A Christian Who Carries and Relays the One Answer to Life (Acts 11:19-30)
Let us bless and greet one another, “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.” May the unprecedented and never-repeated blessing be upon each of you today. The title of today’s message is, “A Christian Who Carries and Relays the One Answer to Life.” People are born, they live their lives, and one day, their lives end. We do not choose the day we are born or the day we die, and we also don’t live our lives however we want to. The Creator God is controlling our lives even now and will end our lives. If I do not have an answer to life, then I will wander and struggle in life. Buddha or Siddhartha began to meditate, wondering why there was so much suffering and pain in the world. In the end, he died without coming to the answer. If all of us do not have an answer regarding the problems in our lives, then we will live losing hold of many things. We will try so hard to find that answer, and if the answer to the problems of life are money and success, that would be great, but that’s not true. If that were true, then Jesus Christ would not have to come to earth. If successful people could solve all the people of the world, then Jesus Christ did not have to come. If the greatest people in America built up the nation, then we would have no problems in America, but the problems cannot be blocked. Every individual, family, society, and nation has problems, but they live without knowing the answer.
1. Those who were scattered
1) Persecution (Acts 11:19)
(1) Proclaimed the Word (Acts 11:19)
In today’s scripture, it talks about those who had been scattered. The reason the disciples were scattered is because after Stephen was martyred, the Christians were persecuted, but in the Bible, “those who were scattered” and “those who remain” have incredible meaning. Why are these people so important?
(2) Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch (Acts 11:19)
Because even though they were scattered as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, they were still spreading the gospel to the Jews. Because they were persecuted in Jerusalem, they ran away to the north, and this gospel began to spread to the island of Cyprus. Even right now, God wants us to spread the gospel through tribulations and persecutions we face. What kind of people does this gospel get spread through? In the scripture, people were being persecuted and killed because of Jesus Christ, but when people face the danger of death, then all of them become very timid, and because, if they proclaim Jesus Christ, they knew they would face death, so they would not do that, because most people believe in Jesus Christ for themselves and their own lives. Most Christians and church-goers today also use the church and the name of Jesus Christ for their own life and benefit. If that is our faith, then we will not find the answer to our problems.
(3) To the Jews (Acts 11:19)
The people in today’s scripture were facing death because they were proclaiming Christ, but they continued to proclaim Christ. So, what exactly is this “Jesus Christ” whom these people believed in? Is it truly Jesus Christ Who has finished all problems of life? It is true, Jesus Christ has finished all of the problems of our past, present, and future on the cross. This means that the most important thing in my life is Christ. If that is not the case for me, then I will always have a reason to live my life for myself. “Oh, it’s because I’m too busy,” or, “because I don’t have enough money,” or, “because I lack this,” we always give these reasons, and we can only escape from these reasons if we find all of our reason within Jesus Christ. Now, we live for the reason of believing in Jesus Christ. So now, anything that has to do with “me” or “my problems” must go away, because I’ve died on the cross with Christ and now Christ lives in me; there’s nothing left of “me.” Because there’s nothing left of “me,” there’s nothing that is a problem to me. That is the Jesus Christ we have been given. But everyone believes in Jesus Christ differently, and through the Bible and through the cross, all those different reasons must disappear. Then, the reason for our life will be to proclaim Jesus Christ and the gospel. Why am I living here? Why am I getting persecuted? Why am I living in this kind of circumstance? For the proclamation of the gospel. That is how we are bound to change. Until we are changed like that, we must continuously concentrate on how high, wide, and deep Jesus Christ is.
2) To the Gentiles
(1) Some from Cyprus and Cyrene (Acts 11:20)
These people are proclaiming the gospel of Christ. However, some of them—men from Cyprus and Cyrene—went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks as well, teaching them the good news of Jesus. These are men from Cyprus and Cyrene, and Cyrene is a region in North Africa, which is far away from Israel. These are people who began to proclaim the gospel to Gentiles. People are bound to see and talk about the things that they think are important. If I see something, it’s not just that I see it, but I see it because of what’s important inside of me. But for these people, because Christ is the greatest value inside of them, the only thing they see is whether that person has Christ or not. In a given situation, anybody can look at the same situation differently because everyone is bound to see from the perspective of what they think is important. If someone is addicted to alcohol, they will see alcohol wherever they go. If someone is addicted to drugs, that is what they will see anywhere they go. If someone is obsessed with money, they will look at the entire world through the lens of money. If someone is bound by success, then they will look at the entire world through the lens of success. Then, even if that person believes in Jesus Christ, they cannot relay it because they believe that Christ is not as important as whatever they value the most.
(2) Antioch (Acts 11:20)
(3) Preached the Lord Jesus to the Greeks (Acts 11:20)
So, our real problem is how we know and believe in Christ. It’s not any other problem. If we know Christ and believe in Him correctly, then we will see everything through those eyes because there is no other way to save me other than Christ. People who are thieves will think about stealing, 24 hours. People who are lost in sexual immorality will think lustful thoughts 24 hours, then that’s true, even if they believe in Jesus Christ. Then, what’s really wrong? Christ has not come to this person as the greatest value; that is the problem. If Christ comes into me as the greatest value, then I will look at everything through Christ. So, the people in today’s scripture know that if they proclaim Christ, they will die, but they continued to proclaim the gospel because they knew this was the reason for their life.
If a man and a woman fall in love, then they only think about each other for 24 hours. Even when they work, they are working for the other person. Even if they go to sleep, they are sleeping for the other person. That is how people become. Then, in their eyes, all they can see is their woman or their man. But if Christ becomes the greatest value, then we look at everything through this, why? Because Christ is everything. Christ is the One Who has finished all problems of my life, so even if I am facing death, it doesn’t matter. I’ve discovered the value to stake my life. If they get caught proclaiming Christ, then they’ll get executed. Most people are believing in Jesus Christ to protect their own life, but these people have discovered the value that is worth staking their lives. That Jesus Christ is more important than even my life. When I was a nonbeliever, I used to laugh at Christians and believers, because my logic was, “You only need a god because you exist, but if you die, your religion disappears, too.” So, I didn’t want to live like that. I will live on my own, so spiritually speaking, my state was completely seized by Satan. But even when I was a nonbeliever, I thought, “If that is the level of faith, I don’t want that.” So, until I discovered the value that is worth staking my life on, I did not want to believe in anything, but one day, God gave me His grace and I began to discover little by little. Then, what happened? I began to let go of the things I thought were so important, and I went more and more into Christ. As we go more and more into Christ, we become more peaceful and joyful.
In America, there are many people who are practicing meditation to try to bring peace and focus into their lives. Why do people keep on meditating to empty themselves and find peace? It’s because their heart feels so heavy-burdened and complicated, so why are their lives so heavy, difficult, and complicated? Because most people have their own greed or their desires. When they decide what they want, then they will invest their time and energy to get it. Then, when they get what they want, they like it, but when they don’t get what they want, they don’t like it. So, for some people, if they don’t get what they want, they accept that reality; but some people, if they don’t get what they want, they get so discouraged that they even want to die. That is the state of emotional division, because now, their emotions are only regarding what they want, it’s either good or bad. If they don’t get what they want, their emotions tell them that it’s bad and they want to die. Even if they do get what they want, it’s not complete; it’s only momentary. So, little by little, their emotions become overwhelmed by the goal they’ve set for themselves.
Then, they fall into a state of obsession, trying to get what they want. “Obsession” means, even if I’m trying to have fun, I think about this. My thoughts, my heart, and my emotions are all seized by my obsession. At that time, even if we rest, we’re not really resting; we are always suffering and bound by our obsession, and that follows into a state of addiction. Now, in order to try and escape the pain that is caused by their state of obsession, they go into meditation or some other escape. So, people are medicating to get rid of their emotions. Or, they try to force their emotions to change by finding some sort of escape. That’s the reason why people fall deeper into alcohol or drugs, or for kids, video games. In the end, we are all bound by Satan and we cannot escape, why is this? It’s because I’ve made myself my own god, I’ve created a goal for my life, and I want to live my life the way I want to. So, the real problem is “me,” I’ve made myself god and I want to decide my own life, but in reality, I’m seized by Satan and dragged around. The only way to escape from that is through Jesus Christ, changing the Master from me to Christ. When the goal of my life is no longer the goal I set for myself, but the goal God gave for my life, then I am set free.
Our job is not what is hard, our studying and people are not what’s difficult, but it’s because whatever I have decided for my life is not what God wants for me. If we marry for the goal of accomplishing whatever I desire, then our marriages become a hellish existence. Because I’m not achieving my goal, my emotions are hurt. I lived my life like this, and everything I’ve invested my energy and time into, what has that amounted to? So, we’re not able to see the incorrect things that are inside of us, and we end up blaming everybody else. We must change that in us; that’s why it must be Christ. We need to change our faith to believe in Jesus Christ Who has finished all of the problems of our life and lives within us as our Lord and Savior. For young adults who are about to get married, the goal of your marriage should not be to make a paradise, but when your goal for marriage is aligned with God, then you will be set free. The reason you go to work or you go to study, it must be to proclaim the gospel; any other reason, you must discard. First, seek God’s Kingdom and His righteousness, then all these things will be added to you as well. When your thoughts change like this, whatever you’re suffering from or think is a problem will be fixed. Whether you are suffering from depression or anxiety, all of those problems began from being separated from God. So, even though there are a lot of churches, it is only when the correct words of the gospel come into us by God’s grace that we are truly set free.
3) Hand of the Lord (Acts 11:21)
(1) God’s power
(2) Was with them (Acts 11:21)
(3) A great number turned to the Lord (Acts 11:21)
So, the people in today’s scripture are in a stream where, even if they are facing death, they have no choice but to proclaim the gospel. Then, Acts 11:21 says, “The Lord’s hand was with them and a great number of people turned to the Lord.” When we proclaim the gospel, God is with us with His power. If we believe in Jesus Christ, then God is with us. When your mission in working or studying is to proclaim the gospel, then God is with you in power. If you don’t have power, then you will struggle. People might say this and that about life, but in the end, it’s only difficult for us because we lack power. Why do we suffer from our mental illnesses? Because we lack the power to overcome them. Why do we suffer because of money? Because we don’t have the power of finances. As they proclaimed the gospel, God was with them in power. These are the people who set the first foundations for Antioch Church. However, if the church begins with any other reason, it becomes a headache. If people go to church and raise up a church for their own benefit, then in the end, they will complain and fight and break people down for their benefit.
2. Jerusalem Church
1) Heard that the Word was being preached to Gentiles (Acts 11:22)
(1) Sent Barnabas to Antioch (Acts 11:22)
When the gospel began to be spread to the Gentiles, the Jerusalem Church heard this and sent Barnabas.
(2) Was glad when he saw the grace of God (Acts 11:23)
When Barnabas arrived, he saw what the grace of God had done, and he was glad. We cannot make our joy; people might try to drink or sing songs to try to make themselves happy, but that is a forced, momentary joy. For some people, they drink alcohol and all they do is cry; other people, they laugh, because people are trying to artificially manufacture their joy through drugs, alcohol, or video games. Or, they are trying to earn their happiness by packing their bags and traveling around the world, but Barnabas saw the grace of God and he was glad. When we see the works of God, then Christians will experience true joy. When we see that someone has received the gospel of Christ and has received salvation, then we will be filled with true joy. Even if there’s a new baby born in a family, then that family is so joyful, but if we look at members of the church, continuously receiving new life, then that gives us true joy. Is there joy inside of your school and inside of your job? Everybody is so busy competing and trying to succeed; there is no joy, but we are already in a field with no joy. And when we go into that mission field with the mission to proclaim the gospel and save lives, and we see the works of God, then we will experience a joy that nobody else can experience.
(3) Encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord (Acts 11:23)
So, Barnabas saw this, he was glad, and he encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord with all of their hearts. They were believing in Jesus and they were living their walk of faith, and Barnabas did not tell them to do something; he just told them, “Remain with the Lord. Remain in Christ.” Where am I now? The important issue is not whether you’re inside the church building or outside; the most important thing is whether you are in Christ or not. Because Christ has already finished all problems of my life and He is with me, remain within Christ. Even the mission of world evangelization that God has given to us, the Lord has completed Himself, so hold onto that covenant and remain in Christ. If this is not taking place but you’re trying something else, the more you try, the more you will lose your strength. Even in the world, we need to work and study with Christ, then we will have joy and power, but if we are working and studying for our own goal and motive, we will lose all of our strength.
2) Barnabas – Son of encouragement (Joseph)
(1) Native of Cyprus – Levite (Acts 4:36)
So, Barnabas is his nickname, and his nickname means, “The son of encouragement.” Barnabas is a Hellenic Jew who is from Cyprus.
(2) Sold his field and gave offering to the church (Acts 4:37)
Barnabas is also the one who sold his field and gave it as an offering to the church when the church was going through financial difficulties. And The Bible describes him as a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith. A “good man,” means, anyone can agree who sees him that he’s good. However, if somebody is selfish and they live for themselves, then people don’t describe them as “good,” they think, “That person is so selfish, that person is only focused on their family.” If that person is only focused on something, then it’s hard to hear that they are a good person. But because Barnabas was always focused on helping other people, everyone could agree that he was a good man. But he was able to live for other people because he had received grace, because if we don’t receive God’s grace, we go back to being centered on “me.”
(3) A good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith (Acts 11:24)
And he was filled with the Holy Spirit and faith. Why do you think God gave us the promise to be filled with the Holy Spirit? Jesus Christ said, “You will be filled with the Holy Spirit to be My witnesses in Jerusalem, to all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth,” and this person’s life mission was world evangelization. That is why God poured upon him the filling of the Holy Spirit all the time, and he had faith in it. He’s not an apostle, he’s just a regular layperson. Even though he’s a layperson, he is a committed worker of the gospel.
3) Antioch
(1) Brought Saul (Acts 11:25-26)
Because Barnabas is continuing to raise people up, God made him think of someone named Saul. So, in Acts 11:25, Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul. How could Barnabas know that Saul was in Tarsus? God had given that blessing of meeting. God gives the blessing of meeting between the person who has the gospel and the person who will receive the gospel.
(2) Taught a great many people – 1 year (Acts 11:26)
God has prepared the blessing of meeting of people who will proclaim the gospel together. So, the Team Ministry, the blessings of meeting that God has prepared to proclaim the gospel is very important. When he found Saul, he brought Saul to Antioch and taught for a whole year in the church, and from that point on, the Gentiles around that area began to call the disciples, “Christians,” first at Antioch.
(3) First called Christians (Acts 11:26)
So the word, “Christian” was created first here at this time as a nickname, because during this time, they were considered Jews. On the other hand, the Romans called the Roman emperor their lord, and many other Gentiles had their own gods that they belonged to, so why do you think that the disciples started being called Christians here? Because they confessed that Christ is my Lord and savior, and they confessed, “When I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, God answers me.” They confessed, “I believe in the name of Jesus Christ because Christ has given me the life mission to go and make disciples of all nations.” In the past, they were centered on themselves, and now, they are completely changed to be centered on Christ. If that does not happen, then our prayers become strange. We keep on praying to get what we want, but that’s exactly like any other religion. For me, we’re nothing special, if I exist and I keep on thinking my thoughts, then I get more seized by Satan and disasters. So now, our prayers must change to seek God’s plan or Christ’s plan. Not my thoughts; we must change our thoughts into prayer because whatever we were thinking about is not from God. The more we focus on our thoughts, the more we will be seized by them. We must change our thoughts into prayer because Christ is our Lord.
Whatever situation you’re in, I hope you will not judge it based on your thoughts; but instead, look for God’s plan. Otherwise, we’re bound to make our decisions and actions based on our experiences and knowledge, and that will lead us to destruction. Let’s say, for example, today is 99 degrees, it’s very warm. Our reaction may be, “It’s so hot, I don’t want to go worship,” because I have my experience and my knowledge. Then, you will fail. “Oh, it’s too hot today.” What is God’s plan? That is prayer. “Oh I don’t have money,” What is God’s plan? We need to find God’s plan to receive His answers. But if you don’t have money, so you keep on running around, borrowing money, you’ll be a slave to money. If God allows you to lack money, then there’s a plan of God for that. But, instead of praying to seek God’s plan, if we keep on praying to fill our own greed and desire, we will fall deeper into Satan and destruction, but if you pray, then God’s plan will be fulfilled. I lived for 10 years without money, and I mean literally zero dollars. I had no source of income, but we have experience that, if I cannot make money, I cannot survive, but God works through many different channels. Yes, I’ve never had money rain down from the sky, but I saw God answering me through things that I could never experience before. So, we must escape from this thing called “myself.” “Oh, the way this person talks to me is offensive.” Because I’m centered on my thoughts and my pride, if someone speaks to me offensively, I don’t like it, then we are bound by our emotions of not liking that person. Instead of thinking like that, we ask, “What is God’s plan?”
3. Antioch Church
1) Gentiles who became Christians
(1) Christ is all (Col. 3:11)
(2) Those who live for Christ (Col. 1:16)
Escape from yourself and change to be centered on Christ and God’s plan, that is a Christian. That’s why they got the nickname, “Christian” because in everything they were centered on Christ. Even if we fail, we seek God’s plan, we seek the plan of Christ. Because we believe even now, Christ is seated at the right hand of the throne of God and is controlling all of creation. The Christ these people believed in was Col. 3:11, this Christ is all; that means that everything is inside of Christ. So, why should I hold onto my greed or desire? I should hold onto Christ. Why would I hold onto my emotions? I should hold onto the plan of Christ. Why would I live my life holding onto this vague and incomplete plan I’ve made for myself, we need to hold onto the covenant of world evangelization God gave us, and then life off of that.
(3) Christ Who rules over all things (Col. 3:11, Col. 1:16)
So, for the people in today’s scripture, even though they faced the threat of death, they proclaimed Christ, then what happened later on? In the end, all of Rome was changed. God is the One Who changed Rome, but He used the scattered ones. That’s why the Bible emphasizes those who were scattered, those who remain. Even though they were persecuted, they held onto only Christ, because there is nothing of value other than Christ. My values all come from Satan and the devil, and it becomes a channel for Satan. This church also knew the root cause of all of the suffering in the world. If you know the root cause of all of the suffering in America, then you are bound to testify of Jesus Christ. If you know the root cause of depression, then you are bound to testify of Christ. If you really discover the root cause of the problems in your family, then Christ is bound to be proclaimed. Your studies are not the problem; the real problem is this vague goal you’ve made for yourself. There is no problem at all with your studies or job or money. The real problem is the greed that you have that comes to you as a problem. All of creation exists for Christ, but if we begin to live for our own designated goal, then we begin to suffer.
2) Church that saves the world
(1) Church that knows the source of the world’s problems
(2) Church that knows the answer
(3) Church that has the mission to save the world
So because they knew the problems of America and the world, they were the church that gave the answer, and they became a church that has a mission of saving the world. Then, that is the end because everything else follows within that. First seek God’s Kingdom and His righteousness, then everything else you’re thinking of, that will follow. These answers should follow you, but you are seeking them as your goal in life and that’s why you’re mentally troubled. You’re bound and seized by that, so you suffer.
3) Church that has received the answer of the economy of light
(1) Great famine came over all the world (Acts 11:28)
Then, they said that there was a famine in Jerusalem. Not only was it a famine, but it was a severe famine that spread throughout the entire world and that was a financial crisis.
(2) Helped the Jerusalem Church (Acts 11:29)
However, the Antioch church had a financial surplus so they were able to help the Jerusalem church. So where is the stream of finances?
(3) Economy of light for world evangelization
There is an economy of light that God has hidden within the stream of testifying the gospel and world evangelization. Right now, there are college students who are working and making money, maybe some high schoolers and middle schoolers as well, but if you want to stop the financial problems that are repeating in the family line, give offering. In other words, you are giving to God what belongs to God. I’m not talking about money right now, I’m talking about your faith through God that is represented through money and offering. Otherwise, you’ll always be enslaved by money and your life will end like that. Even the money you get as allowance from your parents, give a tithe from that allowance. Then, I can promise you one thing: You will never suffer your whole life because of finances because you have financial freedom. Why? Because the owner of money is God, and I give my offering and spend my money for world evangelization. Do it while you are young. There is a characteristic of families that are always continuously poor. As soon as they have money, they spend it, they eat with it, but they don’t even think about giving offering to God. They think that they are the owner of the money. College students, do you understand what I’m saying? “I worked hard for this money; why should I be giving this offering?” That’s why you’re always poor. I hope you’ll escape from that.
Conclusion
1. Edit the Word of Christ
2. Design through prayer according to the Word of Christ
3. Design the Word of Christ in the field
In the end, Christ is everything, but currently, Christ is not everything to me, so we keep on editing and changing until we are aligned with Christ. The Bible tells us that Christ is everything, but Christ is not yet everything to me yet, so we keep on changing ourselves and editing until we are aligned with the Bible. So, I hope you will keep on editing yourself and I hope you will keep on praying about that. Then, you will see Christ aligned in your field and evangelism taking place. I bless you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ that you will have this blessing throughout the entire week.
Message Prayer
Let us pray together holding onto the Word we have received.
Offering Prayer and Newcomer Blessing
God, we thank You. We have returned Your materials as offering. We pray you will bless the hands that have given the offering so it may be used to raise up the church, save the future generations, and revive the missions fields. Just as you have given the answer of the 100 years’ answer to Jacob, we pray You will give the answer to those who have given their offering in faith, the answer of Rehoboth. Allow us to enjoy the wellspring of blessings. In Jesus Christ’s name we pray, amen.
God, we thank You. We pray You will bless the Kim family so they may be completely satisfied with the gospel and live their lives for Christ just like the scattered ones. We believe that when they hold onto Christ and live for Christ, the forces of darkness will be broken down. In Jesus Christ’s name we pray, amen.
Closing Prayer and Benediction
Now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the unending love of God, and the indwelling, working, guidance, and fellowship of the Holy Spirit be upon the heads of all of the people of God who desire to live for Christ, because of Christ, be upon their businesses, their studies, their health, and all things, be with them now and forevermore always, amen.
You are a true Christian!