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Acts 11:19-30
OUR ENCOURAGEMENT
God encourages us to be supernatural
1. God Encourages Us to be SPEAKING Followers (19-21)
(19-21) Those who had been scattered as a result of the persecution that started because of Stephen made their was as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message to no one except Jews. But there were some of them, Cypriot and Cyrenian men, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Hellenist, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.
(21) The Lord’s hand was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.
A. God encourages “non-professionals” to talk about Him.
B. God’s hand will be with us and bless us as we speak.
2. God Encourages Us to be STRONG Followers (22-23)
(22-23) Then the report about them reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to travel as far as Antioch. When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he encouraged all of them to remain true to the Lord with a firm resolve of the heart.
A. Remain true to the Lord with a firm resolve of the heart.
(25-26) Then he went to Tarsus to search for Saul, and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught large numbers…
B. Remain true to the Lord with a real hungering to grow.
(26) The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch
C. Remain true to the Lord by following His teachings.
3. God Encourages Us to be SACRIFICIAL Followers
(27-30) In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine throughout the Roman world. This took place during the time of Claudius. So each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea. This they did, sending it to the elders by means of Barnabas and Saul.
A. Being a Christ-follower is supernatural.
B. Christ-followers do supernatural things.
Being a genuine follower of Christ is a costly life.
Acts 12:1-17
There is always an element of surprise in the spread of the Gospel.
Acts 10:27-48
God still does miracles – if we are willing to receive them.
Acts 9:32-43
God has given us this goal toward which to strive.
Acts 9:31
The beginning of our lives as Christ followers should share some common characteristics.
Acts 9:19-30
