Lesson 3 - Early Ministries and Preparations

 Lesson 3 

Early Ministries and Preparations 

Objective:  God intends a ministry that is entirely according to his will. It needs the right preparations and practice. God makes people eligible for the ministry who submit themselves in the hands of God. 

Bible Portion: Acts 9:19-31, 11:19-30

Memory verse: Acts 9:15-16

But the Lord said to him,"Go, for he is chosen vessel of Mine to bear My Name before the Gentiles, kings, and the Children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name's sake."

Introduction:

How did Stephen die? Saul, who was a witness of Stephen's death to repentance. What was the experience of Saul at Damascus? Saul becomes ready for the ministry after getting baptized. The ten years after his repentance was a time for his preparation for universal ministry. Its limited and systemic narration is included in this lesson. Paul was called to preach the gospel to the cultural ones in important centers and also to clarify the matters related to the gospel to the Jews and Gentiles. God chose Paul to reveal the New Testament Church's teachings and, as a wise and leading architect, to build the church. He fulfilled the will of God through missionary journeys and writings. 

In Arabia (Gal 1:15-18)

Paul had spent a few days with the disciples at Damascus. He was in great need of a lonely and [peaceful time to evaluate the sudden changes in his life according to the new experience. His experiences were neither temporary nor accidental. It was not an error. It had to receive a clear image of the plan of God and also about the ministry the Lord entrusted to him. He had to realize that his previous activities were futile and foolish. His new ministry - preaching the gospel- was God's eternal plan. In short, he needed quiet time to receive a determination of the value of his preaching. So he spent three years with God in the Arabian desert, which is situated in the southeast of Palestine. The continuous phrases like - for I received from the Lord; For what I received I passed on to you - are best notable. (1Cori. 11:23, 15:15, Gal 1:11,13). When he returned from Arabia, it was with the complete determination of the gospel entrusted upon him (1 Thess. 2:3-4, Eph 3:7, Col1:25-29, 1 Tim 1:11, 2:7). 

Again to Damascus (Acts 9:19-25, II Cori 11:23, 33)

Paul came to Damascus again. He began preaching in the Jewish synagogue that Jesus was the son of God. Everyone was surprised. They were unable to understand how the enemy of the gospel became the preacher of it. With deep knowledge of the law, he could prove that Jesus is the promised Messiah. Jews couldn't reply to him. The disappointed Jews conspired at the city gates to kill him with the support of the governor. But his companions who got wind of the matter lowered him in a basket by night through an opening in the wall. Thus, they now saved one who had reached Damascus earlier to kill Christians. His heart was filled with joy though he had to leave Damascus. Paul became a partaker of God's salvation and got the determination that he was chosen by God to proclaim salvation.  

In Jerusalem (Acts 9:26=30, Gal 1:18-24)

Paul reached Jerusalem from Damascus. Jerusalem was the city where Paul had received a deep knowledge of law and Christians for three years. He came there as a strong witness of Jesus; the Christians there were still afraid of him. Barnabas took and brought him to the Apostles and church at Judea. They praised God for the repentance of Paul. He could not continue there much. The Jews had planned to kill him. His presence was a threat to the Jerusalem church. So Paul asked God to show him the will of God. (Acts22:17-21). He informed the followers that it was the plan of God to leave the city. They helped him to reach Caesarea. From there, he went to Tarsus by ship.  

In Tarsus (Acts 9:30. 11:25)

Paul had already received a clear vision that he called to preach the gospel among gentiles. (Acts 22:25, 9:15,16) He spent time waiting upon the Lord before entering into the great ministry. He had to wait upon the Lord before entering into the great ministry. He had to wait for eight or seven years at Tarsus, his native place. This time he could preach the gospel to the different parts of Cilicia and build churches. Thus he was able to prepare himself for the ministry spiritually and mentally.  

In Syria Antioch (Acts 11:19-30)

Those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with the martyrdom of Stephen reached Antioch. They began to tell the good news to the Greeks, not only to the Jews. The doors for the gospel had already opened at the house of Cornelius. The city was populated with five lakh people, and many of the Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord. News of this came to the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. By analyzing the nature and possibilities of the work, he understood that Paul was the right person to work there. So he brought Saul to Antioch from Tarsus. He had already entered a vast ministry by secretly ministering to the Lord for seven or eight years. Saul and Barnabas ministered there for a whole year. There was continuous ministry in the form of spiritual activities for the believers in the church and also proclaiming the gospel to the public. So a great multitude believed in Jesus. The disciples were called Christians for the last two thousand years. The term is also used in other portions of the Bible. (Acts 26:28, 1 Peter 4:16). 

As the church of Antioch began to grow spiritually, they were also faithful in financial matters. Due to a great famine that broke out in the world, the believers in Judea were hardly affected because they had spent all their money on evangelistic activities by selling out their properties. The believers in Antioch were spiritually supported by the circumstances and offered finances for the church at Jerusalem. For this purpose, saul visited the church in Jerusalem. Paul and Barnabas took their collections to be brought to Jerusalem. His stay at Antioch was the last phase of the preparation of the great ministry that the Lord entrusted upon him. 

Questions: 

1. What is the ministry that Lord entrusted upon Paul?

2. How Long he had to wait for the ministry? Why he had to wait? What were the important events in his life during this phase?

3. Why his ministry at Damascus and Jerusalem was a failure?

4. In which areas can we understand that the church at Antioch is a model church?

5. Make clear the importance of God's will from the preparatory experience of Paul?