Missions Paul

Be true to who you are

Acts 13:8

“ But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.”

Bar-Jesus meaning son of Jesus practiced some sort of supernatural activity that was known in Paphos. He was also just called sorcerer. His work defined who he was.

Who was this man?

Did he create the name Bar-Jesus because he wanted people to think he was a disciple of Jesus, that he was doing greater works than Him?

Did people not see the man but just what he did and so gave him the name of his work?

It is all a bit confusing. Though several commentators think they have found the answer to this complexity.

Sometimes we just have to go with our gut feeling don’t we?

Like Peter, who realised that something wasn’t right with Ananias and Sapphira, Saul now faces his first false prophet and goes with his belief that all is not what it appears to be.

Elymas tried to undo all that Barnabas and Saul had succeeded in sharing their faith with Sergius Paulus.

But something else happened which is not in our daily verse but I want to mention it here as it sits well within the present thought. Elymas wasn’t the only person with a name that had been changed to fit his situation.

Saul decided he would change his name. It was here at Paphos having encountered Bar-Jesus, Elymas, he decided I want to be called ‘small’. He could have chosen to use names that would appear to be great and worthy, but he chose the opposite, probably because that is what he felt, what he perhaps learnt from his encounter with Elymas. That man was a trickster, trying to appear great and who tried to turn Sergius against them.

I can imagine Saul about to move on from Paphos deciding that he had enough with big deceiving men who announce they are son of Jesus, disciples with amazing huge ministries, trying to attract crowds for large sums of money. Today I am going to be different.

It is time for more true disciples of Jesus to be small in the Christian culture of big is best.

My name is Andrew Paul. Andrew means man, masculine, macho. I am not that person. I have never been called Andrew except at a security airport desk. I have tried to be that person but I just look ridiculous. Some want me to be that person to fit their mould of leadership and they are disappointed. My name is Paul. I am small, missions has ruined me. I sit with those who mourn today, with those who have nothing because the deceiver took from their life. I sit with the abused, the leper, the dying. I sit with the persecuted where corruption and cruelty are part of their daily life. I weep often. But as I try to decrease more and more, as I become smaller it is there in that place that I find a very big God and when I do I smile and laugh, for He is good and His love endures forever.

I am trying to be true to who I am. You may worry that you are not what people think you are. That is perfectly okay. The problem comes when you announce you are great but you are not great at all. Don’t do that. But don’t pander the needs of others who always need a guru in their midst. Resist. Be who you are. But come and be small with me, it is great down here in the dirt, God is great!

Sergius Paulus

Acts 13:7

“ who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God.”

The Sergius Paulus would be one of a team of managers who looked after the welfare of the city of Paphos. As soon as they arrive into the city he is sending for the missionaries as he wants to hear the gospel message.

Recently I was able to host a Church Planting Forum, the speakers of which were 3 of our most prolific Church planters in the Islamic, Hindu and Buddhist world. We discussed many things including the man of peace (Luke 10:6).

Sergius Paulus was perhaps the man of peace for Barnabas and Paul. Here is what we discovered at the recent forum and of course there has to be cultural awareness and application for each nation we are in:

• The Person of Peace is the one God has prepared to receive the gospel for the first time into a community. This can be a man or woman who has an influence in the community for example, elder, employer or police officer. They will welcome to you, listen to the evangelist’s message, help with the evangelist’s livelihood and offer hospitality in their home.
• The Person of Peace is found through prayer, good discernment and ministry. The evangelist/missionary will equip this person to be the church planter for their community.
• The Person of Peace who hears the gospel and accepts Jesus Christ as their Saviour will become the focus of attention. The evangelist will focus on this household and will not move around. The person of peace will often make disciples of this household/ family and will often take on the responsibility of reaching their community for Christ. The evangelist will teach the person of peace and their family how to study the word of God.
• The Person of Peace will then look to reach their community and invite people to their home to share the gospel with them. A bible study is then formed, usually with a group of up to 10 people. Emerging leaders are identified and then trained to lead the bible study group and form a ‘house church’

Sergius Paulus was an intelligent, important person in the community. Barnabas and Saul had struck gold.

Who is the influential person in your community? Who is God trying to show you? Are you praying for such an opening? Is this part of the strategy of your discipleship?

Some days nothing much happens

Acts 13:6

“They travelled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus,”

Some days nothing much happens.

They travelled for approximately 100 miles to get to Paphos. They no doubt went through several cities, towns and villages to get there. Maybe they did some gospel work or maybe they just travelled. Whatever happened, it wasn’t that significant that Luke felt he should record it.

Some days nothing much happens.

Today you may do the same thing that you always do on this day. Not every day has to be an awesome day. Even if it is a church service day, it doesn’t have to be miracle day. You cannot force God to do something that is jaw-dropping. There are days of mission when it is just about sitting on a plane, on a bus, in a car, or walking and you are just happy to be going somewhere, you are happy to be alive. You may be going to work today and you will do exactly what you did yesterday.

Some days nothing much happens.

And that is okay.

We all need help!

Acts 13:5

“When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.”

So the mission begins and they begin a strategy that they have used before, first the Jews then the Gentiles. However within these synagogues there were many proselytes, Gentiles who had turned away from their idols and were now seeking the One God, the Jewish God. So their message was easy, this One God can be found through His One and Only Son Jesus Christ.

Alongside them was a family member of Barnabas, his cousin John Mark. He was their helper which probably meant he did everything from meeting basic needs of Barnabas and Saul to even helping with the preaching and teaching load.

Helpers in the ministry are valuable to the mission.

I learnt to play the tenor horn as a child in the Salvation Army and then later in my High School. Throughout those years I played second horn pieces. It often meant I never played the melody but played bits in between which sounded a bit like ‘umpah umpah’. I longed for a tune or often prayed that sickness would hit the first hornist! Those days taught me the importance of the second role. The melody never sounds complete without ‘umpah umpah’. The helper completes the overall sound or picture or indeed the mission.

After only a couple of years into the pastorate of my first church I was compelled by the Spirit to begin to serve another. Many ideas flowed through my mind of what that could mean until one overwhelming thought would not leave me. I was going to offer to help a man who had gone through what could only be described as a valley of the shadow of death. I was going to help him get going again. I remember the day I approached that man who I did not really know that well with a little trepidation of what his reaction would be. So along with pastoring my small church, I became his promoter. I felt it a real honour to do so and I loved that period of time very much.

There is tremendous joy in being a helper. To hold up some ones arms like Aaron and Hur did for Moses when he tired in prayer is a privilege. To see someone blossom and thrive and to know you helped that is an incredible feeling. To know that our real HELPER, the SPIRIT, is helping us being the helper to an individual, to carry the burden a little, to make it easier, well, this is a joy, it really is!

Today I have many helpers, helpers of intercession and of hospitality, helpers who bring joy, helpers who finance the mission, helpers who listen and helpers who speak it straight to me.

And in a beautifully written story of my life, the man I helped 23 years ago is now one of those helpers of my life. Sowing and reaping really works.

If God has called you as a John Mark, thank you, thank you for serving in this way, those you serve are better for having you with them.

If God has given you a John Mark then make sure you look after them!

Where will you go?

Acts 13:4

“The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.”

The Holy Spirit sent Barnabas and Saul out but he didn’t tell them where to go. They decided that they would go to Cyprus. Why did they choose that place?

Maybe because it was simply the birthplace of Barnabas (Acts 4:36). He knew the nation and he knew where the synagogues were. He knew the people, the culture, the language.

More and more I am enjoying seeing missionaries sent out and going to their own cultures. There is still a place for foreign missionaries going to new fields, without this then the work wouldn’t get done for sure. However it can take up to 5 years to master languages and establish oneself whereas the indigenous missionary has a head start.

Cyprus is the third largest Mediterranean island. It is famous in Greek and Roman historical literature. At the time of these 2 apostles it was under Roman government. However there was substantial numbers of Jews who had gone to live there over the years.

It was an obvious choice for Barnabas and Saul to make the 75 mile journey by boat.

Perhaps the obvious should not be ignored. Some do not think themselves a missionary unless they have sailed into the unknown where no man has ever trod. Today, going next door with an act of kindness, showing the love of God, finding ways to share your faith in Jesus, this maybe the journey God is pleased with. The saints of old were carried back to their home-place when they had died for burial, they were always coming home. But perhaps we should consider going home whilst we are alive. Just for a short time perhaps. Maybe we need to try and reach our own before we reach the stranger.

 

So ….I’m in India and the internet is all over the place.

for those who follow my blog daily I am so sorry for sending through to you what seems to be many blogs on the wrong dates and out of sequence.

I am trying to get it sorted!

This is life in Ranaghat!

 

 

Some more thoughts on fasting …

Acts 13:3

“So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.”

 

Fasting strengthens prayer because it helps to focus more clearly on what we are seeking God for. It doesn’t bend his arm it helps to bend our knee.

Fasting makes us more receptive to understand what God is wanting from our life.

Fasting can best express to God the depth of our feelings. Fasting can express the grief and confession of our sin that words cannot.

Fasting is often used in the Bible story to seek protection from enemies or circumstances

Fasting can indicate a new season has begun.

Fasting is a physical expression of humility before God.

Fasting can be used to overcome trials and temptations.

Fasting expresses love and worship to God. It is an act of sheer devotion to God.

FAST

Acts 13:2

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them”

It was during their worship time that the Holy Spirit spoke. But it was also a time of fasting, an activity that we struggle to keep as part of our lifestyle.

I don’t know about you, but there have been times when I’ve fasted and it has been a miserable experience, and the only thing I’ve been is hungry. Not empowered, refreshed, changed, challenged, but just hungry.  And that’s because I hadn’t got to grips with what fasting was actually about.  It’s so much more than just not eating.  God wouldn’t ask us to not eat just for the sake of it, he asked us because he knew the hidden aspects of fasting.

It is essential that when a person decides to fast they recognise why it is that they are doing so. If there is no recognition as to the impact that fasting should have on the individual involved then fasting is merely an empty ritual without results.  It is important to understand that fasting should change the person, not God.

Fasting must be centred on God. It is not a means to get our own way, to somehow manipulate God to do what we want.  If our focus is on the benefits of fasting we have missed the point.

Fasting is not a way to earn favour with God, to impress God or to earn his acceptance, for acceptance is given through the work of Jesus Christ not our works.

God is always longing for us to discover a new level of intimacy with him, and because of this our hearts must be cleansed in order for this to happen.

Fasting will also identify to the ‘faster’ the things in their life that controls them, for example, pride or anger.

We cover up so much of our lives with things, whether that be food, hobbies or any ‘good thing’, it’s not until I give up drinking coffee that I realize how much I live for it. Or give up watching tv for a few days, that I realize how unfulfilled I am.  It amazes me.  When God says that he is enough, he fulfils us.

We are often unaware of being controlled, but fasting brings those things to the forefront, so that they can then be dealt with.

Fasting is a reminder to the Christian that our dependence is on God alone and not on food or the thing we happen to be fasting, that it is God who sustains us. Fasting unto God therefore is feasting – feasting on him and on doing his will. Fasting also helps us to recognise that the nonessentials really are nonessentials.  So often they can take over our lives; fasting helps to maintain balance again.

So don’t look at this verse and think in order to hear God you should fast. Rather in order to worship God you should fast. That is the balance we need. Maybe if that was in place and we didn’t do things for things we would hear more from Him.

Manaen

 

Acts 13:1

“Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.”

Herod the Tetrarch was the ruler who had beheaded John the Baptist and he also was responsible for some of the trials of Jesus. He was not a good man.

Manaen became a disciple of Jesus and then a Church leader at Antioch.

Manaen and this Herod grew up together. They knew each other, maybe as children played together, but then went different ways.

2 boys started the same path but then ended on two different ones.

Why does that happen?

It is not how you started but how you finish and how you finish is based on decisions you make along the way.

 

In 1923 nine of the richest men in America met together in a hotel in Chicago: President of the NY Stock Exchange, the most influential financier on Wall Street, the head of the world’s biggest monopoly, the presidents of America’s biggest steel corporation, electricity company and gas company, a powerful wheat baron, the president of an international bank, and the Secretary of the Interior.

Twenty five years later in 1948 – one of the men was insane, two had just been released from prison, 3 were bankrupt and the remaining 3 had all committed suicide.

It is how you finish that’s important – many don’t finish well.

 

But it could be other people who are to blame. Circumstances that take place in our lives can bring hurt and we make decisions based on these incidents.

 

In a small country church is a novice altar boy serving the priest at Sunday mass accidentally dropped the glass of wine. The priest struck the boy, knocking him to the ground. Standing over the young servant, the angry priest shouted, “Get out and don’t come back.” That boy became Tito, the Communist President of Yugoslavia and great Stalin supporter.

In a city cathedral, a young altar boy serving the bishop at Sunday mass accidentally dropped the glass of wine. With a warm twinkle in his eye, the bishop hugged the young boy to his side and gently whispered, “Someday, you will be a wonderful priest.” That boy grew up to become Archbishop Fulton Sheen, Bishop of New York and the 1st American tv preacher in 1957 – 30 million viewers ‘Life is worth living’.

 

Today life is worth living so let us live like Manaen who chose a better path.

The Person of Peace

Acts 13:7

“ who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God.”

The Sergius Paulus would be one of a team of managers who looked after the welfare of the city of Paphos. As soon as they arrive into the city he is sending for the missionaries as he wants to hear the gospel message.

Recently I was able to host a Church Planting Forum, the speakers of which were 3 of our most prolific Church planters in the Islamic, Hindu and Buddhist world. We discussed many things including the man of peace (Luke 10:6).

Sergius Paulus was perhaps the man of peace for Barnabas and Paul. Here is what we discovered at the recent forum and of course there has to be cultural awareness and application for each nation we are in:

• The Person of Peace is the one God has prepared to receive the gospel for the first time into a community. This can be a man or woman who has an influence in the community for example, elder, employer or police officer. They will welcome to you, listen to the evangelist’s message, help with the evangelist’s livelihood and offer hospitality in their home.
• The Person of Peace is found through prayer, good discernment and ministry. The evangelist/missionary will equip this person to be the church planter for their community.
• The Person of Peace who hears the gospel and accepts Jesus Christ as their Saviour will become the focus of attention. The evangelist will focus on this household and will not move around. The person of peace will often make disciples of this household/ family and will often take on the responsibility of reaching their community for Christ. The evangelist will teach the person of peace and their family how to study the word of God.
• The Person of Peace will then look to reach their community and invite people to their home to share the gospel with them. A bible study is then formed, usually with a group of up to 10 people. Emerging leaders are identified and then trained to lead the bible study group and form a ‘house church’

Sergius Paulus was an intelligent, important person in the community. Barnabas and Saul had struck gold.

Who is the influential person in your community? Who is God trying to show you? Are you praying for such an opening? Is this part of the strategy of your discipleship?