​Shake it Off – Acts 13:42 – 52
Background – this incident happened in a city called Antioch and a country we hear about today called Syria. This is a significant location.
Commercially and economically – it was called “Queen of the East” because of the beauty of its surroundings. It was a strategic location and caravans from all directions intersected at Antioch. It became large in scope and population. It was the capital of Syria from the Macedonian Greeks and when the Romans established it under the authority in 64BC.
The population was mixed between Gentiles and Jews.
Christians came to Antioch following the great persecution in Jerusalem following the martyrdom of Stephen. Think of the refugees today and perhaps a similar situation then. Excavations have uncovered over 20 churches.
Acts 11:19 -21
Acts 11:26
During this time, Paul and Barnabas made Antioch the focus of their ministry and preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ to many.  
The Apostle Paul is famous for three missionary journeys. He passed through Antioch, Syria on each one.
Let’s track what happened in the church at Antioch in Acts 13.
13:1-3 – This marked the beginning of the first missionary journey.
11:15 – 41 – Perhaps, Paul’s typical sermon in the synagogues around Antioch.
13:42 – 43 – the ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is changing hearts and minds within the city.
13:44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. Proclamation, throughout the New Testament church, came with demonstration. Just like it was with Jesus. And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. (5:12)
 
13:45 – the waves of opposition are increasing. This opposition from the Jews is not a new thing for the apostles. (5:17) Paul in his BC days known as Saul of Tarsus led the violent persecution of Christians, who were mostly ethnic Jews. (8:1) This led to the migration of Messianic Jews to cities like Antioch, Syria. Saul faced it firsthand at the onset of his ministry, and he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him. (9:29)
13:46 – then Paul and Barnabas grew bold – the boldness that rose up was the Spirit of the living God living within them. He is the same Holy Spirit abiding within every born again believer today. The boldness was channeled for the sharing of their faith. Notice the opposition did not stifle their evangelism!
Fellowship with the Holy Spirit will bring boldness out in you! Paul was confident and the confidence came from the fullness of God’s Holy Spirit. He was living for the glory of God and the growth of His kingdom.
This boldness or confidence helped him to explain to the Jews there was a shift coming. Paul explains the shift with a prophetic word, I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth. When we know the Bible, the Holy Spirit can use it to guide us and then we live with a great confidence inspired by God’s Spirit.
Brother Paul Johanssen called it a proceeding word. God gives it and you can stand on it, proclaim and declare it with boldness. That is the rhema word that is a lamp that lights our path!
13:48 – 49 Signs followed the rhema word Paul had from the Lord. The people under their ministry were glad, glorified the word of the Lord . Praise the Lord, new names were written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. And the word(logos) of the Lord spread throughout all the region.
13:50 – double down the opposition – what will they do now?
13:51 – SHAKE IT OFF – shook the dust from their feet - wouldn’t have been possible to be discouraged or afraid? Were these men made of stuff that is impossible for us to attain to? Did their love for Christ grow cold? From the Scripture record did they dilute the Gospel message?
This is a direct reference to some words Jesus spoke, and whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that city, shake off the dust from your feet. (Matthew 10:14)
13:52 – Faith lays hold of wonderful intangibles at times when it would seem against the odds to keep your head above water. Amazingly, they are wonderfully contagious to those in your company. These buoyant intangibles are sourced through faith by the Holy Spirit.
Paul writes this about an unrelated incident; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds (2 Corinthians 7:4)
Our faith tells us when we feel disenfranchised, alienated, unpopular, even when tragedy and difficulty come our way – contagious joy rises up.
And not coincidentally, they were filled with the Holy Spirit. I submit they were filled, past tense to the stuff that just happened, they were filled is their present even though it is our past and they had every intention to stay filled with His Spirit!
The Holy Spirit is an artesian well of God’s joy living within the believer!
Do not be drunk with wine in which is dissipation; but be (continuously) filled with the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 5:19)
How does the Christian shake off opposition?

1. Possessing the rhema word of the Lord!
2. Being continuously filled with the Holy Spirit

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Jesus is confronted by a man blinded by covetousness. This man wants to lay claim to part of an inheritance that legally does not belong to him. Reading between the lines one might get the idea that he has tried this before without success. But witnessing the authority of Jesus both in word and deed, he makes the decision to stand out in the crowd to his brother's share of the inheritance. 
His covetousness blinded him to the consequences. "Beware", Jesus told him, beware of the costs of covetousness. Think of the broken family relationships, missing out on family celebrations and occasions. Think of the tensions and stress in the family if he should show his face. He was so blinded by his covetous desires that it seems he either failed to take any of this into account or he simply didn't care. My friends that is a very sad state of affairs when the "stuff" or the "deal" or the "power" is more important than the people, than the relationship with God. Let's not forget the tenth commandment which is a clear prohibition against coveting. This is a warning that we need just as much as in Jesus' time.
Jesus follows this with the account of a man who came into wealth. He hit the jackpot. But he didn't seek God's wisdom or will about it. Clearly, it was all about him, I will, I will say to my soul, my barn, my goods and his new found wealth blinded him from a personal relationship with God. Look around, it seems many may have fallen for the same deception.
From our vantage point, it seems he is living the dream. He is answerable to no one.
He was living with no thought for God, for eternity, for souls. His wealth was all about him. Blinded! Until at a random moment his soul was required of him. He wasn't prepared. He thought life marched to the beat of his drum but was sadly mistaken. Jesus cares about your soul. 
My brothers and sisters we have no reason to be sucked into the trap of covetousness. The Father knows our needs and He is our Jehovah Jireh.
 Let's remember the words of Jesus,

•  life does not consist in the abundance of things 
• he who lays up treasure for himself, ... is not rich toward God 

 King David prayed, incline my heart to Your testimonies, and not to covetousness. turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way. Psalm 119:36
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HOPE on the Hill is a church with a stated purpose. Why is this important? What does it matter? 
Purpose is important because it speaks to God given identity. It all starts with knowing who I am in Christ and who Christ is in you. The Holy Spirit is the agent of those answers.
We will give ourselves to our purpose. Various churches give themselves to their purpose in a variety of ways. Purpose drives ministry. Unfortunately, activity is not enough if we want to have a lasting impact. Purpose sharpens the focus of a church. For us at HOPE on the Hill, our unique purpose is informing the strategies and goals of our ministry. We rejoice when other churches see success but we are not compelled to imitate their methods. We are free from trying to keep up with other churches. We understand God has us where He wants us. Our prayers are focused on being filled with His Spirit to do the work He has called us to do and to see fruit from our labors. 
Pastor Lynne and I are the founding pastors. We began this church in the early 1990's. However, our Purpose was written after discussion with members and friends in the church. These discussions helped us to see what was important to us and identify the passion of our church.
The purpose of HOPE on the Hill is to embrace, cultivate and demonstrate the advancing movement of the Holy Spirit and the hope of Christ for the church, community and our world. 
The Person of the Holy Spirit is advancing in the believer through forgiveness of offense, bold witness, participation in world missions, denying of self, and wholehearted service in the church, are just scratching the surface. The Christian life is marked by the Holy Spirit making inroads into hearts and attitudes. This is a process He has promised to continue if the Christian will have fellowship with Him.      
The Asuza Street (California) outpouring, Latter Reign revival, Charismatic renewal, the Father's blessing received in Toronto, Canada are useful expressions of His advancing movement in the church. These moves of His Spirit leave a spiritual impartation for the local church to apply within our context. We rejoice in the Father's enduring love for His church.
God is opening doors of ministry in divers places. Professional sports, entertainment, government, business and beyond. I am celebrating a one year anniversary as chaplain for a local company. In other words, I am endorsed by the client company to serve Christ and the employees with a Christian witness within every aspect of this plant. This marks the Holy Spirit advancing within our community. We pray for more open doors of effective ministry.
the HOPE Shoe Project seeks to collect 200 pairs of shoes to be given to children of our community. Some ministries in our community distribute appliances and others provide care and material assistance to unwed mothers. God bless them! Shoes is how His Spirit led us and we look forward to meeting young families with the hope of Christ.
Purpose is so important. It frees you to be the person and the church God has created you to be. For we are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has prepared in advance for us to do! (Ephesians 2:10)