Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev19980301.htm

ACTS: THE LOCAL CHURCH AS GOD'S AGENCY FOR DISCIPLING MEN
Part XXXI: Handling The CONTRASTING Effects Of The Proclamation Of God's Truth
(Acts 13:38-52)
  1. Introduction
    1. When one decides to stand for the truth, or promote the truth, the response is rarely one of indifference, but a decisive consent or even dissent in the hearer, and that with definitely contrasting attitude changes.
    2. The fact that not everybody responds positively to the promotion of God's truth can be a discouragement to the Christian who promotes that truth. In light of this fact, we have the testimony of Acts 13:38-52 as a directive for those seeking to live and teach God's truths to others.
  2. Handling The CONTRASTING Effects Of The Proclamation Of God's Truth, Acts 13:38-52.
    1. When the Apostle Paul preached the Gospel of Christ at the Antioch of Pisidia synagogue, he clearly laid out the challenge of divine blessing or its lack depending upon the response of his hearers, Acts 13:38-41.
    2. At first, this sermon aroused great interest, and the next Sabbath nearly the entire town was gathered to hear Paul preach the Gospel again, Acts 13:44.
    3. However, jealous at the big turnout from Paul's former sermon, some of the regular Jewish synagogue attenders slandered and contradicted the teaching Paul had brought in his former sermon, Acts 13:45.
    4. From this point onwards, we see a contrasting shift in attitude and response to Paul's message and ministry:
      1. On the one hand, the unbelieving Jews turned very negative toward Paul and Barnabas:
        1. At first, the unbelieving Jews in the synagogue merely contradicted and slandered Paul's message, 45.
        2. However, when Paul said he would go to the Gentiles instead of the Jews due to their rejection, they stirred up the city officials to persecute and expel Paul and Barnabas from the region, Acts 13:46, 50.
      2. On the other hand, the believing Jews, Gentile proselytes and Gentiles attending responded very positively in every way in contrast to these unbelievers:
        1. Upon first hearing the Gospel, they desired that Paul tell it to them again, Acts 13:42.
        2. They closely followed Paul and Barnabas, sensing a spiritual attachment to them, Acts 13:43b.
        3. When Paul announced that he was turning to the Gentiles as unbelieving Jews had rejected His word, these Gentiles were glad and believed the Gospel for salvation, Acts 13:47-48.
        4. These new converts published the Gospel throughout the whole region around Antioch of Pisidia, sharing it with others instead of seeking to suppress its message as had the unb elievers, Acts 13:49.
        5. Instead of being filled with hate, the new converts were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit, 13:52.
    5. Accordingly, Paul and Barnabas accepted this contrasting effect of their preaching on their hearers as the inevitable battle of good and evil in the spiritual realm, and refused to feel guilty over its existence:
      1. When slandered, Paul and Barnabas claimed their detractors were responsible for their attitudes, 46a,b.
      2. Accordingly, Paul and Barnabas turned to the Gentiles with the Gospel, Acts 13:46c. They knew from Isaiah 49:6 that God wanted the Gentiles to hear about Christ, and thus went with that opening, 13:47.
      3. When the unbelievers achieved their expulsion from their region, Paul and Barnabas testified of their own release from responsibility for the expulsion, and left for o ther open mission fields, Acts 13:50-51:
        1. When expelled by the unbelievers, Paul and Barnabas shook off the dust from their feet, Acts 13:51a.
        2. According to Christ's teaching on this practice in Luke 9:5; 10:11, this action revealed a separation of fellowship and release of responsibility by the missionaries toward those who rejected the truth.
        3. Having abandoned efforts to reach these fierce opponents, Paul and Barnabas simply went off in search of other potential recipients of the Gospel in the city of Iconium, Acts 13:51b.
Lesson: (1) God's proclaimed truth produces very CONTRASTING results in its hearers: (a) those who reject it turn slanderous, bitter, spiteful and reject the godly where (b) those who accept it attach themselves in love to the truth-bear ers, becoming supportive, evangelistic and full of joy and God's Spirit. (2) Consequently, (a) God does not want the bearer of His truth to feel that he is to BLAME for NEGATIVE resistance to the proclamation, but realize that such a REACTION rises from sp iritual conflict, not from the truthbearer himself. (b) Armed with this reality, the truthbearer should simply keep looking for openings for the truth with other parties who may respond positively.