great turmoil, it stirred up significant opposition, it divided people in cities, it would have divided families. It brought persecution and suffering to the Apostle Paul.

So you come into the beginning of Acts 14, for example, at the end of verse 1 we're told, a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of Greeks. Then you come down to verses 19-20, a little bit further on in their travels and in their ministry and we find out that the Apostle Paul is stoned, verse 19. 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. And we noted in 2 Corinthians 11 Paul refers to the fact that one time he was stoned. He had been beaten numerous times, this is the only occasion he was stoned. And it is amazing that he recovers like he does. You understand stoning was when they picked up stones and threw them at you until you were dead. And you can imagine the impact on the body. Luke goes into no detail on what Paul's condition is and how complete his recovery is, what kind of evidence was there of this treatment. He just records the fact, verse 20, but while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. And the next day he and Barnabas traveled to Derbe.

So you can see how condensed Luke's version is and yet it gives us the necessary information to understand how God is working in establishing churches in Gentile parts of the world. You can see Pamphylia, Pisidia, there is Antioch, Lystra, Iconium. And you can see he is going to go from Antioch to Lyconia, down to Lystra, now he is going over to Derbe, about 35 miles over is the other city he is going to go to. It would be possible and could happen and will later on another trip, he could just continue around from Derbe back around through Silicia there and come down to Antioch, where he started from. But he's not going to do that, he'll be retracing his steps from Derbe and going back the way he came until he gets down to Perga under Pamphylia there. And then he'll go by ship back to Antioch.
So let's pick up with his coming to Derbe. They walked over here, 35 miles, it would take them a few days to come. It's amazing Paul can do this, he's just been stoned and left for dead. He can get up and resume his ministry and now walk 35 miles to the next city to have another ministry. God gave him a miraculous recovery.

Verse 21, after they had preached the gospel to that city, Derbe, and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch. You see what they do, they retrace their steps. But in Derbe he doesn't talk about the ministry. Was there opposition there? Was there difficulty there? What happened in Derbe? It is summarized—they made many disciples. And then they move on. Indication here, a little bit earlier we were told the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch. And disciple and Christian are interchangeable terms. That's important because there has been confusion among Christians of our day over, is there a distinction between being a Christian and being a disciple. And some have taught a disciple is a further step, that's a more mature, more developed, more committed Christian. That's not the case. Here in these relatively short ministries, for example at Derbe, they made many disciples. It means the people came to believe the gospel they were preaching and then responded to the teaching. But this is going on in a relatively short period of time.

No other information on this, but you can see the effectiveness of it. We know something of the effectiveness of it from the letter Paul will write later to the Galatians. Churches are established in these cities, they have done what Jesus said in the Great Commission to go and make disciples of all the nations. And that's what they are doing, making disciples through the presentation of the gospel.

Interesting at Derbe there is a man who will come up a little bit later over in Acts 20:4. And this is on later travels of Paul. We are told he was accompanied, Acts 20:4, by Sopater of Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus and Gaius of Derbe. So in all probability Gaius had been saved during this first missionary trip and was one of those many disciples made during the ministry of Paul and Barnabas at Derbe on the first missionary journey. Later we find one particular person from Derbe mentioned here becomes part of Paul's traveling ministry.

Now as I mentioned it would have been possible for Paul just to travel from Derbe around over Silicia and down to Antioch, and that would have been about 150 miles. That would have been the shortest route back to Antioch. But in spite of all the difficulties they've encountered, the opposition, they had to leave Antioch because of persecution and opposition, stoned and left for dead, but he still feels it is necessary to retrace his steps and solidify the ministry he has had in these various cities.

So they returned to Lystra, to Iconium and to Antioch. Now their first trip was one of evangelization, carrying the gospel to these people. Now on his return trip the emphasis will be on edification, building up those who had become believers during their first visit; on organization, bringing leadership in the form of elders to the churches he has established; and then commendation, as he turns them over to the Lord and moves on to other ministry.
So let's pick this up in verse 21. After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, to Iconium and to Antioch. Now he's going to say what he did in these cities, but we're not told anything about any follow-up opposition, no details here. Paul is coming back to places that had intense opposition to him, but Luke goes into no development and evidently what happens here, he doesn't think is necessary for understanding. What he wants us to know is why is Paul returning and what is he accomplishing in these very young churches, young Gentiles churches. I mean, these people didn't even have a Jewish background to build on. This is going to become a problem in these regions because the Jews who lived in these regions have stirred opposition and worked with the Gentiles. But by and large you are dealing with people here who are new, new to the Word of God.

So what's he doing? He picks up in verse 22. First he is strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith and saying, through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. Strengthening the souls of the disciples. This would have involved further explaining to them the gospel that they had believed, grounding them in the basics of the faith. And Paul believes he does a significant job here in doing that because later when he writes back from Galatia, he really deals with them. There is no excuse for you being confused or led astray on these matters. So relatively new believers can be established rather quickly in the basics. And what is necessary for a good foundation be expected to remain on that foundation and to grow.

And that strengthening the souls of the disciples, turn over to Acts 15:32. This will be in the context of the Jerusalem Conference that we'll study at a future time. We're told Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brethren. There's our word, they strengthened the brethren. How? With a lengthy message, by teaching them the truth, explaining the Word of God.

So when it says back in Acts 14:22, Paul was strengthening the disciples, you do that by coming back and explaining more fully, particularly the gospel that they had believed and helping them to have a clearer understanding of the gospel. And with the time he had, he would have explained more fully the Scripture. Remember these churches do not have the Word of God, the New Testament particularly. Paul has yet to write the letter to the Galatians that he'll be writing. So important that they be grounded here.

Turn over to 1 Peter 2. Peter talks about a similar thing. Verse 2, like newborn babies long for the pure milk of the Word, the unadulterated milk of the Word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation. That's what Paul is doing, strengthening them, helping them to grow as even new believers, giving them more of the Word of God. Because this is short term ministry, then he'll be moving on.

Come back to Acts 20. Again as we've moved along in Paul's ministry and here he is addressing the leadership, the elders from the church at Ephesus who have met him at Miletus. And he says in verse 32, now I commend you to God and to the Word of His grace which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all who are sanctified. So Paul was leaving but the word that he had taught them, he was leaving with them was what God would use to build them up in His grace and bring them to further maturity. 2 Timothy 3:6, all Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness in order that the man of God may be perfect, complete, thoroughly furnished for every good deed. The Word of God is the nourishment, the provision that God has given for us to grow.

How privileged we are. Here you have new churches, new believers and they have the word that Paul has taught them. Perhaps portions of the Old Testament Scripture that some Jewish believers would have had access to and so on. But here we have this treasure, we carry it with us. We take it home. We can read it through the week. Can you imagine the notes that must be taken while Paul is here taking them through these matters, instructing them?

Back in Acts 14. He is strengthening the souls of the disciples, he is encouraging them to continue in the faith. Paul is well aware of the opposition that will be there to the truth of the gospel. He has been through battles and conflicts, he knows how the devil works. This is absolutely crucial. Encouraging them to continue in the faith. Be faithful to the truth that you have been taught, to the gospel that has been explained to you.

Sadly, come over to Galatians 1, after Paul leaves you have false Jewish teachers that infiltrate among the churches and end up saying Paul hasn't taught you the correct gospel. Believing in Jesus Christ is important and necessary but that is not enough. You must keep the Law of Moses. And Galatians 1:6, Paul says to them, I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ for a different gospel, which is not really another one similar to mine, it's a different gospel. There are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. You see the devil had brought, as Paul came into these cities and ministered, direct opposition and persecution from the unbelieving world. Now the churches are established, the devil hasn't quit working but some of his tactics have been altered. Now it is an infiltration among the church to corrupt the gospel and distort it.

So the letter to the Galatians doesn't deal with the fact that these churches are dealing with persecution like Paul did, being driven out of the city or stoned. What has happened to them is these false teachers have come in under the guise of clarifying and presenting a fuller, more complete gospel. And they are being led away from the gospel of grace. You can see that Paul thought that his explanation and presentation, true believers should not be confused on these things. They ought to be clear. So even as young believers who have not had years and years of teaching, there is no reason for them to be confused or led astray by this kind of teaching. It happens when we open up ourselves to teaching that is contrary to the clear teaching of the Word.

So you come back to Acts 14. He is encouraging them to continue in the faith. You stay with these things that I'm teaching you with the gospel of grace that we have explained to you. But he was saying, through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. It's not going to be easy. Because the Jews and the Gentiles who had been opposed to Paul and Barnabas and their ministry would now be opposed to these new believers. So we're not saying they didn't have overt persecution, but where the real corruption to the church and impact on the church is going to be as we see from the letter Paul writes back to the Galatian churches, it's going to come from the damage that these false teachers have brought from within. Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. So you see something of what he is explaining to them. Tribulations are part of what will take place in our lives as we move toward the kingdom that Christ will establish on this earth.

Come back to 1 Peter 4. Peter writes to encourage Jewish believers in the diaspora in his letter. And in verse 12, beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you. These difficult trials and persecutions and opposition, that shouldn't surprise you as though this is something unusual and out of the ordinary that is happening to you. But to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing. Note this, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exaltation. It carries these Jews to the time of the promised kingdom when He will be revealed in His glory, when He returns and establishes His kingdom on this earth. So the trials and tribulations are part and parcel of life on the way to that time when Christ will rule and reign and rule over the earth. And in those kinds of opposition we'll be gone. Jesus said in John 16:33 to His disciples in anticipation of His impending crucifixion, in the world you have tribulations. Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

Come to Romans 8:16, the Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. When Christ is unveiled in the fullness of His glory, we will be unveiled with Him before all creation, groaning together toward that time, as Paul goes on to remember in Romans 8. But we suffer with Him that we may be glorified with Him. He was clear, John 15, the world hates Me, the world will hate you. Believers get caught up. That's why false teaching like health and wealth and all of this kind of stuff infiltrates even among believers because we forget the simple clarity of what God has told us. The glory is yet future. First the cross, then the crown; and first suffering and then the glory. So it's through many tribulations we'll enter the kingdom.

Paul reminded Timothy in his last letter, 2 Timothy 3:12, all who will live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution, will be persecuted. Doesn't say some of them, but all of them. The persecution won't always be of the same kind, but at root it is the same. It is opposition to Jesus Christ and the truth concerning Him. And when you belong to Him, you are part of that opposition, being opposed.

The kingdom of God. Come back to Acts 14. I am one of those who believes the kingdom of God always means the kingdom, the kingdom that was promised and prophesied in the Old Testament, the kingdom that the Jews were looking for when Christ came at His first coming, the kingdom that was promised in connection with His first coming when His birth was announced and was told that He would be King and He would rule in glory. But we know now there are two comings of Christ to this earth—the first and the second, the first to provide salvation and the second to establish the kingdom. But a lot of the confusion is taken out of our understanding of the Word of God if we just accept it as it is. The kingdom is the kingdom. In other words that earthly kingdom promised that would be established with the coming of the Messiah and His ruling over the earth, in classic passages like Isaiah 2, 9, 11 and the promises there. That's the kingdom.

Come back to Acts 2. As Jesus met with His disciples after His crucifixion, resurrection, 40 days of ministering the Old Testament Scriptures to them, explaining how He was the fulfillment of them. He is about to ascend to heaven. Verse 6, when they had come together, they were asking Him saying, Lord, is it at this time you are restoring the kingdom to Israel? You see there after 40 days of being instructed by Him nothing has changed in regard to their understanding of the kingdom. The Jews will be at the center, Jerusalem will be the capital of the world, the Messiah will reign. It had not been clearly unfolded to them that there was going to be a gap now of 2,000 years before He would establish the kingdom. They thought maybe now that is what's next. He doesn't say, don't you understand? The kingdom started, we're here. No, they're looking for the kingdom promised in the Old Testament.

Come to Acts 3:18, here Peter is preaching again. And he says in verse 18, but the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets that as Christ would suffer He has thus fulfilled. All those prophecies were fulfilled how? We would say literally, exactly as they were given in every detail. Therefore repent and return so that your sins may be wiped away. Why? In order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord and that He may send Jesus the Christ appointed for you, the Messiah appoint for you whom heaven must receive until the period of the restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient times. You see, he knows what the Old Testament prophets are saying. It will take the repentance of Israel and the turning from their sin to the Savior for the establishing of the kingdom. So Peter is still operating on that. If you, Israel, will turn from your sin and believe in the Messiah, that's what it will require for Him to be sent by God from heaven. Verse 20, that He may send Jesus the Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah appointed for you. What does that mean? He's the Messiah appointed for you, He'll be sent if you repent. But Israel will not repent. And they still live in that state of rebellion. So you see he is interpreting the Old Testament scriptures literally.

I stress this because if you read many commentaries, come back to Acts 14, on through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God, you can read many strange and wonderful things. Wonderful in the sense they create wonder. How did they ever get that out of this? Let me read you what one person said, and see if you make sense out of this. And this isn't somebody off the wall, this is a commentary that has been well received, is quoted. The preposition through is descriptive of the life Christians must live. They must go through hardships and must personally experience them to enter God's kingdom. Okay. That is, the believer who responds to Christ's gospel enters the kingdom. Well wait a minute. He says the preposition through is descriptive of the life Christians must live. They must go through hardships, Christians, and must personally experience them to enter God's kingdom. That's pretty consistent there, through many tribulations we enter the kingdom. But then he gives his explanation. That is, the believer who responds to Christ's gospel enters the kingdom. This man is an amillenialist, he believes we are in the kingdom. Well is that what that says? The believer who responds to Christ's gospel enters the kingdom. In other words you enter it when you believe. The kingdom is salvation, it is present now. But then he says Christians must go through hardships and must personally experience hardships to enter the kingdom. Doesn't make any sense, it did to him and it got into print.

Let me read you something I jotted down this afternoon from another commentary I was reading. Unlike other texts in Acts where kingdom refers to God's entire program, here the term refers to the moment of final vindication that one enters after death. This is by one who calls himself a progressive dispensationalist. Here the term refers to the moment of final vindication that one enters after death. In other words through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God and you will enter the kingdom when you die. And he acknowledges this is different than what kingdom means elsewhere. This is an example of historical, grammatical, theological interpretation where your predetermined theology causes you just to change a passage to fit the theology you've already settled on. Who says this is not the same kingdom that we were talking about in Acts 1:6? That Peter was talking about in Acts 3? That all the Old Testament prophets prophesied about? Where do you get the authority to say unlike other texts in Acts, here the term refers to the moment of final vindication that one enters after death? Paul gives no explanation, I want you to know I'm talking something about something different here when I use the word kingdom. So we begin to redo the Scripture because we want it to fit the theology that we have adopted. But our theology is to be a result of our study of the Scripture. And when you come and redo the Scripture in light of a predetermined theology, you have trouble.

So just remember the kingdom is always the kingdom. Any time in the Old or New Testament you read about the kingdom we're talking about the kingdom that was prophesied in the Old Testament, that will be established on the earth when Jesus Christ returns at the Second Coming. It's that simple. You don't have to keep in mind, now which kind of kingdom is this, which one is this. Is this a different use, is this an exceptional use. Even Colossians 1, we have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His beloved Son. We have. We are not in the kingdom yet but we are citizens of that coming kingdom and we'll be part of it when it is established on the earth. There is no kingdom in that sense operative now. We'll talk again at a later date about the eternal kingdom that has always existed, but that's different than the Messianic kingdom that has been prophesied.

All right. So tribulations and trials that come to your life as a believer, we welcome them, we rejoice in them as Peter said because we understand. This is part of being identified with Christ. And what greater privilege given to us than to be identified with our Savior and to be marked out as a follower of Jesus Christ, as one who believes and proclaims the message concerning Him.

All right, so that's the first thing Paul is doing, he is establishing them, he is carrying on a ministry of edification, of building them up in the Word of God. Then he is going to have a ministry of organization with these new churches. Verse 23, and when they had appointed elders for them in every church. So Paul is concerned that this church have an order that will enable it to function as it should. And so here you have early in his ministry in his missionary travels a pattern of appointing elders. And you'll note, he appoints elders, plural, in every church, singular. That's why we believe there should be a plurality of elders in every church. He appointed elders, plural, in every church, singular. So each of the churches would have had several elders. We're not told how many, but more than one.

The elders, Greek word we get the word presbytery or Presbyterian from. Presbyterian churches have an elder form of government. The name comes from. There are three words used interchangeably—elder, bishop or overseer and pastor. They are used interchangeably in the New Testament, we won't take the time to look at that. We've done that, particularly in the study of the pastoral epistles.

The apostles appointed elders on their return trip. So they selected men who had believed the gospel in their earlier visit. Now they appoint them to be elders in the church, to have the responsibility of oversight and leadership in the church. And something of the responsibility of elders will be seen over in Acts 20 when we get there.

Come over to 1 Timothy 3. The two places the qualifications are laid out in detail are 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, as you are aware. And this is where the Scripture puts the emphasis on their qualifications, in a moment about their appointment, particularly the meaning of that word. It is a trustworthy statement if a man desires the office of overseer, we get the word bishop we use for the translation of this word. Overseer, bishop. And you have Episcopalian forms of church government that comes from this word, Episcopos, to oversee, to look over. Sometimes translated bishop. An overseer then must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, gentle, peaceable, free from love of money. One who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity. If a man doesn't know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God. Not a new convert that he will not become conceited, fall into the condemnation of the devil. Must have a good reputation, both with those outside the church so that he will not fall into the snare of the devil. And we won't read Titus1, but it's a similar list.

It's amazing. Paul now comes back to these churches where he just led these people to the Lord not too long ago and appoints elders in the churches. Where do you go to get not a new convert? Well, I guess you would have to say new is relative to this particular group of believers. I mean, the maturity that is there, that's what they would have to work with. That's why I say to be an elder at a church like Indian Hills that has been established and been here many years, obviously not being a new believer. But you go someplace else and you lead people to the Lord, you establish a church, the leadership will be picked from among the most mature men there that meet thee qualifications. So it's interesting to see here. Paul doesn't say, we'll have to wait several years and see how it works out, then we'll appoint elders. There is structure in the church from the beginning, there is an order for the good and health of the church. And this is God's plan. Paul will follow it and we saw in Acts 20 he'll meet with the elders of the church at Ephesus and we'll talk more about their responsibility.

Back in Acts 14:23, it says when they had appointed elders for them in every church. And there is discussion on this and I mention it here because some believe a congregation ought to elect their elders or vote on their elders. And they sometimes use this word which can mean to choose or elect by raising the hand. So they say, these elders would have been picked by the congregation voting, so therefore that's the way it ought to be done in what we call a congregational system. But you have to be careful by going on the derivation of words because we want to look and see how it is used. The word can just mean to appoint, to install.

Come back to Acts 10. You have the same basic word used here where we are in the context, God raised Him, Christ, up on the third day, granted that he become visible, not to all the people but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God. So it's the same basic word we have over in Acts 14, who were appointed beforehand by God. It's the same word really with a preposition on it, before. But God didn't appoint them by having them raise their hand, He did it. They were appointed beforehand by God. He had chosen them early. So you see it's used just in the context of Acts to appoint, to install. This was a sovereign action of God prior to the actual event. God had chosen them and appointed them for this. So I don't think there is anything resolved. The issue is not how they are put into the position, the issue in the New Testament in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 is that they must be men who meet the qualifications God has set down. Otherwise you get into a battle and feel I have to change a church that is that kind of congregational, but the elders are given responsibility for the oversight of leadership, and that's why they have to be mature and godly men because the congregation should be protected.

Interestingly, in light of what Paul will say in Acts 20 about the responsibility of elders to shepherd the flock and to protect them from false teachers and false teaching, he doesn't mention the elders in his address to the churches at Galatia, in his letter there. You would think he might have selected them out for particular rebuke, but perhaps the corruption is broad enough that he just deals with it in the churches.

Nonetheless, the leadership is appointed for the church and so they have a certain organization so that the next thing he does back in Acts 14. 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. So this third thing, commendation. He turns them over to the Lord. You know, a good reminder. These people have truly come to believe in Jesus Christ, they have been taught the Word of God, at least what is necessary for them to have a foundation to build on and grow on. Now godly leadership has been appointed for them. Paul and Barnabas have no problem turning them over to the Lord. There are going to be problems that come with that. The letter to the Galatian churches is an example of that. Paul never takes responsibility, well we should have stayed longer, we shouldn't have left you so soon. None of that. The responsibility is there. That doesn't mean we abandon new believers, but Paul is comfortable commending them to the Lord in whom they have believed. He is comfortable leaving them in the hands of the Lord. And they'll have to grow. And when problems come he'll write a letter, he doesn't have any problem in writing letters to churches he establishes and having people who represent him go back and help resolve situations, as he does with Timothy and Titus. But basically we see that believers are expected to grow and grow properly. We can't blame others if we as a church don't grow and mature and develop as God would have us do. We are responsible. We have believed in Jesus Christ, we have experienced His saving grace, we have the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. There is no excuse for any of us getting led astray from the purity of devotion to Christ and His truth. That's encouraging. How am I going to get along and grow? Well according to the pattern that God has set down in His Word, there ought to be firm rebukes when people get off track. We say, well, I think I can empathize with them and sympathize a little bit. I can see how they could get off track. Paul could never see it. His letter to the Galatians is a brutal letter. I mean, there is not even any introductory greetings for that letter, let's get right into this. I am amazed that you are so soon deserting Christ so you can chase after another gospel. No excuse for that. Then he pronounces anathema. Even if it's an angel from heaven that is teaching such a thing, he is cursed to hell. That is negative, but that's an encouragement. What God has provided for me in Christ, everything necessary for life and godliness, I can have the confidence and assurance I can grow in Him. Not on my own, because He brought together a church and its leadership. And it should stay on track. So they are commended to the Lord. They are in good hands.

Verse 24, they pass through Pisidia, came into Pamphylia where he had spoken the Word in Perga. Went down to Attalia. They sailed to Antioch. So you can see they have come back down to Perga and Attalia is right there. And they catch a ship, they don't come back to Cyprus which they went through previously, but then they sailed back to Antioch. And they had ministry along the way because we are told they spoke the Word in Perga. What happened there we don't know. From there they sailed to Antioch from which they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had accomplished. They are back to report home with the church at Antioch that had received instruction from the Lord. Back in Acts 13:2, when they were ministering, the prophets and teachers, to the Lord the Holy Spirit said, set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work that I have called them to. So they prayed and fasted together, laid their hands on them and sent them away. Now they are back and it's the church from which they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled, accomplished.

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. They spent a long time with the disciples. So a summary in going over what God had done on this trip. And you can be sure the church at Antioch was amazed and thrilled and blessed to hear the report of this ministry. And now there is not only a Gentile church established at Antioch, but there are churches in the Gentile world over here in Asia Minor, the region of Galatia that are established. And we are reminded of the grace of God at work. They had been commended, verse 26, to the grace of God with that work and now they are reporting all the things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.

You know we sometimes study the sovereignty of God and in that study we develop a narrow focus and we have failed to appreciate how it just permeates the whole of Scripture. It's God's sovereign work that happened here, it's what God had done with them, it's how God had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. What we're talking about is God's work in the world in these days. That's what Paul is reporting on and how He had used them.

Come back to Acts 2 and we'll conclude here. The sovereignty of God. Verse 47, and here we are on the day of the founding of the church and we find believers as we summarize what had taken place. And in the following days they're meeting in the temple, they are going from house to house, they are eating together, they have gladness and sincerity of heart. Verse 47, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. The very beginning of the church here. That's not where God's sovereignty begins but as we talk about the work and ministry of the church, it's God was adding to their number.

Come over to Acts 4, as Peter is preaching here and ministering. And the disciples have gotten together as a result of the ministry that Peter and John have had. Verse 28, as they are talking about what God had done in Christ, even these unbelieving ones responsible for the crucifixion of Christ—Herod, Pontius Pilate, the Gentiles, the people of Israel—what do they do? They did whatever your hand and your purpose predetermined to occur. And all that's going on, these being used so mightily of the Lord, they never lose sight of the fact that this is what God determined, He had appointed to happen. He is sovereign in this. Christ, the Messiah of Israel was crucified and Herod was involved, and Pilate was involved, and the Gentiles were involved, and the Jews were involved. But it's God's sovereign plan being carried out.

Over in Acts 9, when God has called Saul to the ministry He has for him and He tells Ananias in verse 15. But the Lord said to him, go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine. That's foundational to it all. You see God is sovereign in it. God just takes hold of him on the Damascus Road and smacks him down and strikes him blind. And he wasn't a seeker at all. And what does God say? He is a chosen instrument of Mine. Who is sovereign in this? To bear My name before Gentiles, kings, the sons of Israel. And I'll show him how much he must suffer for My sake. Even the sufferings that Paul is going through, part of the plan of God because he is a chosen instrument. Everything is under the sovereign control of God.

Acts 11, two more verses. Verse 18, after Peter reports to the leadership at Jerusalem about the conversion of Gentiles at the house of Cornelius. Verse 18, when they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God saying, well, then, note this, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life. It's not Peter was so effective in the way he handled it. All he did was give out the simple, clear, pure gospel. God has granted to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life. Then over to Acts 13:48, this is part of the first missionary journey we just looked at. When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the Word of the Lord. Now note this, as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

We never want to lost sight in our ministry as a church that it's God's sovereign work that is being done. We are to be instruments in His hands, we are to be carrying out His will. We are not here to be trying to figure out and devise clever plans to manipulate people. No, we are here to be a truth center, the pillar and support of the truth, a center for giving out the gospel of Jesus Christ to make Him known. And we can do that with confidence. Well if I do it, I get persecuted; if I do it, I stir up trouble. Well, thank the Lord that you are privileged to be identified with Him and suffer for Him. And God takes the Word and does as He will. He has blessed us as a church. Look around, gathered believers together that we might serve Him. He is an awesome all powerful God.

It is significant that the end of this first missionary journey ends with that reminder of the sovereign action of God in bringing men and women to know His Son.

Let's pray together. Thank you, Lord, for your work of grace. Thank you that the gospel and your plan established in eternity to bring the wonder of your salvation to lost, sinful human beings. Not just Israel, but in the marvelous grace that you have bestowed on this sinful world, the gospel was carried to the Gentile world. And Lord, we have been blessed as Gentiles to be the recipients of that gospel. Lord, we live in amazing days, the days of salvation primarily for the Gentile world. We thank you for every Jew that is saved, but Lord we would recognize these are days of opportunity in special ways for Gentiles. And may we rejoice to be instruments that you use in carrying this message of salvation to those we have contact with. You are the sovereign God, we are comfortable and secure as we rest in your perfect plan for us, our church, and for what you are doing in the world. We commit ourselves to you. In Christ's name, amen.