Sent By God
What Happens When You Finally Answer God’s Call?
Introduction:
Have you ever felt like God was trying to push you toward something bigger?
Maybe it was
teaching a Bible study
witnessing to a coworker
starting a ministry
praying more consistently
stepping out in faith
But fear, doubt, comfort, or uncertainty kept holding you back.
Acts chapter 13 is about what happens when ordinary people answer God’s call.
This chapter marks a major turning point in the Book of Acts. Up until this point, the church had mostly been growing locally. But now God begins sending people out to take the Gospel beyond their comfort zones and into places that desperately needed truth.
Acts 13 teaches us that God still calls people, opposition will come, not everyone will accept the message, and the most important thing we can do is remain faithful to the assignment God has given us.
God Speaks To People Who Seek Him
Acts 13:2 (NLT)
“One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.'”
Notice what the church was doing when God spoke.
They weren’t distracted.
They weren’t arguing.
They weren’t scrolling through social media.
They were:
worshiping
praying
fasting
seeking God
And while they were seeking Him, God gave direction.
Modern-Day Analogy:
Imagine a young man who keeps asking God:
“Lord, what do You want me to do with my life?”
But every free moment is filled with:
television
social media
entertainment
distractions
Then one day he decides to spend thirty minutes each morning praying and reading his Bible before work.
Weeks later, he begins sensing God leading him in ways he never noticed before.
What changed?
God wasn’t silent.
The young man finally made room to listen.
Many people want God’s guidance while spending very little time in God’s presence.
Acts 13 reminds us that God often speaks to those who intentionally seek Him.
Every Calling Comes With Opposition
As soon as Paul and Barnabas begin their mission, they encounter opposition.
A sorcerer named Elymas tries to stop a man from hearing the Gospel.
Acts 13:8 (NLT)
“But Elymas the sorcerer…interfered and urged the governor to pay no attention to what Barnabas and Saul said.”
The enemy did not want the Gospel reaching that man.
The Lesson
If you’re waiting for a time when serving God becomes easy, you’ll be waiting forever.
Whenever God begins moving, opposition usually follows.
Not because Satan is stronger than God.
But because souls matter.
Modern-Day Analogy
Think about someone who decides to fully commit their life to Christ.
Before, nobody seemed to care how they lived.
But once they start:
going to church
praying
reading Scripture
living differently
Suddenly people begin criticizing them.
Friends mock them.
Family members question them.
Temptations increase.
Why?
Because the enemy does not fight people who are already walking his direction.
Opposition is often a sign that you’re moving toward God’s purpose.
Not Everyone Who Starts Finishes
Acts 13:13 (NLT)
“John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem.”
John Mark began the journey.
But he didn’t finish it.
We aren’t told all the reasons why.
Maybe he became discouraged.
Maybe he got homesick.
Maybe ministry became harder than he expected.
Whatever the reason, he quit.
The Lesson:
Starting is easy.
Finishing is hard.
Many people:
start reading the Bible
start praying
start serving
start ministries
But quit when things become difficult.
God is looking for people who remain faithful even when the excitement wears off.
Everything Points To Jesus
When Paul begins preaching, he walks through Israel’s history.
He talks about:
Abraham
Moses
David
But he isn’t simply teaching history.
He’s showing how everything points to Jesus.
Acts 13:38-39 (NLT)
“Everyone who believes in him is made right in God’s sight—something the law of Moses could never do.”
The message of the Bible is not ultimately about:
Noah
Abraham
Moses
David
The message of the Bible is Jesus Christ.
Every story points toward Him.
Every promise finds fulfillment in Him.
Every sinner needs Him.
Religion Can’t Save You
One of the most powerful truths in Acts 13 is Paul’s reminder that salvation comes through Jesus.
The Law couldn’t save people.
Good works couldn’t save people.
Religion couldn’t save people.
Only Jesus can save.
Modern-Day Analogy:
Imagine someone trying to pay off a million-dollar debt with spare change.
No matter how hard they work, they’ll never have enough.
That’s what trying to save ourselves through good works looks like.
Our sin debt is too great.
That’s why we need Jesus.
Only He could pay a debt we could never pay ourselves.
People Respond Differently To The Same Truth
One of the most interesting parts of Acts 13 is how people react to Paul’s message.
Some people hear it and want more.
Others hear the same message and reject it.
The message didn’t change.
The preacher didn’t change.
The difference was the condition of the heart.
The Lesson:
Not everyone will respond positively when you share God’s Word.
Some will receive it.
Some will reject it.
Your responsibility is not controlling the response.
Your responsibility is sharing the truth.
Joy Is Bigger Than Circumstances
At the end of the chapter, Paul and Barnabas are rejected and forced to leave.
Yet the chapter ends with these words:
Acts 13:52 (NLT)
“And the believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”
Notice:
They weren’t joyful because life was easy.
They were joyful because they had God.
Modern-Day Analogy:
A man loses his job unexpectedly.
One person falls into despair because their peace was tied to their paycheck.
Another person is disappointed but keeps trusting God because their peace comes from something deeper.
Happiness depends on circumstances.
Joy comes from God.
And nobody can take away what God places inside of you.
What Acts 13 Teaches Us Today
1. God Speaks To Those Who Seek Him
Prayer, worship, and fasting still matter.
2. Every Calling Faces Opposition
Expect resistance when you follow God.
3. Faithfulness Matters
Don’t just start strong. Finish strong.
4. Everything Points To Jesus
He is the center of the Gospel message.
5. Salvation Comes Through Christ Alone
Religion cannot save. Jesus can.
6. People Will Respond Differently
Some will receive truth. Others will reject it.
7. Joy Comes From God
The Holy Ghost gives joy that circumstances cannot destroy.
Conclusion:
Acts chapter 13 reminds us that God is still calling people today.
The question is not whether God is speaking.
The question is whether we are listening.
God called Paul and Barnabas.
They obeyed.
They faced opposition.
Some people rejected their message.
Others embraced it.
But through it all, they remained faithful to their assignment.
The same challenge applies to us today.
Will we answer God’s call?
Will we stay faithful when opposition comes?
Will we continue sharing Jesus even when not everyone responds?
Because at the end of the day, success in God’s kingdom is not measured by popularity.
It’s measured by faithfulness.
Key Takeaway:
God is not looking for perfect people. He is looking for available people who are willing to answer His call, remain faithful through opposition, and keep pointing others to Jesus.
Acts 13:2 (NLT)
“Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.”
God had an assignment for Paul and Barnabas.
And God has an assignment for you too.
The question is:
Will you answer the call?
