In Lystra and Derbe

HOOK

DO NOT FORGET TO UNMUTE

It’s the 26th day of November— Thursday!

Previously here at “The Message”, after they were rejected, persecuted and expelled from the city of Pisidian Antioch, they went to Iconium where they experienced the same thing— the pattern that began to form was— they were initially welcomed to places they went during the early part of their first missionary journey— however, as more and more people turn to Jesus, Jewish and Gentile leaders alike begun to despise them— they rejected, persecuted and expelled them from Iconium— when Paul and Barnabas learned about the plan to execute them— they fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe— from this patter we learned:

I MUST EXPECT AND ENDURE REJECTION AND PERSECUTION

I WILL CONTINUE TO PREACH THE GOSPEL

Now, let’s see what happened to them in Lystra and Derbe— open your Bible to ACTS 14:8-20

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 14:8-20

BOOK

Acts 14:8–20 NIV

8 In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked. 9 He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed 10 and called out, “Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk. 11 When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. 13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them. 14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: 15 “Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. 16 In the past, he let all nations go their own way. 17 Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” 18 Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them. 19 Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. 20 But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

WHAT: Paul performed a healing miracle in Lystra

WHERE: Lystra then fled to Derbe

WHEN: First missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas

WHO: Paul, Barnabas, Man lame from birth, crowd that worships Pagan Deities— mythical gods, their priest

WHY: Preach the gospel and to convert them from their worthless idols, to the living God

At the onset you will see here that the crowd in Lystra saw a miracle, seen kindness, and receives provision from our living God— but despite of that, they clung to their pagan gods [worthless idols]

Let’s break this down and take a deeper look

LOOK

HE HAD FAITH TO BE HEALED

It is our faith that heals us— When Jesus healed a women who had been bleeding for 12 years, he said— MARK 5:34

When the crowd saw that man lame from birth jumping up and down, they shouted in their language, saying…by the way I posted a list of miracles performed in the book of Acts— check it out on my facebook profile

THE GODS HAVE COME DOWN TO US IN HUMAN FORM

They called Barnabas Zeus [the head god of the pantheon in Greek mythology]— and they called Paul Hermes [the greek deity in charge of delivering messages]

But when Barnabas and Paul heard about this, they tore their clothes [sign of distress in ancient Eastern Cultures— JOSHUA 7:6]— they rushed out into the crowd shouting— we too are only human like you— we’re bringing you the good news — telling you to…

TURN FROM THESE WORTHLESS THINGS TO THE LIVING GOD

By using this description— Paul and Barnabas distinguish the living God of Israel from any deity— God did not intervene to directly instruct nations other than Israel about Himself— He allowed them to follow their own desires— He let them exercise their freewill— Paul explained this further in ROMANS 1:18-32

HE HAS SHOWN KINDNESS— HE PROVIDES

Paul explained that though God let them follow their desires— yet he has not left himself without testimony— God shown them kindness, and gave them provisions— food for their stomach and joy for their hearts— but despite of all these persuasive words, Paul and Barnabas had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to their worthless idols

When some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium— obviously these Jews that won the crowd over are opposition to Paul and Barnabas and the message that they carry, and so…

THEY STONED PAUL AND DRAGGED HIM OUTSIDE THE CITY, THINKING HE WAS DEAD

But after the disciples had gathered around him— most likely they prayed over him— he got up and went back into the city— he and Barnabas left Lystra for Derbe the following day

Despite they saw a miracle, seen kindness from the living God and received provisions from Him— they clung to their pagan gods— to their worthless idols

These continue to happen even in our present generation— people saw miracles, they’ve seen the Lord’s kindness, and receives his abundant provisions— and yet people sacrifices to their worthless idols— to their pagan gods

So, two things we must remember as Christians— as disciples of Jesus who carries the message of grace— who brings good news— the message of salvation

TOOK

IT IS FAITH THAT HEALS SPIRITUALLY AND PHYSICALLY

I SHALL HELP PEOPLE TURN FROM THEIR WORTHLESS IDOLS TO THE LIVING GOD

SING

Pray to God Unceasingly— an original by Anton Aquino