It Starts Small

IN today’s reading we see Paul rise to a new bold level of leadership. In case you were wonder, I purposefully kept calling Paul, Saul. I want us to remember where his journey began and pay close attention to his own journey “in the in-between.” Saul has yet yo be called Paul.

Paul was about to have a destiny moment. This is Paul’s first missionary journey. How did he get from Saul of Tarsus to Paul the Apostle?

As they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Acts 13:2

Today’s scripture we star In Syrian Antioch and we find an interesting group of people worshiping and praying together.

Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Acts 13:1

We find that Saul is being called to go. Wait! Did Saul not get called over a decade ago when the Lord knocked him off his horse and blind him in Damascus? Why did Saul wait so long to go? The answer to this is, he didn’t.

This is important, listen up! We are not called to a destination. We are called to a journey. This idea of a “destination mindset” will only frustrate us because we are never going to get there. We are called to a “journey mindset.” A “Journey mindset” frees us because we are maturing each day. God cannot work through us unless He first works IN us. This requires hard work and endurance on our part. You can not microwave spiritual maturity.

How does the process work?

Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and whoever is unrighteous in very little is also unrighteous in much.

Luke 16:10

In Saul’s case, he started with very little and under the radar, faithfully and consistently he worked hard and matured for over a decade. Sometimes we get this idea that Jesus knocked Saul off his horse and the next day he began preaching the gospel.

Let Saul tell you his story:

¹³ For you have heard about my former way of life in Judaism: I intensely persecuted God’s church and tried to destroy it. ¹⁴ I advanced in Judaism beyond many contemporaries among my people, because I was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. ¹⁵ But when God, who from my mother’s womb set me apart and called me by his grace, was pleased ¹⁶ to reveal his Son in me, so that I could preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone. ¹⁷ I did not go up to Jerusalem to those who had become apostles before me; instead I went to Arabia and came back to Damascus.

¹⁸ Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to get to know Cephas, and I stayed with him fifteen days. ¹⁹ But I didn’t see any of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. ²⁰ I declare in the sight of God: I am not lying in what I write to you.

²¹ Afterward, I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. ²² I remained personally unknown to the Judean churches that are in Christ. ²³ They simply kept hearing, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith he once tried to destroy.” ²⁴ And they glorified God because of me.

Galatians 1:13-21

Saul, left to the “desert” for three years. Then he visited Jerusalem and returned to Antioch where he remained quietly under the mentorship of Barnabas. Paul did not fall off the horse one day and become a missionary over night.

I have read some compentary that believes in those three years, Saul went to the “desert” people. This is where John the Baptist grew up. They people were small in number but very devout to studying scripture and the return of the Messiah. They took Isaiah 40:3-5 very serious and devoted their lives to waiting in the desert for the return of the Messiah. This is where the Dead Sea Scrolls were located. Why would Saul go there? It is speculated he had to learn to live without to gain everything. These people were said to live very meager frugal lives. We know this by looking at how John the Baptist lived. It was also speculated that Saul needed a non-religious look at scripture. He was a VERY learned man, but he was not looking for knowledge, he was looking to experience the presence of the Lord. This is just commentary, but an interesting look into Saul’s journey.

When the time was right, God moved Paul into his famous first missionary journey. If you think about it, this is truly an amazing testimony of God. A man who killed believers is now being sent preach the gospel. There are two small things worth paying attention to.

We now meet Paul.

 But Saul—also called Paul—filled with the Holy Spirit, stared straight at Elymas 

Acts 13:9

A name change in the bible always signifies something very important! The old person is gone, and the new person is now in full operation leading to a new era. Think about some the significant other name changes in scripture.

There is a name sequence change. From this point forward in scripture it is no longer “Barnabas and Saul.” The order has now flipped. Did you catch that? It is now “Paul and Barnabas.” Paul’s leadership is being recognized here. But the more important small detail…. this “overnight success” took a decade!

Friends, do you feel that you are being prevented from doing what you are supposed to do?

DO not give up! That “but…..” is God still working in you and preparing you for your mission. Be faithful and allow Him to prepare you!

Thoughts to Ponder:

• What is God calling you to do in your life?
• How is God preparing you right now?

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