The Realities of Ministry

Recap where we were before Christmas.

Church in Antioch is booming.  God set apart Barnabas and Paul for mission. 
Church fasts, prays, lays hands on them and sends them out.
Traveled to and through Cyprus with an assistant names John Mark.
Proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues.  Led the Proconsul Sergius Paulus to faith. 
Had a run with a false prophet who God struck blind.

Every Christian should not only be disciples but workers as well.

Acts 13:13 - John Mark bailed.  why??   Paul gets upset.  Ends up causing a fight and a split between Paul and Barnabas later.  Barnabas took John Mark.  Paul takes Silas.

Point #1:  Christian People will hurt you the most!
Why?  James 4:1  Was Paul bad?  Was Mark bad?  Were people rooting for them to fail?  Is the church full of hypocrites? 
They and we are all people - all sinful! 
But ... who does God use?  God uses broken, sinful people.  No one perfect except for Jesus.  God uses us in spite of our sinfulness and brokenness.  

Point #2:  Failure to forgive will kill you!" 
Eph. 4:32 - Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you!

Heb. 12:1 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses...."

Holding grudges when hurt:   We need help daily to overcome!   Matt. 6:12-15  (Lord's Prayer)  

Unfortunately, with some people it is way easier to hold a grudge, then to forgive and let it go.

Paul and Mark did reconcile.  (See Col. 4:10, 2 Tim. 4:11)  Paul would go on to be the greatest Christian missionary.   Mark would serve closely with Peter 1 Pet. 5;13, and probably wrote the book of Mark as Peter's account of Jesus' life.

Point #3.  Make sure it's Jesus you are following! - not people.  People will let you down.

Acts 13:14-16
Paul's credentials:  tribe of Benjamin, Pharisee, taught by Gamaliel, Damascus road encounter - received the gospel directly from Christ.

Quote from Adrian Rogers - "Paul went to Arabia with the writings of Moses, the prophets and the Psalms in his knapsack and came back with Galatians, Ephesians and Romans in his heart and mind"

Jesus said search the scriptures because they testify about me.  Paul was always studying them.  2 Tim. 4:13

Point #4.  There is no off-season to ministry.
2 Tim. 4:2 - Preach the Word... Be ready in season and out of season.
1 Pet. 3:15 - always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for the hope that is in you ... with gentleness and respect.  The best way to do this is spend time with God.  Is a miserable place to be in when trying to share the Lord with someone if haven't spent time with the Lord.

Point #5.  Create opportunities to serve God 
Not random.  Use strategy.  Paul visited the tabernacle.  Jews gathered there.  As visiting rabbi, he was asked to share a word in the tabernacle.   Was customary. 
Acts 13:17-41 - Paul summarizes Jewish History and uses the Old Testament to show Jesus is the Christ.

Acts 13:42-52  - Salvation through Jesus Christ is open to all, but when message rejected by the Jews, Paul turned his focus to the Gentiles.  The church today is predominantly Gentile. 
However is coming a time when there will be a great revival among the Jewish people. 
John 14:6 - Jews must enter through this gate as well.

When you fight for Jesus, you're certain to run into the enemy.
Jesus = Redeemer, author of Truth, Life more abundantly   
Satan = Accuser, Father of Lies, Steal, kill, destroy

Point #6 Don't let the enemy call the shots   There is a dividing line when you follow Jesus.

Closing Scripture:  Gal. 6:7-10