The mission of the one who is sent

[Acts 13:4-12]

We must have a clear awareness of being sent. Look at John 17:18 - "As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world." Jesus had a clear awareness of being sent by God, and His disciples also had a clear awareness of being sent. Therefore, we too must have a clear awareness of being sent. In Rabbinic literature, the one who is sent is considered to be like the sender. The mission of the one who is sent is to accurately represent the one who sent them. To fulfill this mission, the sender invests the one who is sent with their power and authority. Our authority as the sent ones is not separate from the one who sends us. It is through truly representing God and Jesus Christ (Jn. 8:42) that our identity and authority are established.

As chosen people, we have an important mission. We can think of it in four ways: (1) We have a ministerial mission. Ministry implies service, and all Christians are ministers, meaning they are servants. (2) We have a vocational mission. God calls the chosen people and when He calls, He definitely gives a mission. God's calling has a purpose. (3) We have an apostolic mission. We are sent into this world. And the one who is sent has a mission. It is a testimony to the Lord. The apostles were sent as special witnesses to the life of Jesus Christ, His sacrificial death, His victorious resurrection, His glorious return, and the eternal kingdom of God. (4) Another mission is to be a "peacemaker."

I would like to receive the teachings that God wants to give us today under the title of "The mission of the one who is sent," focusing on Acts 13:4-12.

The mission of the one who is sent is to proclaim the word of God.

Look at Acts 13:5 - "When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper." After the five prophets and teachers of the Antioch church separately ordained Barnabas and Saul (Paul) according to the command of the Holy Spirit (v. 2), they fasted, prayed, and laid hands on the two and sent them off (v. 3). Eventually, Barnabas and Saul, who received the sending of the Holy Spirit, went down to the port of Seleucia on the Antioch coast, took a ship from there, and went to Barnabas's hometown, Cyprus (v. 4). From there, they came to Salamis on the eastern coast of Cyprus (v. 5). There, as ones sent by the Holy Spirit, Barnabas and Saul fulfilled their mission and proclaimed the word of God in various synagogues of the Jews (v. 5). Here, as we see Barnabas and Saul, who were sent by the Holy Spirit, being given the mission of proclaiming the word of God, we can learn and have confidence in how the Lord works.

The Lord appoints a helper to assist in fulfilling the mission.

Look at Acts 13:5b - "... John was with them as their helper." The word "helper," in Greek "hupēretēs," originally referred to a slave who rowed in the lower deck of a ship. On both sides of the lower deck of a Roman warship, there were rows of slaves rowing vigorously. They couldn't see the outside at all. They didn't need to. They couldn't even determine whether the ship was heading east or west. They simply rowed with all their might to match the rhythm set by the oarsman. John was precisely this kind of "helper." Whether the next destination would be Pisidia Antioch or Jerusalem was not under his jurisdiction. He simply followed along as Barnabas and Saul decided, and as long as he took care of them and supported them, that was the best he could do (Internet). The Lord appointed John, who was Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (Col. 4:10), to assist Barnabas and Saul in fulfilling their mission. Mark likely also served in practical ways necessary for the physical well-being of the two missionaries. However, Mark's role as a helper also signifies that he assisted the Jerusalem church by supporting Barnabas and Saul, thus signifying the cooperation between the Jerusalem church and the Antioch church in the mission to the Gentiles (Park). Cooperating with one another and sharing the ministry load is truly beautiful. Utilizing each other's different gifts and talents to effectively carry out the mission entrusted to us by the Lord is a truly beautiful teamwork. In a way, within a family, the husband is the one entrusted with a mission, and the wife is the helper. And this helper is appointed by God.

The greatest Helper that the Lord has sent to both you and me is none other than the Holy Spirit. Look at Luke 24:49 - "I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." The author of Hebrews confesses in Hebrews 13:6 - "... So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?'"

The Lord prepares those who are willing to hear His word.

Look at Acts 13:7 - "The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God." One story that comes to mind when we think of God preparing is the story of Abraham, who, in obedience to God's word, was willing to offer Isaac. God had already prepared a ram for sacrifice, and as a result, Isaac was spared (Gen. 22). At that time, Abraham named that place "Jehovah Jireh," which means "The Lord will provide" (v. 14). God, in the midst of entrusting us with the mission of preaching the gospel, prepares those who are willing to hear His word. Look at Proverbs 18:15 – “The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.” The Bible describes the proconsul Sergius Paulus as an intelligent man. He wanted to hear the word of God. Surely, the Lord prepares those who are willing to hear His word.

The Lord manifests His power even in the midst of Satan's work. What is Satan's work? Satan's work is to make us disbelieve God's word. The Lord had prepared Proconsul Sergius Paulus to hear His word (v. 7), but alongside him, Satan had also prepared a man named Bar-Jesus, a false prophet, who opposed the servants of God, Barnabas and Saul, and worked to prevent the proconsul from believing (v. 6). This Bar-Jesus (also called Elymas), opposed Barnabas and Saul, who were servants of God, and exerted efforts to lead Proconsul Sergius Paulus astray from believing. As mentioned in verse 8, "But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith." In the book "The Spiritual Warfare Every Christian Must Know" by Rev. Sung-jong Shin, ten tactics of Satan are mentioned: (1) Pride, (2) Despair, (3) Comparison, (4) Doubt and Unbelief, (5) Lies, (6) Hatred, (7) Complaint and Resentment, (8) Delay, (9) Unfaithfulness, (10) Hypocrisy. Satan's aim is to make us doubt and disbelieve in God.

Proconsul Sergius Paulus was quite receptive and open to believing after hearing the word of God from Barnabas and Saul (v. 8) (Yoo). However, the false prophet Elymas, realizing this, opposed Barnabas and Saul and attempted to lead Proconsul Sergius Paulus away from belief. He sought to lead the upright path of the Lord astray and deceive Proconsul Sergius Paulus who was walking in the right way (v. 10). This is Satan's work. How much are we hearing and seeing this work of Satan? How many people in the world today are walking on crooked paths, led astray by twisted thoughts due to the distorted teachings influenced by Satan's work? However, even in the midst of Satan's work, the Lord manifests His great power. How did God's power manifest? Look at verse 9: "Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said..." God's power first manifested in Paul. The Lord, in the midst of Satan's opposition, filled His servant Paul with the Holy Spirit. Therefore, God rebuked the false prophet Bar-Jesus (Elymas) who opposed the gospel work of God's servants (v. 10) and pronounced judgment upon him. Look at the first part of verse 11: "Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun." And as prophesied, the false prophet Bar-Jesus (Elymas) immediately became blind, seeking someone to lead him around: "... immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand" (v. 11b). In the end, even in the midst of Satan's work, God's great power was revealed. As a result, Proconsul Sergius Paulus, whom God had prepared, believed even more in Jesus. Look at verse 12: "When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord."

The mission of the one sent is to proclaim the word of God. The Lord appoints a helper to bear this mission. Additionally, the Lord prepares those who are willing to listen to His word. However, Satan also works. Nevertheless, even in the midst of Satan's work, the Lord manifests His great power. We are the ones sent by the Lord into this world. Our mission is to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. In fulfilling this mission, we should earnestly pray for the Lord to appoint a helper for us. In the midst of this, the Lord will send us the helper He has prepared for us. We must believe that the Lord has also prepared those who will hear the gospel in the course of our mission. In this faith, as we take on the task of spreading the gospel, we should expect the work of Satan. However, we must pray, anticipate, and wait in faith, knowing that even in the midst of Satan's work, the power of God will prevail.

As one sent according to the will of the sending Lord, desiring to live in accordance with His purpose,

James Kim shares

(Experiencing the work of God that He has prepared)