The Calling of the Holy Spirit
Paul the Evangelist • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 1 viewOne of the most fundamental exercises of Christianity is sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with those God has placed in our path. Yet 95% of all Christians have never won a soul. If we don’t learn how to lean into the Spirit and join him in this work of evangelism we are destined to see another generation move farther from God.
Notes
Transcript
“Ninety-five percent of all Christians have never won a soul to Christ. Eighty percent of all Christians do not consistently witness for Christ. Less than two percent are involved in the ministry of evangelism. Seventy-one percent do not give toward the financing of the great Commission.”
Street Level Evangelism. Michael Parrott. p. 9-11.
https://raefchenery.com/2021/04/30/courage-in-evangelism
Modern Day Evangelism
As a core practice of Christianity, sharing the good news of Jesus is essential to reconcile humanity with God. In the past, preachers have used the example of the cure for cancer. They ask, what kind of person would keep the cure for cancer to themselves? Similarly, everyone is born separated from God and must be "born again" to avoid eternal separation from God. The Barna Group conducted a study in February 2019 titled "Almost Half of Practicing Christian Millennials Say Evangelism Is Wrong." The study found that 47% of all millennials believe it is wrong to evangelize. According to the article, this is due to the growing idea of tolerance among people. Millennials believe that disagreement means judgment, and it's offensive to disagree about religions.
As Christians, we understand that life without God is death both now and in the future. If we love people with God's love, we must go into all the world and preach the gospel. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16, ESV) God didn't force people to receive him or bow down to him, but he made a way for people to escape the current danger. Jesus continues in John 3 by saying, "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." (John 3:17, ESV)
Our Theme for the year is “Relational Evangelism.” I want us to get very intentional about winning our family, Friends, and community to Jesus Christ.
Pastor Danny is teaching a discipleship class this semester called “Relational Evangelism.” This is a class we have never offered before. I would encourage you to go to the church center app and sign up for the class.
How man of you can think of someone that you would like to see born again this year? What if the Holy Spirit wants to use you to witness to them.
All the sermon series this year will be based on the Evangelist of the Bible. The new series this morning is Paul the Evangelist.
We’ve been going through the book of Acts focusing on the work of the Holy Spirit through chapters 1 - 12. There is a major shift that happens that this point in the book. Saul also called Paul is going to be sent out by the Holy Spirit to witness to the gentile world. There are three types of people in the Bible: Jews, Gentiles, and the Church made up of both Jews and Gentiles.
As we dive into Acts 13, I want us to focus our attention on the calling of the Holy Spirit.
The General Call
A Specific Call
A Sent out Call
1 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 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.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
The General Call through the Spirit
The General Call through the Spirit
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
I remember as a 9 year old boy witnessing on the playground to my friends and watching them kneel down in my living room and pray to receive Christ.
We are a witness for the Lord when we walk in his ways.
We are a witness for the Lord when we walk in his ways.
We are witnesses for the Lord when we walk in the Spirit.
We are witnesses for the Lord when we walk in the Spirit.
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
The Spirit in you draws people to the Father.
The Spirit in you draws people to the Father.
We bear witness to the truth the Spirit reveals in us.
We bear witness to the truth the Spirit reveals in us.
7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
The Separate Call to the Spirit
The Separate Call to the Spirit
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.”
This is not a calling of profession but of purpose.
This is not a calling of profession but of purpose.
5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
I felt called to pastor people when I was 12.
The Holy Spirit sets apart certain people to do certain things.
The Holy Spirit sets apart certain people to do certain things.
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.
Sent Out by the Holy Spirit
Sent Out by the Holy Spirit
4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them.
The Power to Proclaiming the Word of God
The Power to Proclaiming the Word of God
13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
The Holy Spirit sets the divine appointments.
The Holy Spirit sets the divine appointments.
6 When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. 7 He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.
Spiritual warfare is guaranteed.
Spiritual warfare is guaranteed.
8 But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.
The Spirit in us is great than the spirit of anti-chirst.
The Spirit in us is great than the spirit of anti-chirst.
9 But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.