Acts 33: Miracles, Misunderstandings, Mission, & More

We are studying Acts 14:1-20… Dr. Luke, the author, gives us a great picture of staying focused on our mission in spite of difficulty… you can say perseverance in the face of persecution.

But before we get there I want to tell you how I found this message.

So I was riding my horse the other day around these blue barrels scattered out in the field. This isn’t me, but a couple of athletes from Washington College we had out to ride at the farm.

I haven’t ridden this horse a whole lot and often we get into a bit of frustration. I had been spending more time with him though and I was excited because I had gotten a new bridle for him. Typically bridles have a bit goes in the horses mouth and applies pressure to their tongue… they have sensitive tongues… but Red is always chewing on the bit. I thought he might have a really soft mouth and maybe it was bothering him. Dentist said no… but I got a new bridle anyway, it doesn’t have a bit, it’s called a hackamore. Instead of putting pressure on their tongue/mouth it puts pressure on their nose.

I’ve never used one and as far as I can tell he has never had one put on him… anyway it went bad. Eventually I got so frustrated that I had to take it off and go back to the old style snaffle bit.

Wouldn’t you know that as soon as we went back to the old bit, he was fine. In fact it was as though I could almost think of where I wanted him to go and he would go.

I realized that the change in pressure was confusing to him. What I thought would be helpful, had him a bit disoriented because he didn’t understand the cues it was giving him.

Often times we get in places where we get so caught up in the pressures of life that we - just like my horse - lose focus on what’s important. We get confused by a new hardship or struggle and instead of seeing it as part of life that God wants to work in, we see it as something to avoid or escape....

Maybe you have experienced it as getting consumed with what’s broken that you can’t see what is working.

I think we have all fallen into the trap from time to time.

Today we are going to find in our study of Acts a story where Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey, facing real persecutions, but refuse to get distracted from their mission… we might learn some lessons for ourselves.

But we need to start with the mission… what were Paul and Barnabas trying to do?

The Mission: Comes with Opposition

We pick that up in Acts 14:1.

Now if you remember last week, as we finished chapter 13, we saw them getting run out of town in Pisidian Antioch.

This is all taking place in the region of Galatia… what we know of as Turkey today. But from Antioch, they traveled some 90 miles south east to Iconium.

Iconium was an old, very Hellenistic town on this plateau. It was populated by a large contingent of Jews and Greeks as well as native Phyrigians. The city while in a very desolate area, was well known as one that had been named for the Emperor Claudiconium.

Acts 14:1–3 NIV84

1 At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed. 2 But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. 3 So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders.

The Mission: Comes with Opposition

Paul and Barnabas preach in Iconium with great effectiveness.

With the effectiveness though came a degree of problem from the Jews who didn’t believe. But instead of leaving, what did Paul do?

He spent quite a bit of time there… he remained.

I love that Paul and Barnabas were willing to remain in the city, even with the opposition in order to disciple the church there in Iconium.

This is going to be an ongoing theme today, but how often do we - when we encounter conflict - look to change things up instead of doubling down.

Granted they were listening to the promptings of the Spirit… but that’s because Paul was convinced of his call to proclaim the Gospel.

The same change the disciples had been given in Matthew 28:19–20 Not just to “go and make disciples of all nations”, Not just to “baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” but to to also “teach them to obey everything I have commanded you”

What was it that allowed him to remain focused on the mission in spite of the rising opposition? We might say the opposition wasn’t strong enough. Nothing bad had happened yet… but one thing was clear, Paul was convinced of his mission.

As he wrote in Romans 1:16 “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes...”

Be convinced of your assignment.

The same Holy Spirit that gave Paul such conviction is here to strengthen us to continue Jesus’s mission.

So let me ask you, are you convinced? I didn’t say “Like Paul” because I don’t want us to compare ourselves here… but are you convinced that the mission of the church - which you are a part - is to share the Gospel?

Or is it something else?

To have a great cemetery to serve our community?

To have a great after school program?

To have great worship?

To have great small group ministry?

What ever you are convinced the church is here for is what you will invest yourself. Conviction brings boldness and clarity. So when we are convinced that it is our mission to to share the Good News we will begin to do so with boldness and clarity.

Because eventually opposition will show up… Just like for Paul and Barnabas

Acts 14:4–7 NIV84

4 The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles. 5 There was a plot afoot among the Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them. 6 But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, 7 where they continued to preach the good news.

The Mission: Comes with Opposition

This division and and these plots against Paul and Barnabas didn’t come as a surprise. It had become sort of the pattern of things for them on this mission.

Jesus had told them John 15:18 “18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” and then in John 15:20 “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”

Paul found that being out front on mission was often a very dangerous place. He was beaten, shipwrecked, imprisoned, stoned, whipped… But it wasn’t just him… he saw in his ministry that opposition came to everyone.

As a Christ follower, you could no longer blend in, you were different. And this difference often led to opposition. as he told timothy in 2 Timothy 3:12 “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,”

We were to expect it.... maybe even accept it as a form of divine redirection.

Remain Unfazed by Divine Re-directions

Just like when riding my horse, applying and releasing pressure is how I communicate with him. I let him move into pressure and when he gets back on track he finds a release of pressure.

God uses pressure in our lives in similar ways, and if we can stay focused on what was most important, staying in connecting with him, everything else will make sense, even opposition, even persecution.

What do I mean? God is sovereign, so when we experience difficulty, don’t think of it as a call to stop just yet… think of it as a redirection. Like when we drive your car on a curvy road. if you were to run off the road, you would run up against a guardrail… it’s not there to stop you but to redirect you into the area you are supposed to be.

This comes with being convinced of the mission of Jesus.

They accept the redirection and move to Lystra… another 20 miles east where we see another miracle.

The Miracle: God’s Power in Action

Acts 14:8–10 NIV84

8 In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked. 9 He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed 10 and called out, “Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.

The Miracle: God’s Power in Action

- Healing of the crippled man in Lystra.

Made the people pay attention.. made their words believable…

But it had an impact far beyond Lystra…

Very similar to Peter’s healing of the crippled man in Jerusalem back in chapter 3… the way Dr Luke records it hear is clear that he is showing that Paul and Barnabas are doing in the Gentile world exactly what Peter and John are doing in Jerusalem.

Luke wants us to see the same thing the people in Lystra see… their words can be trusted because they have healing power to go with it.

Miracles can open doors for the gospel.

In the letter of Hebrews 2:4 in the NT, these signs, wonders, miracles and Holy Spirit gifts are described as God’s testimony.

That’s what we see throughout the scriptures that God’s power accompanies His mission. They often open the door for the Gospel.

But they also open the door for misunderstandings… which we have happen here.

The Misunderstanding: Mistaken for Gods

Acts 14:11–13 NIV84

11 When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. 13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them.

The Misunderstanding: Mistaken for Gods

Well known story. Z&H show up in disguised as beggars.

No one offers to help them as they travel through town.

Get just out of town and come across the small home of Philemon and Baucis

Share everything they have

During meal, they notice their wine jug remains full… realizing they have gods at the table, they attempt to give them even more.

Z&H reveal themselves, than, them for the hospitality and as a reward, they invite the couple to worship with them. They go high on a mountain and turn around to see the city flooded. When they return home, their meager home has been transformed into a radiant temple… the temple of Zeus.

People of Lystra see the power that Paul and Barnabas have and assume them to be returning gods.

While it would be tempting to take the people’s adoration and favor… Paul and Barnabas knew it best to direct the praise to God.

To see misunderstanding for what it was and take the opportunity to try and correct their thinking.

Miracles certainly open the door to the gospel, but they don’t say everything that needs to be said. Think of it today how God may work in someones life and they experience a miraculous event that draws them closer to the Christ… the miracle can lead to the gospel being misunderstood.

Know the Gospel is Often Misunderstood

Let me give you 4 quick examples of some false beliefs today about Christianity

Prayed for healing… it happens, they get better… that must mean that becoming a Christian will equal less pain. Far from the truth. Everyone who experiences a miracle will die… but the Good news is that they have the option to now die to live instead of dying to death?

Christianity equals better family life (more loving, stronger, healthier)… divide families… Make one new family of God

Christianity equals cultural respect… will be hated, just as they hate me

Christianity equals financial security… sell all you have and give to the poor… dependence on God to provide

The Message: Gaining Gospel Clarity

Acts 14:14–18 NIV84

14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: 15 “Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. 16 In the past, he let all nations go their own way. 17 Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” 18 Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.

The Message: Gaining Gospel Clarity

They weren’t going to stand by and let these folks misunderstand the Gospel… much less worship them. This was important to their conviction to be on mission.... to help people know the true Gospel… not a false Gospel

It’s the same conviction God invites and even seeks to empower us to share with those God has placed around us.

So if the message needs to be clarified, how will they do that? How can we do it?

Four steps:

Consider How Best to Clarify the Truth.

a. Understand gospel clarity really matters

b. Know your audience

c. Adapt your message

d. Pray for wisdom

The first one we have already addressed… understand Gospel clarity matters.

Our conviction is not just that we believe that Jesus lived, died, rose, and reigns… but that this truth be known by others. That’s the first step to Gospel clarity… you have to be convinced it matters… enough to have the conversation with people.

Second, we need to know our audience. We need to be aware of the way they think, of their motives, their worries, their dreams. I’m not saying we need ot know everything about them, but we need to know enough so that they know we genuinely care about them… maybe that is already in place. You have a close friend who doesn’t believe… a neighbor or coworker you share things with. You know enough about them to begin sharing already.

That's the third step that Paul takes us into...

I’m not sure if you remember Paul’s sermon from last week, but this one… while maybe not a sermon.. his approach is very different.

Acts 13:17 “17 The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt, with mighty power he led them out of that country,”

Here it is “Turn to the living God who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them”

What’s different? He has changed his message to fit his audience. Before he was preaching to God fearing Gentiles and Jews… this time it is to idol worshipping Greeks.

Same for us. I don’t mean teach a false Gospel, but we adapt the way we explain the story of God’s salvation in order to connect it to the life of the person we are talking to.

For example,

someone who has walked away from the faith because of the way a church member treated them… Maybe talk about the way Jesus was treated by religious people… he understands… and part of our new life is that we would be in connection with believers… a healthy church

Someone angry with God after experiencing loss… focus on God’s love for the broken hearted… Anger with God doesn’t heal the sadness

Someone who doesn’t care about God… loves the good life… this is temporary… there is an eternity and we get to choose where to spend it

Not everyone will hear… but those God has prepared will… and others may receive it as a seed planted...

Our job is to keep planting seeds

Talk about facing rejection… look at how Paul was rejected:

The Perseverance: Continuing Despite Persecution

Acts 14:19–20 NIV84

19 Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. 20 But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

The Perseverance: Continuing Despite Persecution

Paul is stoned and left for dead but there is more to be done so he continues on the mission.

“The mission” has become “His Mission”

That’s what I love about Paul’s words in

2 Corinthians 4:8–10 NIV84

8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

For Paul, the perseverance he had wasn’t something he had to do.... no it was a privilege… it was necessary part of what had become His Mission.

That’s why James the brother of Jesus… who had a very similar experience in the Jerusalem church said:

James 1:2–4 “2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Perseverance: The privilege of living our part of an unending mission

Difficulties aren’t distractions… they are necessary for us to become who God longs us to become. It gives us the chance to be all in.

Whether it is physical or emotional trails, the opportunity to persevere is an opportunity to see the life of Jesus revealed in us.

1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV84

58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.