The Spirit Acts: The Messengers of Salvation - English Sermons - 10:15

Today, we dive into the action-packed story of Paul and Barnabas in Acts 13 and 14, a story often called Paul's First Missionary Journey, where we will see exactly what it means to be "Messengers of Salvation.” This powerful section of Scripture unpacks the complete mission of the church in three crucial phases: first, Paul and Barnabas work to Turn people from the Devil’s power. They witness dramatic confrontations, from opposing the deception of Elymas in Cyprus to challenging the ignorance of the crowds who tried to worship Paul and Barnabas as Zeus and Hermes in Lystra, proving that the work of salvation is a spiritual battle to turn people away from perversion, ignorance, and deception toward the living God. Second, we see the newly saved being Formed into Disciples as the messengers, sent out with the spiritual firepower of prayer and fasting, proclaimed the message of salvation, leading people to repentance and establishing new communities of faith across the region of Galatia (modern-day Turkey). Finally, the journey doesn't end with conversion; Paul and Barnabas make the critical return trip—facing the very same cities that persecuted them—to Strengthen the Disciples, encouraging them and appointing elders for the new churches, while wisely reminding them, "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God." This morning’s sermon is a call to action for every believer, reminding us that we are all sent messengers; let’s discover the spiritual practices and deep investment required to not only save a soul but to ensure that they become strong, durable disciples of Jesus!