A preacher might be called by God and feel there is nothing else on earth that he desires to do. However, after he has preached, he might be filled with all sorts of emotions. These are tucked away inside. He can’t let his feelings about the sermon be known to his hearers because the results might be catastrophic. Most times he will feel mediocre about his work, others times he will feel depressed because he let the Lord down and there are those times the devil causes him to feel great about his preaching. Then again, you have congregants who will complain directly to the preacher that he is incompetent, irrelevant and ought to change professions. Some will thank him profusely for the message, yet he knows they are just being polite because he saw that they were either sleeping, bored or disinterested in the message. Our son-in-law related how he visited a Church at my request only to find a younger congregation, engaged in the prayer book service most vigorously, yet switching off when it came to the sermon. As you read Acts 13:42-51 you start to understand that even the congregants have serious emotions about what they permit and refuse to permit. Please read:
Ac 13:42 As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. 43 When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God. 44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. 47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’’” 48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. 49 The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. 50 But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. 51 So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
There is so much in this section that once again we shall divide it up, trying to understand it better.
1) A return invitation to preach.
Ac 13:42 As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath.
It seems such an encouragement to be able to return and explain the Gospel message in greater detail to the members of the synagogue. I would suggest they were sincere, but within their sincerity they were selective as to who entered their synagogue. We need to be careful here. It is very easy to be so protective over your Church that you refuse to welcome people who are not like you, be it in color, language, culture and doctrine. Paul and Barnabas welcomed the invitation to preach again to go into the depth of the riches of the Gospel, not knowing at this stage what awaited them the following week.
2) A favorable response. The missionary team started off, walking away and were followed by Jews and converts to Judaism.
Ac 13:43 When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.
Both these groups of men believed the Gospel as the missionaries had presented to them in the synagogue … but there was more! Remember these missionaries were filled with the Holy Spirit. God not only gave them words to speak but wisdom and discernment to understand their environment. They understood that because of the interest in Jesus these Jews and converts to Judaism exercised, they would face hardships. This is the reason they “urged” … or better … persuaded them, now that they started in the grace of God (faith in Jesus) … to continue in God’s grace. In other words, the missionaries for saw the hardships they would face form the hardline Jews because they believed the message and turned to Jesus. It seems as through the invitation to return to preach the following week was more for intellectual stimulation than spiritual interest. Perhaps a lesson we need to learn here is that when people come to faith in Jesus, they need to be protected from the hardships and persecutions they might face from family, friends, colleagues and neighbors … and “spiritually dead Churches”. We need to encourage people, once they experience grace to pursue continuing grace. Often the challenges of coming to faith, in the midst of decidedly indifferent family members, social contacts, places of employment and certain Church Movement could prevent a new convert from pursuing grace. Remember that grace is not a onetime experience … for once grace has come, one needs to continue in grace … for when there is little or no spiritual support it can be very challenging and demanding. As a Church body we need to remember that discipleship is a lifelong ministry and at the top of the list is “urging” and “persuading” converts to remain true to God and His grace … and then help them do just that.
3) Good News needs to travel fast. There was the synagogue with Jews and coverts to Judaism the one week … and the next:
Ac 13:44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.
The synagogue leaders did not advertise the missionaries return visit. Who did? Who mobilized “the whole city” to gather to hear God’s Word? The Jews and converts to Judaism of verse 43. The Spirit had worked. They were alight with conviction that this Jesus is Messiah, spoken about through the Old Testament … and selflessly they invited all the city to come and hear the greatest news they would ever hear. What a wonderful response to the Gospel taking deep root in the heart, causing faith for forgiveness and to continue in God’s glorious grace. What a lesson for the Church in the Twenty-First Century! Too often we are not just shy … we are embarrassed about Jesus! We fear what our family, colleagues, friend, neighbors, government and even Church might say. We fear our livelihood, relationships and safety. Look at these men … that would become true for all of them … but they went into their city announcing the Gospel would be preached in their synagogue. Would you do this for your Church … for this coming Sunday?
Our Father, forgive us for the lack of excitement and enthusiasm for the Gospel Message. Forgive us for not getting it out. Help us to be Your spokespeople for the Lord Jesus and His Kingdom. Amen.