Front line Calling

Frontline/Overcoming Calling: 

Antioch Church I

Acts 11:19-30

By Kurai Chitima

The passage from the book of Acts presents a development ten years after the Church was launched (Acts 2). The scattered believers were still preaching only to Jews (Acts 11:19). The church that emerged in Antioch was however different. It was a frontier pushing church with a trail blazing/cutting edge anointing that opened up new cultural and geographical territories to the gospel. It offered something new of value to the Christian experience of the day by preaching to Greeks also (11:20).  They believed God could do more for more through more. People who were unknown in Jerusalem made notable contributions in Antioch. Antioch had a population that included a great variety of races. It was a city named after a heathen king and had no historic Jewish significance yet it permanently redefined missions. God’s calling comes with the necessary anointing. This is some of what this church did.

>It preached the lord Jesus (Acts 11:20). It carried the banner of Christ. It relied on the authority of his name. It pointed people to Christ. It put Christ at the center of all it did. It exalted Christ to the highest place (Colossians 1:13-20). They preached Jesus the person (1 Corinthians 1:17; 2:2) not his people, power, teachings, ideas and experiences. Everything about him can be relevant to him but does not make him. He is more than the sum of issues and descriptions about him.  You only get the fullness of him by a relationship with him which begins when you admit your need of his forgiveness and life and believe he is the Lord and savior in your heart and confess it with your mouth (Romans 10: 8-11).

Who was this man they called Jesus.  He is the all in all. That means he is sufficiently what you best need at any given time, in any given situation and at any given place. He is God the son who was there in the beginning (John 1:1-2, 14; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 12:2).  He appeared as the fourth man to deliver the three thrown into fire by Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 3).  In the fullness of time he was born of Mary to live and die for our sins (Galatians 4:4; Philippians 2:6,7). He did many miracles of compassion to  provide food, deliver from storms, raise from dead, forgive sins, deliver from evil spirits, etc. On the cross, he paid for it all (Isaiah 53). What he died for must be true in our lives today (Isaiah 53:11). We can call to him in faith (Psalm 28:1-3).  Every one has to call to someone - sangomas, education, experience, people connections , etc but may your choice be fixed – ‘I will call to Jesus.’ He will not let you be ashamed.

>It had the Lords hand on it and there was evidence of grace (11:21, 23, 26). Believers at the Antioch church were so Christ like that they were first called Christians here. Christ is not Jesus’ surname.  The name Jesus Christ means Jehovah our salvation (Jesus) the anointed one (Christ). It also means Messiah. The believers were thus acknowledged as 'anointed ones.'(Cf. John 7:38; 1 John 2:20, 27).  Anointing is being set aside to serve God with power and grace to do the naturally impossible, to make the difficult easy and enjoyable. That’s us. Lets believe it and live it. We have similar aggressive and persevering faith. They reached out for more of God’s revelation, the Holy Spirit, his word and prayer. Receive his promises and thank him.

>It brought the harvest in (Acts 10:21). They were outward looking and took bold action. A great number of people turned to the Lord. It was a going and growing church. It was a fruitful and expanding church.  God wants us to expect a great harvest (Isaiah 54:1-3).  Antioch church is a church that possesses the land (Deuteronomy 1:8).