Acts 13 A Word of Encouragement

Chuck Swindoll in his book Growing Deep in the Christian Life tells about a man getting ready to make an around-the-world voyage in his homemade boat.

 Without exception everyone on the pier was vocally pessimistic.

 Everyone was telling him everything that could possibly go wrong. “The sun will broil you.”

 “You won’t have enough food.” “That boat of yours won’t withstand any storms.” “You’ll never make it.”

A man standing nearby heard all these discouraging words and decided instead to offer some words of encouragement.

As the little boat began pulling away from shore, he went to the end of the pier and began waving both his arms wildly and shouted,

“BON VOYAGE! YOU’RE REALLY SOMETHING! WE’RE WITH YOU! WE’RE PROUD OF YOU! GOOD LUCK, BROTHER!”

This story is so similar to our lives.

 In a sense, all of us are in a little boat.

We are on a long journey, not knowing if we are going to make it or not.

 And as we push out to sea, there are very few people who stand there giving us encouragement. Most are only critical or negative.

I once heard the famous Lou Holtz speak to a group of coaches. 

He reflected back on his time as a head football coach at a major university.

He told us that complaining about things is a waste of time.

He gave us two reasons – he said there are two people in the world.

Those that are glad you are having trouble.

And those that just don’t care.

He said that is why he didn’t complain.

Well we may feel like sometime that life is that tough.

That’s a pretty sad commentary on life, but often, it’s very true for most of us. THERE ARE MANY DISCOURAGERS IN LIFE BUT FEW ENCOURAGERS!

Many people are better at discouraging others than encouraging them.

We as Christians have every reason in the world to encourage others. 

We should be a shot of light in a dark place. 

This world is very dark and very pessimistic but we have every reason to see a bright future.

The future is bright because of Jesus Christ.

How can I encourage others- I can encourage you and those around me because Jesus Christ has risen from the dead.

Leslie Newbigin was a famous theologian and missionary to India.

Newbigin was asked if he was an optimist or a pessimist.

He told the reporter that he was neither an optimist or pessimist – He would only take joy in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

What Newbigin was trying to say – is that if we try to find the comfort that this realm of flesh and sin brings we will be left empty.

But if we find comfort and joy in what Christ can do in us and in this world then we can truly be content and know that there is a future for us all that is very bright.

If you are in Christ you have something about you that is amazing.

It is better than any job, car, vacation, or house that you could ever possess.

The question about your future and life has been decided in Jesus Christ. 

Some of you are here today maybe you are wondering what is going to happen to you.

Maybe you wonder what your life has in store and you are anxious and upset.

Here is good news – no matter what happens to our economy or the things around us you are connected to the life of the Living God.

Hebrews 10: 29-22

19Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

God has invited you to draw near to him.

To come before Him today through the blood of Jesus.

He wants you to have a full assurance of faith.

If we could just see that and understand that we would become people of great encouragement to those around us.

The world would be blessed by our presence in all things.

ILL.- On June 1, 1965, a 13 1/2 foot boat slipped quietly out of the marina at Falmouth, MASS.

 Its destination was England. It would be the smallest boat ever to make the trip. Its name was TINKERBELLE.

 And its pilot was Robert Manry. He had been a copy editor for the CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER for ten years and was bored, so he took a leave of absence to fulfill his secret dream.

Robert Manry was afraid, though not of the ocean.

He was afraid of all those people who would try to talk him out of the trip.

 So he didn’t tell many people, just a few relatives and his wife, Virginia who was his greatest supporter and encourager.

The trip was anything but pleasant.

He spent many sleepless nights trying to cross the shipping lanes without getting run down and sunk. Weeks at sea caused his food to become tasteless.

Loneliness caused him to have hallucinations. His rudder broke three times.

Storms swept him overboard, and had it not been for the rope he had tied around his waist, he would never have made it back on board.

 Finally, after 78 days alone at sea, he sailed into England on August 17th.

During his many nights, he fantasized about what he would do once he arrived in England.

 He expected simply to check into a hotel, eat dinner alone, then the next morning see if the Associated Press might be interested in his story.

 But word of his approach had spread far and wide. To his amazement, three hundred vessels, with horns blasting, escorted TINKERBELLE into port.

 And 40,000 people stood screaming and cheering him to shore.

Robert Manry became an overnight hero. And his story has been told around the world.

BUT ROBERT MANRY COULDN’T HAVE DONE IT ALONE!

 Standing on the dock was an even greater hero, his wife Virginia.

She had refused to be critical and negative about her husband’s trip. She gave him constant encouragement which enabled him to pursue and complete his dream!

But why was his wife Virginia so encouraging to this man?

This seems so strange – because she loved him.

It was that simple – she loved him that much.

I do believe that when we love others around us – love those in our church and in our community we will be people of great encouragement.

We need a word of encouragement! The world needs a word of encouragement!

PROP.- Let’s see what this text teaches us about the importance of encouragement in life.

Today’s text is found in Acts 13

We have been looking at the church at Antioch.

We saw that they had great faith and were sending out the first mission trip of the early Church.

This will be Paul’s first missionary trip.

Today we will pick up Paul’s trip and from this trip I want to zero in on three things that we can learn from him and his companion Barnabas.

Keys to their success in this mission centered around Encourgament.

You find the concept of encouragement all through Acts.  I have touched on this earlier in a sermon but want to expound a bit more about it.

To me this is a major critical factor in our time.

We live in a time so cynical and so unhappy.  People are generally pessimistic about our future.

I want us to know that as Christians we can have great courage and hope. 

Today I want us to see these three things:

1- Encouragement must be spoken

2- Encouragement deals with good news

3- Encouragement ultimately leads people to God

I.                  ENCOURAGEMENT MUST BE SPOKEN

 

In the text today we see that Paul and Barnabas arrive in Pisidian Antioch. 

This is the city of Antioch found in Asia Minor not to be confused with the Antioch that sent them out on this journey from Syria.

Paul’s custom in all of his journeys will be to go to the Synagogue first because there would be people there that knew their OT.

There would be Jewish people that knew the prophets and the promises of God’s salvation and the Messiah.

There would be God-fearing Gentiles that were not full fledged Jews but believed in the God of the Bible.

They were ripe territory for the Gospel

In this story the rulers of the Synagogue extend an invitation to Paul to speak to them.

Acts 13:15 "The synagogue rulers sent word to them, saying, "Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak."

They are asking Paul to speak some encouraging word from Scripture to them.

This would be like a sermon in the Jewish faith.

They want Paul to preach to them a sermon that would encourage them.

ILL.- Pianist Arthur Rubenstein once told this story on himself.

 Some years ago he got a bad case of hoarseness.

The newspapers were full of reports about smoking and cancer; so he decided to consult a throat specialist.

Rubenstein said, "I searched the doctor’s face for a clue during the 30 minute examination, but it was expressionless

. He told me to come back the next day.

I went home full of fears, and I didn’t sleep that night."

The next day there was another long examination and again silence.

 "Tell me," the pianist exclaimed, "I can stand the truth. I’ve lived a full, rich life. What’s wrong with me?" The doctor said, "You talk too much."

I wonder if this is ever our problem. It could be and generally, the more we speak, the more we get into trouble or the more we sin.

There are two types of talking – there is useless and negative talking and there is talking and speech that is pleasing to God.

We are to be those people that speak good words.

James 3:2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well

Prov. 10:19 "When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise."

Words are that powerful – our mouths can turn our entire body in one direction or another.

Our whole lives change on what comes from our lips. 

I love you, I divorce you, I hate you,

Consider just the power of those words – how they raise our emotions.

We are foolish to think words don’t matter.

The saying sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never harm me is horse radish. 

That is so far from the truth.

ILL.- Pres. Calvin Coolidge was known for not talking much. A woman bet her friend that she could get Coolidge to speak to her.

She went up to him and said: "Hello, Mr. President, I bet my friend that I could get you to say three words to me."

"You lose," Coolidge replied dryly, and walked away.

The word that Paul and Barnabas will speak on this journey and to these people will be words from God.

Words of encouragement – words that if they believe upon them will bring salvation.

We all need to learn to speak words that encourage others. It’s easy to discourage someone or put them down but what about lifting them up?

If you have a message of encouragement, please speak!

Eph. 4:29 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."

Speaking words that build up people should be our goal. It’s easy to tear down but to build up takes special care and work.

Col. 4:6 "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."

We should work at speaking gracious words to others.

If you have a message or a word of encouragement, please speak it to others! If not then don’t speak.

 

II.               ENCOURAGEMENT DEALS WTIH GOOD NEWS

True encouragement is not just saying sweet or pretty words,

It is much deeper than that.

It is not psychobabble or self help therapy but is much deeper.

They invite Paul to say an encouraging word to them and this is what he tells them.

 

 

Acts 13:16, 22-23, 38-39

16Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: "Men of Israel and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! 22After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: ’I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’ 23"From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised.

38"Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses."

Think of this type of news.

Paul is giving them news like water on desert place.

God is coming through on his promises.

If you want to feel the anguish of the Jewish people over their messiah just read some of the later Psalms.

They want God to save them to come and bring forgiveness of sin.

This is the good news – the encouraging word that Paul brings to them.

ILL.- Man hides lottery winnings from wife.

Nov. 20, 07, MIAMI, Fla. A woman whose husband has kept about $600,000 in lottery winnings from her says she has a number for him: half.

 Donna Campbell is suing her husband in her attempt to get it.

However, American Airlines mechanic Arnim Ramdass disappeared after his wife confronted him about the secret, so process servers haven’t been able to hand him the lawsuit papers yet, Campbell’s attorney said.

"Here’s a guy who for years has spent marital money on the lottery and at casinos, and he’s always lost,"

 "And now he finally wins, and he’s trying to keep it from his wife. That’s pretty low."

That was pretty low of him! And it’s also pretty low of us to keep good news from others! What am I talking about?

 It could be any good news but it could also be the best good news ever!

Any time we keep something good from people or from sharing it with others we should be ashamed!

Prov. 11:25-26 "A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. People curse the man who hoards grain (or good news), but blessing crowns him who is willing to sell." (or speak good)

ILL.- One man said, "MY WIFE was fascinated by the elegant calligraphy on the hand-written menu in a Chinese restaurant.

 She took it home and spent months knitting a sweater with Chinese characters down the front.

 She was wearing it at a cocktail party when a Chinese physician asked where she got the symbols.

 ’From a menu,’ she admitted. "’Do you know what they say?’

 ’I’m afraid to ask,’ my wife said, ’but tell me anyway.’

 ’Cheap, but good.’"

Suppose I found something very cheap but also very good and failed to share it with you? How would you feel?

We have the best news in the world – some may say it is cheap but it cost God His son on the cross.

We have great news that God wants you to share in His divine life.

That means that He wants to give you everlasting life and that begins now.

We cant hoard that type of news.

III.            ENCOURAGEMENT ULTIMATELY LEADS PEOPLE TO GOD

We pick up further in Paul’s sermon and we see the response to Paul’s sermon

Acts 13:42-44

42As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. 43When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God. 44On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.

48When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.

They were urged to continue in the grace of God.

They gathered to hear the Word of God.

They were glad and honored God’s Word.

 To me, this says that encouragement must lead to God and always point to Him.

ILL.- The conversation (on Einstein’s sailboat) drifted back and forth about the nature of God, the universe and man, to lighter questions.

Suddenly, Einstein lifted his head, looked up at the skies and said, “We know nothing about it at all. Our knowledge is but the knowledge of school children.”

His friend asked, “Do you think that we shall ever probe the secret?”

 “Possibly, we shall know a little more than we do now. But the real nature of things—that, we shall never know, never.”

Einstein was wrong and that’s because he was looking in the wrong place.

 He kept looking at the universe, trying to figure out our existence instead of examining the Word of God.

Chuck Swindoll wrote a book called the Christian Life.  In that book he devoted a chapter to the concept of knowing God.

Swindoll wrote, "I am more convinced that ever that life’s major pursuit is not knowing self, but knowing God. As a matter of fact, unless God is the major pursuit of our lives all other pursuits are dead-end streets, including trying to know ourselves. They won’t work. They won’t satisfy. They won’t result in fulfillment. They won’t do for us what we think they’re going to do.

"You never really begin the process of coming to know yourself until you begin the process of coming to know God."

I AGREE! Everything revolves around knowing God.

 Nothing in life makes real sense unless it is connected to knowing God who created us. And true encouragement points people to knowing God.

ILL.- One time an old preacher of the gospel and a distinguished actor were together at a social gathering.

When the actor was asked to give a reading, he repeated at the preacher’s request the 23rd Pslam. He quoted it in such a way that it brought applause from everyone in the room.

Then he invited the old preacher to repeat that same Psalm and when he finished there was a hushed silence and some even had tears in their eyes.

The actor then said, "I know that Psalm but that man knows the Shepherd."

DO YOU KNOW THE GOOD SHEPHERD?

Just how well do you know God?

We need to know God better than we know ourselves or anybody else.

Today I want to encourage you with Hope – if you are not a Christian – to a living Hope in Christ.