God’s Power Stirs People

Notes
Transcript
A woman walks into a department store and spots a sleek, shiny thermos on display. Curious, she asks the salesperson, “What’s that shiny thing?”
The salesperson smiles and says, “That’s a thermos. It keeps hot things hot and cold things cold.”
The woman is amazed. “Wow! That’s incredible! I’ll take it.”
The next day, she proudly brings her thermos to work. Her coworker notices it and asks, “What’s that?”
“It’s a thermos,” she replies with a big grin. “It keeps hot things hot and cold things cold.”
Impressed, her coworker asks, “What do you have in it?”
The blonde beams, “Two cups of coffee and a popsicle!”
Historical/Cultural Context -
Historical/Cultural Context -
Luke was a physician and a travel companion of the apostle Paul. He wrote the book of Acts. The earliest possible date of Acts is immediately after the events that Luke recorded in, which would have been c. A.D. 62. Acts is addressed to “Theophilus,” about whom nothing more is known. Luke’s broader audience consisted primarily of Gentile Christians like Theophilus who had already “been taught” about Jesus.
Biblical Text -
Biblical Text -
And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked.
This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed,
said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked.
Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!”
And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.
Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes.
But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out
and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them,
who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways.
Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”
And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them.
Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.
However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.
-[Prayer]-
-[Prayer]-
Life Principle - When Sharing The Gospel There Can Misunderstandings, Opposition, & Temptation To Steal God’s Glory.
Life Principle - When Sharing The Gospel There Can Misunderstandings, Opposition, & Temptation To Steal God’s Glory.
Life Point- There Can Be Misunderstandings When Sharing The Gospel
Life Point- There Can Be Misunderstandings When Sharing The Gospel
Exegetical -
Exegetical -
While they were at Lystra, Paul and Barnabas came upon a man with crippled feet. He had been that way from birth, so he had never walked. He was sitting
and listening as Paul preached. Looking straight at him, Paul realized he had faith to be healed.
So Paul called to him in a loud voice, “Stand up!” And the man jumped to his feet and started walking.
When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in their local dialect, “These men are gods in human form!”
They decided that Barnabas was the Greek god Zeus and that Paul was Hermes, since he was the chief speaker.
Now the temple of Zeus was located just outside the town. So the priest of the temple and the crowd brought bulls and wreaths of flowers to the town gates, and they prepared to offer sacrifices to the apostles.
Homiletical -
Homiletical -
In the book of Acts we have seen many miracles taken place and this one is no exception. Except that it was and is an awesome demonstration of God’s power.
Only this time something different happens. You see they are in Lystra which was a pagan city. So the people thought that Barnabas and Paul were their gods and they wanted to sacrifice to them.
Now this would be a temptation for them because these men wanted to elevate them to godhood and worship them.
Notice something about the man who was crippled he may not have fully understood what was being preached but he was open to the Word of God. Paul recognizes this and see that this man has the capacity to believe that God can heal him.
I think a lot of things in our lives can come down to our faith in believing what God’s Word says.
Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
If we take our faith, find out what God is doing and put it behind that then we will see the miracle of God.
For example we have been blessed with children, some Sundays we have upwards of 12-15 ranging in all ages. What we need is someone with faith, that when that happens, someone will step up and help split the class. God is moving in this area of ministry and we need to make sure we are behind Him 100%.
If you want to be apart of that move of God please see Mrs. Amanda. She will train you, if needed, and will make sure you have all you need.
Now notice something about the people’s response. They wanted to sacrifice to them because they thought they were gods appearing as humans. Not God in flesh but just the mere appearance of flesh. This is a common myth amongst Greek speaking people.
By the way this designation between the two is important.
In the first designation we said they appeared in flesh. This means that they are not flesh and bone, but for our sake they just appear that way.
This is not what Christ did. He took upon himself the very nature of man by taking on himself flesh. He was and is in all ways 100% human and 100% God. We got a fancy word for that. It is called the Hypostatic Union. To believe anything else about Christ’s nature is a heresy.
Illustration -
Illustration -
A man once ventured to share the Gospel at a neighborhood barbecue. We’ll call him John. John wanted to use the metaphor of being 'salt and light' but accidentally confused it with a BBQ seasoning. People laughed and misquoted him all weekend. Much like the early disciples—misunderstandings can happen. We have to spice it up with clarity and love to get our message across!
Life Point - Don’t Steal God’s Glory
Life Point - Don’t Steal God’s Glory
Exegetical -
Exegetical -
But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard what was happening, they tore their clothing in dismay and ran out among the people, shouting,
“Friends, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings—just like you! We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things and turn to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them.
In the past he permitted all the nations to go their own ways,
but he never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts.”
But even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could scarcely restrain the people from sacrificing to them.
Homiletical -
Homiletical -
This is a very important test for Paul. How he handles this will show where his faith in God lays. Will he use this as an opportunity to let them treat him as a god to make that a jumping off point for his ministry or will he do what is right and give glory to God?
This reminds me of a story about a captain who found a new land and let the people believe that he was a god.
When Captain James Cook, discoverer of the Hawaiian Islands, first dropped anchor in Hanauma Bay, he was greeted with great ceremony. Realizing the islanders thought he was their god, Lono, Cook thought, Oh, well. Why not? Consequently, he and his men were treated to everything the island had to offer—until one evening, when, Cook, about to take advantage of yet another woman, was clubbed in the back of the head by her husband, who, in his anger, forgot that Captain Cook was Lono. Bleeding and groaning, the Captain went down. By the time he regained consciousness, he found himself looking into the eyes of his aggressor, who said, “Gods don’t bleed. Nor do they groan.” And Cook was killed on the spot.
Paul does the right thing and makes sure that God get the glory and not himself. Notice Paul begins to go back to the beginning. The story of creation to show that God has had mercy on them whether they realized it or not. This was to show that their so-called Greek gods were nothing but worthless idols. not living, but completely worthless.
Even with that Paul and Barnabas barely got them to stop their sacrificing to them.
This is a good reminder that when God does a miracle in our lives that we don’t take credit for His work. I knew a deacon once that had a gift of giving and helping others. Every time someone would try to thank him, he made sure to tell them to thank God, not him, because without God he couldn’t have done it.
I asked him why he did that once and His response was illuminating. He said he did it to keep himself humble because without the thought he feared of becoming prideful and on top of that he truly was thankful to God that he could do all he was doing.
And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them.
Paul wanted them to abandon the idols, but don’t you know you have idols in your world too. Sure you do. People idolize other men and women, if they didn’t then why are these people who play sports getting paid so much? You become like those you idolize. That is why worshipping God in reading His word and corporate worship is so important. When we put God first we become like Him.
Is God first in your life? Does occupy that throne in your heart? Or is it some person, thing, or ideology that is above God in your heart?
Illustration -
Illustration -
We often hear the phrase, ‘To God be the glory’ right after accomplishments. One day, a man climbed a mountain and, at the summit, was so overwhelmed by the view that he shouted, ‘Look at me!’ A fellow climber replied, ‘Shouldn’t you say, ‘Look at God’?’. This echoed through the mountains, reminding us all that our highest achievements are nothing without first acknowledging God's hand in it all.
Life Point - Don’t Be Surprised At Opposition To The Gospel
Life Point - Don’t Be Surprised At Opposition To The Gospel
Exegetical -
Exegetical -
Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds to their side. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead.
But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.
Homiletical -
Homiletical -
Now Paul and Barnabas came from Antioch and visited Iconium where Jews had rejected the message of the Gospel. So, they moved on. But you see the hatred for the message was great amongst some of the Jews that they literally followed them and stirred up trouble.
Folks there are a lot of people out there who hate the message of Christ so much that they will go out of their way to stir up trouble.
In DeLand there is a group of Christians who stand on street corners in downtown holding Christian messages on signs. They feel that is how God wants to use them, then alright. However, there is this one lady who calls herself the happy atheist that holds a sign that says “It’s OK Not to believe” and she stirs up people against the Christians as they walk by. I have seen where a man and her made fun of them because she stirred them up.
That is a tame example.
In Dearborn Michigan there was a group of Christians street preaching, but the muslim population is so thick in that city that they feel they own the place. What happened? Well the Christians got beat up pretty badly by the muslims and the cops stood around and didn’t do anything. This was all captured on film.
You cannot say that there is no opposition to the Gospel in America today.
So what did these Jews do? They stirred the people up to stone Paul to death. They thought he was dead. So when it was over the believers came around him and tended to him. To be stoned like that was no small thing. If he survived it he would not surely leave the next day. The evidence shows that more than likely God healed him and raised him up.
Then he leaves with Barnabas the next day for Derbe.
Let me ask you a question. Are you still on this earth? If so, then God isn’t done with you yet. You are here to do something He wants you to do. Find out what that is and do it.
So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.
And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
So don’t give up on God, no matter what happens. We are commanded here to not grow tired of doing what is good. We are also commanded to continue gathering as a church and even more as the day nears for Christ’s return.
Illustration -
Illustration -
A lighthouse stands firm against crashing waves and storms. Its purpose is to guide ships safely home, even when the sea is treacherous. In the same way, as we proclaim the Gospel, we shouldn’t be shocked by the storms of opposition we may face—our mission is to guide others to Christ, unwaveringly.
Life Principle– When Sharing The Gospel There Can Misunderstandings, Opposition, & Temptation To Steal God’s Glory.
Life Principle– When Sharing The Gospel There Can Misunderstandings, Opposition, & Temptation To Steal God’s Glory.
Call to Action – altar call….
Call to Action – altar call….