How to overcome adversity Acts 14:1-7

Introduction

As we have seen all through out the book of Acts, when the Gospel is preached, some will believe, and some will not only not believe, but they will try to convince others not to believe as well.

As Paul and Barnabas get chased out of Antioch in Pisidia, they head to Iconium and it’s a different city but the same story.

This morning we are going to look at three ways to overcome adversity.

The Adversity

As they came into Iconium which was a city in southwest Asia Minor, they went and spoke in the Synagogue.

During that time multitudes of Jews and Greeks believed.

The message of the apostles didn’t change whether they were preaching in the synagogue or in the streets of the city.

They weren’t saved because Paul was a great orator, but rather because they were filled with the Holy Ghost and the Holy Ghost spake through Paul.

Isn’t it amazing that God chose the foolishness of preaching to proclaim the good news of the gospel?

1 Corinthians 1:21 “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”

1 Corinthians 2:13 “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

As they were speaking though, there were some unbelieving Jews that stirred up the Gentiles

The word stirred here means to incite into action or to instigate

They knew all the buttons to push when it came to the gentiles so they pushed everyone of them to try and keep them from listening to what Paul and Barnabas had to say.

Not only did they stir them up but they made their mind evil affected against the brethren.

This means they filled their mind with lies that affected how the received the brethren, and really how they recieved the message that the Apostles were preaching.

Anything they could do or say to keep others from following God, that is exactly what they would do.

Today these same things are happening. When we think back 50 or so years ago, God was more of a priority in peoples lives. If we were to go back 100 years God was more of a priority than he was 50 years ago and so on. What has happened? Generations have allowed the lies of the devil to creep in and have caused us to place our relationship with God on the back burner.

The things that we used to miss for church, we are now missing church for. I believe if America is around in another 100 years they will be like the United Kingdom, once the leading sender of foreign missionaries, some of the greatest preachers to ever walk the earth came from the UK and now over a quarter of their population claim to not believe in God at all, and they identify as a post-Christian nation.

If we are not careful, America will end up in the same boat, but I think Paul and Barnabas give us 3 ways to overcome adversity or opposition that might keep us from believing the lies the enemy wants us to believe.

Speak Boldly in the Lord vs.3

Notice verse three, even when the unbelieving Jews were stirring up the gentiles, they abode their and spoke boldly in the Lord.

Think about when the church first started getting persecuted in Acts 4 when Peter and John went back to the church after spending the night in prison Peter prayed and in verse 29 of Acts 4 he said this (Acts 4:29 “And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,” )

When we face adversity we should pray the same way, that God would grant us boldness to speak in his name.

Paul said it this way in Ephesians 6:19–20 “And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”

When is the last time we prayed for boldness before we presented the Gospel? If Paul needed boldness so do we!

We already have the power source we just have to plug in

Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Matthew 28:18–20 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

It would be silly for us at Christmas time to put Christmas lights on our house, in our trees, and on our fence and never plug them in, yet this is how we treat the power given to us to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. We have all the lights up, but never plug them in.

As believers if we want to overcome adversity we must speak boldly in the Lord and not in our own power.

Andrew Murray put it this way “do not strive in your own strength”

2 Corinthians 12:9–10 “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

Keep your Testimony vs. 3

One of the most important things to remember about a time of adversity in our life is that people are watching how you react.

I know I say this often but my pastor always said this “adversity is common in life, but how the Christian reacts to adversity is uncommon”

When adversity comes keep your testimony so that the grace of God pours out of you.

Notice the Bible says “the testimony unto the words of his grace”

While Paul and Barnabas could have lashed out instead they were gracious in their words.

Its easy to get in the flesh when things don’t go our way, but Gods grace is sufficient.

Not only did they have the words of his grace they also were doing signs and wonders among the people.

Remember the Jews required a sign and when the word of God was completed, the signs gift went away, but God allowed Paul and Barnabas to use sign and wonders to testify of what God can do!

As a Christian our testimony matters, if you are always flying off the handle every time something goes wrong, you’re not only hurting your testimony, but also the testimony of the Lord.

Colossians 4:6 “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

Preach the Gospel vs.7

After they continued to boldly proclaim the message to those in Iconium, the city split on how they felt about them.

Because of that part of the people decided to launch an assault on them. They were going to despitefully use them which means to treat them with malice or spite, and then they would stone them.

As they became aware of what was about to happen, they fled to Lystra and Derbe which were cities of Lycaonia (Lik-a- onia) and to that region.

They could’ve thrown in the towel and said we went to Antioch preached the gospel, many believed and then they ran us out of town, then we went to Iconium, preached the Gospel many believed and then they were making plans to stone us. Why don’t we just take a break so we don’t end up getting killed.

You’ll notice though in verse 7 they didn’t throw in the towel, instead they got back up and “preached the Gospel”

When you get rejected sharing the gospel, share it somewhere else

Like Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:16 “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!”

They could kick him out of Antioch, of Pisidian, and run him out of Iconium, but they couldn’t stop him from preaching the Gospel.

The world might try to stop us but, preach the Gospel

Your friends may try to stop you but, preach the Gospel.

Your family might try to stop you but preach the Gospel.

Conclusion

Adversity is common in life, but as Christians when adversity comes we should speak boldly in the Lord, keep our testimony and preach the Gospel.

This morning if you have never trusted Christ, come this morning and we can show you from God’s word how you can be saved