Acts 14
Notes
Transcript
Would You Keep Going?
Would You Keep Going?
Hope you all have enjoyed a great week.
I want to tell you we’ve had a tremendous week, God has blessed in so many ways, we had a lot of fun and so many kids had the opportunity to see Jesus modeled in front of them.
And I am thankful many of you came by and volunteered your time, what a blessings to see many of our young adults helping and some of our older ones as well.
You are appreciated beyond measure.
But we are not done, we have kids to follow up on and we have our next push, Vacation Bible School. It will be here before we know it and it ministers to our younger kids, some of who didn’t get to attend the youth sports camp.
Please be praying for Bible school.... The kids, leaders and the mission team who are traveling here from GA to participate.
Please don’t think that because we have the mission team here we don’t need you. Oh yes we do, so please sign up and plan on coming.
Today, I want to invited you back to the 14th chapter of Acts.
If you remember from a couple weeks ago, Paul and Barnabas were sent by God out into the world to preach the Gospel.
They went faithfully, entering the synagogues, preaching about Jesus, who gave his life, laying it down volunterally that man might be justified before God. But, death didn’t hold Him, instead He three days later God raised him from the dead.
And many believed the message they shared as they traveled through the areas God led them too.... But it wasn’t all good, some stirred up others against them. and some refused to believe.
At one point Paul wiped the dust off his sandals in response to their rejection to the Gospel message. Remember, that was simply symbolizing they (Paul and Barnabas) were no longer responsible for them spiritually. They had heard and rejected the gospel. It didn’t apply to everyone, but it did signify that the gospel was open fully and freely to the gentiles.
And with this, God leads them in another direction. And God brings Paul and Barnabas to the city of Iconium. Here they will continue to bear witness to Jesus and his saving grace.
So lets begin with this thought
1. Pushed out of the City...
As Paul and Barnabas come into the city, they do as they have always done, they preached Jesus to those in the synagogues.
Lets look at verses 1-4 Acts 14:1-4
1 Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. 3 So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 4 But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles.
See there, as we opened the text we see their faithfulness to the Gospel. They went and entered into the synagogues, preaching the message of Jesus gospel.
Remember, we have talked about this in the past, this was their game plan for carrying the world of God to the world.
And the Scriptures say they did so in such a way ( their preaching with such boldness) that many, many Jews and Greeks or Gentiles believed the message.
Wow, many believed! That is awesome.
But let me remind you of something important here, they were faithful to the message. They took the words of Jesus His life, death and resurrection, they proclaimed it and God did the rest.
They were to carry it, let others hear it and let God do the work of conviction by the power and presence of His Holy Spirit and God brought the increase. Many Jews and Greeks were saved… And what do we see, the church is growing.
There is a lesson for each of us to learn here....
A.) Faithfully carry the Gospel to the people.... That is the work Christians are to preform. God has told every person to take the gospel to those around us.
Are you doing that?
B.) When we are faithful, God works in us and through us. You see when you are faithful it blesses other people.
But as “Dearing” said last week, will you get into the boat and follow where the Lord is leading you.
I believe God is trying to lead you to people every day, as you do about your day...
Now back to our text, just as Paul and Barnabas have seen success, at the same time there were some who were against them.
Lets go back to our text verses Look again at 2, and then 5-7. Acts 14:2 an then verses 5-7
2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.
And now verses 5-7
5 When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them, 6 they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, 7 and there they continued to preach the gospel.
Why were they against Paul and Barnabas? We now from previous chapters, there was a measure of jealousy. I mean they are having success, the gospel will cause division. There will be those who believe and those who reject it.
So some of the Jews tried to mislead others, telling them all sorts of false statements against Paul and Barnabas. Verse 2 says they poisoned and misled many in hope of stopping Paul and Barnabas.
Standing for Jesus produces opposition. Not everyone will be happy that you followed Jesus and when you serve him wholeheartedly, it gets worse at times.
It ramped up so much that those religious leaders sought to mistreat Paul and Barnabas and even planned on stoning them. They meant to kill them...
The Devil seeks to kill, steal and destroy… don’t be surprised my friends, He will oppose you living and serving Jesus.
Now the Scriptures say, when Paul and Barnabas learned of their plans, they fled to Lystra, Derby and the surrounding areas. And what did they do… they may have been pushed out of Iconium, but they carried the gospel to other areas.
Here is a good word: Be faithful and serve Jesus no matter where you find yourself.
Now this brings us to a second thought today…
2. Persecuted and Stoned...
There is a truth we all understand, turning our lives over to Jesus doesn’t guarantee an easy life, it doesn’t guarantee it will be nice and neat, But we do have the guarantee that He is with us.... He will never leave us or forsake us.
And when the Lord is with us, my friends understand we can be at peace in those difficult and hard times.
Paul and Barnabas knew the Lord was with them, and because of this, they had the courage to push on…
So lets open the text verses 8-11 Acts 14:8-11
8 Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. 9 He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, 10 said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he sprang up and began walking. 11 And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!”
So Paul and Barnabas come to Lystra after fleeing Iconium. Now Lystra is a place where many gods were worshiped, it is a Roman outpost about 20 miles from Iconium. The city is a very polytheistic region of the world.
And Paul is teaching there in the city and we see a man there who was crippled from birth. And he is listening, he is paying attention to Paul.
And Paul seeing this man, and understanding that this man is not only listening but hearing the word of God, by that I mean the man appears to be moved inside himself by what Paul is saying… and the Scriptures say in verse 9 that he has faith
Paul understands this man has faith and suddenly looks directly at Him and says in verse 10.. “...Stand up to our feet...”
Immediately this man who was lame from birth sprang up to his feet and began walking… WOW!
Listen, please see the magnitude of this miracle. I mean think of it… He has been handicapped since birth. He has never walked and yet, when given the command to walk, stands up and without any instruction, or practice he gets up and walks around..
Can we just say Wow… Praise the Lord for his mighty works!
Now this man is healed and the people are amazed and declare the gods have come down to us. They are thinking some of the Roman gods have joined them..
And the people in their excitement, they start to praise their false gods...
Now look with me at verses 12-18 Acts 14:13-15
13 And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. 14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, 15 “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.
Man, these cats are as lost as a goose in high weeds… The priest over the temple of Zeus brings animals to sacrifice and worship Paul and Barnabas...
And when Paul and Barnabas heard this, man they tore their garments and rushed to the crowds to stop this nonsense...
You see that is happening, It is hard to communicate the gospel to the lost, it was then and it still is now, what is the answer? We need the Holy Spirit to open their heart, their eyes to see and hear and know the truth of the gospel.
And look at Paul’s words, “..Men, why are you doing these things?”… Paul speaks against their actions, why are you doing this, we are just men like you, but we bring you good news that you should turn from these vain, worthless idols, they are dead, they are not alive nor have they ever been. They are only the creation of man’s imagination..
Paul says you should turn from these things… My friends, we are calling men and women today to turn from the false gods they hold in their heart and come to the truth of Jesus Christ...
Men and Women must have Jesus or they will miss heaven. Our world is so polytheistic… People lead those around them into darkness daily, But we are calling people to the light, to the one who is alive, to the one who is the creator, sustainer and Savior of the world.
We are calling people to Jesus!
Paul is sharing with them, but His words are not making a lot of impact with these people. Our text says they were barely restrained the people from offering a sacrifice to them.
And as these things are taking place, Jews hearing Paul and Barnabas are there in Lystra come from Antioch and Iconium and they stir the people up against them. They are bringing up a revolt against Paul and Barnabas, they are not there to help them at all.
And the people are so stirred up against them and they intend to harm Paul. Look at verse 19..
19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.
They drug Paul out of the city and stoned him, and they do so until they think they have killed him. It was not a good day for Paul...
But God is faithful.... Look at verses 20-21
20 But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,
Listen my friends, being God’s servant, being one who brings the sweet news of the gospel to people doesn’t mean you are immune from persecution and physical suffering.
But what is guaranteed is the truth that Jesus is with you...
Now after Paul’s stoning, and those who attacked him have walked off the scene, we see Christians gathered around Paul, and he rose up.
Now look at this, He went back into the city..
Friends, if a group of people attack me and leave me for dead, I ain’t going back…those people are crazy..
Yet Paul did, he faithfully walked in the mission God was leading him.
Let me ask you to consider this thought.... Are you marked by faithfulness?
Are you words faithful , and seasoned with Jesus.
Are your actions faithful and seasoned with Jesus.
Are you living for Him in spite of what is happening around us and our world.
Just a little food for thought.....
Now, just one last thought....
3. Praising God’s Faithfulness...
Here is a beautiful thought my friends.
I believe with all my heart, if we are faithful, we will see God at work in and through us.
Now that doesn’t always mean we see the results immediately, but we know if we are faithful, obedient to our Lord, God will use our efforts for His glory.
Paul and those with him,Barnabas and so may others travel on to Derbe, and there they preached the gospel.
I love that, Paul wasn’t put off, he didn’t quit when beaten down, He kept on.....
He preached Jesus everywhere He went, and God added to the kingdom.. look at verse 21
21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,
Paul didn’t allow anything to stop his determination to serve the one who had forgiven his sin and justified. Friends, think of this… He didn’t allow anything to stop him.
But consider this, in the church today, we get offended over a brother and sister, they get their feeling hurt and they are never the same. They stop coming and here is the result.
They miss the opportunities God desired to lead in their life. They miss out on all that God has planned…
We need to remember this walk with Jesus is not about us, it is ALL about Jesus!
Get rid of self and do what is best for the glory of God....
Verses 22-23 tell us how they responded to all that happened.
Not only did they preach the gospel and make disciples but look here Acts 14:22-23
22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. 23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
The preached, made disciples, and equipped them, discipled them, and strengthened the believers. Reminding them not to expect an easy life if you follow Jesus.
They went on to appoint elders in those churches, they did their best to ensure the churches would stand and continue.
Now I want to share just one last passage with you… Acts 14:24-28
24 Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. 25 And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia, 26 and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled. 27 And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they remained no little time with the disciples.
They went back to their sending church if you will, all the way back to Antioch in Syria,,, and there they shared all that God has done with them and how the door of the gospel had opened to the Gentiles...
They came back and praised the Lord for all that God had done.
Wow, my friends, they came back praising God for all He had done in their midst.
What a blessing, their spirit had not been hindered, persecution didn’t matter, they were thankful and praised God for all the blessings they had experienced..
Here is my question, are you faithful to praise God for He does in your life?
What can you praise him for today?
Alive, Salvation, Family, friends,
Church, Being involved in His work
Our church and our future...
Wow
The point I am making is this....There is so much we can praise Him for today, in the midst of hard or difficult times don’t lose sight of that...
Now here is a second thought...
In the midst of our struggles, will you keep going for the glory of God?
I hope the answer is yes...
What can we do....
Stay away from sin, stop practicing sin and don’t dare think God doesn’t mind. He does mind...
How do I know, He laid down his life because of sin...
Lay down self daily...
Take hold of him, keep as Paul said straining, pushing forward for the Upward calling of our Lord.
So this morning, what need do you have?
Are your feet a little muddy because of sin, come and ask for forgiveness, I would love to pray for you.
Is your heart hurt? does that keep you from following… come and let me pray for you, ask God to release you from that hurt for his glory
Are you facing a tragedy, come and give it to Jesus. He can take our burdens...
Do you need a church home, come...
This morning are you hear and you might have thought. I don’t think I know Jesus, I know him up where, but not in my heart. Come and let me introduce you to the one who changes our lives...
Come this morning....