The Reporter   
 Volume 46 # 26,  --  June 30, 2006

 

The Missionary Journeys Begin
– Acts Thirteen –

 

   Acts chapter thirteen begins with a time of fasting and prayer in Antioch. There is power in prayer. The Holy Spirit directed the church to appoint Barnabas and Saul to do the work for which He had chosen them. They were appointed to this work with prayer, fasting and the laying on of hands.

 

   As their missionary work began Barnabas and Saul preached the gospel in Cyprus. There they meet a Jewish false prophet named Elymas. Sergius Paulus was a good man that wanted to hear God's message. Elymas tried to keep the governor from having faith in Christ. Saul, who is better known as Paul dealt with this false teacher. Elymas was made blind as punishment for his evil deeds. When Sergius Paulus saw what had happened, he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord and he became a Christian. 

 

   Paul and the others left Paphos and sailed to Perga in Pamphylia. Here John Mark left them and went back to Jerusalem. This would later cause very difficult problems between Barnabas and Paul. In Antioch of Pisidia Paul preached a sermon very much like the one preached by Stephen that led to his stoning. He proved that Jesus was the fulfillment  of all Hebrew history. This sermon was followed by another Jewish persecution. This persecution caused Paul and Barnabas to departure for the city of Iconium.

 

   The mission of Paul and Barnabas – Acts 13:1-3: Antioch in Syria was located about 300 miles north of Jerusalem, and 16 miles from the Mediterranean Sea. It became the starting place for Paul's missionary journeys. At the conclusion of each journey Paul and his companions returned to Antioch to report to the church concerning the work they had done. There were several strong prophets and teachers of the gospel in the church at Antioch.

 

   Barnabas and Saul were to be separated for a special work that the Lord had called them to. Their great missionary journeys would change the face of Christianity forever. There would now be no doubt that the gospel is for all. As a gesture of approval the brethren laid their hands on these missionaries and prayed for them. Paul became the apostle to the Gentiles.

 

   Elymas, a false prophet, a sorcerer – Acts 13:4-12: John Mark accompanied Paul and Barnabas as they went to Seleucia and then sailed to the island of Cyprus. In Salamis they began to preach God's message in the synagogues of the Jews. In the city of Paphos Barnabas and Saul met a Jewish man named Bar-Jesus. He was a sorcerer. He was also called Elymas. Sergius Paulus was the governor of the island. He was a good man that wanted to hear God's message.

 

   Elymas was very much against Sergius Paulus obeying the gospel. He tried to keep him from having faith in the Christ. Saul, who is better known as Paul, called Elymas a son of the devil. Paul said that he was an enemy of all righteousness and that he was perverting the right ways of the Lord. The Lord punished him by making him blind for a while. Elymas had to try to find someone to lead him by the hand. When Sergius Paulus saw what had happened, he was amazed at this teaching about the Lord. He became one that believed. 

 

  Paul's powerful sermon at Antioch – Acts 13:14-41: At Perga in Pamphylia John Mark left Paul and Barnabas and went back to Jerusalem. Later, this would cause no small trouble between these brethren. We are not told why John Mark deserted them, but what he did was very disturbing to Paul.

 

   At Antioch in Pisidia the missionaries went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day. This gave them an opportunity to preach the gospel. Paul's sermon was very much like that of Stephen in Acts seven. All that he said was designed to cause the people to accept Jesus as the promised Lord and Christ, the Messiah. It was a sermon about God's mercy and long-suffering. He showed that in spite of all that God did man was ungrateful and perverse. 

 

   Paul traced Hebrew history moving from David to the Son of David. This son of David is Jesus, the Savior of the world. The apostles always preached Christ crucified, His burial and resurrection. In his sermon Paul dealt with such things as: (1) Saul reigning over Israel for forty years, (2) David was both the fleshly and spiritually ancestor of the Savior, (3) John preached a baptism of repentance to prepare the way for Christ, (4) the Jews were the first to know of God's promises to Abraham, (5) the Jews condemned Jesus to death, (6) Jesus was buried, (7) God raised Him from the dead, (8) "glad tidings" is another term for the gospel of Christ, (9) Jesus arose from the dead to die no more, (10) Jesus was not left in the grave long enough to see corruption, (11)  Through Jesus and only through Him is the forgiveness of sins preached, (12) The law of Moses could not bring the justification that is possible by belief in Christ, and (13) he warned of the coming Judgment Day.

 

   Paul preached to the Gentiles and is persecuted – Acts 13:42-52: The people were eager to hear more of the preaching done by Paul and Barnabas on the next Sabbath. Many of both the Jews and Gentiles became Christians. They were encouraged to continue in the grace of God. The next Sabbath almost everyone in town came to hear the message about the Lord. This led the Jews to begin a persecution of Paul. They blasphemed and denied the truth that Paul taught. The Jews heard God's word first but they rejected it. By rejecting the gospel the Jews had judged themselves unworthy of everlasting life.

 

   God had sent Paul to be a light of the Gentiles. No person will be either saved or lost by any predestined decree. The Jews had the opportunity of salvation but the rejected the gospel. So now Paul turned to the Gentiles with the word of God. "When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed." How wonderful it must have been when the message about the Lord spread all over that region.

 

   The Jewish leaders started making trouble and drove Paul and Barnabas out of their city. Paul and Barnabas shook the dust from that place off their feet and went to the city of Iconium.  Notwithstanding the op­position of the Jews the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost. The Lord's followers are happy in His service.

 

   To begin your Christian life hear the gospel (Romans 10:17), believe in Jesus (John 8:24), repent of your sins (Luke 13:3), confess Jesus as Lord, (Romans 10:9-10) and be baptized into Christ. "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Galatians 3:26-27) As you grow in Christ and cleave in total faithfulness to the precious Savior and to His truth you will be filled with joy.                            

             - - - - Charles Box

News & Notes

 

1. Prayer List: Stabler Hospital: Gene Buck. In Need Of Prayers: Lacey Barr, Malachi Beauchamp, Nikki Bennett, Emily Cain, Gail Deberry (surgery), Ethel Gafford, Bobby Godwin (short stay in hospital), Roy Goodwin, Ramona Gravely, Ron Green, Jimmy Hobbie, Frank Johnson, Mary Lawrence, Evelyn Lewis, Joyce Massey, Janice Mullins, Mary Powell, Sybrina Reynolds and L.D. Sessions. Crowne Health Care: Laura Ellis, Kathy Johnson, Myrtle Perdue, Bertha Phelps, and Iva Lou Wright. Homewood Greenville: Marie Walton. Pine Needle: Mildred Johnson. Georgiana Nursing Facility: Wilmer Howell. Shut-Ins: Jean Hayes, and Mary Lou Phelps.

 

2. Please Pray For: (a) Alan Jackson as he serves in Iraq. (SPC Nathan A. Jackson, B-BTRY 1/117th FA, APO AE09378, 3rd PLT –  armydad_2006@yahoo.com) (b) Jason Godwin will go to Iraq soon. 

 

3. Special Need For Prayer: Brenda & Willie Herring are expecting triplets. Brenda is facing several weeks of bed rest. Please pray for her and the babies.

 

4. Birthdays: Celebrating birthdays this week are: July 2nd Gary Bozeman, July 3rd Debbie Jean Acree and Hunter Owens, July 5th Lorene Beverly, July 6th Dennis Phillips, July 7th Wyatt Fullington, and July 8th Cheryl Pierce.

 

5. Thank You: Dear Church Family, Thank you for your cards, gifts, food and most of all your prayers during my surgery and recovery time. It’s a special blessing to belong in a family such as our church family. In Christian Love, L.D. Sessions

 

6. Bible Award: In a recent session at Camp Wiregrass Jamey Thomas received the highest achievement Bible Award. We are proud of you Jamey!

 

7. Area Events: (a) July 2-5 – Gospel Meeting – Gateway Church of Christ – Richard Sport – 7:30 p.m. (b) July 7th – Singing – Georgia Road Church of Christ – 7:00 p.m. (c) July 9-12 – Gospel Meeting – Hickory Street Church of Christ – G.R. Roberts – Sunday 9:45 Bible Class, 11:00 Worship, 2:00 Singing & 3:00 Worship (Dunbar Center) weeknights 7:00 at Hickory Street building. (d) July 9-14 – Backwoods Christian Camp. (e) July 16-19 – Gospel Meeting – County Line Church of Christ – Jason Hilburn (f) September 25-27 – Spiritual Enrichment Forum at Embassy Suites Hotel – Southern Christian University

 

8. Please Pre-Register: We anticipate a great week at Backwoods Christian Camp. The dates are July 9th – 14th. Our theme for the week is “Learning to Lean on Jesus”. We are expecting a tremendous number of people, so all groups and individuals are requested to pre-register. If you need registration forms, please contact Walnut Street Church of Christ, P.O. Box 551, Greenville, AL 36037 or call 334-382-3001.

 

6. Vacation Bible School: Vacation Bible School at the Walnut Street Church of Christ will be July 16th-20th Theme: King of Kings. Sunday – David, Most Courageous King – Learn about the godly qualities that made David the most courageous king of the Old Testament. Monday – Solomon, Wisest King – Learn about Solomon’s sincere desire to be a good king, and how he pleased God by praying for wisdom. Tuesday - Hezekiah, Most Loyal King – Learn how Hezekiah pleased God with his humility and loyalty. Wednesday – Nebuchadnezzar, Mightiest King – Learn how Nebuchadnezzar told all the people, nations, and languages in his mighty empire about the greatness of God.  Thursday – Jesus Christ – Kings of Kings – Learn how Jesus Christ, our King of Kings, brought us the Gospel and gave His life for us. There will be class for all ages including adults. Time: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

 

5. Position Available At Childhaven: House parents needed to serve boys ages 14-18. Must be team oriented and have a love of children. Contact Jim Wright, Executive Director, j.wright@childhaven.com, P.O. Box 2070, Cullman, Alabama 35056 or 256-734-6720.

 

9. Dishes In The All-Purpose Room: Many dishes have been left in the all-purpose room. Please claim yours now!

 

“I Will Question You, And You Shall Answer Me”

 

   The Older I get, the more I understand that things don’t always go my way. Furthermore, I understand that this is sometimes a good thing, for God always knows what is best for me. People often complain about things. They question God, and even blame Him for some of life’s problems. Job was a man met with many problems. One of the greatest of which was his choice of companions, who did more discouraging than anything else. In the midst of Job’s trouble, God appeared in a great whirlwind and said, “Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me” (Job 38:3). All of us would do well to compare our problems with Job’s, and then listen to some of the questions that God asked him to put him in his place.

 

   After Job questioned God, the first question God asked him was, “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?” (Job 38:4). Can you imagine walking along, questioning to yourself about why this or that happened, and suddenly God appears and clarifies things. As we live here on earth, it can be too easy to forget our place. God, the creator and sustainer, is above us in every way, and He knows what is best.

 

   God continued, “Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death?” (Job 38:17). Nothing grieves us more than to lose a loved one to death. Perhaps everyone questions why they must feel such woe, but who are we to interrogate God? He has seen the very “gates of death,” and He knows what is best.

 

   God concluded, “Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? He who rebukes God, let him answer it” (Job 40:2). So many things in this life happen without our comprehension. Perhaps one of the most difficult thing for us as “intelligent” beings is to accept that we do not possess all the answers. It is not wrong to wonder why troubles come, nor is it wrong to ask God to help us through them…in fact, we have been instructed to do so. But we should be aware that God is God and we are not. In times of doubt and questioning, we might do well to do as Job did and lay our hands over our mouths, and trust in the God of heaven (Job 40:4).

- - - - Darrell Powell

 

It is strange that people criticize other for things they do themselves.

 

Don’t just own a Bible; read it!

 

Walnut Street Church of Christ

P.O. Box 551

Greenville, Alabama 36037-0551

(334-382-3001)