Acts 13:44-52

Introduction
“Disturb us, Lord, when We are too well pleased with ourselves, When our dreams have come true. Because we have dreamed too little, When we arrived safely because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when with the abundance of things we possess we have lost our thirst
for the waters of life; having fallen in love with life, we have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth, we have allowed our vision of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly, to venture on wider seas where storms will show your mastery; where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars. We ask You to push back the horizons of our hopes; and to push into the future in strength, courage, hope, and love.” Sir Francis Drake

Jealousy is a hindrance to the gospel, embrace all people and share Jesus

I. The Wonder of the Gospel
v.44 – “The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.”
To hear the word of the Lord - Luke does not say they came to hear Paul but to hear from God! The word of the Lord in context is the Gospel.

II. A Hindrance to the Gospel
v.45-47 -
“But when they saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him.”

“Envy, it tortures the affections, it vexes the mind, it inflames the blood, it corrupts the heart, it wastes the spirits; and so it becomes man’s tormentor and man’s executioner at once.” Thomas Brooks

“Envy is a denial of providence.” Stephen Charnock

III. The Fruit of the Gospel
v.48,49 – “And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region.”

1) The gospel is being preached
2) The gospel is received
3) Persecution comes to those who are faithful

v.50 – “But the Jews…stirred up persecution and drove them out.”

If the devil isn’t trying to stop you, you’re doing something wrong!

4) Filling with joy and Holy Spirit
v.52 – “And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”
Even in the midst of persecution they are filled with joy and the Holy Spirit