Acts 14: Multiplying Churches Stay Faithful to Christ

Introduction

The boldness of your opinions might change if the person you’re speaking about is in the room with you. In the same way, when you and I are gathered at church, it can be easier to worship and pray, to serve and speak with bold confidence in Christ. But then we are sent out from here into the world, and we find ourselves living life with friends, family, coworkers who do not believe in Jesus. They aren’t convinced about the Gospel message that we are sinners who need a Saviour. And it’s in those places, with those people that God is calling us to be faithful. Today we will read Acts 14 and see how Paul and Barnabas stayed faithful to Christ, boldly proclaiming his Gospel no matter what the circumstances. I’ll read Acts 14 and then we will pray.

When the Gospel divides opinion (v. 1-7)

Paul and Barnabas have been sent out by the Holy Spirit to preach the Gospel in cities across the known world in what is now Cyprus and Turkey. Acts chapter 13 ends when a persecution breaks out against them, and they shake the dust off their feet and leave. That’s how they arrived in Iconium. This was a trade city with a large population that was Greek in culture, religious influence, and language. In verse 1, we see that Paul and Barnabas into the Jewish synagogue to preach the Gospel.

The apostles were faithful in their bold proclamation of the Gospel. They spoke in such a way that many people believed, that is they found both the message and the messengers reliable and trustworthy. If the passage stopped there in verse 1, it would be good enough to conclude that Paul and Barnabas’ boldness in spirit and their demeanor resulted in belief. But the book of Acts does more than highlight success after success of the Apostles. Luke (who wrote this book) often shines the light on God as the real hero of the story. There are also some who do not believe the message or the messengers. And so in verse 2, we see their unbelief turns into action as they “poisoned” the minds of the the Gentiles in such as way as to bring permanent injury to their minds. Belief in Christ and unbelief toward him don’t stay in the realm of philosophy or worldview - they play themselves out in obedience or disobedience. Here we see that Paul and Barnabas encounter division in response to the Gospel - some see it as true and leading to salvation, while others see it as foolish and to be rejected.

In previous cities on their journey, Paul and Barnabas preached the Gospel and then moved on quickly to their next destination. Verse 3 tells us that at Iconium they “remained for a long time,” choosing to make their home among people whose belief led to obedience AND among people whose unbelief led to disobedience. They continued to speak boldly for the Lord even in the face of a divided response to the Gospel.

Luke shows that their boldness was not intrinsic to themselves, but came from God. It is the Lord, through the Holy Spirit, who “bore witness to the word of his grace.” What is the Holy Spirit doing? Glorifying the kindness and grace of God in the work of Jesus at the cross. How I need to depend on the Holy Spirit to stay faithful in declaring the Gospel when it divides opinion. The Christian faith is more than just a battle between ideas or worldviews, it goes beyond simply being culturally bound up in those who speak and those who hear. Verse 3 reminds us that Jesus himself came as the Messenger of the Gospel, and after he ascended into Heaven gave the Holy Spirit to empower and direct the proclamation of the Gospel in the whole world.

Through these apostles, the Lord himself bears witness to the word of his grace. It happens through signs and wonders, miracles that only have their explanation in the God who rules over creation and redemption. Luke gives an example later in this passage. It’s so cool to look back through the whole book of Acts and see how God works to be the One proclaiming “the word of his grace.” In Acts 4, just after Peter and John were arrested for proclaiming Christ as risen from the dead, and then released by the Jewish authorities, we read their prayer.

“And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” Acts 4:29-30

Verse 4 makes clear that faithfulness to Christ is required when we proclaim the Gospel. The people of the city were divided; there was a lack of unity over the message of the Gospel. Even in the face of bold proclamation, and signs and wonders bearing witness to his word of grace.

Divided. What does the Gospel do? It shines God’s light on the reality of our own spiritual brokenness, the fact that at the very core of our beings we are spiritually dead, completely corrupted by the power of sin. Our lives are spiraling headlong toward the penalty of our sin - death and a deserved judgment for our life of unbelief. That’s why it’s so important for us to faithfully proclaim the “word of his grace” as verse 3 says. God is so loving that he bears witness through us. He won’t allow you or me, our friends or family to go on without being confronted by the truth. Maybe as you are here today, God is showing you that you haven’t made up your mind about Jesus. Like those in Iconium, you haven’t decided yet. It would be way worse if you didn’t know you are still in the process of making up your mind. And so this may be a moment when God himself, through Acts 14 is confronting you with the truth of the Gospel where there’s no way to the left or the right, there’s only Jesus and you must decide.

What is needed more than an endless extending of signs and wonders is the faithful quickening of the Holy Spirit whose conviction of sin is so crushing that nothing can escape it, whose life is everlasting and unshakable, whose instruction and encouragement are always ready to be present to us.

Unbelief, poisoned minds, death threats led to Paul and Barnabas having to flee for their lives. Not for the first time in the book of Acts do we see that God’s plan to reach the nations is not threatened in the least by persecution. Previously, it was when a great persecution broke out against the followers of Jesus that the Gospel first spread from Jerusalem into the Syria, Cyprus, and other parts of the known world. And so in this case, Paul and Barnabas flee for their lives, and in verse 7 we see they faithfully continue to “preach the gospel.” That’s how they end up at Lystra, a smaller town in Asia Minor that might not have originally been on their list of places to visit. Their visit to Lystra turns into an explosive encounter between the Apostles and crowds of people.

Where should I start sharing the Gospel with boldness?

- Different cities/regions (Iconium [impacted by the Hellenistic philosophy], Lystra [small city, less impacted by Hellenism, likely not on Paul’s original route plan], Derbe, surrounding country, Pisidia, Pamphylia, Antioch)

- Diverse worship centers (Jewish synagogue, temple of Zeus)

- Established churches and brand new churches

- Planned mission trips and unexpected diversions

It is so encouraging to see Paul and Barnabas walking so closely with Jesus that wherever they went they spoke of him. Their proximity to Jesus led to an undivided heart, a faithfulness to Christ even as the Gospel divided opinions.

When people deny his power (v. 8-18)

This encounter starts when Paul heals a man who verse 8 tells us “was crippled from birth and had never walked.” Paul is faithfully and boldly preaching the Gospel, this man is listening. Their eyes are locked on each other!

This week our son Jude was invited to the Burrell Collection to help officially reopen it. We were told that a VIP would be attending the event. Sarah went along with Jude’s class as a chaperone. Rumors were swirling around all week - who would the VIP be? A royal? Now that would be cool. A politician? Now that would be…not as cool. But the day came, and it turned out to be the KING! King Charles officially reopened the Burrell Collection. Jude and Sarah were there. And guess what everyone asked them. Did the King look at you? Did the King speak to you? And Jude’s classmate Jessica got to shake the King’s hand!

The man is paying close attention to Paul and Paul is paying close attention to him. Something about this man indicates that he has “faith to be made well” - confidence, assurance, belief in response to the Gospel message. God empowers Paul to heal the man, and in verse 10 he says in a “loud voice, ‘Stand upright on your feet.’” The response is immediate - “he sprang up and began walking.” Put yourself in this small town of Lystra. It’s off the beaten track, and some of the new ideas of Hellenism that explain away the Greek gods haven’t taken root here. People have not witnessed this kind of spiritual power before. And so they explain it the only way they know how. In verse 11, they say in their own native language, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” Hearing the thunderous authority of the message and seeing the healing power of the messenger caused the people in this town to credit FALSE GODS. They were ignorant to the truth of the Gospel message, and it was easier for them to believe that Zeus or Hermes came in the flesh than that God was made flesh in Jesus. Taking the things that God has made, said, and done and giving credit to someone else - this is a pattern throughout the entire Bible, a regular tactic of Satan who blinds the eyes of unbelievers. The two gods - Zeus, the chief god of the Greek pantheon and Hermes, the messenger of the gods and the son of Zeus - come just close enough to the message of the gospel that confusion, division, and unbelief can continue. The enemy of our souls wants to blind people to the message of the Gospel, the real kindness that God showed us by the work of Jesus on the cross.

Verse 11 tells us that they said all this in Lycaonian, so it’s not immediately evident to the apostles what is happening. All they know is that people are shouting in a language they don’t understand and a crowd is gathering. But as soon as they see the priest of Zeus coming with oxen and garlands, they put two and two together and respond with incredible clarity.

V. 14 “they tore their garments, rushed out into the crowd, cried out” And what was their message?

V. 15 “We are men just like you” If our interactions with unbelievers cause them to think of us as gods, it is our responsibility to faithfully correct that nonsensical notion by highlighting Christ alone as God with us. Our humanness, weaknesses, suffering and brokenness provide a truthful picture for people of our likeness to them.

“We bring you good news” - focused on the Gospel of grace, that it was Christ’s work on the cross that brings us to God.

“You should turn from these vain things to a living God”

v. 17 “This living God has not left you without a witness to who he is”

Vain & Worthless vs. Living and Powerful

Jeremiah 14:22 “Are there any among the false gods of the nations that can bring rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Are you not he, O Lord our God? We set our hope on you, for you do all these things.”

Isaiah 35:5-6 “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.

Paul and Barnabas are faithful to Christ when these people deny his power. And we can be faithful as well. Our likeness is the same as yours, but we are messengers and the message is unlike any you’ve heard before. And to stay faithful in proclaiming Christ, we are sometimes called to be God’s messengers who bring the truth of the gospel to bear in peoples’ lives in such a way that God’s speaking voice shakes the rafters and blows the roof off. But make no mistake - it is God’s voice that is speaking. We are faithful to proclaim because He is faithful and his Gospel will not fail.

How did Paul and Barnabas stay focused and faithful in this midst of this kind of crazy ministry experience? How can we stay focused and faithful? Here are 3 things the text shows us:

⁃ serve in ways that elevate and strengthen others (v21-22)

⁃ pray fervently with others before ministering zealously to others (v23)

⁃ give your life in sacrifice and give God the glory (v27)

When his enemies try to destroy you (v. 19-23)

In verse 19, just after the crowds were ready to offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas, they are turned against them by familiar opponents. Jews who had opposed them in Antioch (they shook the dust off their feet when they left) and Iconium (they fled the threat of being stoning) came to Lystra and found these men at the center of another crisis. They persuaded the crowds to take action against these messengers. The worthlessness of their idol worship is exposed as they are just as willing to pick up rocks as they were to worship them. They stone Paul and drag him out of the city. The crowd left Paul’s body there, thinking he was dead. But verse 20 reveals otherwise. Whether through healing or providential protection, Paul “rose up” and “entered the city” and then the next day walked the 60 miles back to Derbe, where they continued preaching the Gospel and made many disciples. Paul and Barnabas left Lystra changed men, having suffered opposition and persecution. Trials change us, that’s for sure. But at the core of our beings, we can be unchanged in our faithfulness to Christ no matter the trial.

Your suffering and trials give you a tone, a way of speaking with boldness about Jesus that will reach people who are in the midst of their own suffering and trials. Your suffering and trials will open doors to be around people you would never otherwise access, and so you can share the Gospel. God wants to speak through you as the One who draws near to the broken-hearted. In hospitals and funeral homes, in prisons, where refugees and neglected immigrants are gathered. God will gladly give you the opportunity to speak with that kind of voice.

I spoke with Pastor Alex Tarasov yesterday, the lead pastor of Vertical Church in Kiev, Ukraine. He is a modern-day example of someone who is staying faithful to Jesus when the enemy is trying to destroy him. In the past year, he has been hospitalized twice. He nearly died from Covid last October, and then nearly died again in May from a burst appendix. His congregation has had to flee Kiev during Russian the occupation and shelling. Tanks were moving down his street and howitzer guns firing regularly as he and his family huddled in their home. For months, they have not had consistent electricity, heat, or phone service, and all while under threat for their lives.

And yet he can speak like Paul now in 2 Timothy 3:11 “my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me.”

I asked Alex what he would like our church to know: “We had very difficult Monday and Tuesday here. When more then one hundred rockets came to Kyiv and other cities in Ukraine. Many people tried to leave again. Big problems with power and connection. Next days it continues mostly in the East. Hope that on Sunday we will have a power and haven't air alarm and rockets attack. Please pray for this. Also we have a new building for meeting, so, we need to buy some equipment (heating etc) and pay more. Please pray for God's provide. And every week 1 or 2 times we have  evangelical trips with food and Gospel to the places that was under occupation. Please pray for people hearts.”

The world is divided about Christ. Some will believe the message of the Gospel of Grace while others will deny its power. God is calling us to be undivided in our minds and hearts - faithful to Jesus by declaring the Gospel with boldness, always glorifying God as the One who has power to save, even in the midst of trails and tribulations. How can we be faithful and undivided? Only as we are built up toward Jesus, who is the head of the church. How can we be as bold with the gospel in our families, with our neighbours, with our friends? We have faith to believe the Messenger - Jesus, and the Message - the word of his grace.

Ephesians 6:15 “and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.”

Where is God sending you out this week? Be faithful. Be bold in speaking the Gospel. When it divides opinion. Be bold in ministering the Gospel, even if people deny its power. Hold onto faith in Christ even when his enemies try to destroy you. As we read Acts 14, the testimony of these multiplying churches is powerful; it endures to this day. Imagine multiplying churches in Scotland that stay faithful to Christ, imagine the power of the “word of his grace” changing lives forever, imagine being built up in unity toward Jesus all for his glory. Can you picture it? Will you pray for it and pursue it together? Let’s pray.