COMMITTED TO FULFILL THE GREAT COMMISSION OF THE LORD
JESUS BY PAUL EVEN FACING THREAT AND GREAT PERSECUTION IN HIS LIFE.
Acts 11:19-26 [19]Now they which were scattered
abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as
Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews
only.
[20]And some of them were men of
Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the
Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.
[21]And the hand of the Lord was
with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
[22]Then tidings of these things
came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth
Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
[23]Who, when he came, and had
seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of
heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
[24]For he was a good man, and
full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
[25]Then departed Barnabas to
Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
[26]And when he had found him, he
brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled
themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were
called Christians first in Antioch.
1. PAUL DENY HIMSELF AND SERVE THE LORD WITH HUMBLENESS
AND WITH MANY TEARS.
(Acts 20:19) Serving the Lord with all humility
of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in
wait of the Jews:
a. Paul who was committed to
fullfil the great commission of the Lord Jesus Christ. Humbled himself and
serve the Lord with humility of mind and with many tears.
b. Tears in committed to fulfill the great commission of the Lord Jesus
Christ assured harvest of many precious souls.
(Psalms 126:5-6) [5]They that sow in tears shall
reap in joy.
[6]He that goeth forth and
weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
bringing his sheaves with him.
c. Tears of the soulwinners touch the heart of God and open the heart of
lost sinners.
(Acts 16:14) [14]And a certain woman named
Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard
us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were
spoken of Paul.
2. PAUL DEDICATED TO SHARE THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST WITH
SINCERETY.
(Acts 20:20-22) [20]And how I kept back nothing
that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you
publickly, and from house to house,
[21]Testifying both to the Jews,
and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus
Christ.
a. Paul's sincerity for the salvation of fellow Israelites. He prayed
for the salvation of their souls.
(Romans 10:1) [1]Brethren, my heart's desire and
prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
d. The sincerity of the Warden in the prison leads for the salvation of
his whole family.
(Acts 16:30-33) [30]And brought them out, and
said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
[31]And they said, Believe on the
Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
[32]And they spake unto him the
word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
[33]And he took them the same hour
of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his,
straightway.
e. Jerusalem Church was dedicated and very courageous to share the
gospel of Christ even they were warn to be imprison again and again.
( Acts 5:17-20 ) [17]Then the high priest rose up,
and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were
filled with indignation,
[18]And laid their hands on the
apostles, and put them in the common prison.
[19]But the angel of the Lord by
night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
[20]Go, stand and speak in the
temple to the people all the words of this life.
* ( Acts 5:26-29 ) [26]Then went the captain with the
officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest
they should have been stoned.
[27]And when they had brought
them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
[28]Saying, Did not we straitly
command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled
Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
[29]Then Peter and the other
apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
f. Antioch Church experience the Hands of God in their commitment to
fulfill the great commission of the Lord Jesus Christ.
( Acts 11:21-23 ) [21]And the hand of the Lord was
with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
[22]Then tidings of these things
came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth
Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
[23]Who, when he came, and had
seen the grace of God, was glad,
* The Grace of God experience by the soulwinners of Antioch. Amen!!!
3. PAUL DECIDED TO FACE HIS HIS PERSECUTION WITH COURAGE.
(Acts 20:22-24) [22]And now, behold, I go bound in
the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
[23]Save that the Holy Ghost
witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
[24]But none of these things move
me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course
with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify
the gospel of the grace of God.
a. The soulwinners like who committed to fulfill the great commission of
the Lord Jesus Christ are always ready to face the consequences of his
choice to obey God to fulfill the great
commission of the Lord Jesus Christ.
b. Paul believed God was with him and will protect him. Because what he
is doing is for God's glory and praise.
* (II Corinthians
1:9-10) [9]But we
had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves,
but in God which raiseth the dead:
[10]Who delivered us from so great
a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
c. God is glorified in the sacrifices that Christian are experiencing.
(I Peter 4:13-16) [13]But rejoice, inasmuch as ye
are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed,
ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
[14]If ye be reproached for the
name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon
you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
[15]But let none of you suffer as
a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's
matters.
[16]Yet if any man suffer as a
Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
4. PAUL COMMITTED TO FULFILL THE GREAT COMMISSION WITH
SINCERITY.
(Acts 20:24) But none of these things move me,
neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with
joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the
gospel of the grace of God.
a. Paul was committed to reach the lost at any cost for praying for the
salvation of his fellow Israelites.
(Romans 10:1) [1]Brethren, my heart's desire and
prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
b. Paul chose to be servant of all for the sakes of winning the lost at
any cost.
( ICorinthians
9:19-22) [19]For
though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I
might gain the more.
[20]And unto the Jews I became as
a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the
law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
[21]To them that are without law,
as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,)
that I might gain them that are without law.
[22]To the weak became I as weak,
that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by
all means save some.
c. Paul assured to himself to recieved the crown of rejoicing for being
committed to fulfill the great commission of the Lord Jesus Christ.
(I Thessalonians
2:19-20) [19]For
what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the
presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
[20]For ye are our glory and joy.
5. PAUL CONTINUE TO COMMITTED FOR BEING FRUITFUL WINNING LOSTPEOPLE.
( John 15:16) [16]Ye have not chosen me, but I
have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and
that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my
name, he may give it you.
a. God is glorified in a fruitful life of God's servant.
( John 15:8) Herein is my Father glorified,
that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
b. God design the life of Christian to be fruitful even in old age.
( Psalms 92:12-15 ) [12]The righteous shall flourish
like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
[13]Those that be planted in the
house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.
[14]They shall still bring forth
fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;
[15]To shew that the LORD is
upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
c. God design His Church to be very fruitful.
( Acts 6:4-7 ) [4]But we will give ourselves
continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
[5]And the saying pleased the
whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy
Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and
Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
[6]Whom they set before the
apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
[7]And the word of God increased;
and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great
company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
d. Antioch Church also follow the steps of Jerusalem Church to be
faithful in the ministry of the Lord.
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