Resilience in Our Calling

Introduction

Back to Acts

we have been through the first 13 chapters

we have seen the Lord give tell the disciples that he would send his spirit to them then ascend to heaven

we see many signs and wonders performed by the apostles

giving proof to the teaching of the apostles

we have seen the church begin, blowup, and then persecution comes

Stephen is stoned to death

but as a result, the church moves out of Jerusalem

now moved out of Jerusalem, we see that the gospel is not only for the Jews, but for the Gentiles as well

Paul and Barnabas have been sent out by the church in Antioch of Syria

they traveled through Cyprus where they have seen people come to Christ, even high profile people like the Proconsul in Paphos

now moved on to Antioch Pisidia we have the record of them sharing the gospel form place to place

Today - Resilience in Our Calling

Resilience = the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness:

I am afraid that Christians have become to weak

too many are looking for an easy religion that makes them feel good about themselves

looking for validation

will keep worshipping as long as it is easy and there is no danger in it

because of this, we quit quickly

we quit if things are hard

we will make it spiritual,

God closed the door

It was evident that I was to be done

we avoid situations and people if we think that we will not be accepted

but today we will see Paul and Barnabas be resilient throughout their entire calling to go and share the gospel

on a side note - After reading through this chapter, this week go and read the letter the Galatians

that letter is written to the churches that are in the area that we are studying today

when you read this chapter, then read that letter, you get a greater understanding and insight

Acts 14 (CSB)

1 In Iconium they entered the Jewish synagogue, as usual, 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 stayed there a long time and spoke boldly for the Lord, who testified to the message of his grace by enabling them to do signs and wonders.

4 But the people of the city were divided, some siding with the Jews and others with the apostles.

5 When an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat and stone them,

6 they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian towns of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding countryside.

7 There they continued preaching the gospel.

8 In Lystra a man was sitting who was without strength in his feet, had never walked, and had been lame from birth.

9 He listened as Paul spoke. After looking directly at him and seeing that he had faith to be healed,

10 Paul said in a loud voice, “Stand up on your feet!” And he jumped up and began to walk around.

11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!”

12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.

13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the town, brought bulls and wreaths to the gates because he intended, with the crowds, to offer sacrifice.

14 The apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their robes when they heard this and rushed into the crowd, shouting,

15 “People! Why are you doing these things? We are people also, just like you, and we are proclaiming good news to you, that you turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them.

16 In past generations he allowed all the nations to go their own way,

17 although he did not leave himself without a witness, since he did what is good by giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons and filling you with food and your hearts with joy.”

18 Even though they said these things, they barely stopped the crowds from sacrificing to them.

19 Some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and when they won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, thinking he was dead.

20 After the disciples gathered around him, he got up and went into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.

21 After they had preached the gospel in that town and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch,

22 strengthening the disciples by encouraging them to continue in the faith and by telling them, “It is necessary to go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.”

23 When they had appointed elders for them in every church and prayed with fasting, they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

24 They passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia.

25 After they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.

26 From there they sailed back to Antioch where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.

27 After they arrived and gathered the church together, they reported everything God had done with them and that he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

28 And they spent a considerable time with the disciples.

PRAY!

God’s grace gives us the resilience to get through whatever he has called us to do.

Resilience Persecution

Resistance may come from fellow believers, persecution will come from those who do not believe

resistance is based on style or jealousy

People will too quickly jump to persecution when really it is just resistance

maybe it is change that they are against

music style, preaching style, or simply jealousy

those coming against Paul and Barnabas were not simply against them because of Paul’s blunt preaching… I like that guy

persecution is based on hatred of the message

what was the message they hated, grace

They did not seek persecution, it found them

the unbelievers in Antioch “poisoned the minds…” Acts 14:2

Acts 14:2 (CSB)

2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.

In Lystra (v19) the same unbelieving Jews from Antioch came and convinced them to stone Paul

Acts 14:19 (CSB)

19 Some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and when they won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, thinking he was dead.

Only by the wisdom of God do we know when to move on

they learned of the plot to kill them and then moved on

it was not simply because of people disagreeing with them

Acts 14:3 (CSB)

3 So they stayed there a long time and spoke boldly for the Lord, who testified to the message of his grace by enabling them to do signs and wonders.

people disagreeing with them and “poisoning the minds” of other people caused them to stay longer

when their death was plotted, they moved on

Persecution is not always avoidable however

those who plotted to kill them in v3, show up in Lystra and attempt to take his life there

by God’s grace we persevere

some say Paul was raised from the dead

I do not believe that is the case

if so, Luke would have talked about it

instead he notes that they thought he was dead

They could not take Paul’s life that day, it was not God’s will

Resilience in Praise

The act that led to the praise

Acts 14:8–10 (CSB)

8 In Lystra a man was sitting who was without strength in his feet, had never walked, and had been lame from birth.

9 He listened as Paul spoke. After looking directly at him and seeing that he had faith to be healed,

10 Paul said in a loud voice, “Stand up on your feet!” And he jumped up and began to walk around.

God heals a lame man through Paul

we have seen healings that give proof of the truthfulness of the message

no record of them going to a synagogue when they arrived in Lystra

does not mean there was not one, but most likely there was not

we do know of Jewish family that was there; Timothy and his mother lived in Lystra

an evidence was given to these Gentiles that these men were from God

unfortunately, they thought they were different gods

We are sinning if we as preachers, evangelists, Sunday school teachers, children church leaders, or simply disciples if we accept praise that is only due God

this is not merely a “good job” preacher, this is worship

Priest of Zeus was coming to make a sacrifice, lead worship of Barnabas

this is hard to turn down, because we love praise

that is why social media is simply a highlight real for so many people

we even want the praise from God, that is why our instinct is to run to works

if I do this God will be so pleased with me

he will bless me, tell me how great I am

God is so lucky to have me

Praise is easily deflected when we remember who God is, and it is not us

Paul deflects the worship to where it is due, the creator of all things

they had idols, even a temple to Zeus

so many of the towns in those days had a temple to a god

each of these gods were over something… but the Lord God created all things!

it is to the Lord all praise is due and it should break our hearts when praise goes anywhere else

they ripped their clothes (a sign of mourning)

is this our response

not just the reflecting of praise

but does it break our hearts, do we mourn at the thought of God not getting the praise due him

Even after doing all the right things… They tried to kill Paul

Resilience in Completion

it would have been so easy for Paul and Barnabas to stop short of completion

Luke gives a record of the places that they went to on their way back

this looks like the long way home

we live in an age where the car will tell us the best way to get someplace

it will even tell you if there are better routes than the one you are on because of an accident or delay of some sort

I will argue with it sometimes… Not sure why the computer thinks it knows more than I do

their way home not only looks longer on the map, it takes them right back to the places where people tried to kill them

the task was not simply making disciples

Acts 14:21–22 (CSB)

21 After they had preached the gospel in that town and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch,

22 strengthening the disciples by encouraging them to continue in the faith and by telling them, “It is necessary to go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.”

they made many disciples, but now they were going back to encourage the disciples

speaking to them about the hardships that should be expected

this comes across different when you are an American preacher talking about suffering for Jesus

Paul is speaking with the marks of persecution on his body

after an entire letter written by Paul to the Galatians (who Paul went to on this missionary journey) he speaks about the marks he still has

Galatians 6:17 (CSB)

17 From now on, let no one cause me trouble, because I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

most likely the scars that he had from the stoning he endured on this trip

but they also set up church leadership in these places

appointing elders, not by popularity, but by prayer and fasting

not outside religious people, but believers in that place

not looking for people to rule as they Paul and Barnabas wanted, but because they loved these people

Galatians 4:8–9 (CSB)

8 But in the past, since you didn’t know God, you were enslaved to things that by nature are not gods.

9 But now, since you know God, or rather have become known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elements? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again?

when we see what Paul went through to bring the gospel to these people, it is easy to see why he is so adamant in chapter 1 about no other gospel

and here how it would break his heart that they would turn back to these worthless gods

Finally, after traveling back, they give a report to the church who sent them out

their work was completed, but it was not their work alone

this church, Antioch of Syria, was the church where the Holy Spirit set Paul and Barnabas apart for this work

they prayed and fasted with them before they left and no doubt they continued throughout their journey

now, back in Antioch they stay and serve until the Lord sends them out again

We never stop serving the Lord

we are to be obedient when he calls, and go

we go until the mission is complete

then we serve where we are until he calls us to go again

If we stay or if we go, we do all things in the power of the Holy Spirit

Discussion Questions

What events led to the spread of the gospel beyond Jerusalem?

How did Paul and Barnabas demonstrate resilience during their mission trips?

What does the term 'resilience' mean?

What was the significance of the healing of the lame man in Lystra?

What was Paul's response to the worship given to him and Barnabas by the people of Lystra?

What challenges did Paul and Barnabas face while preaching the gospel?

Why is it important to encourage believers to remain steadfast in their faith?

What role does the Holy Spirit play in the resilience of believers?

What lessons can we learn from Paul and Barnabas' journey about facing adversity in our own lives?