MESSAGE

OF

MISSIONS

MISSIONARIES ARE CALLED Acts 26:15-19 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutes. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast see, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:	REVIEW Paul thought Jesus was buried in the earth, and, though stolen out of his own sepulcher, yet laid in some other. All the Jews were taught to say so, and therefore he is amazed to hear him speak from heaven, to see him surrounded with all this glory. This convinces Paul that the doctrines of Jesus were divine and heavenly, and not to be opposed, but to be cordially embraced: and this is enough to make him a Christian immediately. Christ appeared to Paul that he might appear for Christ before men. Christ often appeared to Paul and still taught him. Great sufferings are reconcilable to the promise of the deliverance of God’s people. Sometimes God delivers them into the hands of their persecutors that he may have the honour of delivering them out of their hands. The special commission given Paul to go among the Gentiles; it was some years after Paul’s conversion before he was sent to the Gentiles. There was a great work to be done among the Gentiles, and Paul must be instrumental in doing it. A world what sits in darkness must be enlightened. God shall open their eyes, which before were shut against the light, and they shall be willing to understand. Christ opens the heart by opening the eyes, does not lead men blindfold, but gives them to see their own way. Paul is sent not only to open their eyes for the present, but to keep them open, to turn them from darkness to light, that is, from following false and blind guides, to follow a divine revelation of unquestionable certainty and truth. This was turning them from darkness to light, from the ways of darkness to those on which the light shines. The great design of the gospel is to rectify. The mistakes of those who are in error, that things may be set and seen in the true light. A world that lies in wickedness must be reformed; it is not enough for them to have their eyes opened, they must have their hearts renewed. Satan rules by the power of the darkness, and God by the convincing evidence of light. Sinners are under the power of Satan; converting grace turns them from under the dominion of Satan, and brings them into subjection to God When gracious dispositions are strong in the soul (as corrupt and sinful dispositions had been), it is then turned from the power of Satan unto God. There is a great happiness designed for the Gentiles by this work—that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among those who are sanctified; they are turned from the slavery of Satan to the service of God. That they may be restored to his favour, which by sin they have forfeited: That they may receive forgiveness of sins. Heaven is an inheritance; it descends to all the children of God. We are sanctified and saved by faith in Christ.
Galatians 2:6-10 But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man’s person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me: But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles) And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.	REVIEW Though Paul conversed with the other apostles, yet he did not receive any addition to his knowledge or authority from them, v. 6. That they were apostles first was no prejudice to his being equally an apostle with them. They told him nothing but what he before knew by revelation, nor could they except against doctrine which he communicated to them. The other apostles were fully convinced of his divine mission and authority, and accordingly acknowledged him as their fellow-apostle, v. 7-10. An thus this meeting ended in an entire harmony and agreement; they approved both Paul’s doctrine and conduct, and had nothing further to add, only that they would remember the poor, which of his own accord he was very forward to do., Herein Paul has given us an excellent pattern of Christian charity and we should by no means confine it to those who are just of the same sentiments with us, but be ready to extend it to all whom we have reason to look upon as the disciples of Christ.
MISSIONARIES ARE COMMISSIONED Acts 13:1-3 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.	REVIEW Here is the solemn ordination of Barnabas and Saul to the great work of spreading the gospel among the nations. Antioch was a great city, and the Christians there were many; it was therefore requisite they should have many teachers. Barnabas is the first named and Saul last, but afterwards the last became first. Three others are mentions. Simeon for distinction-sake was called Niger, Simon the Black; Lucius of Cyrene; Manaen, a person of some quality, as it should seem, for he was brought up with Herod the tetrarch, was his comrade and intimate, which gave him a fair prospect of preferment at court, and yet for Christ’s sake he quitted all the hopes of it. It is better to be a fellow-sufferer with a saint than fellow-persecutor with a tetrarch. (v. 2) They ministered to the Lord, and fasted. Diligent faithful teachers do truly minister unto the Lord. Those that instruct Christians serve Christ. Ministering to the Lord, in one way or other, ought to be the stated business of churches and their teachers. Religious fasting is of use in our ministering to the Lord. (The Christian radio station encouraged fasting around 5-6:00 p.m. on one day; so your family could eat dinner, until about 5-6:00 p.m. the next day. The family could have dinner again, and if you were the cook—no one would know. You would eat the dinner meal on both days and no food in between. However, drinking water and fruit juices was acceptable. Drinking pop was not encouraged. Every time you became hungry-pray.) The orders were given by the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost said: Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. He does not specify the work, but refers to a former call of which they themselves knew the meaning. The matter was settled between them a Jerusalem. Christ’s ministers are separated to him ad to the Holy Ghost. They are to be employed in Christ’s work and under the Spirit’s guidance. All that are separated to Christ as his ministers are separated to work; Christ keeps no servants to be idle. They are separated to take pains, not to take state. The work of Christ’s ministers is work which all Christ’s ministers hitherto have been called to. When they had fasted and prayed, laid their hands on Barnabas and Saul, and sent them away (v. 3) They prayed for them when good men are going forth about good work, they ought to be solemnly and particularly prayed for. They joined fasting with their prayers, as they did in their other ministrations. They laid their hands on them. They gave them their discharge from the present service, in the church of Antioch, acknowledging that they went off not only fairly and with consent, but honorably and with a good report. They implored a blessing upon them in their present undertaking, begged that God would be with them, and give them success. They did not envy Barnabas and Saul the honour to which they were preferred, and cheerfully committed it to them, and they sent them away with all expedition, out of a concern for those countries where they were to break up fallow ground.
MISSIONARIES ARE CONNECTED Acts 14:26-27 And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled. And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.	REVIEW How they at length came back to Antioch in Syria, whence they had been sent forth. From Attalia they came by sea to Antioch, v. 26. Why they came thither: because thence they had been recommended to the grace of God. The brethren have recommended them to the grace of God, for the work which they fulfilled; they thought they owed them an account of it that they might help them by their praises, as they had been helped by their prayers. They gathered the church together v.27. They gave them an account of two things: (1) Of the tokens they had had of the divine presence with them in their labours: They rehearsed all that God had done with them. They did not tell what they had done, but what God had done. For it is he that not only worketh in us both to will and to do, but then worketh in us to make what we do successful. God’s grace can do anything without ministers’ preaching; but minister’s preaching can do nothing without God’s grace. (2) Of the fruit of their labours among the heathen. They told how God had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. There is no entering into the kingdom of Christ but by the door of faith. It is God that opens the door of faith. We have reason to be thankful that God has opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. Thus the gospel was spread, and it shone more and more, and none was able to shut this door which God had opened. God calls us as Christians and churches to be involved in missions. Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came and spoke to them saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.