Qualities of an Effective Servant of Jesus Christ part 2

Last week we started looking at the qualities that make up an effective servant of Christ.

Characteristics that should be found in every Christian.

We looked at the Gifts that we each have and how they are each unique.

We also talked about how we are to be Bold in our faith, both in following Gods plan for our lives and in sharing our faith with others.

And also even though we have boldness we are to have humility in our walk and not be arrogant about who we are and what God has gifted us with.

This morning we are going to continue to look at qualities that make effective servants.

Persistence (vv 19-21)

Whether the Jews who came to Lystra from Antioch and Iconium were hunting for Paul and Barnabas, or were simply traveling on business, is unknown.

In any case, they were outraged at finding the two missionaries again proclaiming the gospel.

They took immediate action and, having won over the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.

Luke does not record what arguments these Jews used to turn the pagan crowd against Paul and Barnabas, but they were obviously effective.

His would-be executioners, however, believed Paul to be dead.

They hauled his body out of the city and contemptuously dumped it, not even deigning to give him a decent burial.

The missionaries’ ministry at Lystra had not been without fruit, and some of the disciples they had made now stood around the battered, unconscious body of their fallen leader.

They came either to take his body away for burial or to protect him from further harm.

Possibly among them were Timothy, a native of Lystra (Acts 16:1), his mother, Eunice, and grandmother, Lois (cf. 2 Tim. 1:5).

To the believers’ joy and amazement, Paul regained consciousness, arose and courageously entered the city.

Most would have taken some time off to recuperate, but not Paul.

The very next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe, a forty-mile walk.

The trip, for one in Paul’s condition, must have been excruciatingly painful.

Paul never willingly lost a day, however.

Since the door for ministry was temporarily closed at Lystra, he simply moved on to minister somewhere else.

Nothing daunted him, not even being stoned nearly to death. Phil. 4:11

Philippians 4:11 ESV

11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.

He was persistent, committed to “making the most of [his] time, because the days are evil”.

Caring (vv 21-23)

Paul and Barnabas expressed their care and concern for the new believers.

An effective servant of God knows the Great Commission is not merely to gain professions of faith but to nurture that faith to maturity.

When they had completed the work in Derbe, Paul and Barnabas revisited the three cities they had just come from.

Such visits were fraught with danger.

Some have speculated that by this time new Roman magistrates were in office.

Even if that were true, the Jewish communities in all three cities remained implacably opposed to the gospel.

Paul and Barnabas knew, however, that it was far more dangerous to the gospel cause for those new flocks not to be strengthened.

Commitment (vv 24-25)

Exhausted by their travels and hard work in the proclamation of the gospel, the two missionaries headed home.

Having passed through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia, to the city of Perga.

Others may have rested before going down to the seaport of Attalia and booking passage for home, but not Paul and Barnabas.

Such was their commitment to their evangelistic calling that they did not leave until they had spoken the word in Perga.

As noted in the discussion of Acts 13:14 in chapter 2 of this volume, Paul and Barnabas apparently had not preached in Perga the first time they were there.

Leaving nothing undone, they proceeded to do so. They were committed, no matter what their circumstances, to fulfilling their calling.

Reverence (vv 26-28)

Some may have boasted of all they had done, of the churches they had planted, the number of converts they had made, and the miracles they had performed, but not Paul and Barnabas.

They kept all their accomplishments in the proper perspective, noting that God had done all those things through them and that He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.

They saw themselves as instruments through whom God had accomplished His purposes; and all the glory went to Him.

That is an essential perspective for a servant of the Lord.

Through their Spirit-giftedness, boldness, power, humility, persistence, caring, commitment, and reverence for God, Paul and Barnabas had been used to accomplish much for the kingdom.

Those qualities still mark those who walk the path to effective Christian service.