Untitled Sermon (26)
Notes
Transcript
Again I want to welcome everybody that is joining us online today.
And for those joining us for the first time, I especially want to welcome you and would encourage you to take a moment and fill out a digital connect card at mcf.life/online so that we can better connect with you and send you some information about our church.
If you are new to our church, it would also be helpful for you to know that at MCF we practice a form of preaching called “Expository Preaching”.
What that means is we believe the Bible is best taught by taking books of the Bible and then studying them from beginning to end, chapter by chapter, verse by verse, in order to better understand what the Bible says and how it applies to our lives.
That being said, we are currently doing that through the book of Acts. A NT book written by a first century disciple named Luke, who wrote it for two primary reasons:
First, to give us a history of the church. How it started. Who was there, the circumstances that surrounded it.
Second, to give us a ministry template of sorts. A template for how to accomplish the mission Jesus has given us to take the gospel to the entire world.
So, if you haven’t been with us, I would encourage you to go online to MCF.life where you can watch or listen to all the messages leading up to today.
Today however, we are picking back up in Acts 14 as we continue the first missionary journey of the Apostle Paul.
You may recall the last time we met, the Apostle Paul was preaching the Gospel in the Greek city of Lystra, a city located in a region known as Galatia. A city that at first seemed open to the Gospel, but as we’re going to see today, was not.
Which leads us back to the question we’ve been asking from the beginning of chapter 14, the question being, “Why are some people open to the gospel while others are not?”
Well, as we’ve learned so far, that answer depends on who you’re presenting the Gospel to. Because according to Paul, there are two different groups. He describes them like this:
23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,
In this passage, Paul breaks the entire human race down into two groups, Jews and Gentiles. And he says each will struggle with the gospel for different reasons.
For the first group, the Jews, Paul says they will struggle because the gospel is a stumbling block.
Meaning, it will be their misunderstanding of OT scripture, their religious thinking, and their commitment to spiritual heritage and tradition that will keep them from accepting the simplicity of the gospel, which is salvation by faith and faith alone in Jesus.
We looked at that in depth a few weeks ago.
For the second group, the Gentiles, which is the rest of mankind, Paul says they will struggle with the gospel because it will be seen as foolishness. In other words, they will see it as nonsense.
Why will they see it as nonsense? Well, that’s what we’re going to talk about today.
But before we get to that, I want to set the stage for what we are about to read by asking you a few questions. Questions that I think will help build some framework for what we’re about to learn today.
Here’s the first question:
QUESTION - Have you ever tried to change somebody’s mind from one way of thinking to another?
For example, when it comes to your marriage, have you ever tried to convince your spouse that they were the one who was out of line, not you?
Or when it comes to politics, have you ever tried to convince somebody on the opposite side of the aisle that your political view was the correct one?
Or when it comes to a sensitive subject matter such as abortion or gay marriage, have you ever tried to convince somebody that your view was the correct view?
Let’s just be honest, those are difficult conversations that can often lead to tension and heated arguments.
Here’s another question:
QUESTION - Have you ever tried to explain something to someone only to have your words misunderstood or applied in a way you never intended?
For example, I’ve often made the statement that our church is a church for anybody regardless of their background or past. And that we are a church that takes people where they are at.
And what I mean by that statement is that we aren’t in the business of prejudging a person based on past or present.
However, that doesn’t mean that we would agree with or would condone their current lifestyle.
For instance, if a couple started attending MCF who wasn’t married and were living together, we are going to take that couple where they are at.
However, that doesn’t mean we condone people living together outside of marriage, because we don’t. But our hope is, through Biblical teaching and the work of the Holy Spirit, this couple would eventually come to faith inJesus, recognize they are living in a sinful lifestyle, and work towards marriage.
And to be honest, we see that happen all the time here at MCF.
The same would be true if a gay couple started attending MCF. If that happened, we would take the couple where they are at.
However, that doesn’t mean we condone the gay lifestyle or gay marriage, because we don’t. But our hope is, through Biblical teaching and the work of the Holy Spirit, these individuals would come to come to faith in Jesus, recognize they are living in a sinful lifestyle, and make a change.
So, that’s what we mean by that statement.
But here’s the challenge with our approach. The challenge is, sometimes that statement, “Take people where they are at”, can be misinterpreted and misapplied.
For example, for some, the statement could convey the idea:
That we are a church that doesn’t care if people are living in sin.
That we are a church that accepts and condones sinful living. That if you’re living together outside of marriage, MCF is the church for you. Or if your gay, MCF is the church for you, because they accept all kinds people no matter what.
Do you see how that works? How something you’ve said could be applied or used in a way you never intended it to be used.
One more Question:
QUESTION - Have you ever had your words twisted and used against you?
In other words, somebody took something you said and tried to change the meaning and use it against you.
For example, let’s say you told a friend they could borrow your lawnmower, and so you said:
“You can have it after I’m done mowing my grass.”
And so when you’re done, you call them and they come get it.
But then a couple days go by, and you call them to let them know you’re coming to pick up your lawnmower, but they say:
“You told me that I can have it. That means it’s mine now.”
You’re response would probably be something like:
“Now hold on. You’re twisting my words. You know that I just meant that you can borrow it!”
Now, I know that’s a silly illustration, but I think you probably get what I’m saying, and more than likely, something like that has happened to you. In fact, if you have kids, kids are really good at doing this.
The reason I’m asking you to consider these questions, is because as we come back to chapter 14 today, these are the challenges Paul is facing as he presents the gospel. Because:
First, in bringing the gospel to this new audience, he’s going to face the challenge of convincing a group of people, who are vested in a certain way of thinking and living, to think and live differently.
Second, in sharing the gospel with this audience, his words and actions are going to be misunderstood and misapplied in a way Paul never intended.
Third, in an attempt to help his audience understand what he is saying, his words are going to be twisted and used against him.
And the fact is, what was true for Paul will be true for us as well when it comes to sharing the gospel.
Because when it comes to sharing the gospel:
We too will face the challenge of convincing others to think differently.
We too will face the challenge of having our words misunderstood and misapplied.
And we too will face the challenge of having our words twisted and sometimes used against us.
And so that being the case, we need to understand the why. We need to understand why sharing the gospel presents such difficulty.
And the reason we need to understand why, is hopefully by understanding the why, we will be better equipped and prepared to face the challenge.
So, with that as our basis today, I have one goal today. And the goal is to simply answer this question:
Why Do Secular People Reject Or Struggle To Accept The Gospel?
And when I say “Secular People”, I’m talking about people who live their lives with no religious or spiritual basis.
I’m talking about people who are not subject to or bound by a Biblical understanding or relationship with Jesus.
And I’m even talking about people who say they are Christians or that they believe in God, but their lifestyle has no evidence of that.
Which unfortunately in the culture we live in, represents a vast majority of people.
And so, to get us started in answering this question, let’s pick back up with Paul in the city of Lystra he addressed a secular audience. Picking back up in verse 11, Luke writes:
11 And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.
As you can see, there is a lot happening in these first three verses. So, let’s take moment and make sure we have a good grasp on what’s happening before we dive too deep.
Notice first that Luke make’s reference to something Paul has done. Luke writes, “And when the crowds saw what Paul had done...” Acts 14:11a (ESV)
So, a great question would be, “What is it Paul has done?”
Well, what Luke is referring to is the miracle Paul performed when he first arrived in Lystra. A miracle that we looked at extensively a couple weeks ago. So, just to jog our memory, let’s look back at the miracle again. Back in verse 8, Luke writes:
8 Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. 9 He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, 10 said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he sprang up and began walking.
You may recall that Luke shared this miracle for a couple of reasons:
First, to demonstrate the power of God that was working in and through Paul.
Second, to remind us that people who are most open to the gospel are people who are looking for hope. People who are at the end of themselves and are ready to put their hope and trust in God. That’s who this crippled, and now formerly crippled man represents.
And so, when Luke says, “And when the crowds saw what Paul had done...” Acts 14:11a (ESV), that’s what he is referring to. He’s referring to the healing of this crippled man who had been crippled from birth. An action by Paul that obviously got everybody’s attention, because something supernatural and miraculous has occured here.
And this is where things begin to go somewhat sideways for Paul. Because while the miracle was a testimony of the power of God, the people of Lystra didn’t see it that way.
Which leads us to the first reason secular people often reject or struggle to accept the gospel. Because when it comes to the presentation of the gospel:
1. Secular people will automatically view the gospel through a syncretistic lens.
What I mean by that, is when it comes to the gospel, secular people are going to view it, interpret it, and assimilate it in a way that fits with their worldview and belief system.
That’s what it means to syncretize something. It’s the idea of combining or uniting different religions, cultures, or schools of thought. And in our case, it’s the idea of adding secular views, beliefs, or ideas to the gospel.
Let me give you some examples of what I’m talking about.
For example, in Southern Africa, missionaries will tell you that many townships still practice their traditional religion which involves visiting Witch Doctors and other healers.
And in these townships, it’s not uncommon for those who have accepted the gospel and put their faith in Jesus, to continue to visit their local Witch Doctor. Which is a form of syncretism as they mix their new faith in Jesus with the belief system of another religion. Which makes the gospel no longer the gospel, but something entirely different.
That’s what is happening here in Lystra. As Paul preaches the gospel in Lystra, he faces the challenge of syncretism. Because yes, they are open to the gospel, they think the miracle is awesome, but they want to keep their traditional religion as well. How do we know? We know because of what Luke tells us. Luke again at what he says:
11 And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!”
Notice what Luke tells us. He says following the presentation of the gospel and this miracle, the people of the city begin to rejoice and cry out by saying, “The gods have come down to use in the likeness of men!”
Now you might be thinking, “Ok pastor, what’s the problem with that. Sounds like they are acknowledging God in that statement.”
Not exactly. Because notice what they say. They say, “The gods (little g/plural) have come down to us in the likeness of men.!”
You see, what we need to understand is they’re not talking about the God of the Bible here. Because in the Bible, there’s one God, The God, big G/singular.
So, they’re not talking about the Biblical God. And this further confirmed as Luke continues, because listen to what Luke says the people did next:
12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.
Luke now confirms they are definitely not talking about the God of the Bible as they now assign the names of their gods to Barnabas and Paul from their pagan religion. And in doing so they call Barnabas Zeus and Paul Hermes.
So, what is their religion and who are Zeus and Hermes?
The religion we are talking about here is ancient Greek Mythology, and Zeus and Hermes are two of the many gods they serve.
In the case of Zeus, Zeus was the most prominent and dominant god in Greek Mythology. Temples and statues of Zeus were common throughout Galatia in the 1st century making him the most frequent object of worship.
Hermes was known as the god of thieves and was patron of travelers and commerce, and most importantly, was the chief messenger of the gods.
In other words, Hermes was the “Chief Orator”, the one who spoke on behalf of the other gods. He was a deity known to be crafty and eloquent in speech.
Why is this information important? It’s important because it tells us why they called Barnabas Zeus and Paul Hermes.
Because apparently Paul is the one speaking. Paul is the one sharing and explaining the gospel. And he’s pretty good at it. And so the crowd identifies Paul as Hermes, the one who speaks on behalf of the gods.
All that to say, when they hear the gospel and see Paul perform the miracle, their first response isn’t to recognize God as God and make Jesus Lord of their life, no.
Their first response is to take the gospel and mix it in with their own religion. Their first response is to syncretize the gospel. And we know that’s what they do, because listen to what Luke says they did next:
13 And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.
Luke says as Paul shares the gospel and heals the crippled man, not only do they begin to associate Paul and Barnabas with their pagan gods, but they start the process of offering a blood sacrifice to Zeus. This is syncretism in full force.
Now, at this point you might be thinking, “Ok Pastor, that’s all very interesting. Thank you for the history on Greek mythology. But how does this apply to us? Because I can’t remember the last time I saw somebody trying to mix the Gospel in with Greek mythology and offer blood sacrifices to Zeus.”
You know what, you’re right. That’s probably not something we are going to see people do in our day and age.
But that doesn’t mean syncretism isn’t still practiced, because it is. It just looks different, and honestly, is a lot more subtle and deceptive in modern times. And it happens both inside and outside of the church.
Let me give you some examples of what I’m talking about. Examples of how people take the gospel and mix it in with their own religious ideas, beliefs, and secular thinking.
Let’s start with the church. And when I say church, I’m talking about the church big C.
When it comes to the Church, over the last several years many churches have adopted a new approach to reaching people for Jesus, and in doing so they have practiced a form of syncretism.
It’s an approach that has several names attached to it, but the most common is the “Seeker Friendly Gospel”.
The idea of the “Seeker Friendly Gospel” is, in order to reach secular people for Jesus, the church must present what you might call a “soft gospel”.
In other words, it’s a gospel that doesn’t require a lot of commitment and doesn’t often offend. As a result:
It’s a gospel that focuses on being a good person or becoming a better person.
It’s a gospel that often minimizes sin and the affects of sin in ones life.
It’s a gospel the dilutes the Lordship of Christ and our need to make Him Lord of our life.
It’s a Gospel that overemphasizes God’s attribute of love while deemphasizing other attributes such as holiness, righteousness, and justice.
It’s a gospel that if not fully accepted, doesn’t necessarily lead a person to hell.
As a result, in a church that preaches a seeker friendly gospel:
You’re rarely going to hear a sermon on hell and the consequences of sin, if ever.
In a church like this, people are never going to be challenged to submit to the Lordship of Jesus and the truth of His Word.
In a church like this, sinful lifestyles that run contrary to scripture are tip toed around, because that could come across as judgmental or offensive.
In churches like this, the goal is to make you feel good so you don’t have to feel bad.
It’s syncretism. It’s the mixing of the gospel with a soft version of the gospel.
Another example of an approach you’ll see in some churches is what I call the “Politically Correct Gospel”.
This is a gospel that ignores certain aspects of Biblical doctrine and teaching, in order to remain politically correct and relevant within a secular culture.
In churches like this, lifestyles such as homosexuality, transgenderism, cohabitation, and the like, are condoned and accepted.
For example, when it comes to the topic of homosexuality, churches like this have not only adopted the secular view of this lifestyle, but have gone as far too ordain and appoint gay clergy. Which runs contrary to anything you will read or find in the Bible.
And at the end of the day it’s syncretism. For political purposes, it’s the mixing of the gospel with secular beliefs and ideas.
It’s the idea that love conquers all and that a God of love would never send someone to hell regardless of who they love.
But unfortunately, that’s not what the Bible teaches or says, not even close.
So, those are just a couple of examples of syncretism within the church.
But it’s not just in the church, it’s also prevalent among the secular as secular culture picks and chooses what it likes and doesn’t like from the Christian faith in order to create their own version of the gospel.
One example would be what I would call the “I believe in God Gospel”.
This is the person that says they believe in God, but they don’t have a relationship with God. And their secular lifestyle is proof of it.
For them God is just a higher power somewhere out there, a big granddaddy in the sky. And really all a person needs to do is believe He exists and heaven awaits.
It’s syncretism. It’s the mixing of a secular belief about God with the Gospel.
Another example would be the “I’m a good person Gospel”.
This is the person that believes as long as they’re a good person and do the right thing, they’ll be good with God. The problem with that though, is the Bible doesn’t say that. In fact the Bible says the opposite. The Bible says no one is good, no not one.
So, again, it’s syncretism. It’s the mixing of a secular belief about God with the Gospel.
Another example would be what I call “I’m a religious person Gospel”.
This is the person that believes as long as they are associated with religion or some kind of religious practice, that they are good with God.
This is the person who believes as long as they are associated with a church, they can live how they want.
So they live like a heathen week to week, and then show up for church on Christmas and Easter and think they’re good.
It’s syncretism. It’s the mixing of a secular belief about God with the Gospel.
One final example, and this is a popular one among secular people. It’s the “This is what I believe Gospel.”
I hear secular people say this all the time. People who when you have a Biblical conversation with them, at first they listen to you, and maybe even agree with you on some parts, but then they say, “Well, this is what I believe. Yes, I believe in God. But I believe He’s a God of love. And a God of love would never send anybody to hell. That’s what I believe.”
That’s syncretism. It’s the mixing of a secular belief about God with the gospel.
And this is why it’s such a challenge to present the gospel to a secular culture. Because not only do we have certain churches and denominations who have syncretized the gospel, but we are dealing with a secular culture where people want to make up their own versions of the gospel.
People who have created their own gods. Gods that represent ideas, beliefs, and lifestyles that they don’t want to let go of. Gods that they want to mix in with the gospel.
It’s the challenge we face. So, a great question would be, “How do we deal with the challenge?”
There’s two ways to deal with it, and Paul demonstrates both for us.
Response #1 - It needs to bother you.
Meaning, it ought to really bother you that somebody is taking the Gospel and turning it into something it’s not.
Because look at how Paul responds to the people as they take the gospel and begin to syncretize it. Luke writes:
“But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd...” Act 14:14:a (ESV)
Luke says Paul was beside himself when he realized what was happening. Luke says he tore his shirt off and rushed into the crowd. That’s how much this bothered him.
And the fact is, it should bother us to that degree as well. I’m not saying you should tear your shirt off and run into the street. People would probably think you’re a little crazy.
But it should bother us. It should eat at us. To know that somebody has taken the gospel and turned it into something it’s not.
I know it does me. It Drives me crazy when somebody does that, especially when its coming out of a church or denomination that has softened or changed the gospel.
Response #2 - I should cause you to say something.
In other words, you just can’t sit silent when the gospel is syncretized. You have to say something. You have to try and correct people and lead them to the truth. That’s what Paul does. Look at what Luke says he did:
“But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, ‘Men, why are you doing these things...” Act 14:14-15a (ESV)
Paul wasn’t just going to sit buy and allow the gospel to get mangled.
And neither should we. In fact, we can’t. We have to do everything we can to help people see the truth.
So, what do we say? Good question.
And this is where it becomes an even bigger challenge. Because standing up for the gospel isn’t always popular. And going against political correctness and secular thinking isn’t going to win you friends.
Which leads us to the second reason secular people tend to reject or struggle to accept the gospel. And I would state it like this. When it comes to the gospel:
2. Secular people will struggle with a One God One Way mentality.
Let me show you what I mean as Paul responds to the syncretism of the gospel. Luke writes:
14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, 15 “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. 16 In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” 18 Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.
Luke says as the people of Lystra are getting ready to make a sacrifice in Paul’s honor, Paul runs into the crowd and begins to plead with them. And in doing so he tries to points them to two Biblical truths concerning the gospel:
Truth #1 - There is only one God.
Look at what Paul says again:
15 “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.
Paul says, “Guys, please stop what you are doing! I’m not a god. I’m just a man just like you. What I’m trying to help you see is that there is only one God. The God who made everything you see. A God that wants to have a relationship with you. A God that wants you to turn from these useless gods that you are worshiping.”
In this moment Paul is desperately trying to help them see the truth.
And the same must be true of our witness as well. That when we see people taking the gospel and misapplying it, we have to be wiling to say something. We have to be willing to address their false gods and point them to the true God.
We have to point out the false god of sexual immorality.
We have to point out the false god of live how I want.
We have to point out the false god of no consequences.
We have to point out the false god of materialism.
We have to point out the false god of political correctness.
We have to point out the false god of religions thinking.
We have to point out the false god of this is what I believe.
We have to point out the false gods and point them to the true God, The God of the Bible, the God of heaven, earth, and sea and all that is in them. We have no choice. To do otherwise makes us compliant in the syncretization of the Gospel.
We have to show them what the Bible actually says.
But Paul doesn’t stop there. Because not only does he point out their false Gods and point them to the true God, but he gives them another fact. A fact that tells them who this God is. I would state it like this:
Truth #2 - He’s the God who has given and sustained your life.
Look again at what Paul says:
16 In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”
In this passage Paul now tries to help this group see that the God of the universe, the only God, is the God who has always taken care of them.
That even in their sinfulness and foolishness, God was a God who provided everything they needed. The God who blessed them with rain. The God who gave them fruitful harvests.
God was a God who provided everything they needed.
Why? Because that’s the kind of God He is. He’s a loving God. A God who cares for them. And a God who has now provided a way for them to have a relationship with Him.
You see, what Paul is trying to do is show them who God is. And that it’s through this God, The God, that salvation now comes.
And this is exactly what we have to be willing to do. We have to be willing to point people to the truth. To try and help them see that they only have what they have because of God.
That every blessing in their life is a result of Him.
That God has always been there for them even when they didn’t acknowledge Him.
A God who takes care of his kids an wants to have a relationship with them.
But here’s the deal. In order to have that relationship, you’re going to have to let go of your false gods. You’re going to have to recognize He’s the only God. You’re going to have to be willing to submit to Him and His way.
And this is where the challenge will come. Because for many, this will be a hard pill to swallow.
In fact, this is the challenge Paul is talking about in Romans 1 as he describes the obstinate behavior of those who refuse to see God as God. Look at what he says in Romans 1:
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools,
What Paul is saying here is, even when presented with the truth of who God is, there will be people who refuse to acknowledge God as God. People who refuse to give up their false gods.
To be honest, this is the greatest challenge I often face as a pastor when it comes to Shepherding people and leading people to Jesus. Why? Because it’s hard to convince people they need to let go of their false gods.
It’s hard to convince them to let go of the god of sexual immorality.
It’s hard to convince them to let go of the god of live how I want.
It’s hard to convince them to let go of the god of religious thinking.
It’s hard to convince them that there’s only one true God and only one way to Him. Through faith in Jesus. Jesus puts it like this:
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
And for many, that’s a hard pill to swallow.
So, if that’s the case, what do we do?
Here’s what we have to remember, and this is key to not becoming discouraged when the gospel is rejected.
It’s not our job to make them swallow. It’s not our job to force it down their throat.
Our job is to present the pill. Our job is to simply tell them the truth. Our job is to share the gospel. We are the messengers, not the savior.
But here’s what we need to understand. Because the gospel is about one God and one way, sometimes that kind of thinking isn’t going to be recieved well. In fact, most of the time, it’s not. And we see that in Paul’s case. Because look at what happens next:
18 Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.
Luke says that even with Paul’s passionate attempt to persuade them, about the only thing he was able to do was stop the sacrifice. But unfortunately, he didn’t change their minds. You might ask, “How do we know?”
We know because of what Luke tells us next. Because following this fiasco, listen to what happened next:
19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.
Couple things I want you to notice here.
First, Luke says as the event further unfolded, Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived in Lystra.
So, who are theses Jews? These are the religious Jews who Paul battled while in Iconium. The ones who refused to let go of a wrongful view of scripture and accept that Jesus was Lord. The ones who were jealous because the gentiles were putting their faith in Jesus.
Second, notice what they did. Luke says when they arrived, they persuaded the crowds against Paul.
In other words, they convinced them to turn against Paul. More than likely they twisted Paul’s words as they made false accusations and anything and everything they could to move the crowds against Paul. Why? Because they wanted them to shoot the messenger. And so they did. They stoned Paul, dragged him outside of the city, and left him for dead.
And the reality is, the same thing is going to happen when we present the gospel to a secular culture.
First, there are going to be those that stand and oppose us. Those who accuse. Those who try to paint us in a bad light.
They’re going to call us homophobes. They’re going to call us narrow minded. They’re going to try and make our beliefs and our stance seem ridiculous and foolish in the eyes of the world.
And if you don’t believe me, turn on your television. Because the secular culture we live in is doing everything it can to turn people from the truth and make Christians look like fools.
Second, and we need to be prepared for this, sometimes their their going to try and shoot the messenger.
They’re going to file lawsuits. They’re going to try and verbally destroy you. They’re going to do anything and everything they can to silence you.
Now, you might be thinking, “Pastor, that’s horrible. That’s not very encouraging.”
No, it’s not. But it’s the reality of how secular people who reject the gospel will often respond. Why? Because the gospel threatens everything they believe to be true.
It threatens their immoral desires and behaviors.
It threatens their immoral lifestyle and choices.
It threatens their secular ideas and philosophies they’ve put their hope in.
It threatens their ability to live how they want with no boundaries or consequences.
It’s a threat to them, and the only way to get rid of a threat like this, is to kill it. To stamp it out. Because a threat like the gospel is dangerous.
This is why Jesus said:
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
The word for tribulation here implies - trouble involving direct suffering. It’s the idea of many sorrows and trials.
You see, what we need to understand, is that sharing the gospel with a secular culture doesn't’ come without risk. That sometimes it may bring verbal, financial, social, and maybe even physical harm to your life.
Now, again, you might be thinking, “Pastor this is just so depressing.”
I get that. But here’s the good news and the point we need to take home with us.
Regardless of what the world does to reject or stop the gospel, and even when they think they’ve killed it, the gospel can’t and won’t be stopped.
How do we know? We know because of what Luke tells us happened next.
20 But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. 23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Luke says despite the rejection of the gospel and his injury, Paul got up, went back into the city, and continued the preach the gospel. But he didn’t just preach it there. Luke says he traveled to cities nearby, sharing the gospel, and leading people to Jesus.
And when he was done there, he traveled back the way he came. Back through Lystra, back through Iconium, and eventually back to Antioch.
And on his way through, he appointed leaders in the churches that had been started, and the gospel continued to advance, despite the opposition of the Jews and the secular gentiles of Lystra.
Now, you might be wondering, “How was Paul able to do that. Wasn’t he scared? Wasn’t he concerned they’d stone him again?”
He was able to do it because he understood two facts about the gospel. Facts I want too close with today. Facts I believe will be an encouragement to you.
Fact #1 - Persecution is a sign that you are a child of God.
Luke says as Paul went back through the cities, he gave the disciples this encouragement. He said, “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22b
This is Paul’s way of saying, “Guys, persecution comes with the territory. This is part of being a child of God. They treated our savior like this, so we should expect no less.”
And that should be an encouragement for you, because it’s one of the evidences in your life that you are a Christ follower. In fact, I would say, if your faith never meets opposition, that’s what ought to concern you.
In all honesty, it ought to cause you to ask yourself, “Am I a Christ follower or am I a secular person.”
Now, you might say, “I don’t know if I agree with that pastor. Are you saying if I never get persecuted for my faith that I’m not a Christian?”
That’s now for me to decide. What I’m saying though is, if you’re living for Jesus and standing up for the Biblical gospel, then you’re going eventually face opposition.” In fact, Jesus promised you would.
So, if you’re not, then maybe what you need to ask yourself is, “What Gospel am I following?”
Am I following the “Seeker Friendly Gospel”
Am I following the “I’m a religious person gospel?”
Am I following the “This Is what I believe Gospel?”
Am I following the “I believe in God Gospel?”
Am I following the “Politically correct gospel?”
Or am I following the biblical Gospel. The gospel that comes at a cost. The gospel that point to One god and One way for salvation. A gospel that invites persecution.
I think that’s a question maybe some of you need to consider.
Fact #2 - You can’t kill something that can’t be killed.
The reality is, if somebody wants to harm or kill you for your faith, they can. But what they can’t harm or kill is the gospel. What they can’t stop is the message that we carry. How do I know?
I know because the world already tried and failed. Peter puts it like this:
15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.
Paul understood this. That’s why he wasn’t afraid to go back into those cities. That’s why he appointed leaders and built the churches up. Because he knew, even if they killed him or even destroyed the churches, the gospel can’t be stopped.
And that’s what we have to remember and find encouragement in. That no matter how the world responds to the gospel. No matter what they do to us. The gospel will always prevail. Why? Because we serve a risen savior. The writer of Hebrews puts it like this:
2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
And in that we should find comfort and encouragement regardless of how the world responds to the gospel.
Let’s Pray