Turning the World Upside Down: Band on the Run: Acts 14

I. The Ministry At Iconium vs. 1-6

A. The ministry at Iconium (80+ miles away) was an immediate success. I Cor. 16:8-9 “But I will remain in Ephesus until Pentecost; for a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.”

B. However problems will only be able to be resisted but for so long. They will either be handled or become out of control.

C. Once they learned that they would be stoned they ran. There are times the Lord will say to fight and other times, He would say to go. Not every hill is worth dying on!

II. The Ministry At Lystra vs. 7-20

A. Paul and Barnabas moved on. They key is in verse 7 where ever the Lord places you, preach the gospel.

B. Paul did what the Lord wanted him to do, but it was taken wrong by the people who there.

C. There was just one complication: these half-wild Lycaonians had an ancient legend that Zeus and Hermes had once come to the hill country disguised as mortals seeking lodging. Though they asked a thousand homes, no one would take them in. Finally, at a humble cottage of straw and reeds, a poor elderly couple, Philemon and Baucis, freely welcomed them and feasted them with what meager means they had. In appreciation, the gods transformed the cottage into a temple, making the couple priest and priestess. And when they died, they were immortalized as a great oak and a great linden tree. The inhospitable homes, however, were destroyed.4 These poor Lycaonians were determined not to make the same mistake again.

D. Paul tried to preach to them to get them to understand, but they refused. Many will be bound by superstition and tradition, and refuse to understand.

E. Some problems will persist and follow you.

F. Paul was stoned, but walked back into the city. This spoke more powerfully than 100 sermons. Many believe this is where Paul had his heavenly vision that he mentions in II Cor. 12:1-4 “Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven. And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows— was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.”

III. The Ministry of Strengthening vs. 21-28

A. Paul went back to all the places they had been and got it organized. Even in Lystra. There were many disciples there. Eventually Paul would return and pick up Timothy there.

B. They appointed elders by prayer and fasting. They spent quiet a bit of time there and they didn’t waste it!

C. They finally returned and gave their reported in Antioch. I wonder if John Mark was there?