A Ragamuffin Christian
The year is circa AD 44.
As you are about to hear in this PODCAST, a tectonic shift began to rumble through the region approximately 300 miles due North of Jerusalem.
A movement of God’s Spirit that ignited a gloriously-spectacular conflagration that began to combust in Antioch, that has since swept the world-over, kindling a flame of God’s glory that today burns brightly even in your own soul.
A blaze that should give each of us an overwhelming, soul-sustaining sense of hope.
Is it not amazing that this story focuses upon such an influential hub of activity known as Antioch—then in Syria, today in Turkey? Why amazing?
Oh, my friends, you are about to hear an amazing story indeed.
…the believers who had been scattered during the persecution after Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria. They preached the word of God, but only to Jews.20 However, some of the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene began preaching to the Gentiles about the Lord Jesus.21 The power of the Lord was with them, and a large number of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord.
22 When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch.23 When he arrived and saw this evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord.24 Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord.
25 Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul.26 When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians. (Acts 11:19-26)
That last statement is incredible. “Christians” – it was originally a pejorative, demeaning term meaning “slaves of Christ”. Today, many take the word to mean “Little-Christs” or “Christ-like”… but on my best days, I am light years away from being a “little-Christ”. I’m just a Ragamuffin doing my best to be a “slave to my Savior”.
And, it all began in the “Sin City of the East” – Antioch of Syria with Barnabas.
And, from there, Jesus’ prophesy began to take visible shape:
“…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)