Mar

10

First Missionary Journey

Filed Under God, Faith & Spirituality 

Insights From the First Missionary Journey (Acts 13-14)

The role of the church and the role of the missionary must be collaborative, cooperative, and cohesive. Working together, the church can be a pivotal partner in the advancing of the Gospel. At the same time, the missionary can be an ambassador of the sending church and represent the hearts of the supporters to people needing Jesus. Using Acts 13-14, I suggest five principles / guidelines to help missionaries and missionary-sending churches as they purpose together in the great commission.


1. Be About the Father’s Business, Instructions Will Be Waiting
I appreciate Luke’s subtlety here in the opening of Acts 13. One remembers back to Luke 2:49 when Jesus says, “Did you not see and know that it is necessary for Me to be in My Father’s house and about My Father’s business?” (AMP) In this same context for commitment, we see Luke point out the posture of a group of prophets and teachers (Barnabas, Simeon, Lucius, Manaen, and Saul) in Acts 13:2. “While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them” (NASB).

Notice how Luke says, “While they were ministering.” Paul and Barnabas would be the first team of missionaries to embark upon a journey that would spread the Gospel of Jesus into the entire world. God’s purpose and blessing came while they were doing the Father’s business. They weren’t waiting around for fire to fall from heaven, but were busy already doing the good works of God.

2. Commission the Mission
The church’s blessing and commissioning must be upon the missionaries being sent. To commission literally means to co-mission - to do the mission together - while some are staying and some are going. “Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away” (Acts 13:3, NASB).

3. God Does Amazing Things When We Confront Opposition
Early on in their journey, Paul and Barnabas encountered a magician, a Jewish false prophet. Not only did the Holy Spirit shut down the magician, but also”the proconsul [Sergius Paulus] believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord” (Acts 13:7, NASB). As John Stott observes, “Paul’s direct approach to Gentiles was the great innovative development of this first missionary journey” (Stott, p. 220).

4. The Right Place At the Right Time Can Mean the Best Opportunity
In Acts 13:15, there is a Sabbath gathering being held and the president of the meeting asked if anyone there had anything to say, a word of encouragement perhaps. Paul stood up and took advantage of the situation and shared with the crowd. “When the service was over, Paul and Barnabas were invited back to preach again the next Sabbath” (Acts 13:42, MSG). What a great testimony to being in the right place at the right time, for God to then use that situation to being people unto Himself, not to mention an invitation to come back the following week!

5. No Matter What, God Gets All the Glory
Often when missionaries travel to foreign towns, especially when they are different from the culture they are encountering, it can be a tendency for the people of that town to elevate the position of the missionaries to god status. In Acts 14 we see just that. Fortunately, Paul and Barnabas are quick to deflect the fame and re-direct it right to God. “What do you think you’re doing! We’re not gods! We are men just like you, and we’re here to bring you the Message, to persuade you to abandon these silly god-superstitions and embrace God himself, the living God. We don’t make God; he makes us, and all of this–sky, earth, sea, and everything in them” (Acts 14:15, MSG).

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