The First Missionary Journey - What a way to start!
After leaving Antioch (of Syria), Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark's first stop was they island of Cyprus and the city of...
Salamis
And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister. Acts 13:5
As they entered the city of Salamis...
Imagine the excitement.
Imagine the anticipation.
Imagine the expectation.
Not only on the part of Saul & Barnabas but also on the part of the church in Antioch.
There’s no reason not to believe that they thought, “Certainly what happened in Antioch will happen in Salamis!”
However, the only record we have of their activity in Salamis is that they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews.
We have no record of any converts.
Might that have been discouraging? Might that have caused them to question? Might that have dampened their excitement?
Yes, it is discouraging when we give out thousands of tracts and invitations and don’t see more fruit.
Yes, it is discouraging that we don’t see souls saved by the hundreds.
Yes, it is discouraging when we don’t see more students enrolling in the Academy.
Yes, it is discouraging when _______________ (You can fill in the rest.)
Instead, encourage yourself with these truths...
For as the rain cometh down, And the snow from heaven, And returneth not thither, But watereth the earth, And maketh it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: It shall not return unto me void, But it shall accomplish that which I please, And it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:10-11
God’s Word will not return void.
God’s Word will accomplish that which God pleases.
God’s Word will prosper.
We may never see the return or see what was accomplished or know how it prospered. We, by faith, trust that God will be true to His Word!
We must also remember...
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7
We are "simply" responsible to be faithful to plant and water. Ultimately it is God that gives the increase in His time and in His way. And, again, we may never see the harvest this side of Heaven. We, by faith, trust that the harvest will be brought in.
Finally, we must remember...
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:13-17
How shall they call upon Christ if they have not heard about Christ? They won’t.
How shall they hear the Word of God without a preacher? They won’t.
Will they all respond positively to the message of the Gospel? No.
We must stay faithful in our proclamation of God’s Word because that is the first step in an individual hearing and then responding to the Gospel message.
So, in spite of the lack of results in Salamis, what did Saul do?
And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos… Acts 13:6
Saul moved on to the next stop in their travels and, once again, proclaimed the Word of God in Paphos!
And, that's exactly what we must do...move on and continue to faithfully proclaim God's Word!
Until next time...
Comments