Acts: Week 11: Separated and Sent

Sermon Title: Separated & Sent

Scripture: Acts 13: 1- 52

The Big Idea: Silence, in the face of evil, is itself evil. Not to speak, is to speak. Not to act, is to act. God will not hold us guiltless.

  1. We need to Worship the Lord
    Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called the black man), Lucias (from Cyrene) Manean (the childhood friend of King Antipas), and Saul. One day as these men were worshiping the Lord, and fasting … Acts 13:1- 2a NLT

    • Pray, worship, fast: Pursue a deeper relationship with The Lord.
    • The one concern of the devil is to keep us from prayer. Our enemy fears nothing from a prayerless church. The devil laughs at our work, at our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray.
    • Prayer turns ordinary people into people of power. It brings fire, it brings rain, it brings life, it brings God into the situation. There is no power like heartfelt, fervent, faith filled prayer.
    • Clarity comes through worship. We see more clearly God, ourselves and the situation.
  2. We need to be Separated and Sent
    The Holy Spirit said, “Separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. So being sent out by The Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. Acts 13:2b – 4 NKJV

    • We need times of separation with God. Saul, who became Paul after his conversion, spent 3 years in Arabia in the school of the Holy Spirit. Reference Acts 9-11; Galatians 1:17- 20
    • The Holy Spirit will then give us direction.

We all ask: “What is God’s will for my life?”

  • But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be My witnesses, telling people about Me everywhere – in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8 NLT
  • Serve God where you are, and do what The Word says to do and not do. God says Go!
  • Then The Holy Spirit will give you specific direction.

3. We need to preach The Word
There in the town of Salamis, they went to the Jewish synagogues and preached the Word of God… Acts 13:5

We see everywhere Paul and Barnabas went they Preached the Word!

The Nature of the Word of God
1. God spoke through prophets
2. God spoke through New Testament apostles
3. The Scriptures both The Old and New Testaments are God’s written record.
4. The preaching of The Word (although not on the same level of authority as Scripture).
5. Jesus is The Living Word.

The Power of the Word
1. Power to maintain creation in place
2. Power to give, reveal, and communicate new life
3. Power to release grace
4. Power to judge us
5. The Word of God is “the Sword of the Spirit”

How Should We Respond to God’s Word?

Action Step:
1. Hear and Receive God’s Word
2. Honor God’s Word
3. Love God’s Word
4. Allow it to be our joy
5. Accept what it says
6. Trust God’s Word
7. Hope in its promises
8. Apply God’s Word to our lives

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