The Making of a Missionary

TEXT: Acts 13:1-12

TOPIC: “The Making of a Missionary”

INTRODUCTION:

I.             A DIVINE CALL  (V. 1-4).

A.       The call originates from God (v. 2).

1.       The general call is given to all who have been saved.

a.       (Acts 1:8) "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

b.       (Mark 16:15)  “And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”

2.      The specific call is given to the ones God has shaped for the work.

a.      (Romans 1:1)   “Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God.”

b.      (Acts 9:15)  “But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.”

c.       (Hebrews 5:4)  “And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.”

d.      (Ephesians 3:7)  “I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.”

B.       The call is recognized by Godly leaders within the local church

(v. 1-2a).

1.      (Romans 10:15)  “And how shall they preach, except they be sent?”

C.       The call is confirmed through the open support of the church (v.3).

1.      (Galatians 2:9)  “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.”

D.      The call is obeyed with confidence by the ones called (v.4).

1.       (Acts 13:4) “So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.”

II.             A DEFINITE MISSION (V. 5-12)

A.      The mission is to preach the Word where ever the Lord sends us (v. 5).

1.      (Acts 1:8) "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

2.      (Matthew 28:19)  "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”

3.      (Acts 8:40) “But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.”

B.       The mission is to be carried out even in the face of opposition (v. 6-8).

1.      (Acts 8:4)  “Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.”

2.      (1 Thessalonians 2:2) “ But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict.”

C.       The mission is to be performed in a holy boldness (v. 9- 11).

1.      (Acts 14:3)  “Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace..”

2.      (Acts 4:13)  “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.”

D.      The mission is assured of success by the one who sends us (v.12).

1.      (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)  “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ”

2.       (Matthew 16:18)  “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

CONCLUSION: