Acts 14 What Jesus Needs in a Disciple in 2020

Intro

Acts—The Church Afire 22: Sticking to the Task, Regardless

Through thick and thin they maintained an unflinching devotion and singleness of purpose in following Christ. Chapter 14 depicts Paul and Barnabas completing their first missionary journey, traveling through Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe, and returning to home base in Antioch in Syria.

I think we are in a day and age where God needs more from His disciples than He has been getting

I’ve titled this message “What Jesus Needs in a Disciple in 2020

Read Acts 14:1-7

Interesting Facts

The ancient city of Iconium is located in central  Turkey about 90 miles southeast of Pisidian Antioch.

Iconium was an ancient city that claimed to be older than Damascus.

There were no large Roman garrisons in Iconium, so it remained more Greek in attitude and was somewhat resistant to Roman authority.

They were governed by an assembly of citizens called the Demos, which held itself aloof from the Roman representative

This is where Paul and Barnabas headed after leaving Antioch

They saw a mighty move of God and mighty resistance to the work

This didn’t cause them to run until it was obvious they had to get out of town

Jesus needs four thing in a disciple

1. VS. 1-7 Stand Firm in the Face of Resistance

The first thing Jesus needs is for His disciples to stand firm in the face of resisitance

Paul & Barnabas enter the synagogue and a great number beleive

The unbelievers poisoned the believers minds

Paul and Barnabas do three essential things to stand firm

I. Commit to the Long Haul

They remained for a long time

They didn’t run at the first sign of trouble

II. Speak Boldly for the Lord

The second thing they did is speak boldly for the Lord

Acts: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Boldness

Boldness is that essential quality without which nothing significant can be accomplished for the gospel. Boldness is what enables believers to persist in the face of opposition.

Prov 28:1 The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.

Acts—The Church Afire Iconium (Vv. 1–7)

John Wesley once encountered a village bully when their carriages met upon a narrow road. The bully knew Wesley and disliked him and would not give him any leeway, staying in the middle of the road. John Wesley cheerfully gave the man the entire road, even though he had to turn into the ditch. As they passed, the bully said, “I never turn out for fools,” and Wesley—all five foot two of him—retorted, “I always do.”

III. Bear Witness of Jesus Grace

The final aspect of standing firm is to bear witness of Jesus’ Grace

In spite of resistance they preformed many signs and wonders

2. VS. 8-18 Possesses Faith that Moves Mountains

The second thing that every disciple needs to possess is faith that moves mountains

Luke 17:20 For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

Paul encounters and man crippled from birth

He sees the he had the faith to be made well

Tells him to stand up

Two ways people are crippled

Crippled from Natural Causes

This man is an example of someone who was crippled because of natural causes

Walk in their Own Ways

The rest of the people of Lystra wanted to sacrifice to Paul

vs. 14 They tear their robes

Tearing one’s robe was the traditional Hebrew way of responding to sacrilege

vs. 18 the words scarcely restrained the people

Gal 3:5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith

Acts—The Church Afire Lystra (Vv. 8–20)

The story of Lystra also exposes another of our weaknesses: we find it easy to exalt the messenger instead of the message.

Acts—The Church Afire Lystra (Vv. 8–20)

The apostles had been locked out of Pisidian Antioch and Iconium as heretics, and now they were being deified in Lystra! It is difficult to say which was worse

3. VS. 19-23 Draws Strength from the Spirit

The third Thing every disciple needs is to draw strength from the Spirit

Jews from Antioch and Iconium came to Lystra

They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city

They left him for dead but Paul popped up and went on

They went back to everywhere they had preached

Their purpose was to strengthen the souls of the disciples

They told the church three things

I. Continue in Faith

Keep walking with Jesus everyday

II. Endure Tribulation

Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom

1 Peter 2:20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.

III. Appoint Elders

4.VS. 24-28 Declares God’s Goodness

I. Return from the Work

Paul & Barnabas were gone for one year

II. Declared all that God had done

Reported back to sending church all what happened