Saturday, February 6, 2016

Good News

Read Acts 13

“What light, what power, what a treasure does this gospel bring with it! How excellent are its truths, its precepts, its promises!” ~ Matthew Henry
 
 

In our house and family of five for the past two weeks someone has been sick!  Am I ready for some good news?  Oh YES!  There are days things get the best of us and we are ready to hear some good news!  In our passage today Paul brings good news to the Church at Antioch.  Let’s listen in on Paul’s sermon as we read and study Acts 13 together on this Sabbath day.

 S.O.A.P.

Scripture – Observation – Application - Prayer

 

S:  “… on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue … After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the leaders [of the worship] of the synagogue sent to them saying, Brethren, if you have any word of exhortation or consolation or encouragement for the people, say it … we are bringing you the good news (Gospel) that what God promised to our forefathers …  And so the Word of the Lord [concerning eternal salvation through Christ] scattered and spread throughout the whole region … And the disciples were continually filled [throughout their souls] with joy and the Holy Spirit.”  Acts 13:14-15, 32, 49, 52

 

O:  Paul got up and preached a word of encouragement.  “The bare reading of the Scriptures in public assemblies is not enough; they should be expounded, and the people exhorted out of them. This is helping people in doing that which is necessary to make the word profitable, to apply it to themselves.” ~ Matthew Henry

 

How?  He recounted their history and how God led and protected them and gave them the Gospel as follows:

1.      God has brought to Israel a Savior as promised (v. 23)

2.      God raised Him from the dead (v. 30, 33-34) “The resurrection of Christ was the great proof of his being the Son of God.” ~ Matthew Henry

3.      Repentance is available to all the people (v. 24)  “We are justified [made right], not only by him as our Judge but by him as the Lord our Righteousness.” ~ Matthew Henry

4.      Forgiveness and removal of sins is for everyone who believes (v. 38)

5.      We are given right standing with God (v. 39)

6.      We serve God’s will and purpose and counsel in our own generation (v. 36)  Matthew Henry says, “ … the Lord raises up instruments for his work, from various places and stations in life … It is by the Spirit of Christ that his ministers are made both able and willing for his service, and taken from other cares that would hinder in it. Christ's ministers are to be employed in Christ's work, and, under the Spirit's guidance, to act for the glory of God the Father … [may we] serve our generation according to his will; and when death comes, may we fall asleep in him, with a joyful hope of a blessed resurrection.”

 

A:  I am reminded that God keeps His promises, that He is powerful, that at any point if I am walking contrary to His ways that He offers us a chance to turn back to Him and be forgiven and made right and that He has a plan and purpose for each one of us for such a time as this. 

 

P:  Thank you Heavenly Father that You provided a Savior as You promised and that death could not keep Him in the grave.  Thank you for resurrection power that is available to our lives today.  Thank you that you give us forgiveness for sins and right standing with You.  May we serve You and seek to do Your will and purpose.   Through Christ Jesus, Yeshua the Messiah I pray.  Amen & Amen.

 

Discussion question: 
What part of this message brings you the most encouragement today?

 
"We were not born for ourselves, but there are those living around us, to whom we must study to be serviceable.” ~ Matthew Henry

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