Title Silas /Acts 15:22-29
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Text: Acts 15:22-29 Title: Silas
Date:19970427 Location: Jugok Church
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Silas appears when preaching the words of the Acts of the Apostles at the Wednesday Evening Service. Silas is the person who rises after Paul's first missionary journey. The book of Acts was written centered on Peter and Paul, so it does not record the general disciples in detail. Today, focusing on the words of Acts, I would like to share the grace of a man named Silas by examining his faith.
1. sense of duty
① Those sent by the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:22-29)
When the first Gentile church called Antioch Church was established in AD 50, it began to cause problems among Jewish Christians. I went to the church in Antioch and started teaching Gentile Christians that in order to become members, they must obey the law of Moses. In particular, they said that one can become a Christian only by performing circumcision, the mark of the chosen people. But Paul taught that salvation is only possible through the blood of Jesus Christ. Two groups were formed within the church.
Antioch church, a Gentile church, is just starting to grow, but when such a dizzying problem arose, the Antioch church sent Paul and Barnabas to the Jerusalem church. The Jerusalem church reported on the evidence of God's grace through Peter's evangelism with Cornelius, the results of Paul and Barnabas's first missionary trip, and the Lord's brother James, admonishing them not to harass Gentile Christians, saying, 'However, the uncleanness of idols, fornication, the He concludes to write a letter asking him to stay away from him.
After making this decision, the church in Jerusalem chose and sent Paul, Barnabas (representative of the Antioch church), and Judas and Silas, who were also called Barsabahs.
This mission is not easy.
Considering the road conditions at the time, attending several churches was a path with great threat. It was never easy. However, as it is a path for the Lord, a path for missions, and a path to preach the good news for Christ the Gentiles, he showed courage to go forward.
When you give a mission, mission is not easy. A mission is something that is given specifically for something special. The mission given to us is given only to us who believe in order to expand the kingdom of God. Therefore, it is not easy. We who have received today's mission must become saints who work hard like Silas.
It is not an easy road, but it is for the Lord. It is a path for missionary work. I hope that you will become saints who boldly move forward because they are preaching the good news.
The mission was specially chosen.
Silada was chosen by the council. With the decisions of the council, I went to represent the church in Jerusalem. Sila was chosen in this way because he is a person of public trust and is well known to many people. A mission is not given to anyone. It is given to someone you trust.
When the president gives a mission, he is called a special envoy. This envoy is not for everyone. The president does it only to people he trusts.
Please believe that the person to whom God has given a mission is a special special envoy.
The council believed in Silas, chose him, and gave him a mission.
1 Timothy 1:12 “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he considered me faithful and entrusted me with the ministry.”
Please believe that the Lord believes in me and is faithful to me and has given me a mission.
The Lord has given each of us a mission. Serving with Material, Serving with Strength, Serving with Knowledge, Serving with Praise, Serving with Talent
It is for the Lord, and to spread the good news. It is to expand the kingdom of God. Therefore, thank you for the grace you have given me, and I hope that you will become a saint who bears the burden.
② Prophet (Acts 15:30-32)
“When they said goodbye, they went down to Antioch and gathered the crowds, and delivered the letter. / They read and rejoiced in the words of comfort. / Judas and Silas were prophets, and they exhorted and strengthened the brothers with many words.”
Those who received the mission were to inform the Antioch Church and other churches of the decision of the Jerusalem Council. They read the decision of the Jerusalem Council to the Antioch Church, and the people were very happy to hear it.
Here we have to look closely at the work of Silas and Judas. They do more than just communicate the council's decisions. They were called “prophets.” A prophet is one who receives and proclaims the message of God. Therefore, Silas not only communicated the decision of the Jerusalem council, but also exhorted them with the word of the living God, so that they could stand firm in their faith.
Silas had a mission to be a prophet. He accomplished that mission brilliantly. “Silah” means “one who loves the word”. Silas was a person who loved the living Word of God and stood firm on the Word.
It is important to communicate the council's decisions, but more important is the Word of God. Therefore, Silas faithfully took on the task, and as a result, their pain turned into joy and their wavering faith was strengthened.
If there is a mission given to each of the saints, there is a mission given to everyone in general. What is that? He has given everyone a mission to preach the Word. I hope that you will become a saint who loves the word and spreads the word. This is the most important thing. This is because when we preach the word of the living God, it comforts the sick and gives strength to those who are shaken, and the word pierces and divides the soul and marrow.
I hope that you will become saints who fulfill the mission of preaching the word.
2. Missionary companion (Acts 15:36-40)
Silas and Paul started working in earnest from the second missionary trip. As Paul and Barnabas set out on their second journey, they had a bitter quarrel and broke up with each other. Paul needed a new co-worker for his second missionary journey. Paul's heart was very broken. So I needed someone to work with without any burden. He will be Silane. Paul was sent from Jerusalem and was with him on the mission to inform the church of Antioch of the council's decision. Paul then saw Silas. Silas was too trustworthy in Paul's eyes. Therefore, Paul chose Silas to replace Barnabas. Silas was more reliable than Mark and more flexible than Barnabas. Paul chose Silas, who had returned to Jerusalem, as his co-worker for the mission.
Paul's second missionary journey was an outreach to Europe by choosing a reliable co-worker named Silas.
Acts 17:14 “The brothers sent Paul away to go to the sea, but Silas and Timothy were still there.” Silas was Paul's co-worker, but what did he do?
Paul did the sowing and harvest, and Silas the harvest and finishing.
When Paul left, he left Silas behind. Then Silas gathered the ears of grain that fell during the harvest.
When Paul fled after being persecuted, he remained behind and worked to strengthen the church.
Therefore, it was Silas who completed Paul's ministry.
Silas was a beautiful co-worker in Paul's evangelism.
3. A dedicated person (Acts 16:35-40)
“35 As the day dawned, the superiors sent their brother-in-law to release these men. 36 The jailer told Paul as he had said, “The superiors have sent someone to let you go. Now go out and go in peace.” 37 Paul said, “We, Romans, are guilty of sin. They beat us in public and imprisoned us, but now they want to let us go quietly, but they themselves will have to come and take us out.” 38 The brothers and sisters told their superiors with these words, and when they heard that they were Romans, they were afraid. 39 And he came and persuaded him to take him out and ask them to leave the city. 40 And the two went out of prison and went into Lydia's house, to meet the brothers, and to comfort them.”
2 Corinthians 1:19 “For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was preached among you by us, Silvanus and Timothy, did not say yes and no, but in him it was yes.”
Silas, like Paul, was a Roman citizen. When Paul and Silas were preaching the gospel in Philippi and healed a slave girl possessed by a demon, the owner, citing political reasons, beat Paul and Silas with rods, imprisoned them, and released them the next day. At that time, Paul said, “Do we as Romans do not condemn and beat us?” He didn't call me, the Romans, but us, the Romans. In other words, it is clear that Silas was a Roman. Silas had the name Silvano, a privileged name given only to the Romans. In other words, Silas was a man who had a privileged position and wealth in Rome.
Silas had previously enjoyed wealth and status, but after meeting Jesus Christ, she gave up her wealth and status to become a devoted disciple on the path of Christ.
Today, we are living a life of faith that uses Jesus to gain wealth and status rather than being devoted to Jesus. The Lord wants us to be devoted disciples. Those who were called by the Lord made such a dedication. He gave up his job, his family, and his life.
May you become a devoted child of the Lord.
4. A person who praises (Acts 16:25)
“About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and praising God, and the prisoners were listening.”
Wherever Paul and Silas go, two things always happen. “Faith revival and persecution (disturbing)” This is where two things must always happen where the saints are.
In Acts 16, Silas did not shy away from good and bad things, and joined with Paul. He was fully prepared to defend for his co-workers.
Paul and Silas did good deeds in Philippi, but without trial, their clothes were torn, beaten, and imprisoned. “After being beaten a lot” - Paul and Silas were beaten badly before being thrown into prison. Blood ran down the backs of Paul and Silas, their feet were garnished, and their hands were tied, but they prayed and sang without discouragement. Paul and Silas were apostles who praised in their sufferings.
In a place where we cannot praise, a place of pain, a place of tears
At that moment, the prison doors were opened and the chains were broken. Hymns and prayers create amazing works.
I hope that you will become the saints who open the gates of heaven by singing praise in the midst of suffering, and in tears even though it is impossible.
ex) In the past, clapping hands, even with just one drum, hot praise,
These days- drums, guitar, piano, and keyboard are the same, but there is little grace and lukewarmness.
I hope that you will become a member of the church that restores hot praise.
5. Peter's evaluation (1 Peter 5:12)
“I am writing to you briefly and exhorting you through Silvanus, whom I know as a faithful brother, and testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in this grace.”
Even Peter knows about Silas.
Because Sila was a person who was recognized and active in the early church.
I heard and knew that I was doing missionary work with Paul.
But Peter calls Silas a “faithful brother”.
“Be faithful” - the most precious compliment
Trustworthy. reliable It was the same way in the early church, and it was the same for Paul's continued missionary work. Therefore, he was told that he was a faithful person from Peter, the head of the early church.
May this faithfulness overflow in you today.
A faithful saint
In the eyes of the pastor, in the eyes of the saints
A faithful saint even if you give it to Audi
A saint who faithfully fulfills his mission
Saints who become beautiful co-workers
A saint who gives up everything and devotes himself
saints full of hymns
faithful saint