Devotional - week of November 2, 2008

UNTO THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH

Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. Acts 11:25-26

Jesus prophesied to his followers that they would witness to Him unto the uttermost part of the earth. The evident beginning of the fulfillment of the prophesy began in Antioch years later.

Paul, Barnabas and others had been teaching Gentile converts to Christ at Antioch for a year when the Holy Spirit said to the church, “"Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." They were to take the Gospel to Jews and Gentiles.

God began Paul’s preparation to take the Gospel to Gentiles 15 years earlier. First, within days after his conversion, God sent word to Paul that he was to take the Gospel to the Gentiles. In addition, in Arabia God prepared him by teaching him his oneness with Christ

Barnabas was prepared for the announcement by the conversions of Samaritans, the Ethiopian eunuch, and Cornelius—a full blood Gentile. In time, these conversions convinced the church at Jerusalem that Gentiles could become Christians. Soon after the conversion of Cornelius, the Jerusalem church heard of the conversion of Gentiles at Antioch. They sent Barnabas to investigate.

The church at Antioch was prepared for the announcement just because they were Gentiles.

Witnessing to Jesus to the uttermost part of the earth had begun seriously in Antioch and now was to spread from Antioch. We thank God that the message has spread and reached us.

Yet, there is evidence that since New Testament days only few believers who have trusted Jesus as Savior and Lord also know Him as “The Last Adam.” Will Jesus at His second coming find only a few who know Him as “The Last Adam?”

Or could it be that, as in Antioch, God is preparing an army of believers to proclaim Jesus as Savior, Lord and “The Last Adam.” There is evidence that this is happening.

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