The Crucial Aspects Of The Gospel Mission

The relentless pursuit to stop the gospel mission

Acts 14:19 “But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and after winning over the crowds and stoning Paul, they were dragging him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.”

After Paul and Barnabas desperately tried to stop the crowd from offering a sacrifice to them because of the miracle Paul performed on the cripple man at Lystra. Sometime later after this event occurred Jews from Antioch who had expelled Paul and Barnabas from their city, along with those Jews from Iconium who had planned to stone them, must have gotten word that Paul and Barnabas were in Lystra preaching the gospel and took it upon themselves to take care of unfinished business and put an end of their lives.

Months have passed by since the Jews from those cities had their first encounter with Paul and Barnabas but their anger and hate never subsided. These angry mob of Jews had traveled over 100 miles to locate Paul and Barnabas. This shows you how relentless the Jews were in their pursuit to end their lives. All because they were sharing their faith in Jesus Christ in their cities.

Satan will use anyone to hinder you from sharing the gospel. He has the ability to control people’s heart and minds. Luke 22:3 “And Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, who belonged to the number of the twelve.”

You will have people in your life or those you come across who are not saved that will hold anger and hate forever against you long after you have forgotten about them. Their anger is a result of your faith in Christ. They know the faith that you’ve shared, the biblical stance you have made are a reflection Jesus and they hate what they see because they know they are not living right. Keep in mind that these Jews who were angry at Paul and Barnabas are religious people. There are religious people you know who harbor anger, animosity because of your biblical stance you hold. Tell them about their sin and see the anger they will hold against you. This should never happen from those who are Christians, yet you have those who are in the church that are as evil as those who are unchurched.

Matthew 5:22 ““But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ shall be guilty before the Sanhedrin; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.”

James 1:20 “for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.”

The text says in v.19 “after winning over the crowds and stoning Paul, they were dragging him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.”

The Jews anger caused them to persuade the crowds to help them to stone Paul. The text doesn't indicate why Barnabas wasn’t stoned. Their focus was on Paul, maybe because Paul was the chief speaker (v.12), or maybe Barnabas wasn’t there. But it really doesn’t matter, Luke doesn’t give us the details so I’m not going to read into the text. The bottom line is that they finally got Paul with the help of the crowds and stoned him. Now mind you this is the same crowd from Lystra that had seen a cripple man be healed by Paul which caused them to call him and Barnabas gods and they wanted to offer a sacrifice to them, and he and Barnabas kept trying to stop them telling them they were not gods, and began to proclaim the gospel to them, that they needed to turn away from vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. But here they are now turning against Paul and they stone him. This reminds how quickly the crowds turned on Jesus during in triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The crowds were laying down palm branches and shouting Hosanna at Jesus, and later the same crowds were shouting to crucify him, crucify him.

You see how quickly people will turn on you because you stand as a witness for Jesus Christ. Don’t get it twisted the world will hate you because you are a Christian. They will smile at you but once you mention Jesus their attitude will quickly change.

I want to remind you that people in this world will hate you because of your belief in Jesus Christ, because you don’t engage in sinful things that they do, and if you mention their sinful behavior watch how quickly turn on you with anger and hate.

John 15:18–19 ““If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you. “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.”

John 17:14 ““I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”

1 John 3:13 “Do not marvel, brothers, if the world hates you.”

Near death doesn’t detour the gospel mission

Acts 14:20 “But while the disciples stood around him, he rose up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe.”

After the crowds had stone Paul and dragged him out of their city, supposing he was dead. But Paul wasn’t dead, they only supposed that he was. The word suppose nomizo/ to think/. Had Paul died he would have mentioned it in the list of tribulation he went through while on his missionary journey’s sharing the gospel.

2 Corinthians 11:25 “Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked—a night and a day I have spent in the deep.”

Paul was merely knocked out after they stoned him as they dragged him out of the city. But when the disciples had gathered around him Paul rose up to his feet, and listen to this, he walked right back into the city of Lystra where the Jews and the crowd had just stoned him. Now you talk about boldness. Paul trusted God who intervene by saving his life, what more could an angry mob to him with God on his side. Paul wasn’t going to let a near death experience to detour the his gospel mission.

Because the very next day we are told in v.20 that Paul and Barnabas went away to Derbe. You would have thought that after being stoned that Paul would have laid up in the bed for several days. But this shows us that God had healed him so that he could continue preach the gospel in Derbe some 60 miles away. Paul displays both an urgency and obligation to reach the lost with the gospel for Christ.

Sadly, today some Christians will use any excuse not to reach the lost with gospel for Christ. Either they have a hang nail, they are too busy, their kids have practice, the truth is that they don’t care for the lost. Hear me when I say this, every person who claims to be a Christian and loves Christ who sacrificed His life on the cross for their sins ought see the urgency and obligation to reach the lost for Christ, they should never allow anything detour them from reaching the lost with the gospel for Christ.

The necessity to make disciples is part of the gospel mission

Acts 14:21 (a) “And after they had proclaimed the gospel to that city and had made many disciples,”

It’s important to share the gospel, but it is also necessary to make disciples. New believers need to be taught what being a Christian is all about. They to know what the Bible says about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, they need to what it means to follow Christ, how important it is to be apart of a Biblical sound church, the read and study the Bible, and learn how to pray regularly and rightly.

I have watched new believers in entertainment start off well, but fizzle out over time and walk away from the faith. There are those who have come through this church, yeah I said through, because they never once sat in a discipleship class, Sunday School, they hit-and-miss Sunday Service, and before long they are threw with the church, and in some cases they’re threw with the faith that that they once had professed. All believers need to be discipled especially new believers. Over the years of my pastoral ministry I’ve learned that I can only do my best to try to disciple those who love Christ and want to know more about Him. I’v come to realize that the church is made up with both saints and ain’ts. As the old saying goes, you can lead a horse to water but you cannot make them drink it. But it is necessary for me and you as well to make disciples after you share the gospel with the lost.

Matthew 28:18–20 “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to keep all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.””

Follow up is a vital part of the gospel mission

Acts 14:21 (b)–22 “And after they had proclaimed the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many afflictions we must enter the kingdom of God.””

While they were in Derbe they proclaimed the gospel and made many disciples. Not once did they face opposition as they did before, because God was with them. If God be for you who can be against you. Then Paul and Barnabas returned back to the 3 cities that they had encountered persecution for the gospel. At Lystra Pal was stoned, at Iconium they plotted to stone Paul and Barnabas, at Antioch they were kicked out of that city. They went there to follow up on the people in each city who had come to the faith to strengthen the lives of the disciples, and to encourage them to continue in the faith. You must continue in the faith, the word continue/em-men-o/ means to abide, Jesus said these words

John 15:1–7 ““I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine-grower. “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He cleans it so that it may bear more fruit. “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit from itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

Believers need to be told that “through many, not few, but many afflictions we (notice Paul includes himself) must enter the kingdom of God.

This Christian walk will have its struggles while on our way to heaven.

Philippians 1:28–30 “in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same struggle which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.”

1 Thessalonians 2:2 “but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much struggle.”

You have to fight the good fight.

2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.”

You have to endure great conflict,

Hebrews 10:32 “But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings,”

Know that we were given witnesses who themselves endured to the end

Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, laying aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”

It is also imperative to follow-up with people in the faith to strengthen their lives. The enemy is constantly attacking believers, we must encourage them to persevere no matter what they are going through and to look to God through his word and prayer for strength. Far too many Pastors and church folk are doing a disservice to believers by assuming they are doing okay in their personal lives. People are good at hiding their struggles, they are afraid to open up, afraid that church folk will tell their business, which some do, people are dealing with thoughts of suicide, mental depression, uncertainty about their faith, relationship issues, family problems, and sin failures. The must be strengthen. They must be encouraged to continue in the faith. If not, some will depart from the faith because they are not grounded in the Word of God. Some will allow the cares of the world to overtake them. Others will face crisis in their marriage, face crisis on their jobs, face crisis in their health, emotional crisis, and spiritual crisis. Let them know that Christ is the answer for their crisis.

Scripture says:

Deuteronomy 31:6 ““Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or be in dread of them, for Yahweh your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.””

Hebrews 13:6 “so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?””

The necessity for elders to continue the work was part of the gospel mission

Acts 14:23 “And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”

This was the conclusion of Paul and Barnabas first missionary journey. They new that is was necessary for the spiritual growth of the church to continue long after they gone, so they appointed elders for them in every church, after they had prayed and fasted.

I want you to understand the seriousness Paul and Barnabas took in establishing elders to continue to teach and care for those who make up the church.

1). Take note who did the appointing, Paul and Barnabas. They were the ones who had spent time teaching and instructing the believers in every church and would know who had the spiritual qualities and maturity to hold such an important leadership position. The word appoint depending on the context can mean to select someone by a show of hands, as was the case in...

2 Corinthians 8:19 “And not only this, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us in this gracious work that is being ministered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our readiness,”

but it can also mean to chose, install not by a group but by the apostles. As Paul told Titus to do at the church in Crete.

Titus 1:5 “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you,”

These believers in these churches that Paul and Barnabas had taught were in the early stages of their conversion. They were were not ready to vote who should be an elder. Paul and Barnabas exercise their right to make the chose to appoint the elders.

2). Now the word elder presbuteros/pres-boo-ter-os/ means someone who is advanced in age/ and in scripture uses the term bishop, elders, and presbyters interchangeably.

3). Lastly notice that Paul and Barnabas prayed with fasted before appointing the elders. No church should install anyone as Pastor or any leadership position for that matter without first seeking the Lord with prayer and fasting. Far too many churches install young men who are not qualified to pastor and lead a church Biblically. Many churches are too quick to install someone because they are popular, or because they sound good, sing good, or they look good, but their theology is no good.

Scripture says:

1 Timothy 5:22 “Do not lay hands upon anyone hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself pure.”

1 Timothy 3:2–7 “An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but considerate, peaceable, free from the love of money; leading his own household well, having his children in submission with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to lead his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation of the devil. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”

Titus 1:5–11 “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, namely, if any man is beyond reproach, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, who are not accused of dissipation, or rebellious. For the overseer must be beyond reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of dishonest gain, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, righteous, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to reprove those who contradict. For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of dishonest gain.”

Look again at v.23. Once this was done Paul and Barnabas commended the elders to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Commend/para-tith-a-mee it means to entrust someone to the care or protection of someone. Paul and Barnabas entrusted the elders into the Lord’s care and protection whom they believed.

Those who have been called into the ministry are in dire need of being entrusted into the Lord’s care for protection and His grace. Didn’t Paul say in v.22 “through many affliction we must enter the kingdom of God?” Pastor’s are constantly under spiritual attack, they face all sorts of temptations, they are in need of the Lord’ protection to continue the work ministry and to finish well. And let’s pray for each other for the Lord’s protection as we continue our gospel mission to reach the lost for Jesus Christ.