"Dawn for the Nation" TRANSCRIPT
T h e S e rm o n s o f D a n D u n c a n A c ts 1 3 :1 -1 2
A c ts
" D a w n fo r th e N a tio n "
T R A N S C R IP T
[M e s s a g e ] If y o u n o tic e in y o u r a n n o u n c e m e n ts , w e h a v e a b o o k b y M a rtin L u th e r fo r th e m o n th o f J u ly . T h e J u ly b o o k o f th e m o n th is th e B o n d a g e o f th e W ill . T h a t's L u th e r's m a gn u m o p u s . I ju s t fin is h e d re a d in g it a b o u t a m o n th a g o . I re a d it b a c k in s e m in a ry , b u t th a t w a s s o m e 2 5 y e a rs g o a n d I d e c id e d to re a d it a g a in , s o I re a d it a lo n g w ith a b o o k o n L u th e r's th e o lo g y a n d p ro f ite d g re a tly f ro m it, e n jo y e d it. I re c o m m e n d it to y o u . Y o u o u g h t to re a d th e c la s s ic s s u c h a s th a t, a n d th a t's a g o o d o n e to b e g in w ith . If y o u h a v e n 't re a d it, g e t a h o ld o f it a n d re a d L u th e r's B o n d a g e o f th e W ill . Y o u m ig h t fin d it d iffic u lt in p a rts , b u t th a t's o k a y . It's a lw a y s g o o d to b e c h a lle n g e d a little b it in o u r th in k in g . W e ll, w e 'll try to d o th a t w ith o u r te x t, w h ic h is A c ts c h a p te r 1 3 . N o w w e 're g o in g to lo o k th is m o rn in g a t v e rs e s 1-1 2 . P a u l a n d B a rn a b a s h a d b e e n to J e ru s a le m . T h e y h a d ta k e n a g ift fo r th e fa m in e re lie f. T h e re w a s a fa m in e , y o u 'll re m e m b e r, th a t A g a b u s th e p ro p h e t f o r e to ld th a t w o u ld c o m e u p o n th e R o m a n w o r ld . A n d s o o u t o f c o n c e rn f o r th e b e lie v e rs in th e m o th e r c h u rc h in J e ru s a le m , th e y s e n t a g if t. P a u l - o r S a u l - a n d B a rn a b a s to o k it d o w n to th e m a n d th e y re tu rn e d w ith J o h n M a rk . A n d n o w w e re a d in v e rs e 1 3 th e re - o r ra th e r, in c h a p te r - c h a p te r 1 3 in v e rs e 1 - v e rs e 1 o f c h a p te r - rig h t h e re in th e te x t. " N o w th e re w e re a t A n tio c h , in th e c h u rc h th a t w a s th e re , p ro p h e ts a n d te a c h e rs : B a rn a b a s , a n d S im e o n w h o w a s c a ll e d N ig e r,
-2"Dawn for the Nation" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
a n d L u c iu s o f C y re n e , a n d M a n a e n w h o h a d b e e n b ro u g h t u p w ith H e ro d th e te tra rc h , a n d S a u l. W h ile th e y w e re m in is te rin g to th e L o rd a n d f a s tin g , th e H o ly S p irit s a id , 'S e t a p a rt f o r m e B a rn a b a s a n d S a u l f o r th e w o r k to w h ic h I h a v e c a lle d th e m .' T h e n , w h e n th e y h a d f a s te d a n d p ra y e d a n d la id th e ir h a n d s o n th e m , th e y s e n t th e m a w a y . " S o , b e in g s e n t o u t b y th e H o ly S p irit, th e y w e n t d o w n to S e le u c ia a n d fro m th e re th e y s a ile d to C y p ru s . W h e n th e y re a c h e d S a la m is , th e y b e g a n to p ro c la im th e w o rd o f G o d in th e s y n a g o g u e o f th e J e w s ; a n d th e y a ls o h a d J o h n a s th e ir h e lp e r. W h e n th e y h a d g o n e th ro u g h th e w h o le is la n d a s f a r a s P a p h o s , th e y f o u n d a m a g ic ia n , a J e w is h fa ls e p ro p h e t w h o s a m e w a s B a r-J e s u s , w h o w a s w ith th e p ro c o n s u l, S e rg iu s P a u lu s , a m a n o f in te llig e n c e . T h is m a n s u m m o n e d B a rn a b a s a n d S a u l a n d s o u g h t to h e a r th e w o rd o f G o d . B u t E ly m a s th e m a g ic ia n (f o r s o h is n a m e is tra n s la te d ) w a s o p p o s in g th e m , s e e k in g to tu rn th e p ro c o n s u l a w a y fro m th e fa ith . B u t S a u l, w h o w a s a ls o k n o w n a s P a u l, f il le d w ith th e H o ly S p irit, f ix e d h is g a z e o n h im a n d s a id , 'Y o u w h o a re f u ll o f a ll d e c e it a n d f ra u d , y o u s o n o f th e d e v il, y o u e n e m y o f a ll rig h te o u s n e s s , w ill y o u n o t c e a s e to m a k e c ro o k e d th e s tra ig h t w a y s o f th e L o rd ? N o w , b e h o ld , th e h a n d o f th e L o rd is u p o n y o u , a n d y o u w ill b e b lin d a n d n o t s e e th e s u n fo r a tim e .' A n d im m e d ia te ly a m is t a n d a d a rk n e s s f e ll u p o n h im , a n d h e w e n t a b o u t s e e k in g th o s e w h o w o u ld le a d h im b y th e h a n d . T h e n th e p ro c o n s u l b e lie v e d w h e n h e s a w w h a t h a d h a p p e n e d , b e in g a m a z e d a t th e te a c h in g o f th e L o rd ." M a y th e L o rd b le s s th is re a d in g o f H is w o rd in o u r tim e o f s tu d y to g e th e r. L e t's p ra y . [P ra y e r] F a th e r, w e d o th a n k Y o u fo r th is tim e to g e th e r. It is a b le s s in g to g a th e r to g e th e r w ith th e s a in ts , w ith th e b e lie v e rs o f J e s u s C h ris t, b o th y o u n g a n d o ld , w h o a re th e re c ip ie n ts o f Y o u r s o v e re ig n g ra c e a n d w e d o th a n k y o u fo r th a t. W e le a rn a b o u t th a t fro m o u r te x t, h o w Y o u s e n d o u t Y o u r w o rd a n d h o w Y o u g a th e r y o u r s a in ts to Y o u rs e lf, Y o u r p e o p le , Y o u r s h e e p w h o a re s c a tte re d a b roa d , a n d Y o u b rin g th e m to a k n o w le d g e o f Y o u rs e lf a n d in to Y o u r fa m ily , m a k in g
-3"Dawn for the Nation" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
th e m re c ip ie n ts o f e te rn a l lif e , a n d th a t is w h a t w e a re , w h o h a v e b e lie v e d in J e s u s C h ris t. W e h a v e re c e iv e d g ra c e fro m Y o u . W e h a v e lif e e v e rla s tin g . W e h a v e a n in h e rita n c e th a t c a n n o t f a d e a w a y . A n d F a th e r, th a t s h o u ld p u t a ll o f life in p e rs p e c tiv e . W e f a c e d if f ic u ltie s in lif e . W e a lw a y s w ill. L if e is n o t e a s y , a n d it's n o t e a s y f o r th e C h ris tia n . W e f a c e s tru g g le s . W e s e e th a t in o u r te x t th is m o rn in g . B u t a ll th in g s a re w o rk in g to g e th e r fo r o u r g o o d a n d th e y w ill a ll is s u e in to th a t g re a t d a y w h e n w e a re in Y o u r p re s e n c e fo re v e r a n d fo re v e r, a n d w e w ill e n jo y th e s ig h t o f Y o u r S o n a n d w e w ill e x p e rie n c e jo y u n im a g in a b le th a t w ill n e v e r e n d . W e ll, F a th e r, w e p ra y th a t Y o u 'd g iv e u s p e rs p e c tiv e w ith th a t tru th a n d th a t Y o u w o u ld b le s s u s a s w e s tu d y o u r te x t th is m o rn in g a n d th a t Y o u w ill te a c h u s w h a t Y o u w o u ld h a v e u s to le a rn . W e a re a b le s s e d p e o p le . W e n o t o n ly p o s s e s s th e w o rd o f G o d , w h ic h is a n in h e re n t, w h ic h is Y o u r m in d re v e a le d to u s , th a t s p e a k s to u s a b o u t Y o u rs e lf a n d a b o u t o u rs e lv e s . W e h a v e a g o o d te a c h e r. W e h a v e a p e rfe c t te a c h e r in th e H o ly S p irit, w h o s e p re s e n c e in o u r liv e s , w h o is th e s e a l u p o n o u r h e a rt, w h o lite ra lly d w e lls w ith in u s a n d is o u r g u id e a n d o u r p ro te c to r a n d o u r te a c h e r, a n d w e p ra y th a t H is m in is try w o u ld g o u n h in d e re d th is m o rn in g , th a t o u r h e a rts w o u ld b e o p e n to Y o u r tru th a n d th a t th e S p irit o f G o d w o u ld g u id e u s in o u r th in k in g a n d b u ild u s u p in th e f a ith . W e k n o w th a t H e w ill. Y o u h a v e p ro m is e d u s in th e b o o k o f Is a ia h th a t w h e n Y o u r w o rd g o e s fo rth it w ill n o t re tu rn to Y o u e m p ty a n d it w ill n o t re tu rn e m p ty th is m o rn in g . W e p ra y to b e b u ilt u p in th e fa ith . B le s s u s m a te ria lly , p h y s ic a lly a s w e ll, F a th e r. W e th a n k Y o u f o r a ll th e g if ts Y o u g iv e u s . Y o u b le s s u s a b u n d a n tly b e y o n d a ll th a t w e a s k o r th in k . E v e ry g o o d a n d p e rfe c t g ift c o m e s d o w n fro m a b o v e a n d w e e n jo y m u c h . W e e n jo y it s o m u c h , s o f re q u e n tly , s o re g u la rly , th a t w e o f te n f o rg e t th a t it c o m e s f ro m Y o u a n d w e ta k e th in g s f o r g ra n te d . M a y w e n o t d o th a t. M a y w e b e g ra te fu l m e n a n d w o m e n a n d th a n k Y o u f o r a ll th a t Y o u 'v e g iv e n u s .
-4"Dawn for the Nation" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
W e th a n k Y o u f o r th is tim e to g e th e r. W e p ra y Y o u 'd b le s s it. W e p ra y th a t Y o u w o u ld b le s s o u r tim e to g e th e r th is e v e n in g w h e n w e re tu rn a n d c e le b ra te th e L o rd 's s u p p e r a n d re m e m b e r H is firs t c o m in g a n d H is d e a th f o r u s , a n d re m e m b e r th a t H e 's c o m in g a g a in . B le s s u s th e n , b le s s u s n o w , b le s s u s a s w e s in g o u r f in a l h y m n . M a y it p re p a re u s w e ll fo r a tim e o f s tu d y to g e th e r. W e p ra y in C h ris t n a m e . A m e n . [M e s s a g e ] W e a re a ll f a m ilia r w ith e x p re s s io n s lik e " C h ris tia n la m b s " a n d " a C h ris tia n n a tio n ," o r " o u r C h ris tia n h e rita g e ," e x p re s s io n s th a t a p p ly to th e w e s te rn c o u n trie s o f E u ro p e a n d A m e ric a , a n d e x p re s s io n s th a t m a y s u g g e s t s o m e s a tis fa c tio n o r e ve n p rid e in o u rs e lv e s a n d o u r p a s t, b u t e x p re s s io n s th a t a re le s s tru e th a n m a n y m ig h t w a n t to b e lie v e . T h e w e s t, it is tru e , h a s b e e n g re a tly b le s s e d w ith th e lig h t o f th e g o s p e l. B u t it's n o t a lw a y s b e e n s o . O u r h e rita g e is re a lly n o t C h ris tia n a t a ll. It's p a g a n . B e n ja m in D is ra e li, th e P rim a ry M in is te r o f E n g la n d d u rin g V ic to ria 's re ig n p u t th in g s in p ro p e r p e rs p e c tiv e w h e n h e re s p o n d e d to th e a n ti-s e m a n tic ta u n t o f a p o litic a l o p p o n e n t. H e s a id , " Y e s , I a m a J e w , a n d w h e n th e a n c e s to rs o f th e rig h t h o n o ra b le g e n tle m a n w e re b ru ta l s a v a g e s in a n u n k n o w n is la n d , m in e w e re p rie s ts in th e te m p le o f S o lo m o n ." N o w th a t's a h e rita g e . A n d o u rs m ig h t s till b e th a t o f s a v a g e s in th e w ild w e s t a n d n o t th e g o s p e l c o m e to o u r a n c e s to rs . T h e y w e re to b o rro w f ro m W e s le y 's h y m n , " F a s t b o u n d in s in a n d n a tu re 's n ig h t." B u t th e g o s p e l d id c o m e , a n d w ith it c a m e a s p iritu a l d a w n fo r th e n a tio n s . T h a t is th e s to ry o f A c ts 1 3 . It is a tu rn in g p o in t in th e b o o k o f A c ts . It b e g in s a n e w s e c tio n in th e b o o k w ith th e a c c o u n t o f a n e w o u tw a rd e x p a n s io n o f th e g o s p e l. U p to th is p o in t, th e a c tiv ity o f th e c h u rc h h a s m a in ly b e e n in th e re g io n s o f J u d e a a n d S a m a ria , a n d it h a s la rg e ly b e e n a m is s io n to th e J e w s . D u rin g th is tim e th e f o u n d a tio n s o f th e c h u r c h h a d b e e n la id . B u t J e s u s a ls o to ld H is d is c ip le s to g o b e y o n d J u d e a a n d S a m a ria a n d b e H is w itn e s s e s to th e re m o te s t p a rt o f th e e a rth . In o th e r w o rd s , g o o u t a n d p re a c h th e g o s p e l to th e G e n tile s . A fe w
-5"Dawn for the Nation" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
p e o p le h a d a v is io n fo r th a t. S o m e J e w is h tra v e le rs to A n tio c h b e g a n s p e a k in g to G re e k s . W e s a w th a t b a c k in c h a p te r 1 1 , a n d th e re s u lt o f th a t is a c h u rc h w a s e s ta b lis h e d th e re in A n tio c h . It g re w in s iz e . It a ls o g re w in im p o rta n c e , s o th a t w h e n w e c o m e to c h a p te r 1 3 o f th e b o o k o f A c ts , th e c e n te r o f C h ris tia n a c tiv ity h a s s h ifte d fro m J e ru s a le m to A n tio c h . A n d it is th e re a t th e c h u rc h o f A n tio c h th a t th e m is s io n o f th e c h u rc h w id e n s to in c lu d e th e w h o le w o rld . A n e w w o rk b e g in s w ith a n e w le a d in g fig u re . In th e firs t p a rt o f th e b o o k , th e firs t 1 2 c h a p te rs , th e le a d in g f ig u r e o f th e b o o k w a s th e a p o s tle P e te r . W e s a w h im o n th e d a y o f P e n te c o s t in c h a p te r 2 . W e 'd s e e n h im p re a c h in v a rio u s p la c e s - in th e h o u s e h o ld o f C o rn e liu s in c h a p te r 1 2 ; w e s a w la s t w e e k h is re le a s e f r o m p r is o n . H e h a s b e e n th e le a d in g f ig u r e th r o u g h o u t th e f ir s t p a r t o f th is b o o k . N o w it c h a n g e s . N o w it w ill b e P a u l a s h e g o e s o u t o n h is m is s io n a ry jo u rn e y s a n d p re a c h e s th e g o s p e l to th e G e n tile s in th e w e s te rn la n d s . T h e c h u rc h o f A n tio c h w a s w e ll s u ite d to b e th e s p rin g b o a rd fo r w o rld m is s io n s . W e g e t a se n s e o f th a t f ro m th e d e s c rip tio n g iv e n o f h is m in is te rs in v e rs e 1 . It w a s w e ll ta u g h t. A p p a re n tly it w a s w e ll in te g ra te d , a k in d o f m ic ro c o s m , a c ro s ss e c tio n o f th e w o rld a n d o f th e u n iv e rs a l c h u rc h , b e c a u s e th e c h u rc h is c o m p o s e d o f a ll k in d s o f p e o p le f r o m a ll w a lk s o f lif e , s o m e f r o m e v e ry trib e a n d to n g u e a n d p e o p le a n d n a tio n , a n d w e g e t a s e n s e o f th a t f ro m th e f iv e m e n w h o m L u k e lis ts h e re in v e rs e 1 . T h e y a re id e n tif ie d a s p ro p h e ts a n d te a c h e rs a n d th e y w e re re m a rk a b le m e n . A t le a s t tw o o f th e m w e re . T h e f irs t a n d th e la s t w e a re a lre a d y f a m ilia r w ith - B a rn a b a s a n d S a u l. T h e o th e r th re e a re n o t k n o w n to u s , b u t w e w o u ld c e rta in ly lik e to k n o w m o re a b o u t th e m . A n d s o s p e c u la tio n h a s g ro w n u p a ro u n d th e s e m e n . F o r e x a m p le , th e s e c o n d lis te d , S im e o n w h o w a s c a lle d N ig e r, h a s b e e n th e s u b je c t o f a lo t o f s p e c u la tio n . H is L a tin n ic k n a m e , N ig e r, m e a n s b la c k , s u g g e s tin g th a t h e w a s a m a n o f b la c k s k in . S o m e h a v e th o u g h t th a t h e m ig h t h a v e b e e n S im o n o f C y re n e ,
-6"Dawn for the Nation" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
w h o c a rrie d th e L o rd 's c ro s s u p to C a lv a ry . T h a t's n o t lik e ly , b u t h e m a y h a v e b e e n a n A f ric a n . A n tio c h w a s a c o s m o p o lita n to w n . T h e n e x t m a n lis te d w a s f ro m C y re n e , in N o rth A f ric a . H e w a s L u c iu s . A n d s in c e it w a s m e n f ro m C y p ru s a n d C y re n e w h o f irs t b ro u g h t th e g o s p e l to A n tio c h a n d s p o k e to th e G re e k s , L u c iu s m a y h a v e b e e n o n e o f th o s e o rig in a l m is s io n a rie s . If s o , h e s ta y e d o n to c o n tin u e to m in is te r to th e c h u rc h th e re a n d h e h e lp e d it to g ro w s tro n g . L u c iu s is a L a tin n a m e a n d w a s a c o m m o n n a m e in th e R o m a n w o rld . S o h e w a s e v id e n tly a m a n w h o w a s ra is e d in a R o m a n c u ltu re . W e h a v e a c ro s s -s e c tio n o f p e o p le h e re . W e h a v e a J e w is h m a n , th is th re e th a t w e k n o w o f f o r s u re ; p ro b a b ly f o u r. T h e y h a v e p o s s ib ly a n A fric a n m a n . W e h a v e o n e w h o is o f a R o m a n c u ltu re , L u c iu s . A n d th e n th e f o u rth le a d e r is p a rtic u la rly in te re s tin g - M a n a e n , w h o is d e s c rib e d a s h a v in g b e e n b ro u g h t u p w ith H e ro d th e te tra rc h , w h ic h is a re f e re n c e to H e ro d A n tip a s . H e 's th e H e ro d th a t w e 're f a m ilia r w ith f r o m th e g o s p e ls . H e w a s th e y o u n g e s t s o n o f H e r o d th e G r e a t. H e ru le d G a lile e d u rin g th e L o rd 's m in is try . H e b e h e a d e d J o h n th e B a p tis t. It w a s b e fo re th is H e ro d th a t th e L o rd s to o d d u rin g H is tria l. H e 's th e m a n w h o J e s u s c a lle d th a t fo x . W e ll, M a n a e n g re w u p w ith h im . H e w a s a n a d o p te d b ro th e r, o r a f o s te r b ro th e r, a n d a ro y a l p rin c e . H e k n e w H e ro d , k n e w h im a s a b ro th e r, k n e w h im q u ite w e ll. S o M a n a e n w a s p ro b a b ly th e s o u rc e fo r m u c h o f th e in f o rm a tio n th a t L u k e w a s g iv e n a b o u t th e H e ro d f a m ily . A n d h e is a ls o a n illu s tra tio n o f th e m y s te ry o f d iv in e g ra c e . It is s o v e re ig n . T w o b o y s g ro w u p to g e th e r in th e s a m e h o u s e h o ld . T h e y a re s u b je c t to th e s a m e in f lu e n c e s . O n e o b ta in s a s a C h ris tia n le a d e r, th e o th e r d is h o n o r f o r h is d is g ra c e f u l lif e . O n e is s a v e d , th e o th e r is lo s t, lik e J a c o b a n d E s a u . H e d o e s n o t d e p e n d o n th e m a n w h o w ills o r th e m a n w h o ru n s , b u t o n G o d w h o h a s m e rc y , R o m a n s 9 :1 6 . M a n a e n is a m o n u m e n t to th a t. H e 's a m o n u m e n t to G o d 's s o v e re ig n g ra c e a n d h e is a re m in d e r o f th e p o w e r o f th e g o s p e l. In th is c o n te x t, I c a n 't h e lp b u t th in k o f th e g o s p e l a s b e in g lik e th e
-7"Dawn for the Nation" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
liz a rd th a t s o f a s c in a te d S o lo m o n in P ro v e rb s 3 0 :2 8 . H e s a id th a t y o u c a n g ra b th e liz a rd w ith th e h a n d , " y e t it is in k in g s ' p a la c e s ." Y o u c a n 't k e e p it o u t. Y o u c a n c a tc h th e m . A n d if Y o u 'v e b e e n to J e ru s a le m , y o u k n o w th a t th e re a re liz a rd s o n th e s to n e w a lls a n d o n th e b u ild in g s , a n d n o d o u b t in S o lo m o n 's d a y h e f o u n d m a n y o f th e m o n th e w a lls o f h is p a la c e . H e c o u ld g ra b th e m , b u t h e c o u ld n o t k e e p th e m o u t. A n d th e y fin d th e ir w a y s in to th e m o s t g u a rd e d a n d s e c u re o f a ll p la c e s . W e ll, th a t is v e ry m u c h th e w a y it is w ith th e g o s p e l. It g o e s w h e re it w is h e s . It c a n n o t b e k e p t o u t. It e v e n g o e s in to th e m o s t g u a rd e d p la c e s , b e c a u s e it g o e s w h e re G o d w ills it to g o . It e n te re d in to H e ro d 's p a la c e . L a te r o n P a u l w ill w rite to th e P h ilip p ia n s f ro m R o m e a n d s e n d th e m g re e tin g s f ro m C a e s a r's h o u s e h o ld . M e n th in k th a t th e y c a n c ru s h th e g o s p e l. T h e y th in k th a t th e y c a n s n u f f it o u t, th a t th e y m ig h t g ra b it lik e th e y g ra b a liz a rd , b u t th e y c a n 't d o th a t. T h e y c a n 't re s tra in it. It e v e n g e ts in to k in g s ' p a la c e s . T h a t's g ra c e . T h a t's s o v e re ig n irre s is tib le g ra c e . T h a t's th e g o s p e l. G o d d ire c ts it w h e re H e w ills it to g o a n d it g o e s th e re w ith g re a t e ffe c t. It e n te re d th e h o u s e h o ld o f H e ro d h im s e lf a n d it s a v e d th is m a n M a n a e n . In f a c t, a ll o f th e s e le a d e rs o f th e c h u rc h o f A n tio c h h a d b e e n b le s s e d w ith g ra c e . In fa c t, th e y 'd b e e n b le s s e d w ith g ra c e u p o n g ra c e , b e c a u s e th e y n o t o n ly h a d re c e iv e d th e g re a te s t g ift o f a ll, s a lv a tio n , e te rn a l life , b u t th e y 'd re c e iv e d g re a t g ift. T h e y w e re p ro p h e ts a n d te a c h e rs . N o w , th e s e a re s p iritu a l g ifts . T h e s e a re n o t o ffic e s in th e c h u rc h . T h e re a re f o u r o f f ic e s in th e c h u rc h . T h e f irs t b e lo n g s to c h u rc h . H e is th e g re a t s h e p h e rd o f th e s h e e p . H e is th e le a d e r. H e is th e o n e w h o g u id e s u s . T h e n e x t o f f ic e is th a t o f e ld e r , o r u n d e rs h e p h e rd . T h e re a re a p a ra ly ty o f th e s e . E ld e rs d o p a s to ra l w o rk , b u t n o o n e e ld e r is th e p a s to r o f th e c h u rc h . A n d it's n o t a n o ffic e in th e c h u rc h . T h a t is w h a t C h ris t is . H e is th e p a s to r. H e is th e g re a t s h e p h e rd o f th e s h e e p . E ld e rs g iv e s p iritu a l g u id a n c e . T h e y g iv e
-8"Dawn for the Nation" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
o v e rs ig h t s p iritu a lly fo r th e c h u rc h , b u t th e y d o th a t u n d e r th e L o rd 's h e a d s h ip . A n d th e y d o th a t, th e y m in is te r w ith th e h e lp o f d e a c o n s . T h a t's th e th ird o f f ic e . N o t e v e ry o n e is a n e ld e r. N o t e v e ry o n e is a d e a c o n . In f a c t, n o n e o f th e s e fiv e m e n is id e n tifie d a s e ith e r a n e ld e r o r a d e a c o n . T h e y w e re g ifte d m e n , w h o w ith th e ir g ifts s e rv e d th e b o d y o f C h ris t. A n d a ll o f u s c a n d o th a t in s o m e w a y , b e c a u s e a ll o f u s a re b e lie v e r p rie s ts , a n d th a t is th e fo u rth o ffic e o f th e c h u rc h . C h ris t h a s m a d e u s a k in g d o m o f p rie s ts . A n d w e a ll h a v e a s p iritu a l s e rv ic e to p e rfo rm . H e h a s g iv e n e a c h o f u s a g ift s o th a t w e c a n d o th a t, a n d H e w ill s u p p ly th e g ra c e to d o it e f f e c tiv e ly . T h e p a tte rn fo r m in is try in th e c h u rc h h a s a lw a y s b e e n a n e v e ry -m e m b e r m in is try . It is n o t a o n e -m a n m in is try . T h a t's h o w th e c h u rc h f u n c tio n s a s a b o d y , e v e ry o n e d o in g h is o r h e r p a rt. E v e ry o n e o f u s h a s a f u n c tio n to p e r f o r m , ju s t a s e v e r y m e m b e r o f th e b o d y h a s its im p o rta n t f u n c tio n to p e rf o rm . T h e re a re n o id le m e m b e rs o f th e b o d y , n o t w h e n a b o d y is h e a lth y a n d is fu n c tio n in g n o rm a lly , a n d th a t is th e c a s e w ith th e lo c a l c h u rc h . E v e ry o n e o f u s a re to b e p a rtic ip a tin g in its a c tiv ity , in its m in is try . W e a ll h a v e a p a rt to p la y . N o w th a t's s u g g e s te d h e re w ith th e s e fiv e m e n . It is n o t o n e m a n c a rry in g th e lo a d . W e h a v e f iv e m e n h e re w h o w e re g ifte d , e ith e r a s p ro p h e ts o r a s te a c h e rs . P ro p h e ts w e re g iv e n to th e c h u rc h to g iv e d iv in e re v e la tio n . T h is w a s a tim e w h e n th e re w a s n o N e w T e s ta m e n t. T h e y h a d th e O ld T e s ta m e n t. T h e y h a d th e f irs t b o o k s o f th e B ib le , b u t th e w ritin g s o f th e n e w c o v e n a n t, th e N e w T e s ta m e n t, h a d n o t y e t b e g u n . T h e re w e re n o le tte rs , th e re w e re n o g o s p e ls , b u t th e y h a d p ro p h e ts to g iv e G o d 's d ire c tio n a n d G o d 's w o rd . S o th e p ro p h e ts g a v e th e re v e la tio n o f G o d a n d th e n G o d s u p p lie d th e c h u rc h w ith te a c h e rs to e x p la in th a t re v e la tio n . N o w w e re a d in v e rs e th a t th e y w e re u s in g th e ir g ifts . T h e y w e re m in is te rin g to th e L o rd a n d f a s tin g , w h ic h p ro b a b ly d e s c rib e s s e rv ic e a t th e m e e tin g o f th e c h u rc h . T h a t's s u g g e s te d b y th a t w o rd " m in is te rin g ," b e c a u s e it h a s th e s ig n if ic a n c e o f s e rv in g in a p rie s tly
-9"Dawn for the Nation" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
w a y in re g a rd to w o rs h ip . It's u s e d , fo r e x a m p le , in L u k e 1 :2 3 o f th e p rie s tly s e rv ic e a t th e te m p le . S o it w a s d u rin g th e m e e tin g o f th e c h u rc h w h ile th e y w e re w o rs h ip p in g th a t w e re a d th e H o ly S p irit s a id , " S e t a p a rt fro m M e B a rn a b a s a n d S a u l fo r th e w o rk to w h ic h I h a v e c a lle d th e m ." It w a s a n e w a n d u rg e n t d ire c tiv e fro m G o d a n d o n e th a t g iv e s u s a g lim p s e in to th e m e e tin g o f th e e a rly c h u rc h , a s w e ll a s s o m e im p o rta n t p rin c ip le s fo r C h ris tia n liv in g . W h a t it te lls u s a b o u t th e c h u rc h m e e tin g is th a t it w a s s tru c tu re d s u c h a w a y th a t it w a s o p e n to th e g o v e rn in g a c tiv ity o f th e S p irit. T h e c h u rc h c e le b ra te d th e L o rd 's s u p p e r w e e k ly a n d e x e rc is e d its g if ts . P a u l g iv e s a d e s c rip tio n o f th e m e e tin g o f th e c h u rc h in 1 C o rin th ia n s 1 4 :2 6 . W h e n th e y c a m e to g e th e r h e w rite s e v e ry o n e h a d a p s a lm o r a re v e la tio n , a p ro p h e c y , a n d a n in te rp re ta tio n , m u c h th e w a y w e m e e t o n S u n d a y e v e n in g s h e re w h e n w e c e le b ra te th e L o rd 's s u p p e r a n d v a rio u s m e n w h o a re g if te d to d o s o s ta n d a n d s p e a k , o r s o m e s ta n d a n d p ra y o r a s k fo r a h y m n . S o it h a s s tru c tu re , b u t a ls o f le x ib ility . A n d o n th is o c c a s io n o n e o f th e p ro p h e ts s to o d a n d g a v e a d iv in e u tte ra n c e . It d o n 't s a y th a t a p ro p h e t s to o d , b u t th e w o rd o f G o d c a m e a n d th a t s e e m s th e m o s t lik e ly w a y in w h ic h it w o u ld h a v e c o m e in lig h t o f th e s tru c tu re o f th e e a rly c h u rc h m e t. H e s to o d a n d g a v e th is u tte ra n c e a t th e d ire c tio n o f th e H o ly S p irit, w h o d ire c te d th e le a d e rs o f th e c h u rc h to s e t a p a rt B a rn a b a s a n d S a u l f o r a s p e c ia l w o rk . T h a t g iv e s u s s o m e in s ig h t in to h o w th e H o ly S p irit le a d s H is p e o p le , w h ic h is a lw a y s a c o n c e rn o f C h ris tia n s , k n o w in g th e w ill o f G o d . A n d w h a t is c le a r fro m th is in c id e n t is w e le a rn th e w ill o f G o d f r o m th e w o r d o f G o d . H e g a v e th e c h u r c h r e v e la tio n a n d w e h a v e th a t re v e la tio n n o w fu lly in th e B ib le . T h e B ib le w a s in th e p ro c e s s o f b e in g fin is h e d in th is d a y . It is c o m p le te d in o u r d a y . T h e C a n o n is c lo s e d a n d w e h a v e H is re v e la tio n a n d it is s u ffic ie n t fo r o u r d a ily liv e s .
- 10 "Dawn for the Nation" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
It's o fte n b e e n s a id th a t th e e v a n g e lic a l c h u rc h to d a y d o e s n 't s e e m to h a v e a d iffic u lty w ith th e fa c t th a t th e B ib le is G o d 's in h e re n t w o rd . W e ta lk e d to th e a v e ra g e e v a n g e lic a l C h ris tia n , th e y w ill s a y , " Y e s , I b e lie v e t h a t th e B ib le is in h e re n t. I b e lie v e it's G o d 's w o rd ." T h e p ro b le m is th a t m e n to d a y , p e o p le to d a y , d o n 't th in k th a t it is s u ffic ie n t fo r th e ir d a ily liv e s . It's in s p ire d , b u t it's n o t s u ffic ie n t. A n d y e t th e fa c t is th a t th e w o rd o f G o d is s u ffic ie n t, a b s o lu te ly s u ffic ie n t f o r o u r d a ily liv e s . M a n d o e s n o t liv e b y b r e a d a lo n e , b u t b y e v e r y w o rd th a t p ro c e e d s fro m th e m o u th o f G o d . A n d w e le a rn G o d 's w o rd a n d G o d 's w ill th ro u g h s tu d y . W e le a rn it th ro u g h p e rs o n a l s tu d y . W e le a rn it b y p ic k in g it u p d a ily a n d re a d in g it a n d p o n d e rin g it a n d th in k in g a b o u t it, a n d w e le a rn it a s it is m in is te re d to u s d u rin g th e m e e tin g o f th e c h u rc h . T h a t's h o w it h a p p e n e d in A n tio c h . T h e L o rd s p e a k s to u s in th e w a y . H e g iv e s u n d e rs ta n d in g a n d H e g iv e s in n e r c o n v ic tio n a b o u t is s u e s th ro u g h th e m in is try o f H is w o rd . Y o u w a n t to h e a r G o d 's v o ic e ? D o y o u w a n t G o d to s p e a k to Y o u ? W e ll, o f c o u rs e y o u d o . I k n o w th a t y o u w a n t to h e a r th e v o ic e o f G o d , b u t if y o u w a n t to h e a r th e v o ic e o f G o d , th e n y o u h a v e to b e w h e re th a t v o ic e i s a n d H is v o ic e is in th e S c rip tu re s . It's u n d e r th e m in is try o f H is w o rd a n d w ith H is p e o p le w h e n th e y w o rs h ip . T h a t's w h e re H e g iv e s u s u n d e rs ta n d in g a n d in n e r c o n v ic tio n a b o u t is s u e s a n d d ire c tio n . S o w e 're to b e w h e re H is v o ic e is , w h e re w e h e a r H is w o rd , a n d w e a re to b e d o in g w h a t w e s h o u ld b e d o in g . It's w o rth n o tin g th a t P a u l a n d B a rn a b a s w e re d o in g th a t. T h e y w e re n 't id le m e n . T h e y w e re n 't p u z z lin g o v e r th e w ill o f G o d fo r th e ir liv e s a n d w o n d e rin g a b o u t th e ir f u tu re s . W e o f te n d o th a t. W e w o n d e r w h a t d o e s G o d w a n t m e to d o n e x t y e a r? W h a t d o e s H e w a n t m e to d o n e x t m o n th ? W h a t d o e s H e w a n t m e to d o to m o rro w ? A n d w e c a n a g o n iz e o v e r th a t. W e ll, th e y w e re n 't d o in g th a t. T h e y w e re a c tiv e in th e p re s e n t. T h e y w e re n 't w o rrie d s o m u c h a b o u t th e f u tu re . T h e ir c o n c e rn w a s fo r w h a t th e y s h o u ld b e d o in g to d a y w ith th e re s p o n s ib ilitie s th a t w e re th e irs , a n d s o th e y w e re m in is te rs . S o th e y k n e w w h a t G o d 's w ill w a s
- 11 "Dawn for the Nation" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
f o r th e m th a t d a y . I t's w h a t h a d b e e n f o r th e m th e p r e v io u s L o r d 's d a y f o r th e p a s t tw o y e a r s a n d th e y w e re c a rry in g o n th e ir m in is try , a n d it is a s w e a re d o in g th a t, a s w e a re d o in g f a ith f u l in th e th in g s o f th e L o rd , s e rv in g w h e re w e h a v e o p p o rtu n itie s , w h e th e r it b e in y o u r f a m ily a s a lo v in g h u s b a n d o r w if e , o r a s a g o o d p a r e n t, o r a s a g o o d c h ild a n d s tu d e n t, o r a s a d ilig e n t w o rk e r a t w o rk , o r a s in th is p la c e c a rry in g o u t th e m in is try th a t y o u h a v e a n d th e o p p o rtu n itie s y o u h a v e . It's a s w e d o th a t, a s w e ta k e th e o p p o rtu n itie s th a t w e h a v e , a s w e c a rry o u t th e re s p o n s ib ilitie s th a t a re o u rs th at G o d o p e n s d o o rs a n d s o m e tim e s u n e x p e c te d ly f o r f u rth e r s e rv ic e . T h a t's w h a t H e d id in th is c a s e . T h a t's w h a t H e d id w ith S a u l a n d B a rn a b a s . T h e y w e n t a b o u t th e ir b u s in e s s , d o in g w h a t th e y h a d d o n e e v e ry w e e k , w h a t w a s e x p e c te d o f th e m , w h a t th e y d e s ire d to d o , s e rv in g th e L o rd , a n d G o d o p e n e d a d o o r fo r th e m . H e d ire c te d th e le a d e rs to s e t th e m a p a rt. W e ll, in re s p o n s e to w h a t w a s c le a rly th e w ill o f G o d , th e c h u rc h s e n t P a u l a n d B a rn a b a s o f f w ith th e ir b le s s in g s . T h e y p ra y e d f o r th e m a n d la id th e ir h a n d s o n th e m . N o w th a t d id n 't in v e s t th e s e tw o m e n w ith a u th o rity . T h e y h a d th a t a u th o rity a lre a d y . T h e y h a d b e e n m in is te rin g th e re in A n tio c h fo r s o m e tw o y e a rs . T h is w a s n o t a n o rd in a tio n c e re m o n y . A n d th e y h a d th is a u th o rity to g o fo rth o n th is m is s io n f ro m th e L o rd H im s e lf . H e c o m m is s io n e d th e m . T h is w a s a d iv in e c o m m is s io n . B u t w h a t th e y h a d d o n e , w h a t th e c h u rc h h a d d o n e in th is m e e tin g , w a s id e n tif y w ith th e ir m is s io n . B y la y in g th e ir h a n d s u p o n th e m , th e y w e re s ig n if y in g th a t th e y id e n tif ie d w ith th e m th a t th e y s u p p o rte d th e m in th a t m is s io n . N o t e v e ry o n e c a n g o , b u t e v e ry o n e c a n h a v e a p a rt in th o s e w h o d o g o . T h e y c a n s u p p o rt th e m th ro u g h th e ir p ra y e rs , a s th e c h u rc h o f A n tio c h s u p p o rte d th e s e tw o m is s io n a rie s . T h a t's o n e w a y th a t y o u s h a re in th e m i n is try o f th is c h u rc h a n d th e m in is try o f th is p u lp it. Y o u r p ra y e rs a re in s tru m e n ta l in th e f a ith f u ln e s s a n d th e e f f e c tiv e n e s s o f th is m in is tr y . I o f te n h e a r f r o m
- 12 "Dawn for the Nation" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
y o u th a t y o u p ra y fo r m e d a ily , a n d I m u s t s a y th a t is o n e o f th e s tro n g e s t e n c o u ra g e m e n ts th a t I re c e iv e . A n d it is th e p ra y e rs o f th e s a in ts th a t w ill k e e p a m in is try s u c h a s th is fa ith fu l a n d s tro n g . T h is c h u rc h n e e d s th e p ra y e rs o f th e s a in ts . T h e e ld e rs n e e d th e p ra y e rs o f th e s a in ts . T h e d e a c o n s , th e te a c h e rs , w e a ll n e e d th e p ra y e rs o f o n e a n o th e r to b e b u ilt u p in th e f a ith a n d s tre n g th e n e d in th a t w a y . T h a t's y o u r m in is try . W e ll, it's th e m in is try th a t th is c h u rc h h a d w ith S a u l a n d B a rn a b a s , a n d it w a s w ith p ra y e r th a t th e c h u rc h s e n t th e m o ff. B u t n o w n o tic e v e rs e 4 . T h e y le ft A n tio c h , " b e in g s e n t o u t b y th e H o ly S p irit." T h e c h u rc h s e n t th e m , b u t th e S p irit s e n t th e m . T h e re 's n o c o n f u s io n h e re . T h e re is n o c o n tra d ic tio n b e tw e e n th e tw o s ta te m e n ts . T h e w o rd s f o r s in n e d a re d if f e re n t f ro m o n e a n o th e r. In v e rs e 3 , th e w o rd re a lly m e a n s " to re le a s e ," a n d th a t's w h a t th e c h u rc h d id . It re le a s e d P a u l a n d B a rn a b a s fro m th e m in is try in A n tio c h to g o o n th e ir m is s io n a b ro a d . It w a s th e S p irit w h o s e n t th e m o u t. It w a s th e L o rd 's in itia tiv e to th e G e n tile s , H is m is s io n , H is w o rk . It h a d to b e th a t if it w e re to b e s u c c e s s fu l. H a d B a rn a b a s a n d S a u l g o n e o u t o n th e ir o w n o r in th e a u th o rity o f th e c h u rc h a lo n e , w e ll, th e ir m is s io n w o u ld h a v e c o m e to n o th in g . S u c c e s s fu l m in is try is th e L o rd 's d o in g . S o a s a c h u rc h a n d a s in d iv id u a ls , w e m u s t b e v e ry s e n s itiv e to th e L o rd 's le a d in g , to H is s e n d in g , H is d ire c tio n . A n d w e c a n g o o u t w ith th e k n o w le d g e o f th a t w ith g re a t c o n fid e n c e , b e c a u s e n o th in g , n o th in g , c a n s ta n d in H is w a y . W e s a w th a t in c h a p te r 1 2 w ith P e te r's d e liv e ra n c e f ro m p ris o n . H is c h a in s f e ll o f f , h e p a s s e d b y th e g u a rd s , a n d th e iro n g a te s s w u n g o p e n f o r h im . T h a t's th e p o w e r o f G o d . T h a t's w h a t th e L o r d p r o m is e d H is d is c ip le s . B e fo re s e n d in g th e m o u t to th e fa r re a c h e s o f th e e a rth , h e s a id , " Y o u w ill re c e iv e p o w e r w h e n th e H o ly S p irit h a s c o m e u p o n y o u ." W e ll, th e H o ly S p irit h a s c o m e u p o n y o u th e m o m e n t o f f a ith . Y o u 're s e a le d w ith th e S p irit. T h e C h ris tia n liv e s in th e p o w e r o f th e H o ly S p irit, a n d th a t is p o w e r th a t o p e n s iro n g a te s . A n d it is w ith th a t
- 13 "Dawn for the Nation" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
c o n f id e n c e , th e c o n f id e n c e th a t th e H o ly S p irit w a s in th e m , th a t H e w a s d ire c tin g th e m , th a t H e w a s g u id in g th e m , th a t B a rn a b a s a n d S a u l le f t A n tio c h a s m is s io n a rie s . T h e y w e n t d o w n to th e p o rt o f S e le u c ia a n d th e y s a ile d w e s t a c ro s s th e M e d ite rra n e a n to th e is la n d o f C y p ru s . It w a s th e b e g in n in g o f P a u l's firs t m is s io n a ry jo u rn e y . Y o u m ig h t w o n d e r w h y th e y c h o s e to g o to C y p ru s . T e x t d o e s n 't s ta te w h y th e y c h o s e to g o th e re . It d o e s n 't te ll u s th a t th e H o ly S p irit d ire c te d th e m to g o th e re , th o u g h H e m a y h a v e d o n e th a t d u rin g th e p ra y e r m e e tin g th a t th e y h a d . B u t it w a s a lo g ic a l c h o ic e . C y p ru s is lo c a te d n o t fa r w e s t o f A n tio c h . J u s t s o u th o f th e c o a s t o f T u rk e y w a s a m e e tin g p la c e o f th e e a s t a n d th e w e s t o f G re e k s a n d J e w s . T h e is la n d w a s g o v e rn e d b y th e R o m a n s , a n d s o it h a d a R o m a n p re s e n c e , a n d it h a d a n u m b e r o f s y n a g o g u e s w h e re th e y c o u ld p re a c h . It w a s a ls o th e s e a t o f im m o ra l w o rs h ip , th e w o rs h ip o f A p h ro d ite , th e g o d d e s s o f lo v e , a n d s o it w a s a n e e d y p la c e . T h a t w a s re a s o n to g o to C y p ru s . B u t a ls o it w a s th e p la c e fro m w h ic h B a rn a b a s h a d c o m e . H e w a s a C y p rio te , a J e w is h m a n , b u t h e w a s fro m C y p ru s . H e h a d fa m ily th e re . H e h a d c o n ta c ts th e re . H e k n e w th e is la n d , a n d s o it w a s th e ir f ir s t s to p . T h e y a r r iv e d a t S a la m is , o n th e e a s t s id e o f th e is la n d . I t w a s o n e o f th e c h ie f to w n s o f C y p ru s , a c o m m e rc ia lly p ro s p e ro u s to w n w ith a la rg e J e w is h c o m m u n ity . A n d a s w a s P a u l's c u s to m , h e a n d B a rn a b a s firs t w e n t to th e s y n a g o g u e s a n d th e y p ro c la im e d th e w o rd of God. T h e re w e re a c tu a lly th re e o f th e m . T h e y h a d J o h n w ith th e m , k n o w n a s M a rk . A t th e e n d o f c h a p te r 1 2 , w h e n P a u l a n d B a rn a b a s re tu rn fro m J e ru s a le m , L u k e te lls u s th a t th e y b ro u g h t w ith th e m J o h n , w h o is a ls o k n o w n a s M a rk . A n d M a rk , w e 're to ld in th e b o o k o f C o lo s s ia n s , w a s B a rn a b a s ' c o u s in , w h o a p p a re n tly s h o w e d a g e n u in e in te r e s t in th e w o rk o f th e m in is try , a n d s o th e y b ro u g h t h im w ith th e m . L u k e c a lls h im th e ir h e lp e r, w h ic h m a y m e a n th a t h e to o k c a re o f th e ir p h y s ic a l n e e d s o r p e rh a p s th e ir tra v e l a rra n g e m e n ts , o r h e m a y
- 14 "Dawn for the Nation" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
h a v e h a d a p a rt in th e te a c h in g w o rk th a t th e y c o n d u c te d . B u t th e th re e o f th e m tra v e le d to g e th e r a n d fro m S a la m is th e y tra v e le d w e s t a c ro s s C y p ru s , p re a c h in g fro m s y n a g o g u e to s y n a g o g u e , u n til th e y c a m e to P a p h o s , a b o u t 9 0 m ile s o n th e o th e r s id e o f th e is la n d . T h is w a s th e R o m a n c a p ita l o f th e is la n d . A n d it w a s th e re th a t G o d o p e n e d a d o o r o f m in is try fo r th e m w ith th e g o v e rn o r o f th e is la n d , a m a n n a m e d S e rg iu s P a u lu s . L u k e c a lls h im a n in te llig e n t m a n in v e rs e 7 . H e w a s a th in k e r. A n d h a v in g h e a rd o f th e ir p re a c h in g , h e g a v e B a rn a b a s a n d S a u l a n d in v ita tio n to c o m e a n d s p e a k to h im a b o u t th e w o rd o f G o d . W h e n th e y d id , th e y m e t o p p o s itio n . It is th e f irs t re c o rd e d o p p o s itio n th a t th e y m e e t, b u t it w o u ld n 't b e th e la s t. In fa c t, w e s e e in th is p a ra g ra p h , th is s e c tio n o f th e c h a p te r, a p a tte rn th a t w ill o c c u r th ro u g h o u t th e b o o k o f A c ts . G o d o p e n s d o o rs o f o p p o rtu n ity to p re a c h th e g o s p e l a n d H e o p e n s h e a rts to re c e iv e it, b u t n o t w ith o u t re s is ta n c e . A n d in th is c a s e re s is ta n c e c a m e fro m a m a n n a m e d B a rJ e s u s , w h ic h m e a n s " s o n o f J e s u s ," o r p e rh a p s " s o n o f s a lv a tio n ." B u t h e d id n 't k n o w J e s u s a n d h e h a d n o k n o w le d g e o f s a lv a tio n . L u k e d e s c rib e s h im a s a J e w is h m a g ic ia n a n d a f a ls e p ro p h e t. H e g a v e h im s e lf th e n a m e E ly m a s , w h ic h m e a n s " s a g e " o r " w is e o n e ." H e w a s a s o rc e re r w h o c la im e d to h a v e s u p e rn a tu ra l p ow e rs , p ro b a b ly th ro u g h th e u s e o f c h a rm s a n d s p e lls . T h e M e d ite rra n e a n w o rld , a s a ll o f th e p a g a n w o rld , w a s a v e ry s u p e rs titio u s a re a . It h a s b e e n d e s c rib e d a s a w o rld in w h ic h th e y v ie w e d th e a ir a s fille d w ith d e m o n s a n d e v il s p irits th e w a y th e m o d e rn m a n v ie w s it a s f ille d w ith v iru s e s a n d b a c te ria . A n d s o to w a rd o ff th e s e e v il s p irits , th e s e d e m o n s th a t c o u ld a ffe c t p e o p le 's h e a lth a n d th e ir d e s tin y , th e y h a d a ll k in d s o f c h a rm s a n d s p e lls , e m u la te s th a t th e y w o re . A n d th e y h a d p e o p le lik e E ly m a s w h o w o u ld p e rfo rm m a g ic a n d w a rd o ff th e e v il e y e a n d th e e v il s p irit. A n d e v id e n tly th e re w e re a lo t o f m e n lik e E ly m a s in th e a n c ie n t w o rld . M a n y o f th e m w e re J e w is h . W e f in d s o m e in E p h e s u s in c h a p te r 1 9 , th e s e v e n s o n s o f S c e v a . T h e y h a d k n o w le d g e o f G o d 's w o rd , th e s e J e w is h m a g ic ia n s . T h e y w e re a b le to u s e th a t to th e ir a d v a n ta g e a m o n g th e s u p e rs titio u s
- 15 "Dawn for the Nation" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
G e n tile s w h o h a d a lm o s t n o k n o w le d g e a t a ll o f G o d , a n d tu rn th e ir k n o w le d g e a n d th e ir a d v a n ta g e to s o m e fin a n c ia l g a in . E ly m a s , o r B a r -J e s u s , h a d a lo t o f in flu e n c e o v e r th e g o v e rn o r, w h o s e o ffic ia l title w a s p ro c o n s u l, m e a n in g th a t h e w a s a re p re s e n ta tiv e o f th e R o m a n s e n a te , w h ic h o w n e d th e is la n d . A n d s o S e rg iu s P a u lu s w a s a m a n o f c o n s id e ra b le in flu e n c e , a m a n o f p o w e r a n d m e a n s w h o n o d o u b t p a id E ly m a s q u ite w e ll. B u t th e g o v e rn o r w a s a n in te llig e n t m a n , w e 're to ld . H e w a n te d to le a rn m o re a b o u t th e g o s p e l th a t B a rn a b a s a n d S a u l w e re p re a c h in g , a n d s o h e c a lle d fo r th e m . W e ll, E ly m a s w a s a f ra id th a t h e m ig h t lo s e h is in f lu e n c e a n d m ig h t lo s e h is lu c ra tiv e re v e n u e . A n d s o L u k e te lls u s in v e rs e 8 th a t h e " w a s o p p o s in g th e m , s e e k in g to tu rn th e p ro c o n s u l a w a y fro m th e f a ith ." I t w a s a s tr u g g le b e tw e e n lig h t a n d d a r k n e s s , b e tw e e n tr u th a n d e rro r, a n d a d e b a te th a t w e n t o n f o r s o m e tim e a s J e w is h m a n , E ly m a s k n e w th e S c rip tu re s , a t le a s t h e k n e w th e m w e ll e n o u g h to p u t u p a n a rg u m e n t a g a in s t th e g o s p e l a n d h e d id to s tre n u o u s ly . V ic to rie s a re n o t w o n w ith o u t s tru g g le . T h a t's th e n a tu re o f C h ris tia n m in is try a n d th a t's th e n a tu re o f th e C h ris tia n life . It in v o lv e s s tru g g le . T h in g s d o n o t c o m e e a s ily . If w e th in k th a t a s C h ris tia n s w e w ill m a tu re to th e p o in t w h e re w e c o m e to th a t p la n e in lif e w h e re th in g s s o rt o f s a il a lo n g a n d it b e c o m e e a s y , it's n o t th e c a s e . It's n o t th a t w a y a t a ll. In f a c t, M a rtin L u th e r m a d e th e p o in t th a t th e m o re m a tu re a C h ris tia n b e c o m e s , th e g re a te r h is o r h e r s tru g g le s b e c o m e . I th in k th a t's tru e . W e ll, th e y c o m e to th e w e s te rn e n d o f th e is la n d a n d th e y h a v e th e o p p o rtu n ity to p re a c h th e g o s p e l, a n d th e y p re a c h th e g o s p e l; th e y g iv e it, b u t th e y m e e t g re a t re s is ta n c e , g re a t o p p o s itio n fro m th is m a n E ly m a s B a r -J e s u s . A n d s o w ith th is m a n , B a rn a b a s a n d S a u l lo c k h o rn s w ith th e p o w e r o f d a rk n e s s a n d th a t e n g a g e m e n t c o n tin u e d fo r s o m e tim e u n til th e H o ly S p irit fille d S a u l, w h o in v ers e 9 is c a lle d P a u l fo r th e firs t tim e a n d w ill b e c a lle d P a u l th ro u g h o u t th e re s t o f th e b o o k , a n d e m p o w e rs h im to b o ld ly m a k e a p ro n o u n c e m e n t o f
- 16 "Dawn for the Nation" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
ju d g m e n t. W e re a d th a t h e fix e d h is e y e s o n h im a n d s a id , "Y o u w h o a re f u ll o f a ll d e c e it a n d f ra u d , y o u s o n o f th e d e v il, y o u e n e m y o f a ll rig h te o u s n e s s , w ill y o u n o t c e a s e to m a k e c ro o k e d th e s tra ig h t w a y o f th e L o rd ? " P a u l w a s th e tru e p ro p h e t h e re a n d h e s a w rig h t in to th e h e a rt o f B a r-J e s u s a n d e x p o s e d h im fo r w h a t h e w a s . H e w a s n o t a s o n o f J e s u s . H e w a s a s o n o f th e d e v il. A n d h e h a d g re a t a u th o rity . H e h a d g re a t b o ld n e s s to m a k e th is k in d o f s ta te m e n t, to d ire c t it rig h t to th is m a n . H e m u s t h a v e h a d s o m e p o w e r, s o m e c h a ris m a , a n d s o m e a u th o rity , a n d y e t s p e a k s o d ire c tly to h im , n o t b e c a u s e P a u l w a s a b o ld m a n in a n d o f h im s e lf, b e c a u s e th e S p irit o f G o d g a v e h im th a t b o ld n e s s , a n d th a t's w h a t H e d o e s . T h a t's th e p o w e r th a t w e liv e in . T h a t's th e k in d o f p o w e r a n d a u th o rity th a t G o d g iv e s to u s w h e n w e a c t in o b e d ie n c e , w h e n w e g o o u t in f a ith a n d w e tru s t H im . S o h e e x p o s e s th is m a n fo r w h a t h e w a s . T h e n h e s a y s , " 'N o w , b e h o ld , th e h a n d o f th e L o rd is u p o n y o u , a n d y o u w ill b e b lin d a n d n o t s e e th e s u n fo r a tim e .' A n d im m e d ia te ly a m is t a n d a d a rk n e s s fu ll u p o n h im , a n d h e w e n t a b o u t s e e k in g th o s e w h o w o u ld le a d h im b y th e h a n d ." E v e n tu a lly it s e e m s E ly m a s re g a in e d h is s ig h t, s in c e P a u l s a id h e w o u ld b e b lin d fo r a tim e . B u t w h a t a fittin g d is c ip lin e fo r h im . T h e s p iritu a lly b lin d w h o le d o th e rs in to s p iritu a l d a rk n e s s is m a d e p h y s ic a lly b lin d . H e c la im e d to b e a m a in o f w is d o m , a s p iritu a l g u id e , a n d h e w a s m a d e to s tu m b le a b o u t, s e e k in g s o m e o n e 's h a n d to g u id e h im . W e ll, a ll o f th is h a d a s ig n if ic a n t e f f e c t o n S e rg iu s P a u lu s . P e rh a p s h e s a w th e iro n y in it a n d s a w th e m e s s a g e th a t w a s g iv e n a n d th e a f f lic tio n th a t h a d b e e n g iv e n to th is f a ls e p ro p h e t. V e rs e 1 2 s a y s , " H e b e lie v e d w h e n h e s a w w h a t h a d h a p p e n e d , b e in g a m a z e d a t th e te a c h in g o f th e L o rd ." N o d o u b t h e w a s a m a z e d a t w h a t h a p p e n e d to E ly m a s , b u t w h a t L u k e s a y s a m a z e d h im w a s th e te a c h in g o f th e L o rd . F o r th e firs t tim e , h e h e a rd a b o u t g ra c e . H e h e a rd a b o u t a to n e m e n t. H e h e a rd a b o u t th e s a c rif ic e o f C h ris t f o r s in n e rs a n d re d e m p tio n a n d s a lv a tio n th a t a re in H im a n d a re re c e iv e d th ro u g h
- 17 "Dawn for the Nation" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
f a ith a lo n e . N o w , it d o e s n 't s a y th a t in th e te x t. I t d o e sn 't g iv e th a t th e m e s s a g e o f th e w o rd o f G o d th a t h e h e a rd , b u t w e k n o w P a u l a n d B a rn a b a s s p o k e a b o u t th a t. It's w h a t P a u l a lw a y s s p o k e a b o u t. H e to ld th e C o rin th ia n s in 1 C o rin th ia n s 2 :2 , " I d e te rm in e to k n o w n o th in g a m o n g y o u e x c e p t J e s u s C h ris t, a n d H im c ru c if ie d ." N o w S e rg iu s P a u lu s w a s a n in te llig e n t m a n . H e h a d a n in q u irin g m in d . B u t P a u l d id n 't c o m e to h im a n d s p e a k to h im a b o u t p h ilo s o p h y o r is s u e s o f s p e c u la tio n . H e s p o k e o f th e lo v e o f G o d in th e c ro s s o f C h ris t. T h a t's th e fo c u s o f th e B ib le . T h a t is th e s o lu tio n to s in . A n d th a t's w h a t P a u l a n d th e a p o s tle s p re a c h e d . A n d S e rg iu s P a u lu s h e a rd it a n d b e lie v e d it. It w a s th e f irs t G e n tile c o n v e rt in a G e n tile la n d . A n d s o d a w n b e g in s fo r th e n a tio n s a n d P a u l's c a llin g a s th e a p o s tle to th e G e n tile s h a d fin a lly b e g u n in e a rn e s t. It h a d b e e n s o m e tim e s s in c e th e D a m a s c u s ro a d w h e n J e s u s to ld h im th a t H e w a s s e n d in g h im to th e G e n tile s . N o w it h a s b e g u n . W h ic h b rin g s m e to th re e le s s o n s o n w h ic h w e w ill c o n c lu d e . T h e y re g a rd s e rv ic e , s a lv a tio n , a n d th e S a v io r. F irs t, P a u l's s e rv ic e . H is g re a t w o rk a s a m is s io n a ry a n d a m a n o f le tte rs b e g a n a fte r m u c h p re p a ra tio n , a fte r m a n y y e a rs in w h ic h h e la b o re d in o b s c u rity . H e s p e n t tim e in A ra b ia , th e n in A s ia M in o r a t T a rs u s , a n d th e n f in a lly tim e in A n tio c h . W e k n o w h e s p e n t a b o u t tw o y e a rs in A n tio c h , p ro b a b ly 1 0 to 1 2 y e a rs in a ll s in c e th e D a m a s c u s ro a d e x p e rie n c e . T h e y w e re s ile n t y e a rs . D o n 't k n o w m u c h a b o u t w h a t to o k p la c e , b u t th e y w e re n e c e s s a ry y e a rs . F o r P a u l th e y w e re y e a rs o f p re p a ra tio n . N o w if P a u l n e e d e d 1 0 , 1 2 y e a rs o f p re p a ra tio n , d o w e n e e d a n y th in g le s s th a n th a t? W e a re a n im p a tie n t p e o p le . O r m a y b e I'm s p e a k in g fo r m y s e lf w h e n I s a y th a t. I'm a n im p a tie n t m a n , b u t I th in k th a t's p ro b a b ly c h a ra c te ris tic o f m o s t o f u s . W e w a n t to b e s p iritu a l g ia n ts to d a y . B u t g ro w th ta k e s tim e . It h a p p e n s s lo w ly . It h a p p e n s g ra d u a lly . S o w e m u s t b e p a tie n t. W e m u s t u n d e rs ta n d th a t a n d n o t c u t s h o rt th e tim e o f o u r p re p a ra tio n . In s te a d , w e 're to b e f a ith f u l in w h a t w e h a v e
- 18 "Dawn for the Nation" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
to d o n o w a n d n o t d e s p is e th e d a y o f s m a ll th in g s a n d k n o w th a t G o d w ill e x a lt y o u a t th e p ro p e r tim e . W e s e e th a t in P a u l. H e 's a n e x a m p le o f th a t. S e c o n d ly , w e le a rn s o m e th in g o f s a lv a tio n . W e s e e th a t in S e rg iu s P a u lu s . H e w a s a m a n o f p riv ile g e . H e w a s a m a n o f s o c ia l s ta n d in g a n d p o w e r. B u t h e w a s lo s t. E d u c a tio n , c u ltu re , w e a lth , p o s itio n c a n n o t s a v e . T h e y c a n n o t g iv e a m a n o r a w o m a n a n y a d v a n ta g e w ith G o d a t a ll. S e rg iu s P a u lu s h a d a ll o f th a t, b u t h e w a s u tte rly lo s t. H e k n e w th a t h is h e rita g e w a s th o ro u g h ly p a g a n . It w a s th e g o s p e l o f f r e e g r a c e th a t b r o u g h t h im s a lv a tio n a n d it b r o u g h t h im s a lv a tio n b e c a u s e it w a s s e n t to h im b y G o d H im s e lf. A n d th a t's th e th ird le s s o n . W e h a v e a S a v io r w h o s e e k s a n d s a v e s th e lo s t. M e n d o n 't s e e k G o d . H e s e e k s th e m . It w a s th e H o ly S p irit w h o s e n t o u t P a u l a n d B a rn a b a s . G o d a lw a y s ta k e s th e in itia tiv e in s a lv a tio n . T h a t's g ra c e . M a n y y e a rs a g o a J e w is h s c h o la r, C la u d e M o n te f io re , d id a w e ll k n o w n s tu d y o n C h ris tia n ity . H e w a n te d to k n o w if th e re w a s a n y th in g re a lly n e w in J e s u s ' te a c h in g n o t fo u n d in a n y J e w is h p ro p h e t o r ra b b i b e fo re H im . A n d s o h e d id th is s tu d y , a n d w h a t h e fo u n d , w h a t h e s in g le d o u t th a t w a s d is tin c tiv e , th a t w a s n o t fo u n d in a n y ra b b i, w a s th e p ic tu re o f th e d iv in e S h e p h e rd g o in g o u t in to th e w ild e rn e s s to s e e k a lo s t s h e e p . It's th e p ic tu re o f G o d , w h o n o t o n ly re c e iv e s th o s e w h o tu rn to H im , b u t a p ic tu re o f G o d a s s e e k in g a n d ta k in g th e in itia tiv e w ith th o s e w h o h a v e n o t tu rn e d to H im . T h a t, h e s a id , is o n e o f th e n e w e x c e lle n c ie s o f th e g o s p e l - a s e e k in g G o d . J e s u s s a id , " I h a v e o th e r s h e e p th a t a re n o t o f th is fo ld . I m u s t b rin g th e m a ls o ." S e rg iu s P a u lu s w a s o n e . H e s e n t h is m is s io n a rie s a c ro s s th e s e a to g e t h im , a n d a s th e y w e n t a c ro s s th e s e a to c la im h im , a c h u rc h in A n tio c h w a s p ra y in g fo r S a u l a n d B a rn a b a s , p ra y in g th a t th e ir m is s io n w o u ld g o w e ll, th a t th e y w o u ld h a v e s u c c e s s , th a t th e y w o u ld b e p ro te c te d , th a t th e y w o u ld b e m a d e e f f e c tiv e . A n d th o s e p ra y e rs c o n tin u e d a s th o s e tw o m e n c o n tin u e d to g o o u t a n d g e t th e s h e e p o f th e o th e r fo ld a n d b rin g th e m to th e L o rd Je s u s C h ris t, to th e
- 19 "Dawn for the Nation" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
p re a c h in g o f th e g o s p e l. A n d th e y w e re fo u n d th ro u g h o u t th e G e n tile s , a m o n g th e n a tio n s , a n d th is w a s th e b e g in n in g o f th e s p iritu a l d a w n f o r th e n a tio n s . W e ll, it b e g a n f o r th e m s o lo n g a g o , a s it b e g u n f o r y o u . H a s th e d a w n o f th e g o s p e l ris e n in y o u r h e a rt? H a s th e g o s p e l p e n e tra te d y o u r s o u l? D o y o u k n o w J e s u s C h ris t a s y o u r S a v io r? H e is th a t. H e is L o rd a n d S a v io r. H e is th e S o n o f G o d w h o d ie d in th e p la c e o f s in n e rs . H is d e a th w a s e ffe c tiv e . H is d e a th a c c o m p lis h e d its p u rp o s e . B e c a u s e o f H is d e a th , a ll w h o b e lie v e in H im w ill b e s a v e d . H e h a s p u rc h a s e d a p e o p le fo r H im s e lf a n d H e in v ite s a ll to c o m e . H a v e y o u c o m e ? H a v e y o u tru s te d in H im ? If n o t, lo o k to J e s u s C h ris t. T u rn to H im , tru s t in H im . T h e m o m e n t y o u d o , y o u re c e iv e f r o m H im th e f u ll f re e f o rg iv e n e s s o f s in s a n d lif e e v e rla s tin g , e te rn a l lif e th a t c a n n e v e r f a d e a w a y o r b e ta k e n a w a y . M a y G o d h e lp y o u to d o th a t a n d h e lp e a c h o f u s to re jo ic e in th e g ra c e th a t w e h a v e re c e iv e d . L e t's p ra y . [P ra y e r] F a th e r, w e d o th a n k Y o u fo r Y o u r g o o d n e s s a n d g ra c e . W e s e e th a t s e t f o rth in th is te x t, h o w Y o u s e n t th e s e m e n o u t, h o w Y o u s e n t th e m p re a c h in g th e g o s p e l, a n d h o w it g a in e d lo s t s o u ls , a n d it g o e s . Y o u r w o rd n e v e r g o e s f o rth a n d re tu rn s to Y o u v o id . It a lw a y s h a s its p e rfe c t e f f e c t. W e th a n k Y o u f o r th a t. W e th a n k Y o u th a t b y Y o u r g ra c e Y o u s a v e d u s , w e w h o h a v e b e lie v e d in J e s u s C h ris t, a n d w e p ra y th a t if th e re b e a n y in a tte n d a n c e th is m o rn in g w h o h a v e n o t tru s te d in H im , F a th e r, g iv e th e m n o re s t o r p e a c e u n til th e y c o m e t o a s a v in g k n o w le d g e o f Y o u r S o n . W e th a n k Y o u fo r H im , fo r H is d e a th , f o r th e lif e w e h a v e in H im , a n d it's in C h r is t n a m e w e p r a y . A m e n .
A c ts
" D a w n fo r th e N a tio n "
T R A N S C R IP T
[M e s s a g e ] If y o u n o tic e in y o u r a n n o u n c e m e n ts , w e h a v e a b o o k b y M a rtin L u th e r fo r th e m o n th o f J u ly . T h e J u ly b o o k o f th e m o n th is th e B o n d a g e o f th e W ill . T h a t's L u th e r's m a gn u m o p u s . I ju s t fin is h e d re a d in g it a b o u t a m o n th a g o . I re a d it b a c k in s e m in a ry , b u t th a t w a s s o m e 2 5 y e a rs g o a n d I d e c id e d to re a d it a g a in , s o I re a d it a lo n g w ith a b o o k o n L u th e r's th e o lo g y a n d p ro f ite d g re a tly f ro m it, e n jo y e d it. I re c o m m e n d it to y o u . Y o u o u g h t to re a d th e c la s s ic s s u c h a s th a t, a n d th a t's a g o o d o n e to b e g in w ith . If y o u h a v e n 't re a d it, g e t a h o ld o f it a n d re a d L u th e r's B o n d a g e o f th e W ill . Y o u m ig h t fin d it d iffic u lt in p a rts , b u t th a t's o k a y . It's a lw a y s g o o d to b e c h a lle n g e d a little b it in o u r th in k in g . W e ll, w e 'll try to d o th a t w ith o u r te x t, w h ic h is A c ts c h a p te r 1 3 . N o w w e 're g o in g to lo o k th is m o rn in g a t v e rs e s 1-1 2 . P a u l a n d B a rn a b a s h a d b e e n to J e ru s a le m . T h e y h a d ta k e n a g ift fo r th e fa m in e re lie f. T h e re w a s a fa m in e , y o u 'll re m e m b e r, th a t A g a b u s th e p ro p h e t f o r e to ld th a t w o u ld c o m e u p o n th e R o m a n w o r ld . A n d s o o u t o f c o n c e rn f o r th e b e lie v e rs in th e m o th e r c h u rc h in J e ru s a le m , th e y s e n t a g if t. P a u l - o r S a u l - a n d B a rn a b a s to o k it d o w n to th e m a n d th e y re tu rn e d w ith J o h n M a rk . A n d n o w w e re a d in v e rs e 1 3 th e re - o r ra th e r, in c h a p te r - c h a p te r 1 3 in v e rs e 1 - v e rs e 1 o f c h a p te r - rig h t h e re in th e te x t. " N o w th e re w e re a t A n tio c h , in th e c h u rc h th a t w a s th e re , p ro p h e ts a n d te a c h e rs : B a rn a b a s , a n d S im e o n w h o w a s c a ll e d N ig e r,
-2"Dawn for the Nation" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
a n d L u c iu s o f C y re n e , a n d M a n a e n w h o h a d b e e n b ro u g h t u p w ith H e ro d th e te tra rc h , a n d S a u l. W h ile th e y w e re m in is te rin g to th e L o rd a n d f a s tin g , th e H o ly S p irit s a id , 'S e t a p a rt f o r m e B a rn a b a s a n d S a u l f o r th e w o r k to w h ic h I h a v e c a lle d th e m .' T h e n , w h e n th e y h a d f a s te d a n d p ra y e d a n d la id th e ir h a n d s o n th e m , th e y s e n t th e m a w a y . " S o , b e in g s e n t o u t b y th e H o ly S p irit, th e y w e n t d o w n to S e le u c ia a n d fro m th e re th e y s a ile d to C y p ru s . W h e n th e y re a c h e d S a la m is , th e y b e g a n to p ro c la im th e w o rd o f G o d in th e s y n a g o g u e o f th e J e w s ; a n d th e y a ls o h a d J o h n a s th e ir h e lp e r. W h e n th e y h a d g o n e th ro u g h th e w h o le is la n d a s f a r a s P a p h o s , th e y f o u n d a m a g ic ia n , a J e w is h fa ls e p ro p h e t w h o s a m e w a s B a r-J e s u s , w h o w a s w ith th e p ro c o n s u l, S e rg iu s P a u lu s , a m a n o f in te llig e n c e . T h is m a n s u m m o n e d B a rn a b a s a n d S a u l a n d s o u g h t to h e a r th e w o rd o f G o d . B u t E ly m a s th e m a g ic ia n (f o r s o h is n a m e is tra n s la te d ) w a s o p p o s in g th e m , s e e k in g to tu rn th e p ro c o n s u l a w a y fro m th e fa ith . B u t S a u l, w h o w a s a ls o k n o w n a s P a u l, f il le d w ith th e H o ly S p irit, f ix e d h is g a z e o n h im a n d s a id , 'Y o u w h o a re f u ll o f a ll d e c e it a n d f ra u d , y o u s o n o f th e d e v il, y o u e n e m y o f a ll rig h te o u s n e s s , w ill y o u n o t c e a s e to m a k e c ro o k e d th e s tra ig h t w a y s o f th e L o rd ? N o w , b e h o ld , th e h a n d o f th e L o rd is u p o n y o u , a n d y o u w ill b e b lin d a n d n o t s e e th e s u n fo r a tim e .' A n d im m e d ia te ly a m is t a n d a d a rk n e s s f e ll u p o n h im , a n d h e w e n t a b o u t s e e k in g th o s e w h o w o u ld le a d h im b y th e h a n d . T h e n th e p ro c o n s u l b e lie v e d w h e n h e s a w w h a t h a d h a p p e n e d , b e in g a m a z e d a t th e te a c h in g o f th e L o rd ." M a y th e L o rd b le s s th is re a d in g o f H is w o rd in o u r tim e o f s tu d y to g e th e r. L e t's p ra y . [P ra y e r] F a th e r, w e d o th a n k Y o u fo r th is tim e to g e th e r. It is a b le s s in g to g a th e r to g e th e r w ith th e s a in ts , w ith th e b e lie v e rs o f J e s u s C h ris t, b o th y o u n g a n d o ld , w h o a re th e re c ip ie n ts o f Y o u r s o v e re ig n g ra c e a n d w e d o th a n k y o u fo r th a t. W e le a rn a b o u t th a t fro m o u r te x t, h o w Y o u s e n d o u t Y o u r w o rd a n d h o w Y o u g a th e r y o u r s a in ts to Y o u rs e lf, Y o u r p e o p le , Y o u r s h e e p w h o a re s c a tte re d a b roa d , a n d Y o u b rin g th e m to a k n o w le d g e o f Y o u rs e lf a n d in to Y o u r fa m ily , m a k in g
-3"Dawn for the Nation" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
th e m re c ip ie n ts o f e te rn a l lif e , a n d th a t is w h a t w e a re , w h o h a v e b e lie v e d in J e s u s C h ris t. W e h a v e re c e iv e d g ra c e fro m Y o u . W e h a v e lif e e v e rla s tin g . W e h a v e a n in h e rita n c e th a t c a n n o t f a d e a w a y . A n d F a th e r, th a t s h o u ld p u t a ll o f life in p e rs p e c tiv e . W e f a c e d if f ic u ltie s in lif e . W e a lw a y s w ill. L if e is n o t e a s y , a n d it's n o t e a s y f o r th e C h ris tia n . W e f a c e s tru g g le s . W e s e e th a t in o u r te x t th is m o rn in g . B u t a ll th in g s a re w o rk in g to g e th e r fo r o u r g o o d a n d th e y w ill a ll is s u e in to th a t g re a t d a y w h e n w e a re in Y o u r p re s e n c e fo re v e r a n d fo re v e r, a n d w e w ill e n jo y th e s ig h t o f Y o u r S o n a n d w e w ill e x p e rie n c e jo y u n im a g in a b le th a t w ill n e v e r e n d . W e ll, F a th e r, w e p ra y th a t Y o u 'd g iv e u s p e rs p e c tiv e w ith th a t tru th a n d th a t Y o u w o u ld b le s s u s a s w e s tu d y o u r te x t th is m o rn in g a n d th a t Y o u w ill te a c h u s w h a t Y o u w o u ld h a v e u s to le a rn . W e a re a b le s s e d p e o p le . W e n o t o n ly p o s s e s s th e w o rd o f G o d , w h ic h is a n in h e re n t, w h ic h is Y o u r m in d re v e a le d to u s , th a t s p e a k s to u s a b o u t Y o u rs e lf a n d a b o u t o u rs e lv e s . W e h a v e a g o o d te a c h e r. W e h a v e a p e rfe c t te a c h e r in th e H o ly S p irit, w h o s e p re s e n c e in o u r liv e s , w h o is th e s e a l u p o n o u r h e a rt, w h o lite ra lly d w e lls w ith in u s a n d is o u r g u id e a n d o u r p ro te c to r a n d o u r te a c h e r, a n d w e p ra y th a t H is m in is try w o u ld g o u n h in d e re d th is m o rn in g , th a t o u r h e a rts w o u ld b e o p e n to Y o u r tru th a n d th a t th e S p irit o f G o d w o u ld g u id e u s in o u r th in k in g a n d b u ild u s u p in th e f a ith . W e k n o w th a t H e w ill. Y o u h a v e p ro m is e d u s in th e b o o k o f Is a ia h th a t w h e n Y o u r w o rd g o e s fo rth it w ill n o t re tu rn to Y o u e m p ty a n d it w ill n o t re tu rn e m p ty th is m o rn in g . W e p ra y to b e b u ilt u p in th e fa ith . B le s s u s m a te ria lly , p h y s ic a lly a s w e ll, F a th e r. W e th a n k Y o u f o r a ll th e g if ts Y o u g iv e u s . Y o u b le s s u s a b u n d a n tly b e y o n d a ll th a t w e a s k o r th in k . E v e ry g o o d a n d p e rfe c t g ift c o m e s d o w n fro m a b o v e a n d w e e n jo y m u c h . W e e n jo y it s o m u c h , s o f re q u e n tly , s o re g u la rly , th a t w e o f te n f o rg e t th a t it c o m e s f ro m Y o u a n d w e ta k e th in g s f o r g ra n te d . M a y w e n o t d o th a t. M a y w e b e g ra te fu l m e n a n d w o m e n a n d th a n k Y o u f o r a ll th a t Y o u 'v e g iv e n u s .
-4"Dawn for the Nation" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
W e th a n k Y o u f o r th is tim e to g e th e r. W e p ra y Y o u 'd b le s s it. W e p ra y th a t Y o u w o u ld b le s s o u r tim e to g e th e r th is e v e n in g w h e n w e re tu rn a n d c e le b ra te th e L o rd 's s u p p e r a n d re m e m b e r H is firs t c o m in g a n d H is d e a th f o r u s , a n d re m e m b e r th a t H e 's c o m in g a g a in . B le s s u s th e n , b le s s u s n o w , b le s s u s a s w e s in g o u r f in a l h y m n . M a y it p re p a re u s w e ll fo r a tim e o f s tu d y to g e th e r. W e p ra y in C h ris t n a m e . A m e n . [M e s s a g e ] W e a re a ll f a m ilia r w ith e x p re s s io n s lik e " C h ris tia n la m b s " a n d " a C h ris tia n n a tio n ," o r " o u r C h ris tia n h e rita g e ," e x p re s s io n s th a t a p p ly to th e w e s te rn c o u n trie s o f E u ro p e a n d A m e ric a , a n d e x p re s s io n s th a t m a y s u g g e s t s o m e s a tis fa c tio n o r e ve n p rid e in o u rs e lv e s a n d o u r p a s t, b u t e x p re s s io n s th a t a re le s s tru e th a n m a n y m ig h t w a n t to b e lie v e . T h e w e s t, it is tru e , h a s b e e n g re a tly b le s s e d w ith th e lig h t o f th e g o s p e l. B u t it's n o t a lw a y s b e e n s o . O u r h e rita g e is re a lly n o t C h ris tia n a t a ll. It's p a g a n . B e n ja m in D is ra e li, th e P rim a ry M in is te r o f E n g la n d d u rin g V ic to ria 's re ig n p u t th in g s in p ro p e r p e rs p e c tiv e w h e n h e re s p o n d e d to th e a n ti-s e m a n tic ta u n t o f a p o litic a l o p p o n e n t. H e s a id , " Y e s , I a m a J e w , a n d w h e n th e a n c e s to rs o f th e rig h t h o n o ra b le g e n tle m a n w e re b ru ta l s a v a g e s in a n u n k n o w n is la n d , m in e w e re p rie s ts in th e te m p le o f S o lo m o n ." N o w th a t's a h e rita g e . A n d o u rs m ig h t s till b e th a t o f s a v a g e s in th e w ild w e s t a n d n o t th e g o s p e l c o m e to o u r a n c e s to rs . T h e y w e re to b o rro w f ro m W e s le y 's h y m n , " F a s t b o u n d in s in a n d n a tu re 's n ig h t." B u t th e g o s p e l d id c o m e , a n d w ith it c a m e a s p iritu a l d a w n fo r th e n a tio n s . T h a t is th e s to ry o f A c ts 1 3 . It is a tu rn in g p o in t in th e b o o k o f A c ts . It b e g in s a n e w s e c tio n in th e b o o k w ith th e a c c o u n t o f a n e w o u tw a rd e x p a n s io n o f th e g o s p e l. U p to th is p o in t, th e a c tiv ity o f th e c h u rc h h a s m a in ly b e e n in th e re g io n s o f J u d e a a n d S a m a ria , a n d it h a s la rg e ly b e e n a m is s io n to th e J e w s . D u rin g th is tim e th e f o u n d a tio n s o f th e c h u r c h h a d b e e n la id . B u t J e s u s a ls o to ld H is d is c ip le s to g o b e y o n d J u d e a a n d S a m a ria a n d b e H is w itn e s s e s to th e re m o te s t p a rt o f th e e a rth . In o th e r w o rd s , g o o u t a n d p re a c h th e g o s p e l to th e G e n tile s . A fe w
-5"Dawn for the Nation" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
p e o p le h a d a v is io n fo r th a t. S o m e J e w is h tra v e le rs to A n tio c h b e g a n s p e a k in g to G re e k s . W e s a w th a t b a c k in c h a p te r 1 1 , a n d th e re s u lt o f th a t is a c h u rc h w a s e s ta b lis h e d th e re in A n tio c h . It g re w in s iz e . It a ls o g re w in im p o rta n c e , s o th a t w h e n w e c o m e to c h a p te r 1 3 o f th e b o o k o f A c ts , th e c e n te r o f C h ris tia n a c tiv ity h a s s h ifte d fro m J e ru s a le m to A n tio c h . A n d it is th e re a t th e c h u rc h o f A n tio c h th a t th e m is s io n o f th e c h u rc h w id e n s to in c lu d e th e w h o le w o rld . A n e w w o rk b e g in s w ith a n e w le a d in g fig u re . In th e firs t p a rt o f th e b o o k , th e firs t 1 2 c h a p te rs , th e le a d in g f ig u r e o f th e b o o k w a s th e a p o s tle P e te r . W e s a w h im o n th e d a y o f P e n te c o s t in c h a p te r 2 . W e 'd s e e n h im p re a c h in v a rio u s p la c e s - in th e h o u s e h o ld o f C o rn e liu s in c h a p te r 1 2 ; w e s a w la s t w e e k h is re le a s e f r o m p r is o n . H e h a s b e e n th e le a d in g f ig u r e th r o u g h o u t th e f ir s t p a r t o f th is b o o k . N o w it c h a n g e s . N o w it w ill b e P a u l a s h e g o e s o u t o n h is m is s io n a ry jo u rn e y s a n d p re a c h e s th e g o s p e l to th e G e n tile s in th e w e s te rn la n d s . T h e c h u rc h o f A n tio c h w a s w e ll s u ite d to b e th e s p rin g b o a rd fo r w o rld m is s io n s . W e g e t a se n s e o f th a t f ro m th e d e s c rip tio n g iv e n o f h is m in is te rs in v e rs e 1 . It w a s w e ll ta u g h t. A p p a re n tly it w a s w e ll in te g ra te d , a k in d o f m ic ro c o s m , a c ro s ss e c tio n o f th e w o rld a n d o f th e u n iv e rs a l c h u rc h , b e c a u s e th e c h u rc h is c o m p o s e d o f a ll k in d s o f p e o p le f r o m a ll w a lk s o f lif e , s o m e f r o m e v e ry trib e a n d to n g u e a n d p e o p le a n d n a tio n , a n d w e g e t a s e n s e o f th a t f ro m th e f iv e m e n w h o m L u k e lis ts h e re in v e rs e 1 . T h e y a re id e n tif ie d a s p ro p h e ts a n d te a c h e rs a n d th e y w e re re m a rk a b le m e n . A t le a s t tw o o f th e m w e re . T h e f irs t a n d th e la s t w e a re a lre a d y f a m ilia r w ith - B a rn a b a s a n d S a u l. T h e o th e r th re e a re n o t k n o w n to u s , b u t w e w o u ld c e rta in ly lik e to k n o w m o re a b o u t th e m . A n d s o s p e c u la tio n h a s g ro w n u p a ro u n d th e s e m e n . F o r e x a m p le , th e s e c o n d lis te d , S im e o n w h o w a s c a lle d N ig e r, h a s b e e n th e s u b je c t o f a lo t o f s p e c u la tio n . H is L a tin n ic k n a m e , N ig e r, m e a n s b la c k , s u g g e s tin g th a t h e w a s a m a n o f b la c k s k in . S o m e h a v e th o u g h t th a t h e m ig h t h a v e b e e n S im o n o f C y re n e ,
-6"Dawn for the Nation" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
w h o c a rrie d th e L o rd 's c ro s s u p to C a lv a ry . T h a t's n o t lik e ly , b u t h e m a y h a v e b e e n a n A f ric a n . A n tio c h w a s a c o s m o p o lita n to w n . T h e n e x t m a n lis te d w a s f ro m C y re n e , in N o rth A f ric a . H e w a s L u c iu s . A n d s in c e it w a s m e n f ro m C y p ru s a n d C y re n e w h o f irs t b ro u g h t th e g o s p e l to A n tio c h a n d s p o k e to th e G re e k s , L u c iu s m a y h a v e b e e n o n e o f th o s e o rig in a l m is s io n a rie s . If s o , h e s ta y e d o n to c o n tin u e to m in is te r to th e c h u rc h th e re a n d h e h e lp e d it to g ro w s tro n g . L u c iu s is a L a tin n a m e a n d w a s a c o m m o n n a m e in th e R o m a n w o rld . S o h e w a s e v id e n tly a m a n w h o w a s ra is e d in a R o m a n c u ltu re . W e h a v e a c ro s s -s e c tio n o f p e o p le h e re . W e h a v e a J e w is h m a n , th is th re e th a t w e k n o w o f f o r s u re ; p ro b a b ly f o u r. T h e y h a v e p o s s ib ly a n A fric a n m a n . W e h a v e o n e w h o is o f a R o m a n c u ltu re , L u c iu s . A n d th e n th e f o u rth le a d e r is p a rtic u la rly in te re s tin g - M a n a e n , w h o is d e s c rib e d a s h a v in g b e e n b ro u g h t u p w ith H e ro d th e te tra rc h , w h ic h is a re f e re n c e to H e ro d A n tip a s . H e 's th e H e ro d th a t w e 're f a m ilia r w ith f r o m th e g o s p e ls . H e w a s th e y o u n g e s t s o n o f H e r o d th e G r e a t. H e ru le d G a lile e d u rin g th e L o rd 's m in is try . H e b e h e a d e d J o h n th e B a p tis t. It w a s b e fo re th is H e ro d th a t th e L o rd s to o d d u rin g H is tria l. H e 's th e m a n w h o J e s u s c a lle d th a t fo x . W e ll, M a n a e n g re w u p w ith h im . H e w a s a n a d o p te d b ro th e r, o r a f o s te r b ro th e r, a n d a ro y a l p rin c e . H e k n e w H e ro d , k n e w h im a s a b ro th e r, k n e w h im q u ite w e ll. S o M a n a e n w a s p ro b a b ly th e s o u rc e fo r m u c h o f th e in f o rm a tio n th a t L u k e w a s g iv e n a b o u t th e H e ro d f a m ily . A n d h e is a ls o a n illu s tra tio n o f th e m y s te ry o f d iv in e g ra c e . It is s o v e re ig n . T w o b o y s g ro w u p to g e th e r in th e s a m e h o u s e h o ld . T h e y a re s u b je c t to th e s a m e in f lu e n c e s . O n e o b ta in s a s a C h ris tia n le a d e r, th e o th e r d is h o n o r f o r h is d is g ra c e f u l lif e . O n e is s a v e d , th e o th e r is lo s t, lik e J a c o b a n d E s a u . H e d o e s n o t d e p e n d o n th e m a n w h o w ills o r th e m a n w h o ru n s , b u t o n G o d w h o h a s m e rc y , R o m a n s 9 :1 6 . M a n a e n is a m o n u m e n t to th a t. H e 's a m o n u m e n t to G o d 's s o v e re ig n g ra c e a n d h e is a re m in d e r o f th e p o w e r o f th e g o s p e l. In th is c o n te x t, I c a n 't h e lp b u t th in k o f th e g o s p e l a s b e in g lik e th e
-7"Dawn for the Nation" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
liz a rd th a t s o f a s c in a te d S o lo m o n in P ro v e rb s 3 0 :2 8 . H e s a id th a t y o u c a n g ra b th e liz a rd w ith th e h a n d , " y e t it is in k in g s ' p a la c e s ." Y o u c a n 't k e e p it o u t. Y o u c a n c a tc h th e m . A n d if Y o u 'v e b e e n to J e ru s a le m , y o u k n o w th a t th e re a re liz a rd s o n th e s to n e w a lls a n d o n th e b u ild in g s , a n d n o d o u b t in S o lo m o n 's d a y h e f o u n d m a n y o f th e m o n th e w a lls o f h is p a la c e . H e c o u ld g ra b th e m , b u t h e c o u ld n o t k e e p th e m o u t. A n d th e y fin d th e ir w a y s in to th e m o s t g u a rd e d a n d s e c u re o f a ll p la c e s . W e ll, th a t is v e ry m u c h th e w a y it is w ith th e g o s p e l. It g o e s w h e re it w is h e s . It c a n n o t b e k e p t o u t. It e v e n g o e s in to th e m o s t g u a rd e d p la c e s , b e c a u s e it g o e s w h e re G o d w ills it to g o . It e n te re d in to H e ro d 's p a la c e . L a te r o n P a u l w ill w rite to th e P h ilip p ia n s f ro m R o m e a n d s e n d th e m g re e tin g s f ro m C a e s a r's h o u s e h o ld . M e n th in k th a t th e y c a n c ru s h th e g o s p e l. T h e y th in k th a t th e y c a n s n u f f it o u t, th a t th e y m ig h t g ra b it lik e th e y g ra b a liz a rd , b u t th e y c a n 't d o th a t. T h e y c a n 't re s tra in it. It e v e n g e ts in to k in g s ' p a la c e s . T h a t's g ra c e . T h a t's s o v e re ig n irre s is tib le g ra c e . T h a t's th e g o s p e l. G o d d ire c ts it w h e re H e w ills it to g o a n d it g o e s th e re w ith g re a t e ffe c t. It e n te re d th e h o u s e h o ld o f H e ro d h im s e lf a n d it s a v e d th is m a n M a n a e n . In f a c t, a ll o f th e s e le a d e rs o f th e c h u rc h o f A n tio c h h a d b e e n b le s s e d w ith g ra c e . In fa c t, th e y 'd b e e n b le s s e d w ith g ra c e u p o n g ra c e , b e c a u s e th e y n o t o n ly h a d re c e iv e d th e g re a te s t g ift o f a ll, s a lv a tio n , e te rn a l life , b u t th e y 'd re c e iv e d g re a t g ift. T h e y w e re p ro p h e ts a n d te a c h e rs . N o w , th e s e a re s p iritu a l g ifts . T h e s e a re n o t o ffic e s in th e c h u rc h . T h e re a re f o u r o f f ic e s in th e c h u rc h . T h e f irs t b e lo n g s to c h u rc h . H e is th e g re a t s h e p h e rd o f th e s h e e p . H e is th e le a d e r. H e is th e o n e w h o g u id e s u s . T h e n e x t o f f ic e is th a t o f e ld e r , o r u n d e rs h e p h e rd . T h e re a re a p a ra ly ty o f th e s e . E ld e rs d o p a s to ra l w o rk , b u t n o o n e e ld e r is th e p a s to r o f th e c h u rc h . A n d it's n o t a n o ffic e in th e c h u rc h . T h a t is w h a t C h ris t is . H e is th e p a s to r. H e is th e g re a t s h e p h e rd o f th e s h e e p . E ld e rs g iv e s p iritu a l g u id a n c e . T h e y g iv e
-8"Dawn for the Nation" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
o v e rs ig h t s p iritu a lly fo r th e c h u rc h , b u t th e y d o th a t u n d e r th e L o rd 's h e a d s h ip . A n d th e y d o th a t, th e y m in is te r w ith th e h e lp o f d e a c o n s . T h a t's th e th ird o f f ic e . N o t e v e ry o n e is a n e ld e r. N o t e v e ry o n e is a d e a c o n . In f a c t, n o n e o f th e s e fiv e m e n is id e n tifie d a s e ith e r a n e ld e r o r a d e a c o n . T h e y w e re g ifte d m e n , w h o w ith th e ir g ifts s e rv e d th e b o d y o f C h ris t. A n d a ll o f u s c a n d o th a t in s o m e w a y , b e c a u s e a ll o f u s a re b e lie v e r p rie s ts , a n d th a t is th e fo u rth o ffic e o f th e c h u rc h . C h ris t h a s m a d e u s a k in g d o m o f p rie s ts . A n d w e a ll h a v e a s p iritu a l s e rv ic e to p e rfo rm . H e h a s g iv e n e a c h o f u s a g ift s o th a t w e c a n d o th a t, a n d H e w ill s u p p ly th e g ra c e to d o it e f f e c tiv e ly . T h e p a tte rn fo r m in is try in th e c h u rc h h a s a lw a y s b e e n a n e v e ry -m e m b e r m in is try . It is n o t a o n e -m a n m in is try . T h a t's h o w th e c h u rc h f u n c tio n s a s a b o d y , e v e ry o n e d o in g h is o r h e r p a rt. E v e ry o n e o f u s h a s a f u n c tio n to p e r f o r m , ju s t a s e v e r y m e m b e r o f th e b o d y h a s its im p o rta n t f u n c tio n to p e rf o rm . T h e re a re n o id le m e m b e rs o f th e b o d y , n o t w h e n a b o d y is h e a lth y a n d is fu n c tio n in g n o rm a lly , a n d th a t is th e c a s e w ith th e lo c a l c h u rc h . E v e ry o n e o f u s a re to b e p a rtic ip a tin g in its a c tiv ity , in its m in is try . W e a ll h a v e a p a rt to p la y . N o w th a t's s u g g e s te d h e re w ith th e s e fiv e m e n . It is n o t o n e m a n c a rry in g th e lo a d . W e h a v e f iv e m e n h e re w h o w e re g ifte d , e ith e r a s p ro p h e ts o r a s te a c h e rs . P ro p h e ts w e re g iv e n to th e c h u rc h to g iv e d iv in e re v e la tio n . T h is w a s a tim e w h e n th e re w a s n o N e w T e s ta m e n t. T h e y h a d th e O ld T e s ta m e n t. T h e y h a d th e f irs t b o o k s o f th e B ib le , b u t th e w ritin g s o f th e n e w c o v e n a n t, th e N e w T e s ta m e n t, h a d n o t y e t b e g u n . T h e re w e re n o le tte rs , th e re w e re n o g o s p e ls , b u t th e y h a d p ro p h e ts to g iv e G o d 's d ire c tio n a n d G o d 's w o rd . S o th e p ro p h e ts g a v e th e re v e la tio n o f G o d a n d th e n G o d s u p p lie d th e c h u rc h w ith te a c h e rs to e x p la in th a t re v e la tio n . N o w w e re a d in v e rs e th a t th e y w e re u s in g th e ir g ifts . T h e y w e re m in is te rin g to th e L o rd a n d f a s tin g , w h ic h p ro b a b ly d e s c rib e s s e rv ic e a t th e m e e tin g o f th e c h u rc h . T h a t's s u g g e s te d b y th a t w o rd " m in is te rin g ," b e c a u s e it h a s th e s ig n if ic a n c e o f s e rv in g in a p rie s tly
-9"Dawn for the Nation" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
w a y in re g a rd to w o rs h ip . It's u s e d , fo r e x a m p le , in L u k e 1 :2 3 o f th e p rie s tly s e rv ic e a t th e te m p le . S o it w a s d u rin g th e m e e tin g o f th e c h u rc h w h ile th e y w e re w o rs h ip p in g th a t w e re a d th e H o ly S p irit s a id , " S e t a p a rt fro m M e B a rn a b a s a n d S a u l fo r th e w o rk to w h ic h I h a v e c a lle d th e m ." It w a s a n e w a n d u rg e n t d ire c tiv e fro m G o d a n d o n e th a t g iv e s u s a g lim p s e in to th e m e e tin g o f th e e a rly c h u rc h , a s w e ll a s s o m e im p o rta n t p rin c ip le s fo r C h ris tia n liv in g . W h a t it te lls u s a b o u t th e c h u rc h m e e tin g is th a t it w a s s tru c tu re d s u c h a w a y th a t it w a s o p e n to th e g o v e rn in g a c tiv ity o f th e S p irit. T h e c h u rc h c e le b ra te d th e L o rd 's s u p p e r w e e k ly a n d e x e rc is e d its g if ts . P a u l g iv e s a d e s c rip tio n o f th e m e e tin g o f th e c h u rc h in 1 C o rin th ia n s 1 4 :2 6 . W h e n th e y c a m e to g e th e r h e w rite s e v e ry o n e h a d a p s a lm o r a re v e la tio n , a p ro p h e c y , a n d a n in te rp re ta tio n , m u c h th e w a y w e m e e t o n S u n d a y e v e n in g s h e re w h e n w e c e le b ra te th e L o rd 's s u p p e r a n d v a rio u s m e n w h o a re g if te d to d o s o s ta n d a n d s p e a k , o r s o m e s ta n d a n d p ra y o r a s k fo r a h y m n . S o it h a s s tru c tu re , b u t a ls o f le x ib ility . A n d o n th is o c c a s io n o n e o f th e p ro p h e ts s to o d a n d g a v e a d iv in e u tte ra n c e . It d o n 't s a y th a t a p ro p h e t s to o d , b u t th e w o rd o f G o d c a m e a n d th a t s e e m s th e m o s t lik e ly w a y in w h ic h it w o u ld h a v e c o m e in lig h t o f th e s tru c tu re o f th e e a rly c h u rc h m e t. H e s to o d a n d g a v e th is u tte ra n c e a t th e d ire c tio n o f th e H o ly S p irit, w h o d ire c te d th e le a d e rs o f th e c h u rc h to s e t a p a rt B a rn a b a s a n d S a u l f o r a s p e c ia l w o rk . T h a t g iv e s u s s o m e in s ig h t in to h o w th e H o ly S p irit le a d s H is p e o p le , w h ic h is a lw a y s a c o n c e rn o f C h ris tia n s , k n o w in g th e w ill o f G o d . A n d w h a t is c le a r fro m th is in c id e n t is w e le a rn th e w ill o f G o d f r o m th e w o r d o f G o d . H e g a v e th e c h u r c h r e v e la tio n a n d w e h a v e th a t re v e la tio n n o w fu lly in th e B ib le . T h e B ib le w a s in th e p ro c e s s o f b e in g fin is h e d in th is d a y . It is c o m p le te d in o u r d a y . T h e C a n o n is c lo s e d a n d w e h a v e H is re v e la tio n a n d it is s u ffic ie n t fo r o u r d a ily liv e s .
- 10 "Dawn for the Nation" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
It's o fte n b e e n s a id th a t th e e v a n g e lic a l c h u rc h to d a y d o e s n 't s e e m to h a v e a d iffic u lty w ith th e fa c t th a t th e B ib le is G o d 's in h e re n t w o rd . W e ta lk e d to th e a v e ra g e e v a n g e lic a l C h ris tia n , th e y w ill s a y , " Y e s , I b e lie v e t h a t th e B ib le is in h e re n t. I b e lie v e it's G o d 's w o rd ." T h e p ro b le m is th a t m e n to d a y , p e o p le to d a y , d o n 't th in k th a t it is s u ffic ie n t fo r th e ir d a ily liv e s . It's in s p ire d , b u t it's n o t s u ffic ie n t. A n d y e t th e fa c t is th a t th e w o rd o f G o d is s u ffic ie n t, a b s o lu te ly s u ffic ie n t f o r o u r d a ily liv e s . M a n d o e s n o t liv e b y b r e a d a lo n e , b u t b y e v e r y w o rd th a t p ro c e e d s fro m th e m o u th o f G o d . A n d w e le a rn G o d 's w o rd a n d G o d 's w ill th ro u g h s tu d y . W e le a rn it th ro u g h p e rs o n a l s tu d y . W e le a rn it b y p ic k in g it u p d a ily a n d re a d in g it a n d p o n d e rin g it a n d th in k in g a b o u t it, a n d w e le a rn it a s it is m in is te re d to u s d u rin g th e m e e tin g o f th e c h u rc h . T h a t's h o w it h a p p e n e d in A n tio c h . T h e L o rd s p e a k s to u s in th e w a y . H e g iv e s u n d e rs ta n d in g a n d H e g iv e s in n e r c o n v ic tio n a b o u t is s u e s th ro u g h th e m in is try o f H is w o rd . Y o u w a n t to h e a r G o d 's v o ic e ? D o y o u w a n t G o d to s p e a k to Y o u ? W e ll, o f c o u rs e y o u d o . I k n o w th a t y o u w a n t to h e a r th e v o ic e o f G o d , b u t if y o u w a n t to h e a r th e v o ic e o f G o d , th e n y o u h a v e to b e w h e re th a t v o ic e i s a n d H is v o ic e is in th e S c rip tu re s . It's u n d e r th e m in is try o f H is w o rd a n d w ith H is p e o p le w h e n th e y w o rs h ip . T h a t's w h e re H e g iv e s u s u n d e rs ta n d in g a n d in n e r c o n v ic tio n a b o u t is s u e s a n d d ire c tio n . S o w e 're to b e w h e re H is v o ic e is , w h e re w e h e a r H is w o rd , a n d w e a re to b e d o in g w h a t w e s h o u ld b e d o in g . It's w o rth n o tin g th a t P a u l a n d B a rn a b a s w e re d o in g th a t. T h e y w e re n 't id le m e n . T h e y w e re n 't p u z z lin g o v e r th e w ill o f G o d fo r th e ir liv e s a n d w o n d e rin g a b o u t th e ir f u tu re s . W e o f te n d o th a t. W e w o n d e r w h a t d o e s G o d w a n t m e to d o n e x t y e a r? W h a t d o e s H e w a n t m e to d o n e x t m o n th ? W h a t d o e s H e w a n t m e to d o to m o rro w ? A n d w e c a n a g o n iz e o v e r th a t. W e ll, th e y w e re n 't d o in g th a t. T h e y w e re a c tiv e in th e p re s e n t. T h e y w e re n 't w o rrie d s o m u c h a b o u t th e f u tu re . T h e ir c o n c e rn w a s fo r w h a t th e y s h o u ld b e d o in g to d a y w ith th e re s p o n s ib ilitie s th a t w e re th e irs , a n d s o th e y w e re m in is te rs . S o th e y k n e w w h a t G o d 's w ill w a s
- 11 "Dawn for the Nation" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
f o r th e m th a t d a y . I t's w h a t h a d b e e n f o r th e m th e p r e v io u s L o r d 's d a y f o r th e p a s t tw o y e a r s a n d th e y w e re c a rry in g o n th e ir m in is try , a n d it is a s w e a re d o in g th a t, a s w e a re d o in g f a ith f u l in th e th in g s o f th e L o rd , s e rv in g w h e re w e h a v e o p p o rtu n itie s , w h e th e r it b e in y o u r f a m ily a s a lo v in g h u s b a n d o r w if e , o r a s a g o o d p a r e n t, o r a s a g o o d c h ild a n d s tu d e n t, o r a s a d ilig e n t w o rk e r a t w o rk , o r a s in th is p la c e c a rry in g o u t th e m in is try th a t y o u h a v e a n d th e o p p o rtu n itie s y o u h a v e . It's a s w e d o th a t, a s w e ta k e th e o p p o rtu n itie s th a t w e h a v e , a s w e c a rry o u t th e re s p o n s ib ilitie s th a t a re o u rs th at G o d o p e n s d o o rs a n d s o m e tim e s u n e x p e c te d ly f o r f u rth e r s e rv ic e . T h a t's w h a t H e d id in th is c a s e . T h a t's w h a t H e d id w ith S a u l a n d B a rn a b a s . T h e y w e n t a b o u t th e ir b u s in e s s , d o in g w h a t th e y h a d d o n e e v e ry w e e k , w h a t w a s e x p e c te d o f th e m , w h a t th e y d e s ire d to d o , s e rv in g th e L o rd , a n d G o d o p e n e d a d o o r fo r th e m . H e d ire c te d th e le a d e rs to s e t th e m a p a rt. W e ll, in re s p o n s e to w h a t w a s c le a rly th e w ill o f G o d , th e c h u rc h s e n t P a u l a n d B a rn a b a s o f f w ith th e ir b le s s in g s . T h e y p ra y e d f o r th e m a n d la id th e ir h a n d s o n th e m . N o w th a t d id n 't in v e s t th e s e tw o m e n w ith a u th o rity . T h e y h a d th a t a u th o rity a lre a d y . T h e y h a d b e e n m in is te rin g th e re in A n tio c h fo r s o m e tw o y e a rs . T h is w a s n o t a n o rd in a tio n c e re m o n y . A n d th e y h a d th is a u th o rity to g o fo rth o n th is m is s io n f ro m th e L o rd H im s e lf . H e c o m m is s io n e d th e m . T h is w a s a d iv in e c o m m is s io n . B u t w h a t th e y h a d d o n e , w h a t th e c h u rc h h a d d o n e in th is m e e tin g , w a s id e n tif y w ith th e ir m is s io n . B y la y in g th e ir h a n d s u p o n th e m , th e y w e re s ig n if y in g th a t th e y id e n tif ie d w ith th e m th a t th e y s u p p o rte d th e m in th a t m is s io n . N o t e v e ry o n e c a n g o , b u t e v e ry o n e c a n h a v e a p a rt in th o s e w h o d o g o . T h e y c a n s u p p o rt th e m th ro u g h th e ir p ra y e rs , a s th e c h u rc h o f A n tio c h s u p p o rte d th e s e tw o m is s io n a rie s . T h a t's o n e w a y th a t y o u s h a re in th e m i n is try o f th is c h u rc h a n d th e m in is try o f th is p u lp it. Y o u r p ra y e rs a re in s tru m e n ta l in th e f a ith f u ln e s s a n d th e e f f e c tiv e n e s s o f th is m in is tr y . I o f te n h e a r f r o m
- 12 "Dawn for the Nation" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
y o u th a t y o u p ra y fo r m e d a ily , a n d I m u s t s a y th a t is o n e o f th e s tro n g e s t e n c o u ra g e m e n ts th a t I re c e iv e . A n d it is th e p ra y e rs o f th e s a in ts th a t w ill k e e p a m in is try s u c h a s th is fa ith fu l a n d s tro n g . T h is c h u rc h n e e d s th e p ra y e rs o f th e s a in ts . T h e e ld e rs n e e d th e p ra y e rs o f th e s a in ts . T h e d e a c o n s , th e te a c h e rs , w e a ll n e e d th e p ra y e rs o f o n e a n o th e r to b e b u ilt u p in th e f a ith a n d s tre n g th e n e d in th a t w a y . T h a t's y o u r m in is try . W e ll, it's th e m in is try th a t th is c h u rc h h a d w ith S a u l a n d B a rn a b a s , a n d it w a s w ith p ra y e r th a t th e c h u rc h s e n t th e m o ff. B u t n o w n o tic e v e rs e 4 . T h e y le ft A n tio c h , " b e in g s e n t o u t b y th e H o ly S p irit." T h e c h u rc h s e n t th e m , b u t th e S p irit s e n t th e m . T h e re 's n o c o n f u s io n h e re . T h e re is n o c o n tra d ic tio n b e tw e e n th e tw o s ta te m e n ts . T h e w o rd s f o r s in n e d a re d if f e re n t f ro m o n e a n o th e r. In v e rs e 3 , th e w o rd re a lly m e a n s " to re le a s e ," a n d th a t's w h a t th e c h u rc h d id . It re le a s e d P a u l a n d B a rn a b a s fro m th e m in is try in A n tio c h to g o o n th e ir m is s io n a b ro a d . It w a s th e S p irit w h o s e n t th e m o u t. It w a s th e L o rd 's in itia tiv e to th e G e n tile s , H is m is s io n , H is w o rk . It h a d to b e th a t if it w e re to b e s u c c e s s fu l. H a d B a rn a b a s a n d S a u l g o n e o u t o n th e ir o w n o r in th e a u th o rity o f th e c h u rc h a lo n e , w e ll, th e ir m is s io n w o u ld h a v e c o m e to n o th in g . S u c c e s s fu l m in is try is th e L o rd 's d o in g . S o a s a c h u rc h a n d a s in d iv id u a ls , w e m u s t b e v e ry s e n s itiv e to th e L o rd 's le a d in g , to H is s e n d in g , H is d ire c tio n . A n d w e c a n g o o u t w ith th e k n o w le d g e o f th a t w ith g re a t c o n fid e n c e , b e c a u s e n o th in g , n o th in g , c a n s ta n d in H is w a y . W e s a w th a t in c h a p te r 1 2 w ith P e te r's d e liv e ra n c e f ro m p ris o n . H is c h a in s f e ll o f f , h e p a s s e d b y th e g u a rd s , a n d th e iro n g a te s s w u n g o p e n f o r h im . T h a t's th e p o w e r o f G o d . T h a t's w h a t th e L o r d p r o m is e d H is d is c ip le s . B e fo re s e n d in g th e m o u t to th e fa r re a c h e s o f th e e a rth , h e s a id , " Y o u w ill re c e iv e p o w e r w h e n th e H o ly S p irit h a s c o m e u p o n y o u ." W e ll, th e H o ly S p irit h a s c o m e u p o n y o u th e m o m e n t o f f a ith . Y o u 're s e a le d w ith th e S p irit. T h e C h ris tia n liv e s in th e p o w e r o f th e H o ly S p irit, a n d th a t is p o w e r th a t o p e n s iro n g a te s . A n d it is w ith th a t
- 13 "Dawn for the Nation" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
c o n f id e n c e , th e c o n f id e n c e th a t th e H o ly S p irit w a s in th e m , th a t H e w a s d ire c tin g th e m , th a t H e w a s g u id in g th e m , th a t B a rn a b a s a n d S a u l le f t A n tio c h a s m is s io n a rie s . T h e y w e n t d o w n to th e p o rt o f S e le u c ia a n d th e y s a ile d w e s t a c ro s s th e M e d ite rra n e a n to th e is la n d o f C y p ru s . It w a s th e b e g in n in g o f P a u l's firs t m is s io n a ry jo u rn e y . Y o u m ig h t w o n d e r w h y th e y c h o s e to g o to C y p ru s . T e x t d o e s n 't s ta te w h y th e y c h o s e to g o th e re . It d o e s n 't te ll u s th a t th e H o ly S p irit d ire c te d th e m to g o th e re , th o u g h H e m a y h a v e d o n e th a t d u rin g th e p ra y e r m e e tin g th a t th e y h a d . B u t it w a s a lo g ic a l c h o ic e . C y p ru s is lo c a te d n o t fa r w e s t o f A n tio c h . J u s t s o u th o f th e c o a s t o f T u rk e y w a s a m e e tin g p la c e o f th e e a s t a n d th e w e s t o f G re e k s a n d J e w s . T h e is la n d w a s g o v e rn e d b y th e R o m a n s , a n d s o it h a d a R o m a n p re s e n c e , a n d it h a d a n u m b e r o f s y n a g o g u e s w h e re th e y c o u ld p re a c h . It w a s a ls o th e s e a t o f im m o ra l w o rs h ip , th e w o rs h ip o f A p h ro d ite , th e g o d d e s s o f lo v e , a n d s o it w a s a n e e d y p la c e . T h a t w a s re a s o n to g o to C y p ru s . B u t a ls o it w a s th e p la c e fro m w h ic h B a rn a b a s h a d c o m e . H e w a s a C y p rio te , a J e w is h m a n , b u t h e w a s fro m C y p ru s . H e h a d fa m ily th e re . H e h a d c o n ta c ts th e re . H e k n e w th e is la n d , a n d s o it w a s th e ir f ir s t s to p . T h e y a r r iv e d a t S a la m is , o n th e e a s t s id e o f th e is la n d . I t w a s o n e o f th e c h ie f to w n s o f C y p ru s , a c o m m e rc ia lly p ro s p e ro u s to w n w ith a la rg e J e w is h c o m m u n ity . A n d a s w a s P a u l's c u s to m , h e a n d B a rn a b a s firs t w e n t to th e s y n a g o g u e s a n d th e y p ro c la im e d th e w o rd of God. T h e re w e re a c tu a lly th re e o f th e m . T h e y h a d J o h n w ith th e m , k n o w n a s M a rk . A t th e e n d o f c h a p te r 1 2 , w h e n P a u l a n d B a rn a b a s re tu rn fro m J e ru s a le m , L u k e te lls u s th a t th e y b ro u g h t w ith th e m J o h n , w h o is a ls o k n o w n a s M a rk . A n d M a rk , w e 're to ld in th e b o o k o f C o lo s s ia n s , w a s B a rn a b a s ' c o u s in , w h o a p p a re n tly s h o w e d a g e n u in e in te r e s t in th e w o rk o f th e m in is try , a n d s o th e y b ro u g h t h im w ith th e m . L u k e c a lls h im th e ir h e lp e r, w h ic h m a y m e a n th a t h e to o k c a re o f th e ir p h y s ic a l n e e d s o r p e rh a p s th e ir tra v e l a rra n g e m e n ts , o r h e m a y
- 14 "Dawn for the Nation" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
h a v e h a d a p a rt in th e te a c h in g w o rk th a t th e y c o n d u c te d . B u t th e th re e o f th e m tra v e le d to g e th e r a n d fro m S a la m is th e y tra v e le d w e s t a c ro s s C y p ru s , p re a c h in g fro m s y n a g o g u e to s y n a g o g u e , u n til th e y c a m e to P a p h o s , a b o u t 9 0 m ile s o n th e o th e r s id e o f th e is la n d . T h is w a s th e R o m a n c a p ita l o f th e is la n d . A n d it w a s th e re th a t G o d o p e n e d a d o o r o f m in is try fo r th e m w ith th e g o v e rn o r o f th e is la n d , a m a n n a m e d S e rg iu s P a u lu s . L u k e c a lls h im a n in te llig e n t m a n in v e rs e 7 . H e w a s a th in k e r. A n d h a v in g h e a rd o f th e ir p re a c h in g , h e g a v e B a rn a b a s a n d S a u l a n d in v ita tio n to c o m e a n d s p e a k to h im a b o u t th e w o rd o f G o d . W h e n th e y d id , th e y m e t o p p o s itio n . It is th e f irs t re c o rd e d o p p o s itio n th a t th e y m e e t, b u t it w o u ld n 't b e th e la s t. In fa c t, w e s e e in th is p a ra g ra p h , th is s e c tio n o f th e c h a p te r, a p a tte rn th a t w ill o c c u r th ro u g h o u t th e b o o k o f A c ts . G o d o p e n s d o o rs o f o p p o rtu n ity to p re a c h th e g o s p e l a n d H e o p e n s h e a rts to re c e iv e it, b u t n o t w ith o u t re s is ta n c e . A n d in th is c a s e re s is ta n c e c a m e fro m a m a n n a m e d B a rJ e s u s , w h ic h m e a n s " s o n o f J e s u s ," o r p e rh a p s " s o n o f s a lv a tio n ." B u t h e d id n 't k n o w J e s u s a n d h e h a d n o k n o w le d g e o f s a lv a tio n . L u k e d e s c rib e s h im a s a J e w is h m a g ic ia n a n d a f a ls e p ro p h e t. H e g a v e h im s e lf th e n a m e E ly m a s , w h ic h m e a n s " s a g e " o r " w is e o n e ." H e w a s a s o rc e re r w h o c la im e d to h a v e s u p e rn a tu ra l p ow e rs , p ro b a b ly th ro u g h th e u s e o f c h a rm s a n d s p e lls . T h e M e d ite rra n e a n w o rld , a s a ll o f th e p a g a n w o rld , w a s a v e ry s u p e rs titio u s a re a . It h a s b e e n d e s c rib e d a s a w o rld in w h ic h th e y v ie w e d th e a ir a s fille d w ith d e m o n s a n d e v il s p irits th e w a y th e m o d e rn m a n v ie w s it a s f ille d w ith v iru s e s a n d b a c te ria . A n d s o to w a rd o ff th e s e e v il s p irits , th e s e d e m o n s th a t c o u ld a ffe c t p e o p le 's h e a lth a n d th e ir d e s tin y , th e y h a d a ll k in d s o f c h a rm s a n d s p e lls , e m u la te s th a t th e y w o re . A n d th e y h a d p e o p le lik e E ly m a s w h o w o u ld p e rfo rm m a g ic a n d w a rd o ff th e e v il e y e a n d th e e v il s p irit. A n d e v id e n tly th e re w e re a lo t o f m e n lik e E ly m a s in th e a n c ie n t w o rld . M a n y o f th e m w e re J e w is h . W e f in d s o m e in E p h e s u s in c h a p te r 1 9 , th e s e v e n s o n s o f S c e v a . T h e y h a d k n o w le d g e o f G o d 's w o rd , th e s e J e w is h m a g ic ia n s . T h e y w e re a b le to u s e th a t to th e ir a d v a n ta g e a m o n g th e s u p e rs titio u s
- 15 "Dawn for the Nation" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
G e n tile s w h o h a d a lm o s t n o k n o w le d g e a t a ll o f G o d , a n d tu rn th e ir k n o w le d g e a n d th e ir a d v a n ta g e to s o m e fin a n c ia l g a in . E ly m a s , o r B a r -J e s u s , h a d a lo t o f in flu e n c e o v e r th e g o v e rn o r, w h o s e o ffic ia l title w a s p ro c o n s u l, m e a n in g th a t h e w a s a re p re s e n ta tiv e o f th e R o m a n s e n a te , w h ic h o w n e d th e is la n d . A n d s o S e rg iu s P a u lu s w a s a m a n o f c o n s id e ra b le in flu e n c e , a m a n o f p o w e r a n d m e a n s w h o n o d o u b t p a id E ly m a s q u ite w e ll. B u t th e g o v e rn o r w a s a n in te llig e n t m a n , w e 're to ld . H e w a n te d to le a rn m o re a b o u t th e g o s p e l th a t B a rn a b a s a n d S a u l w e re p re a c h in g , a n d s o h e c a lle d fo r th e m . W e ll, E ly m a s w a s a f ra id th a t h e m ig h t lo s e h is in f lu e n c e a n d m ig h t lo s e h is lu c ra tiv e re v e n u e . A n d s o L u k e te lls u s in v e rs e 8 th a t h e " w a s o p p o s in g th e m , s e e k in g to tu rn th e p ro c o n s u l a w a y fro m th e f a ith ." I t w a s a s tr u g g le b e tw e e n lig h t a n d d a r k n e s s , b e tw e e n tr u th a n d e rro r, a n d a d e b a te th a t w e n t o n f o r s o m e tim e a s J e w is h m a n , E ly m a s k n e w th e S c rip tu re s , a t le a s t h e k n e w th e m w e ll e n o u g h to p u t u p a n a rg u m e n t a g a in s t th e g o s p e l a n d h e d id to s tre n u o u s ly . V ic to rie s a re n o t w o n w ith o u t s tru g g le . T h a t's th e n a tu re o f C h ris tia n m in is try a n d th a t's th e n a tu re o f th e C h ris tia n life . It in v o lv e s s tru g g le . T h in g s d o n o t c o m e e a s ily . If w e th in k th a t a s C h ris tia n s w e w ill m a tu re to th e p o in t w h e re w e c o m e to th a t p la n e in lif e w h e re th in g s s o rt o f s a il a lo n g a n d it b e c o m e e a s y , it's n o t th e c a s e . It's n o t th a t w a y a t a ll. In f a c t, M a rtin L u th e r m a d e th e p o in t th a t th e m o re m a tu re a C h ris tia n b e c o m e s , th e g re a te r h is o r h e r s tru g g le s b e c o m e . I th in k th a t's tru e . W e ll, th e y c o m e to th e w e s te rn e n d o f th e is la n d a n d th e y h a v e th e o p p o rtu n ity to p re a c h th e g o s p e l, a n d th e y p re a c h th e g o s p e l; th e y g iv e it, b u t th e y m e e t g re a t re s is ta n c e , g re a t o p p o s itio n fro m th is m a n E ly m a s B a r -J e s u s . A n d s o w ith th is m a n , B a rn a b a s a n d S a u l lo c k h o rn s w ith th e p o w e r o f d a rk n e s s a n d th a t e n g a g e m e n t c o n tin u e d fo r s o m e tim e u n til th e H o ly S p irit fille d S a u l, w h o in v ers e 9 is c a lle d P a u l fo r th e firs t tim e a n d w ill b e c a lle d P a u l th ro u g h o u t th e re s t o f th e b o o k , a n d e m p o w e rs h im to b o ld ly m a k e a p ro n o u n c e m e n t o f
- 16 "Dawn for the Nation" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
ju d g m e n t. W e re a d th a t h e fix e d h is e y e s o n h im a n d s a id , "Y o u w h o a re f u ll o f a ll d e c e it a n d f ra u d , y o u s o n o f th e d e v il, y o u e n e m y o f a ll rig h te o u s n e s s , w ill y o u n o t c e a s e to m a k e c ro o k e d th e s tra ig h t w a y o f th e L o rd ? " P a u l w a s th e tru e p ro p h e t h e re a n d h e s a w rig h t in to th e h e a rt o f B a r-J e s u s a n d e x p o s e d h im fo r w h a t h e w a s . H e w a s n o t a s o n o f J e s u s . H e w a s a s o n o f th e d e v il. A n d h e h a d g re a t a u th o rity . H e h a d g re a t b o ld n e s s to m a k e th is k in d o f s ta te m e n t, to d ire c t it rig h t to th is m a n . H e m u s t h a v e h a d s o m e p o w e r, s o m e c h a ris m a , a n d s o m e a u th o rity , a n d y e t s p e a k s o d ire c tly to h im , n o t b e c a u s e P a u l w a s a b o ld m a n in a n d o f h im s e lf, b e c a u s e th e S p irit o f G o d g a v e h im th a t b o ld n e s s , a n d th a t's w h a t H e d o e s . T h a t's th e p o w e r th a t w e liv e in . T h a t's th e k in d o f p o w e r a n d a u th o rity th a t G o d g iv e s to u s w h e n w e a c t in o b e d ie n c e , w h e n w e g o o u t in f a ith a n d w e tru s t H im . S o h e e x p o s e s th is m a n fo r w h a t h e w a s . T h e n h e s a y s , " 'N o w , b e h o ld , th e h a n d o f th e L o rd is u p o n y o u , a n d y o u w ill b e b lin d a n d n o t s e e th e s u n fo r a tim e .' A n d im m e d ia te ly a m is t a n d a d a rk n e s s fu ll u p o n h im , a n d h e w e n t a b o u t s e e k in g th o s e w h o w o u ld le a d h im b y th e h a n d ." E v e n tu a lly it s e e m s E ly m a s re g a in e d h is s ig h t, s in c e P a u l s a id h e w o u ld b e b lin d fo r a tim e . B u t w h a t a fittin g d is c ip lin e fo r h im . T h e s p iritu a lly b lin d w h o le d o th e rs in to s p iritu a l d a rk n e s s is m a d e p h y s ic a lly b lin d . H e c la im e d to b e a m a in o f w is d o m , a s p iritu a l g u id e , a n d h e w a s m a d e to s tu m b le a b o u t, s e e k in g s o m e o n e 's h a n d to g u id e h im . W e ll, a ll o f th is h a d a s ig n if ic a n t e f f e c t o n S e rg iu s P a u lu s . P e rh a p s h e s a w th e iro n y in it a n d s a w th e m e s s a g e th a t w a s g iv e n a n d th e a f f lic tio n th a t h a d b e e n g iv e n to th is f a ls e p ro p h e t. V e rs e 1 2 s a y s , " H e b e lie v e d w h e n h e s a w w h a t h a d h a p p e n e d , b e in g a m a z e d a t th e te a c h in g o f th e L o rd ." N o d o u b t h e w a s a m a z e d a t w h a t h a p p e n e d to E ly m a s , b u t w h a t L u k e s a y s a m a z e d h im w a s th e te a c h in g o f th e L o rd . F o r th e firs t tim e , h e h e a rd a b o u t g ra c e . H e h e a rd a b o u t a to n e m e n t. H e h e a rd a b o u t th e s a c rif ic e o f C h ris t f o r s in n e rs a n d re d e m p tio n a n d s a lv a tio n th a t a re in H im a n d a re re c e iv e d th ro u g h
- 17 "Dawn for the Nation" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
f a ith a lo n e . N o w , it d o e s n 't s a y th a t in th e te x t. I t d o e sn 't g iv e th a t th e m e s s a g e o f th e w o rd o f G o d th a t h e h e a rd , b u t w e k n o w P a u l a n d B a rn a b a s s p o k e a b o u t th a t. It's w h a t P a u l a lw a y s s p o k e a b o u t. H e to ld th e C o rin th ia n s in 1 C o rin th ia n s 2 :2 , " I d e te rm in e to k n o w n o th in g a m o n g y o u e x c e p t J e s u s C h ris t, a n d H im c ru c if ie d ." N o w S e rg iu s P a u lu s w a s a n in te llig e n t m a n . H e h a d a n in q u irin g m in d . B u t P a u l d id n 't c o m e to h im a n d s p e a k to h im a b o u t p h ilo s o p h y o r is s u e s o f s p e c u la tio n . H e s p o k e o f th e lo v e o f G o d in th e c ro s s o f C h ris t. T h a t's th e fo c u s o f th e B ib le . T h a t is th e s o lu tio n to s in . A n d th a t's w h a t P a u l a n d th e a p o s tle s p re a c h e d . A n d S e rg iu s P a u lu s h e a rd it a n d b e lie v e d it. It w a s th e f irs t G e n tile c o n v e rt in a G e n tile la n d . A n d s o d a w n b e g in s fo r th e n a tio n s a n d P a u l's c a llin g a s th e a p o s tle to th e G e n tile s h a d fin a lly b e g u n in e a rn e s t. It h a d b e e n s o m e tim e s s in c e th e D a m a s c u s ro a d w h e n J e s u s to ld h im th a t H e w a s s e n d in g h im to th e G e n tile s . N o w it h a s b e g u n . W h ic h b rin g s m e to th re e le s s o n s o n w h ic h w e w ill c o n c lu d e . T h e y re g a rd s e rv ic e , s a lv a tio n , a n d th e S a v io r. F irs t, P a u l's s e rv ic e . H is g re a t w o rk a s a m is s io n a ry a n d a m a n o f le tte rs b e g a n a fte r m u c h p re p a ra tio n , a fte r m a n y y e a rs in w h ic h h e la b o re d in o b s c u rity . H e s p e n t tim e in A ra b ia , th e n in A s ia M in o r a t T a rs u s , a n d th e n f in a lly tim e in A n tio c h . W e k n o w h e s p e n t a b o u t tw o y e a rs in A n tio c h , p ro b a b ly 1 0 to 1 2 y e a rs in a ll s in c e th e D a m a s c u s ro a d e x p e rie n c e . T h e y w e re s ile n t y e a rs . D o n 't k n o w m u c h a b o u t w h a t to o k p la c e , b u t th e y w e re n e c e s s a ry y e a rs . F o r P a u l th e y w e re y e a rs o f p re p a ra tio n . N o w if P a u l n e e d e d 1 0 , 1 2 y e a rs o f p re p a ra tio n , d o w e n e e d a n y th in g le s s th a n th a t? W e a re a n im p a tie n t p e o p le . O r m a y b e I'm s p e a k in g fo r m y s e lf w h e n I s a y th a t. I'm a n im p a tie n t m a n , b u t I th in k th a t's p ro b a b ly c h a ra c te ris tic o f m o s t o f u s . W e w a n t to b e s p iritu a l g ia n ts to d a y . B u t g ro w th ta k e s tim e . It h a p p e n s s lo w ly . It h a p p e n s g ra d u a lly . S o w e m u s t b e p a tie n t. W e m u s t u n d e rs ta n d th a t a n d n o t c u t s h o rt th e tim e o f o u r p re p a ra tio n . In s te a d , w e 're to b e f a ith f u l in w h a t w e h a v e
- 18 "Dawn for the Nation" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
to d o n o w a n d n o t d e s p is e th e d a y o f s m a ll th in g s a n d k n o w th a t G o d w ill e x a lt y o u a t th e p ro p e r tim e . W e s e e th a t in P a u l. H e 's a n e x a m p le o f th a t. S e c o n d ly , w e le a rn s o m e th in g o f s a lv a tio n . W e s e e th a t in S e rg iu s P a u lu s . H e w a s a m a n o f p riv ile g e . H e w a s a m a n o f s o c ia l s ta n d in g a n d p o w e r. B u t h e w a s lo s t. E d u c a tio n , c u ltu re , w e a lth , p o s itio n c a n n o t s a v e . T h e y c a n n o t g iv e a m a n o r a w o m a n a n y a d v a n ta g e w ith G o d a t a ll. S e rg iu s P a u lu s h a d a ll o f th a t, b u t h e w a s u tte rly lo s t. H e k n e w th a t h is h e rita g e w a s th o ro u g h ly p a g a n . It w a s th e g o s p e l o f f r e e g r a c e th a t b r o u g h t h im s a lv a tio n a n d it b r o u g h t h im s a lv a tio n b e c a u s e it w a s s e n t to h im b y G o d H im s e lf. A n d th a t's th e th ird le s s o n . W e h a v e a S a v io r w h o s e e k s a n d s a v e s th e lo s t. M e n d o n 't s e e k G o d . H e s e e k s th e m . It w a s th e H o ly S p irit w h o s e n t o u t P a u l a n d B a rn a b a s . G o d a lw a y s ta k e s th e in itia tiv e in s a lv a tio n . T h a t's g ra c e . M a n y y e a rs a g o a J e w is h s c h o la r, C la u d e M o n te f io re , d id a w e ll k n o w n s tu d y o n C h ris tia n ity . H e w a n te d to k n o w if th e re w a s a n y th in g re a lly n e w in J e s u s ' te a c h in g n o t fo u n d in a n y J e w is h p ro p h e t o r ra b b i b e fo re H im . A n d s o h e d id th is s tu d y , a n d w h a t h e fo u n d , w h a t h e s in g le d o u t th a t w a s d is tin c tiv e , th a t w a s n o t fo u n d in a n y ra b b i, w a s th e p ic tu re o f th e d iv in e S h e p h e rd g o in g o u t in to th e w ild e rn e s s to s e e k a lo s t s h e e p . It's th e p ic tu re o f G o d , w h o n o t o n ly re c e iv e s th o s e w h o tu rn to H im , b u t a p ic tu re o f G o d a s s e e k in g a n d ta k in g th e in itia tiv e w ith th o s e w h o h a v e n o t tu rn e d to H im . T h a t, h e s a id , is o n e o f th e n e w e x c e lle n c ie s o f th e g o s p e l - a s e e k in g G o d . J e s u s s a id , " I h a v e o th e r s h e e p th a t a re n o t o f th is fo ld . I m u s t b rin g th e m a ls o ." S e rg iu s P a u lu s w a s o n e . H e s e n t h is m is s io n a rie s a c ro s s th e s e a to g e t h im , a n d a s th e y w e n t a c ro s s th e s e a to c la im h im , a c h u rc h in A n tio c h w a s p ra y in g fo r S a u l a n d B a rn a b a s , p ra y in g th a t th e ir m is s io n w o u ld g o w e ll, th a t th e y w o u ld h a v e s u c c e s s , th a t th e y w o u ld b e p ro te c te d , th a t th e y w o u ld b e m a d e e f f e c tiv e . A n d th o s e p ra y e rs c o n tin u e d a s th o s e tw o m e n c o n tin u e d to g o o u t a n d g e t th e s h e e p o f th e o th e r fo ld a n d b rin g th e m to th e L o rd Je s u s C h ris t, to th e
- 19 "Dawn for the Nation" by Dan Duncan Copyright © 2014 Believers Chapel, Dallas, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
p re a c h in g o f th e g o s p e l. A n d th e y w e re fo u n d th ro u g h o u t th e G e n tile s , a m o n g th e n a tio n s , a n d th is w a s th e b e g in n in g o f th e s p iritu a l d a w n f o r th e n a tio n s . W e ll, it b e g a n f o r th e m s o lo n g a g o , a s it b e g u n f o r y o u . H a s th e d a w n o f th e g o s p e l ris e n in y o u r h e a rt? H a s th e g o s p e l p e n e tra te d y o u r s o u l? D o y o u k n o w J e s u s C h ris t a s y o u r S a v io r? H e is th a t. H e is L o rd a n d S a v io r. H e is th e S o n o f G o d w h o d ie d in th e p la c e o f s in n e rs . H is d e a th w a s e ffe c tiv e . H is d e a th a c c o m p lis h e d its p u rp o s e . B e c a u s e o f H is d e a th , a ll w h o b e lie v e in H im w ill b e s a v e d . H e h a s p u rc h a s e d a p e o p le fo r H im s e lf a n d H e in v ite s a ll to c o m e . H a v e y o u c o m e ? H a v e y o u tru s te d in H im ? If n o t, lo o k to J e s u s C h ris t. T u rn to H im , tru s t in H im . T h e m o m e n t y o u d o , y o u re c e iv e f r o m H im th e f u ll f re e f o rg iv e n e s s o f s in s a n d lif e e v e rla s tin g , e te rn a l lif e th a t c a n n e v e r f a d e a w a y o r b e ta k e n a w a y . M a y G o d h e lp y o u to d o th a t a n d h e lp e a c h o f u s to re jo ic e in th e g ra c e th a t w e h a v e re c e iv e d . L e t's p ra y . [P ra y e r] F a th e r, w e d o th a n k Y o u fo r Y o u r g o o d n e s s a n d g ra c e . W e s e e th a t s e t f o rth in th is te x t, h o w Y o u s e n t th e s e m e n o u t, h o w Y o u s e n t th e m p re a c h in g th e g o s p e l, a n d h o w it g a in e d lo s t s o u ls , a n d it g o e s . Y o u r w o rd n e v e r g o e s f o rth a n d re tu rn s to Y o u v o id . It a lw a y s h a s its p e rfe c t e f f e c t. W e th a n k Y o u f o r th a t. W e th a n k Y o u th a t b y Y o u r g ra c e Y o u s a v e d u s , w e w h o h a v e b e lie v e d in J e s u s C h ris t, a n d w e p ra y th a t if th e re b e a n y in a tte n d a n c e th is m o rn in g w h o h a v e n o t tru s te d in H im , F a th e r, g iv e th e m n o re s t o r p e a c e u n til th e y c o m e t o a s a v in g k n o w le d g e o f Y o u r S o n . W e th a n k Y o u fo r H im , fo r H is d e a th , f o r th e lif e w e h a v e in H im , a n d it's in C h r is t n a m e w e p r a y . A m e n .
