Acts 13 "Success"

Acts 13 – Brandon Hatmaker “Success”
Tuesday, April 29, 2008

“So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues.” –Acts 13:3-5

All that happens in the following verses is contingent upon the leading of the Holy Spirit. That is the way in which they were sent. In this manner, success will be found, even in what some may consider failure. The thing I love is how God went before them. They did not force themselves upon the teachers in the synagogues. They were invited. Look again at verse 15, “After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue rulers sent word to them, saying, "Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak."

So they spoke God’s Truth. They did not water it down, but they did speak gently and did not mock their history. They simply shared how Christ completed it. This does not de-value a heritage. They do not ridicule what they once believed. And they were invited back.

“As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. When 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.” – Acts 12:42-43

Here is the fruit of the leading of the Holy Spirit. The word spread and persecution stirred up. “The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”

They were literally chased out of the region yet they were filled with joy. Most of us would probably feel like we failed. We would question whether or not we were even called in the first place. We might be reminded how we had a few successes along the way, but then feel like the ultimate test was that we weren’t welcome any longer. Joy might be the furthest thing from our minds.

Not only does the Spirit allow (encourage, permit, desire) us to measure successes in the way God does, but it also gives us the confidence in knowing it’s not us that success ultimately depends upon. In a way, it takes the pressure off. It gives us the green light to do what the Spirit leads, do it the way the Bible tells us, and trust God with the results. Here, they were ultimately run off. And they celebrated.

Father, I pray that you will go before each one of us in the tasks you have called us to both personally and corporately. May we be faithful to measure success as you measure success and may we constantly find joy in knowing we followed your Spirit. Amen.