In Iconium

HOOK

DO NOT FORGET TO UNMUTE

It’s the 25th day of November— Wednesday!

Yesterday right here at “The Message”, we completed chapter 13 with the records of events that took place during the first missionary journey of Paul & Barnabas— while they were in Pisidian Antioch, they were allowed to speak at their synagogue— but when their audience grew, jealousy started to grow among the Jewish leaders and they started to opposes Paul— they incited God-fearing men and women leading Pisidian Antioch— they rejected, persecuted and expelled Paul and Barnabas out of their region— from those events two things came out clear:

JEALOUSY LEADS TO REJECTION, PERSECUTION AND EXPULSION

IF THE GOSPEL IS REJECTED, I WILL SHAKE THE DUST OFF MY FEET AND MOVE ON

Today we will begin with chapter 14— and the first narrative that you will see in this chapter is the segment of Paul’s missionary journey while in Iconium— open your Bible to ACTS 14:1-7— type “In Iconium” once you get to the right page

When studying the Bible, look for words that defines the CHARACTER of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit— keep an eye on COMMANDS to obey— good EXAMPLES to follow, and bad examples to avoid— PROMISES that you could claim— sins to CONFESS— CHALLENGES you encountered— and ENCOURAGEMENT to keep you going

READ ACTS 14:1-7

BOOK

Acts 14:1–7 NIV

1 At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. 2 But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. 3 So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders. 4 The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles. 5 There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them. 6 But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, 7 where they continued to preach the gospel.

WHAT: Paul and Barnabas in Iconium

WHERE: In Iconium [modern day Turkey]— 90 miles southeast of Pisidian Antioch— while it evidently had a Jewish community— the town was predominantly Gentile

WHEN: During Paul’s first missionary journey with Barnabas

WHO: Paul, Barnabas, Jewish and Gentile communities in Iconium

WHY: To spread the gospel

Paul and Barnabas continue further into Gentile [now-Jewish] territories, where the pattern in Pisidian Antioch repeated itself— they were initially received well in the Jewish synagogue, but later experienced opposition from both Jews and Gentiles

LOOK

BUT THE JEWS WHO REFUSED TO BELIEVE STIRRED UP THE GENTILES AND POISONED THEIR MINDS

Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there— they spoke courageously for the Lord...

CONFIRMED THE MESSAGE OF HIS GRACE BY ENABLING THEM TO PERFORM SIGNS AND WONDERS

They continue to perform miracles as confirmation from the Lord that their message is from Him— but the people of the city remained divided— some sided with the Jews— others followed the apostles [usually referred to the 12 apostles]— but in this case, it referred to Paul and Barnabas— ROMANS 1:1

THERE WAS A PLOT AFOOT AMONG BOTH GENTILES AND JEWS, TOGETHER WITH THEIR LEADERS, TO MISTREAT THEM AND STONE THEM

But Paul and Barnabas learned about the plot, so they fled to the nearby cities of Lystra and Derbe where they continued to preach the gospel

Although the power of their message is proved by many miracles, they had to flee to avoid being stoned

From our devotional study of the Bible today— we begin to see a pattern to form during the missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas

They were initially welcomed— then when their followers grew, the leaders begins to despise them— mistreat them— and even plotted to kill them— so they shake the dust off their feet and move on...

Now, we too are in a journey— journey to discover our God-given purpose— journey to live out our purpose— in the case of Paul and Barnabas— their journey is to spread to gospel, first to the Jews, then to the Gentiles

Just like king David- they lived out their God-given purpose in their generation before they died— they were obedient to the Lord’s greatest commandment and great commission where you can find the five (5) biblical and unchanging purpose of every Christian— and every church— let’s revisit the Lord’s commands and see what those 5 purposes are:

WORSHIP & MINISTRY

Matthew 22:36-40

EVANGELISM, FELLOWSHIP & DISCIPLESHIP

Matthew 28:18-20

These commands are not only for Paul, Barnabas and the other Apostles and early believers— these commands are also meant for each and everyone of us [modern day Believers]

The pattern that Paul and Barnabas encountered before are still the same pattern that we have to endure today— that patterns is REJECTION— PERSECUTION— EXPULSION

And so, we must be encouraged today and remembers two things

TOOK

I MUST EXPECT AND ENDURE REJECTION AND PERSECUTION

I WILL CONTINUE TO PREACH THE GOSPEL

SING

Agape Worship Team— With All I Am