What Professors of The Faith Need

Intro: Saw pictures of conversion, in Sergio Paulus, saw witnessing in action how to do, and with whom in your life - new way to look at people who lost in the church lost in the world - God is making them His people, but now we see what a community of new professees - how they start to live… discipleship is always embodied in a community - not like yoga techniques… more like family…

WHole book of Acts about God fulfililng promise of neew life, forgivenes,s redemtion in Jesus for the world, and of the story of the apostles struggling and and through suffering finding vicotry , at end of this chapter f a tale of three cities, they repoet on having fulfilled the task appointed… agenda fo every church to go into all the world - local area of Cyprus for Barn and Saul’s Tarsus - shw free grace in Jesus is the good news…

Asia Minor, now Iconium, 90 miles East of Antioch, never been there. And reception among Jewish part of population, also Gentilles.

when someone stumbles on new way of looking at the world, radical new truth , rethink everything ie. optical illusion - stare and wham o there it is… ie. old lady, young lady.

when someone stumbles on new way of looking at the world, radical new truth , rethink everything ie. optical illusion - stare and wham o there it is…

Little bit what the Holy Spirit does in enabling us to see Jesus, the Son of God! Undertand the grace and vicotry at the Cross. To realize heavenly kingdom breaking into this world!

But may doubt, hard to swim up stream, dare to be different ; even in churches difference between Christianese, churchy club, vs. follwing the wayo f Christ together.

Acts 14:2 ESV

But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.

Why … Satan deceives this world, Until we have faith in jeuss, think can manage life and death without God’s Saviour, frtom the beginning with Adama and Eve unitl now that’s satan’s main business:

2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

But not just Satan. My bent human nature, says, I can live without God , inwardly heart of sin is to say I am Lord, and God and Master of my own fate, I am self-sufficient - and like drinking a little bit of poison at a time, don’t detect it - cause everyone else -toxic levels effecting way live … brings death - POISONED their minds against whom = brethren - people who really walk not churchy not worldly, but in union with Christ…

Think through the week who are your brethren - some family, some one or two friends, for all of us as Xns shoudl be - but soon out on your own - yes to be in the world - light and witness - but not of the world ; really world lives by karma - get what you deserve, ; poison -

But why did Paul and his company remain a long time (probably a year) at Iconium - po.lution was great, enviromental clean up had to be great..

First thing you need in professing your faith,

A. Witness to the Word of Grace environmental clean up - people who will speak boldly for the Lord - from this pulpit, have elders, you have friends around camp fire youth leaders… But through them what does our text say happened, and ask yourself do I have any sense of this happening to me?

Acts 14:3 ESV

So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

It is the word of grace that’s what they share: People of all religions and all times are used to thinking about coming to God with the burden of merit. Coming to God with some qualification on their part - Imagine it job interview with God - impress him with our resume, drees nicely, feeling God will be obligated to give us the job and the reward...

But the Christian message is that the gospel requires no qualifications of your part.

Romans 3:20 ESV

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

This is what should rise to the surface of your life and mine again and again, what we witness too: not legalism, … but

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Local restaurant chalk paint - favourite song lyric. Grace is an idea that changed the world! #1 reality, not an idea - new relationship -change all your relationships. Grace!

This is what Paul and Barnabas shared boldly with an urgency… BUT Who is the Who, who bears witness to the Word of Grace… dare you here, read this word sit under preaching with a believing heart, you will feel its a LIVING WORD like no other.. felt it in Jesus - never spake like this man before…

I can give you all sorts of logical, historical, even experiential reasons to believe, … gone through those… But as one of our confessions put it I believe this most of all, because “we believe without a doubt all things contained in them - not so much because the church receives and apporves them as such, but above all because the Holy Spirit testifies in our heats that they are from God, and also because they prove themselves to be from God.

In the days of the apostolic church - not yet written, eye witness, prohetic testimony of those around jesus - delegated 12 apostles… granted from time to time signs and wonders - necessary to authenticate …

Acts 14:3 NIV84

So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders.

Professee’ God deemed need signs and wonders then. But today for you to keep on in your profession, you need THE WORD OF GRACE confirmed too… you don’t need signs and wonders any more - God has given you a word may more secure (Peter)

What happens if you don’t get this ongoing confirmation from the Holy Spirit - just a dead book, huamn idea,s, who knows … and if these truths - about forgiveness about set free from sin, about heaven and hell, about most amaazing love, about experiencing God as Father true son or daughter ..ie Reuben more real, but reflected 2 father s- greatest fear not going to be here one day for him…

Ever heard the expression, nothing ventured, nothing gained? You won’t venture to do anything, unless some how tested, some how the result held before you - why people gamble …know if this happens win this… lure and but chance, But if I tell you, buried treasure vacant lot that for sale next door - go and test it - raise the money any way you can, go to the bank, secure mortagage, - seal that deal …

Ever heard the expression, nothing ventured, nothing gained? You won’t venture to do anything, unless some how test,ed, some how the result held before you - why peopple gamble …know if this happens win this… lure and but chance, But if I tell you, buried treaure vacant lot that for sale next door - go and test it - raise the moeny any way you can, go to the bank, secure mortagage, - seal that deal …

And I dare you test the gospel! See if what promised, predicted if it comes true… so many reject intellectually what they have never read; other reject practically, think: “There’s more for me on facebook, insta-gram, - more in advice of my friends, then in the Very Word of God deliver.”

And I dare you text it - see if what promised, predicted if it comes true… so many reject intellectually what never read; other reject practically, think more for me on facebook, insta-gram, - more in advice of my friends, then in the Very Word of God deliver -

ie. Air Force pilot, engineer, wife going to church - decide for himself, Bible… not fairy tale, nor just history, but as got to the Jesus part…

Creates an unavoidable division - flat-earthers and round earthers; WORD of Grace-ers vs. WORLD WIHTOUT GRACE OR THE WORD! WITHOUT WORLD MESSIAH _ RESCUES BUT ALSO COMES AS OUR KING… Jews who wont’ belive, plot to stone them, punishment of blasphemers - so to any Roman authroity look like mob justice. They catch wind and head a short20km east to Lystra.

B. Turn from your own vain ways, to walk in the Lord’s Way

At Lystra outside jusridiction of Phrygian authorities, Paul is going along sharing the gospel but new situation, no background at all in OT, no Jews there, no synagogue, situation increasingly like Canada no background in God’s word.

And this is Lystra, heart of paganism, sight said where Zeus and Hermes came down - temple set up there. But instead of heading home because persecuted, Paul will share th gospel in an emergency, abbreviated message of grace.

And this is Lystra, heart of paganism, sight said where Zeus and Hermees came down - temple set up there. But instead of heading home because persectued, Paul will share th gospel in an meergency, abbbreviated message of grace.

And this is Lystra, heart of paganism, sight said where Zeus and Hermes came down - temple set up there. But instead of heading home because persecuted, Paul will share th gospel in an emergency, abbreviated message of grace.

Like the sings and wonders, he begins with a miraculous healing, just like Jesus showed how with miracles, sent to make deaf people hear, blind people see, lame walk and dance. Just like Peter after the day of Pentecost, not just so the healing happens, but that these people would seein Jesus Christ and His folowers, the kingdom of heaven is breaking into this wound, deaf, and blinded world!

Healing is Paul standing in the temple of paganism, like Peter in Jewish temple, with God’s power to heal hurting man -blind from birth, like Peter... Why - don’t miss this, same God and same grace available to Jews in their temple, now availble to the Gentiles, same love, same power… Didn’t know Jewish Scriptures, but Paul urgers them from what they see in reation, aroud them to turn to Living God! Calvin based on all of us have a Awareness of Divinity, Seed of Reiiion…

But do you see what people hancker for - why pay sports stars, movie stars - human to be like gods- heart aching to worship something - like groupies - churches can operate like that too - its all about us - look how good we are - book when people are big and god is small … going to dumb down gods to being human.

Then instead og going home to more citiesDo you see what people hancker for - why pay sports stars, moive stars - human to be like gods- heart aching to wroship something - like groupies - churches can operate like that too - its all about us - look how good we are - book when people are big and god is small ...

But do you see what people hancker for - why pay sports stars, movie stars - human to be like gods- heart aching to worship something - like groupies - churches can operate like that too - its all about us - look how good we are - book when people are big and god is small … going to dumb down gods to being human.

Looking down the wrong end of the telescope. Trying to get to God, but make him so small., But God has come down to you in jesus Christ. Listen to Paul:

Acts 14:15 ESV

“Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.

So gentle and truthful, God at work in allthese different poepole,s realize some true things about God, - but that’s all naturaul theolgoy, what you can know without God speaking - NOW LIVING GOD< real maker, bereen active whole time, but now in Special way luanched into your life - broke in from the outside in jesus Christ, … Broke in from heaven right now through GOOD NEWS , GOSPEL he sent … Rest of your life, faced with vain ways, alcoholism, selfish sexual pleasure, materialsim, just live for your job, poplularity, creature comforts home or food…

Acts 14:

So gentle and truthful, God at work in allthese different poepole,s realize some true things about God, - but that’s all naturaul theolgoy, what you can know without God speaking - NOW LIVING GOD< real maker, bereen active whole time, but now in Special way luanched into your life - broke in from the outside in jesus Christ, … Broke in from heaven right now through GOOD NEWS , GOSPEL he sent

All designed for ongoing repentance, stop pagan sacrfice… where does that lead - … Professees need to ongoig way turn from vain shadows, empty way of living without Living God, to grab substance - all areas of life, -0 serving the LORD CHrist, rightnwo matters for eternity, way you touch other lives… all part of not walking any more in your own way.

BUT CHRIST’s Way - Antioch Martima - called little Christ, belongers to XChrist, but doesn’t catch on for 4 centuries, described by FOLLOWERS OF THE WAY!

CHristian life is a path - listen to Martin Luther - way of being accepted, weay of forgivng, way of joy - way of… … “This life therefore is not righteousness, but growth in righteousness, not health, but healing, not being but becoming, not rest but exercise. We are not yet what we shall be, but we are growing toward it, the process is not yet finished, but it is going on, this is not the end, but it is the road. All does not yet gleam in glory, but all is being purified.” Martin Luther

If the first thing you needed as a new professor - confirmation bythe Spirit in the Word of Grace, the second is a lived out practidcal on the ground - operations manual and training - not give life to chasing Zeus and Hermes, human like gods… but way of Christ , way of the living God -

But look who shows up as they preach new way of living, repsentance, discipleship - opposition from unbleivieing religious Jews from Antioch and Iconium, but Paul and compnay keep sharing. They are not living to please men, but god. And they have a freedom to really speak into people’s lives - though leaving now - having been stoned by the opopsition, a church will be establshed here in S Galatia, as they live for the truth adn the way of Christ

Paul and Baranabas and company - so open to misunderstanding both from religous Jews, Gk , Gentiles . Early Xns - body and blood of Christ, to Jews blasphemy God the Son take on human flesh, to Greeks babbler about Cross - weakness and shame, Nietzsche - relkgion and Christian most of all for weakligs… But ooportuunity to demnostrate grace f God in face of setbacks…

Charles Simeon - pastor in universtiy town… kindo f rich area..owned the pews, Christian in name but notin nature; preached Christ - locked the pews, university students filled the aisles sat in the overflow for years. oppoistition… won them over …Looking back he writes: “ “be not surprised at anything you suffer, nor be grieved at it. The inspired writeers speck of your trials as a just occassion for joy (,312). Only endevour to improve them aright (), and you will never complain of the difficulty of the way, when you have reached your journey's end.”

THe gospel is open to misunderstanding, twisting… Back in Iconium, discredit the apostles, by sayig bad motives; Now Paul as cheif spokesperson, Heremes, and Banrnabas as head God Zeus…

Earlier in Roman author Ovid, Metamorphoses hald century earilier two Greek gods, Jupiter (Zeus) and Mercury (Hermes) visited a phryigian hill counrty disguised as mortal men, rejected by thousand home,s, but an elderly couple takes them, turns home to temple, they become priests, and the other homes destoryed…

=

When Christian access the way of the world, way life is lived, opporsition - but freedom from people and their resonses, is how we can become most effective in helping others...

But the way fo Jesus, Living God is different! … Starts where they are at - tears clothes, only merem men, anticipates objections - why haven’t we heard this teaching… they have LIving God speaking to them in universal testimony … start where they are at .. eager to preach Christ to them see that is the goal

Acts 14:21 ESV

When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,

Are you a person whose ways are not mememem selfish pleasure, get even - - gospel ways - … whatever you think of Trudeau - whether he can foolow his own advie in odoing politics… but what is his tag line - sunny ways..

Circle of those who got it, probably praying over bruised body of Paul... one maybe even a young Timothy - native of Lystra, become second generation of leaders in early church

Well for a Christain commiting to gospel ways - need the body of Christ to help you apply God’s word, follow the example of Christ - to live in enw way!

Paul and Baranabas not going to stay forever so have to appoint other leaders from among them. Not a cult of perosanlity, but tutht of jesus, not controling leadershi , but freeing through the gospel… THink of it even the apostles didn’t act as if they were indispensible… Ready to entrust work to others…

C. Strengthening of Soul & Encouraging of Faith

But now 60 miles journey after being stoned, to Derbe… no inconveniences too big, if very Son of God die for us, we can suffer for others in their service… How ? Last thing that not only the apostles did for the belivers , but the beilevers did for the apostles… Acts 14:21-22a strengthening the souls

Acts 14:21–22 ESV

When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

Acts 14:21–22a ESV

When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

Acts 14:21 ESV

When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,

Acts 14:

First at Debe, but then to all the believers, in that city of Lystra - would you go back were rejected. Important principle to put the needs of people of God above our own comforts and conveniences.

First at Debe, but then to all the believers, in that city of Lystra - would you go back were rejected. Imoprtant principle to put the needs of people of god above our own comforts and coviniences.

When they return to Syrian Antioch… 1000 miles, a year to accomplish! Exciting and exraordianry - EPOCH - 20 years earlier most amazing thing, long time waiting, but now amazing things happening as share the gospel! Do you want ot be invovled in God’s kingdom movmeent like that …Then you need the last thing that Paul and Barnabas offer these new professees!

Modern English poet - -thin or narrow-souled people, Alexander Pope; C.S. Lewis, Abolition of Man - really smart people intellect, but behave like animals! How because we don’t educate the heart!! Heart the soul needs to grow to be strengthened. Lewis calle dmodern men - Men without chests, but he says If followers of Christ live as people with chests—strong hearts filled with God’s truth—the world will take notice.… t-shirt last weekend “I’m a spiritual gangster” - toughness warfare ,s eriousness effectiveness. dimension of life her freinds andneighbours rearly think about. ...

Think over last year - spritually stronger or weaker… remember these growth charts ...

Tell all of you including myself - not as strong as you think you are - - #1 thing a kid needs, teacher blossom through encouragement; number one thing a kid needs - do studies affirmation - even just be by me - even touch…

Didn’t tell them true theology of eternal security, once saved always saved, but that teaching in real life … Danger is afoot, temptation to give up and go astray and deny your faith- be vigilant and faithful - realistic to expect trials, joys but also the sorrows and struggling of church membership…

You souls communion with Christ, your experience of grace, either weakinging or strenghtening… and its in the tirals that this happens!

JI Packer Trials are designed to overwhelm us with a sense of our own indaquacies and drive us to cling to him more closely… God fills our lives with troubles and perplexities … to ensure that we shall learn to hold HIm fast. The reason why the Bible spends so much of its time reiterating that God is a strong rock, a firm defense, a sure refuge and help for the weak;is that both mentally and morally and dare not trust ourselves to find or to follow the right road… God wants us to feel that our way through life is rough and perplexing, so that we may learn to thankfully lean on Him. Therefore, he takes steps to drive us out of self-confidence to trust him, to wait upon the LORD, in light of that we do not despair, we are not without hope, because God is the one on whom we have set our hope.

Don’t grow weary in well doing, Don’t neglect meeting together as some are in the habit of doing … growing thnner and thinner spiritually, less and less able to exercise their part in the kigndom of God, body the church… sad but true - their connection to Christ the head of the body - because not exercising - it grwos thinner and thinner…

Disciples soul needs that eregular encouragement - through the wak spiritual ganster, enee da day break from all the spiritual warefare, time to gather with others in it but to rst, remember the strategies, but even more remember war is one - future is secure - God’s got every day of this jounrey , and the edavanced of his kingdom under control - rest in - Joy of the Lordi s our stregnth - Joy world has is foud in earthly things, and threpraise of others… find a joy and peace beyond circumstances, joy and peace in the LORD!

Not just a strengthening of your soul, but look:

Acts 14:22b ESV

strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

A disciples soul needs that eregular encouragement - through the wak spiritual ganster, enee da day break from all the spiritual warefare, time to gather with others in it but to rst, remember the strategies, but even more remember war is won - future is secure - God’s got every day of this jounrey , and the edavanced of his kingdom under control - rest in - Joy of the Lordi s our stregnth - Joy world has is found in earthly things, and thre praise of others… find a joy and peace beyond circumstances, joy and peace in the LORD!

Encourage - call out instruction alongisdie - get dpressed, anxious, compuslive no heistitation to got someone walked with other s- here words of instruction …

Don’t grow weary in well doing, Don’t neglect meeting together as some are in the habit of doing … growing thnner and thinner spiritually, less and less able to exercise their partint hek igndom of God, body the church… sad but true - their connection to Christ the head of the body - because not exercising - it grwos thinner and thinner…

Encourage - call out instruction alongisdie - get dpressed, anxious, compuslive no heistitation to got someone walked with other s- here words of instruction …

Older poeple in our congregatyion, wouldn’t want to grow up today - lot easier back then, temptation, constant business, fewer deep friendship. Every gerneation different strrugles, opportunities … but need encouragmeent, and be an encourager.

But there is one who knows it all, not just remembers ,b ut sharing our hauman nature - Jesus says I’m your comforter, instructor, in heaven runnign the kingdom, but send you the Other Comfort, Instructor, PARAKLETE> - take what is mine and ake iknown to you -

and what do those in Paul’s company help them with - Holy Spirit \words of application to enable them to continue!

Acts 14:22 ESV

strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

Acts 14:

Don’t give up - on God’s ways, want togive up - I won’t give up on you - I blevei in you even through the tears and the laughter, … Johnny Cash struggle with acohoism - - what are the areas don’t want to press on in - sexual addiction, jealousy, is it being genreaous , some of you missinoary experience oversees most of you - on serve, in toughter neighbourhoods - TASTE OF MISSSION - ministry minded in realtinships -

Our role as a church - to figure out those areas need encouragement to press on. Life-calling in terms of work. Marriages , dating will i ever find any one.. work

Our role as a church - to figure out those areas need encouragement to press on

Marriages , dating will i ever find any one.. work

And look how things end up - little bit of what we are doing right now - Good to look back dwon from where we have come. Remember talent show I Love you forever… I remember carrying Peter like that… bapstim fount… churchwer were leaving… remember the poromises God’s people made with us - to show Him gracve o f Jesus, ray for gift of the HOly Spirit and living faith.. - delcare what Lord is doing in them…

Think of all Paul endures because of set backs, you have them too.. get discouraged, feel a failure, feel our frailty that more is needed than just your best effort in order to avoid set backs.. HOw did {aul with frequent imprisonments, floggings, close encoutnres with death, lack of sleep, shyip wrkeed, in danger from bandits, rivers, Jews, Gentiles in every city, how did he cope with discouragment and set backs. … From the beginning like this expelled in Antioch , fled Iconium, stoned at Lystra - then all the back from Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, antioch strenghtening… My grace is sufficient in weakness. . power of Christ in you…

Acts 14:26b–27 ESV

and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled. And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.

And look how things end up - a little bit of what we are doing right now - Good to look back dwon from where we have come. Erember talent show I Love you forever… I remember carrying Peter like that… bapstim fount… churchwer were leaving… remember the poromises God’s people made with us - to show Him gracve o f Jesus, ray for gift of the HOly Spirit and living faith.. - delcare what Lord is doing in them…

Stories of what they had done, but big deal and big deal where is what God is doing through us! God is at work with through us, and we need to encourage each other in that work. God doesn’t just zap people with the gospel, mercy, grace, …he uses means and one of them is poeple like you and me, His church - go and make God’s love visible in someone life, go and give the testimony..

Doyou remember the Talent Show, RObert’s Munch I Love You Forever, Peter on his mama’s lap. THink back to when we comended you to the grace of God .. tried to do our part, but it’s the Holy Spirit working in his church - gospel taken root - and its been so much the encouragemnt of God’s poeole. the serving, the prayers - time to come otgether celebrate and give thanks for that. That’s what we’re commtiting to anew - as do this for your own self!

Jewish Christain hard time understanding why not Jews frist… why Gentiles… electric ity in air as explain… if plant a church in growing Barrie area… let go of no biblical approach to do doing church, cultural things.. missionary journey - God opens a door!

And as much as we need to be about serving and witnessing, this last verse tells us we also need rest and recuperation - rest in the fellowship of Christian as necesarry as the spiritual teahcing and cultivation of heart and mind.. Reest … Richard Baxter - married late, helath problems, wife rich philanthoropist single handedly able to help fledging gospel minsitries.. eet with them, weakn ess not obody - but in her mind, emotioanlly… yet what a team… new secret that in down times, answer not just try harder, read more, be more spiritual… But rest :

In communion of the saints is wisdom, safety and dleight: And when my heart declines and faints, It’s raised by their heat and light!

Heard the story of burning coal… stay close to Christ the head, and stay close to fellowship of His earhtly body the church..