Sunday, September 14, 2014

Today´s Sermon



2014.09.14.                                      Acts 13: 14-41
Paul proclaims the Good news at Antioch
Good morning everyone..... It´ great to see you here this morning.... As most of you know.... We teach through the Bible verse by verse..... At the moment we are studying the birth of the church in the book of Acts.....
Those were exciting times..... People cried out to The Lord for mercy and forgiveness..... And born Out of the Joy of their Salvation.... the church was born...... Because of their excitement and joy..... the church begins to spread the Good News…… Many became genuine believers….. But some refused to repent and cry out to the Lord Jesus for forgiveness….. They hardened their hearts….. They began to persecute and even kill the Lord´s people….. As we pick up our text today.....  The believers were scattered because of that persecution….. And the center of the proclamation of the Gospel shifted to Antioch and the ministry of Paul.... This morning we will listen to a sermon that Paul preached in Antioch.....
As we look at this passage in Acts chapter 13..... Paul has already been preaching for many years by now..... But this is the first one that we have in print in the Word of God...... As we pick up our text this morning.... we  come to another great sermon.....
We've already heard some great sermons..... Peter and Stephen for example..... and they have helped us to  understand what preaching is all about..... Paul knew that proclaiming the Good News was a great privilege..... A privilege that he knew he did not deserve…. In Ephesians 3:8…. Paul wrote this….  
Ephesians 3: 8                     NLT     Neues Leben
8 Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ.
8 Obwohl ich der Geringste unter denen bin, die zu Christus gehören, hat Gott mich ausgesucht, um den anderen Völkern von dem großen Reichtum zu erzählen, der ihnen in Christus offen steht.
I want to bring us up-to-date as we look at This sermon….  The church has expanded already from Jerusalem….  The Good News has spread all the way to Asia… to the city of Antioch in Syria…… They established a church there…. Barnabas became the pastor…… Barnabas needed help ministering to  these New Gentile believers…. He went and got Saul to come and help…. Then Saul and Barnabas preached for one year…. .and that church grew strong and the Lord began to raise up teachers and elders…. Gerald talked about them last week.... They're listed in verse 1 of chapter 13….. Simeon, Lucius, and Manaen….. and so there are five leading elders…… leading and teaching the church….   The church is solid….. and it's growing…. Then  God says, "It's time to reach out……    Separate unto Me Paul and Barnabas for the work to which I've called them….. and so the church laid their hands on them… and they send out Paul and Barnabas as missionaries….  Later this morning…. We will be sending Eva Bauer out to minister in Egypt…. We are not her original home church, but we are one of the churches that has committed to supporting and praying for her work in Egypt…..
Paul and Barnabas hit the road…. Sent out by the Lord and the fellowship in Antioch….
The first place they went was to Barnabas' home Cyprus….   They preached the Gospel there…… and they had   great success….. They ran into conflict with Elymas the sorcerer over the ruler Sergius Paulus….. He tried to turn him away from repentance and faith in Christ…. The Lord Jesus intervened and Sergius Paulus was saved….. This is where we will pick up the text for this morning…
Acts 13: 14-23                    NKJV   Sch 2000
14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. 15 And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.”

16 Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen: 17 The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He brought them out of it. 18 Now for a time of about forty years He put up with their ways in the wilderness. 19 And when He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land to them by allotment.
20 “After that He gave them judges for about four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. 21 And afterward they asked for a king; so God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22 And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’23 From this man’s seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior—Jesus—




Acts 13: 14-23                            Sch 2000
14 Sie aber zogen von Perge weiter und kamen nach Antiochia in Pisidien und gingen am Sabbattag in die Synagoge und setzten sich.
15 Und nach der Vorlesung des Gesetzes und der Propheten ließen die Obersten der Synagoge ihnen sagen: Ihr Männer und Brüder, wenn ihr ein Wort der Ermahnung an das Volk habt, so redet!
16 Da stand Paulus auf und gab ein Zeichen mit der Hand und sprach: Ihr israelitischen Männer, und die ihr Gott fürchtet, hört zu!
17 Der Gott dieses Volkes Israel erwählte unsere Väter und erhöhte das Volk, als sie Fremdlinge waren im Land Ägypten; und mit erhobenem Arm führte er sie von dort heraus.
18 Und er ertrug ihre Art etwa 40 Jahre lang in der Wüste;
19 und er vertilgte sieben Heidenvölker im Land Kanaan und teilte unter sie deren Land nach dem Los.
20 Und danach, während etwa 450 Jahren, gab er ihnen Richter bis zu Samuel, dem Propheten.
21 Und von da an begehrten sie einen König, und Gott gab ihnen Saul, den Sohn des Kis, einen Mann aus dem Stamm Benjamin, 40 Jahre lang.
22 Und nachdem er ihn abgesetzt hatte, erweckte er ihnen David zum König, von dem er auch Zeugnis gab und sprach: »Ich habe David gefunden, den Sohn des Isai, einen Mann nach meinem Herzen, der allen meinen Willen tun wird«.3
23 Von dessen Samen4 hat nun Gott nach der Verheißung für Israel Jesus als Retter erweckt,
 Verse 14… the left Perga and went to Antioch of Pisidia…. It was a very well-known city……  It was the most important city in that part of   Asia Minor….. And It had a large settlement of Jews.....
 The end of Verse 14 says that they went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down."
This is way Paul did his ministry….  The Jewish people    had scattered around the world….. They had founded synagogues in almost every city….. Paul would go into a town and   would go immediately to the synagogue.....  It was customary in a synagogue for visitors to be invited to speak….. so it was an automatic audience….. The Jewish people were often receptive to hear Him teach from the Word of God…..      at least until he introduced the Lord Jesus as the Messiah….   Paul loved Israel……and he wanted Israel to be saved…..   look at v15….


Acts 13: 15                      NKJV  Sch 2000
15 And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.”
15 Und nach der Vorlesung des Gesetzes und der Propheten ließen die Obersten der Synagoge ihnen sagen: Ihr Männer und Brüder, wenn ihr ein Wort der Ermahnung an das Volk habt, so redet!
So he goes into the synagogue with Barnabas, and they sit down….. It's the Sabbath day…… What an opportunity…..
It's exciting to  see how the Spirit of God leads these men….. No one knows they're even coming….. and all of a sudden…… the Spirit of God touches the leader of the synagogue says…. If you have something to tell us…. Come and speak….The Holy Spirit set it all up….. He opened the doors for their ministry….. They will be used by the Lord to shake up the entire city….. Let´s look ahead a little…. Look at verse 44…
Acts 13:44                       NKJV  Sch 2000
44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.
44 Am folgenden Sabbat aber versammelte sich fast die ganze Stadt, um das Wort Gottes zu hören.
The Spirit of God had prepared Paul and Barnabas….. He had prepared the hearts of the people too….  This sermon will spread all through the city in just one week…
Verse 16…..
Acts 13:16                       NKJV   Sch 2000
16 Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen:
16 Da stand Paulus auf und gab ein Zeichen mit der Hand und sprach: Ihr israelitischen Männer, und die ihr Gott fürchtet2, hört zu!
Leute Listen carefully! Paul had a very important message for them…. It was a matter of life and death! 2 weeks ago we began a new series about the grace of God…… I started on a Sunday morning and then I am continuing on Teusday nights… The text that I started with was Titus 2:11…
Turn with me there for a minute…
Titus 2: 11-13                           NKJV    
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
Titus 2: 11-13                              Sch 2000
11 Denn die Gnade Gottes ist erschienen, die heilbringend ist für alle Menschen;
12 sie nimmt uns in Zucht, damit wir die Gottlosigkeit und die weltlichen Begierden verleugnen und besonnen und gerecht und gottesfürchtig leben in der jetzigen Weltzeit,
13 indem wir die glückselige Hoffnung erwarten und die Erscheinung der Herrlichkeit des großen Gottes und unseres Retters Jesus Christus,
Paul has their attention and he says….  listen carefully…. In his sermon he will prove to his hearers…… That the Grace of God has appeared….. 1 That It was God´s plan…. 2 that It was God´s doing…. God has done this great thing…. All through this sermon as he reminds them of their history….. He also reminds them that God has done this awesome thing….. God has provided them a way out of their sin and rebellion….  It´s all God`s actions for us…. look in our text for today….
verse 17God chose, God exalted, God brought out….Verse 18, God bore….. Verse 19, God destroyed and God divided…… Verse 20, God gave….. Verse 21, God gave….. Verse 22, God removed, God raised, and God gave testimony….Verse 23, God raised….. Verse 30, God raised….. Verse 37, God raised….
Verse 33, God fulfilled….. Etc., etc. God has acted to redeem and save His people…… God raised up a Savior…..! Verse 23…
Acts 13: 23                         NKJV   Sch 2000
23 From this man’s seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior—Jesus—
23 Von dessen Samen hat nun Gott nach der Verheißung für Israel Jesus als Retter erweckt,
This sermon is The LORD God presenting Jesus as the long promised Messiah…. The Savior….
Verse 23 is the key statement that ties everything together…..   We are hearing Paul´s words…. But  It is really God himself presenting Jesus……  
Paul didn´t just say…. Listen I want proclaim Jesus to you…  In the first part of the sermon….. he lays the foundation of the Sovereignty of the God of Israel….. and reminds the Children of Israel of His plan and saving purpose….  
Now, the sermon falls into three parts..... All of these  things point to Jesus…..   Paul preaches about those three things…..

Jesus Christ is proclaimed!
1 He is the culmination of history….. v17-22
2 He is the fulfillment of prophecy… v 23-37
3 He is the justifier of sinners……. v 38-41
First he points to the Divine purpose of all history….  Then he outlines the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy…. and then the good news…. God´s justification of sinners…..
First of all, Jesus is the culmination of history…..
You know, one of the greatest questions that people face today….    What is going to happen to this world…. to me….? "Where is history going?"
Every Jew in that synagogue  knew where history was going….. It was right toward the culmination of all things in the coming of the Messiah…..  and Then Messiah would restore man to full fellowship with God…… 
They knew that through the Messiah…..God's Kingdom would come…..   man would be restored…… Messiah would begin God´s  Glorious Kingdom….  men would no longer sin….. But would worship God and give Him the glory that He deserves….  That's where history is going…..

Jesus is the culmination of history…. When He came and died on the cross…… He made it possible for us to have restored fellowship with God….
Verse 17….. The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers...
History started for the Jew with the selection of the fathers. Who were they? Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph…… God chose our fathers…..
God is not a victim of man's sinful will…. God is running history….  God chose our fathers….. Renmember what Jesus said…. You have not chosen me…. I have chosen you….. the simple term is sovereign election….. In the case of the Children of Israel and our own case…… God chose us….. That´s good news….
Then he goes a step further in verse 18…. And about the time of forty years, bore He their manners in the wilderness." The term bore is interesting…. The idea of the verse is simply this - that  God was patient and caring…… For forty years of griping and bellyaching….. God continued to care for them….. He Provided manna and water from the rock…. He  provided their needs through  those 40 years in the wilderness….. God took care of them…..  
God bore Israel as a father nourishes and cares for his son….. and so it could read….. About the time of forty years, He nourished you as a Father in the wilderness." And God truly was their Father…... He is our loving Heavenly Father too…. Peter said….  cast all of your cares on Him because He cares for you (Alle eure Sorge werft auf ihn; denn er sorgt für euch)….. 1 Peter 5:7….
Paul presents  the fact that Jesus is the promised Messiah of Israel……   
The sermon falls into three parts…… Jesus Christ is presented first as the culmination of history….. secondly, as the fulfillment of prophecy…… thirdly, as the justifier of sinners…….. Those three things.
Jesus Christ is presented!
1 He is the culmination of history….. v17-22
2 He is the fulfillment of prophecy… v 23-37
3 He is the justifier of sinners……. v 38-41
Where is history going?
Here is the answer…... It's going toward the Lord Jesus Christ……. Jesus is the fulfillment of history…..
He is the only one who can remove the curse that separates us from God…..
So in  verses 17 to 22  Paul declares that history points to Jesus Christ……

verse 23 is the bridge to his second point… Paul declares Jesus is the Messiah and therefore the culmination of history…… How?  Why?
 The promised Messiah….. The seed of David….. is Jesus…. He reminds them of the Word of God…. verses 23-37 show just a few of the hundreds of fulfilled prophesies….. Let´s read them…..
Acts 13: 23-37                         NKJV     Sch 2000
23 From this man’s seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior—Jesus—[e] 24 after John had first preached, before His coming, the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not He. But behold, there comes One after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to loose.’

26 “Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent. 27 For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. 28 And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. 29 Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. 30 But God raised Him from the dead. 31 He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. 32 And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. 33 God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.’
34 And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus: ‘I will give you the sure mercies of David.’35 Therefore He also says in another Psalm:‘You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.’
36 “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; 37 but He whom God raised up saw no corruption.
Acts 13: 23-37                         NKJV     Sch 2000
23 Von dessen Samen hat nun Gott nach der Verheißung für Israel Jesus als Retter erweckt,
24 nachdem Johannes vor seinem Auftreten dem ganzen Volk Israel eine Taufe der Buße verkündigt hatte.
25 Als aber Johannes seinen Lauf vollendete, sprach er: Wer meint ihr, daß ich sei? Ich bin es nicht; doch siehe, es kommt einer nach mir, für den ich nicht gut genug bin, die Schuhe von seinen Füßen zu lösen!
26 Ihr Männer und Brüder, Söhne des Geschlechtes Abrahams, und die unter euch, die Gott fürchten, zu euch ist dieses Wort des Heils gesandt.
27 Denn die, welche in Jerusalem wohnen, und ihre Obersten haben diesen nicht erkannt und haben die Stimmen der Propheten, die an jedem Sabbat gelesen werden, durch ihren Urteilsspruch erfüllt.
28 Und obgleich sie keine Todesschuld fanden, verlangten sie doch von Pilatus, daß er hingerichtet werde.
29 Und nachdem sie alles vollendet hatten, was von ihm geschrieben steht, nahmen sie ihn vom Holz herab und legten ihn in ein Grab.
30 Gott aber hat ihn aus den Toten auferweckt.
31 Und er ist mehrere Tage hindurch denen erschienen, die mit ihm aus Galiläa nach Jerusalem hinaufgezogen waren, welche seine Zeugen sind vor dem Volk.
32 Und wir verkündigen euch das Evangelium, daß Gott die den Vätern zuteil gewordene Verheißung an uns, ihren Kindern, erfüllt hat, indem er Jesus erweckte,
33 wie auch im zweiten Psalm geschrieben steht: »Du bist mein Sohn, heute habe ich dich gezeugt«.
34 Daß er ihn aber aus den Toten auferweckte, so daß er nicht mehr zur Verwesung zurückkehren sollte, hat er so ausgesprochen: »Ich will euch die heiligen [Gnaden-]Güter Davids geben, die zuverlässig sind«.6
35 Darum spricht er auch an einer anderen Stelle: »Du wirst nicht zulassen, daß dein Heiliger die Verwesung sieht«.
36 Denn David ist entschlafen, nachdem er seinem Geschlecht nach dem Willen Gottes gedient hat; und er ist zu seinen Vätern versammelt worden und hat die Verwesung gesehen.
37 Der aber, den Gott auferweckte, hat die Verwesung nicht gesehen.
V23…. God has sent a Savior in the line of David….. as promised long ago…. Jesus is presented as the Messiah is because….. He fulfilled   Messianic prophecy…... God says such and such will happen…..and Jesus comes along and it all happens to Him…… 
In verse 24…. the first great prophecy that Paul deals with in regard to the coming of Messiah….. was the prophecy that there would be a forerunner to Messiah….. John the baptist….. And with the Appearance of John we see another prophesy fulfilled in the life of Jesus…. Prophesy fulfilled…. That means that God said it would happen…And it did…. Just as God said… It was fulfilled to the letter….
Here Paul is presenting Jesus….. Here are his three key points About the Savior…..
1 v23…. Jesus is the Savior promised by God….
2 v26…. He saves all of us who come to Him…..
3 v39….  He saves us by faith, by believing…..    look at v38 and 39…
Acts 13: 38,39                   NKJV     
38 Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; 39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
Acts 13: 38,39                      Sch 2000
38 So sollt ihr nun wissen, ihr Männer und Brüder, daß euch durch diesen Vergebung der Sünden verkündigt wird;
39 und von allem, wovon ihr durch das Gesetz Moses nicht gerechtfertigt werden konntet, wird durch diesen jeder gerechtfertigt, der glaubt.
 And so he says…. This Savior is sent unto us...... Jesus is the promised Messiah….. and He's promised to all of us…… Jews and gentiles…. Don't miss Him….
Paul goes on to say that they killed Jesus…. But God raised Him from the dead…
This is central to all apostolic preaching in the Book of Acts….. You killed him… But God raised Him from the dead…. God reversed the verdict of Israel….. And God raised Him up…. In fact, the great proof that Jesus is Messiah…. the crowning proof is His resurrection……   Romans 1:4 says ….."He is declared to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead…
   Then Paul gives evidence in v31….. "He was seen many days of them who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses unto the people….And then in 32  he says…..And we declare unto you good news……  What is it? The promise which was made to the fathers….. All of the prophesies about The Messiah God hath  fulfilled in The Lord Jesus Christ…..  God raised Him again to life….. The suffering and resurrection of Jesus fulfilled every prophesy….. The sufferings servants passages in Isaiah 52 and 53…  give us the most complete account of the sufferings of the Messiah in all of scripture…. Jesus is there to see.….. The grace of God has appeared to men….. His name is Jesus…. He is the Savior the redeemer…. Then as Paul ends his sermon…. He invites to repent and believe the Gospel…. He also warns them not to despise…. Not to reject so great a salvation…. Acts 13…v 38-41…
Acts 13: 38-41                                NKJV   Sch 2000
38 Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; 39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. 40 Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you:
41 ‘Behold, you despisers, Marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, A work which you will by no means believe, Though one were to declare it to you.’”
Acts 13: 38-41                                NKJV   Sch 2000
38 So sollt ihr nun wissen, ihr Männer und Brüder, daß euch durch diesen Vergebung der Sünden verkündigt wird;
39 und von allem, wovon ihr durch das Gesetz Moses nicht gerechtfertigt werden konntet, wird durch diesen jeder gerechtfertigt, der glaubt.
40 So habt nun acht, daß nicht über euch kommt, was in den Propheten gesagt ist:
41 »Seht, ihr Verächter, und verwundert euch und werdet zunichte, denn ich tue ein Werk in euren Tagen, ein Werk, dem ihr nicht glauben würdet, wenn es euch jemand erzählte!
Jesus is the Messiah…… He is not only the culmination of history….. He is the fulfillment of prophecy…..  It´s good news….. But God has appointed a future day of judgment….  God has kept His promises in the past….   He will keep them in the future…. God's prophesies always come true…. for one who rejects Jesus Christ....... There is only certain Judgment….  it is a fearful thing to fall under the hands of the living God…..
The grace of God has appeared…… There is a way out…. His name is Jesus…. Repent and cry out to Him today…. Before it is too late…. Let´s pray….

No comments:

Post a Comment