The Mission: Stand Firm

Jonathan Edwards was a revival preacher who lived during the early 1700’s. One of his great contributions to Christianity was his example of faithfulness. Jonathan did hard things for God and encouraged Christians to do the same. He wrote 70 resolutions based on Scripture and you will hear several of those “Resolved” statements throughout the message because Paul and Barnabas were also resolved to do everything possible to carry the precious truth of God’s word to a broken world. Paul and Barnabas were...

(5.) Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.

(6.) Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.

Those seem like selfish statements at first but those resolutions are guided by this one...

(4.) Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God.

and they were...

(28.) Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.

In our studies so far, Paul and Barnabas had already faced significant peril because they were wholly resolved to stand firm for God’s truth. Things got real for them in chapter 14 though. Their resolve to stand firm was tested at least 5 different ways. What is “standing firm” and how do we stand firm in today’s culture? First,

1. “Standing firm” is boldly opposing toxic people. (14:2-4)

“Toxic” is a word that effectively describes an atmosphere that is harmful, hateful, and unhealthy. The area around Chernobyl is toxic. Whoever enters that radioactive zone is exposed to great personal harm. Elymus was a toxic person. The high priests in the Sanhedrin council were toxic people, and in Acts 14, verses 2-4 Paul and Barnabas found themselves surrounded by toxic people...

Acts 14:2–4 (ESV)

2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. 3 So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 4 But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles.

Toxic people are those who are opposed to God’s truth… they are the people mentioned in verse 2 who poisoned people’s minds against God’s truth. Paul and Barnabas also faced off against toxic people just days before this encounter in Antioch of Pisidia at the end of chapter 13. Toxic people spread their radioactive poison to lawmakers, governors, and influential people. Toxic people use media, money, and might to spread their evil agendas.

For example, Facebook has been fighting legal battles the past couple of years because people use it’s platforms to spread toxicity. Most recently, people claim it’s Instagram platform is a leading contributor toward teenage depression. Frances Haugen, a whistleblower recently stated, “Facebook routinely places profit before people.” Toxic people create toxic platforms, toxic people use toxic platforms, and toxic words are any words not firmly rooted in Biblical truth. This is a very real battle for us today, so...

How do we stand firm against toxic people?

Most of us probably found ourselves in some sort of toxic environment this past week. Glance at verse 3 and you’ll find something remarkable… Paul and Barnabas remained in the city of Iconium in a toxic environment “for a long time.” Most people try to escape toxicity at the earliest opportunity, but that is not what Paul and Barnabas did. They were equipped to stay in that toxic zone. How do we stand firm? We need to wear our biohazard suits!

Wear our biohazard suits! (Eph 6:10-13)

Ephesians 6:10–13

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

The armor of God isn’t just some old-fashioned steel armor. The armor of God is a kevlar lined suit of body armor which, when worn properly, wholly protects from chemical and nuclear warfare. We must constantly arm ourselves with God’s truth, we must be constantly praying, we must be constantly rejoicing, and we must be constantly giving thanks. When we do these things God’s biohazard suit enables us to stand firm against fierce opposition!

Thereby protected, God enables us to stand firm by…

Boldly speak up for Christ! (v3)

In Acts 1, Christ told them to be “witnesses” to toxic people. Acts 14:3, Paul and Barnabas remembered Christ’s words to them: they were to be defensive by donning their biohazard suits, but were to also go on the offensive by speaking God’s bold, brash truth. We must also speak God’s truth boldly, clearly, and frankly. Paul didn’t soften sin by calling it an “alternate lifestyle” or referring to “little lies.” We need to be very clear when speaking against sin. We must use God’s names sin. Call lies lies. Call homosexuality, homosexuality. Call perversions, perversions. This is boldness, but (SLOW!) in delivering God’s truth, we must also be, in Jonathan Edward’s words,

Resolved, not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness and benignity.

Let there be something of benevolence, in all that I speak.

Paul spoke boldly against sin and people hated him for it, yet, historians have described Paul as

a man of diminutive stature, balding head, bony nose, and crooked legs, who constantly went about with an air of friendliness to all.

Boldly speaking up for Christ may puts our own lives in jeopardy. This brings us to the second lesson of resolve in Acts 14. Faith allowed Paul and Barnabas “remain for a long time” in Iconium. “Standing firm” is...

2. “Standing firm” is having great faith in God. (14:8-10)

This is the lesson the crippled man learned in Acts 14:8-10...

Acts 14:8–10 (ESV)

8 Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked.

Here was a man who could not use his feet. He had literally never stood firm a single moment in his entire life....

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.

Have you ever seen horses or giraffes, after being born try to get up and use their wobbly legs? It is a funny and awkward experience to say the least. In these verses there was no awkward learning curve, the totally inept cripple was immediately transformed: he lept to his feet, began walking and was for the first time in his life, able to stand firm. The power to stand firm had nothing to do with his mind or body as scientists and psycologists might have us believe. Standing firm was solely the ministry of the Holy Spirit through great faith in God. The Spirit removed his vulnerability and provided security: he was made to literally “Stand firm!”

(Read heading below)

How do we, with great faith in God, “stand upright on our feet?”

Stop making excuses!

“I was born this way.”

“I don’t know how/have never been trained.”

"I am too tired.”

“I don’t have the time for this today.”

“The risk is not worth it to me.”

“God doesn’t need me.”

“Perhaps if I play possum, the enemy will will ignore me.”

We can choose a hundred other reasons not to stand upright, but brothers and sisters, we have not learned Christ this way! We must stand firmly on our feet, stop making excuses, and watch what the Lord will do. We must also...

Acknowledge this as God’s battle! (2 Chron 20:17)

Think for a moment.... who provides funding for soldiers to go to battle? Who equips soldiers with weapons and battle gear? Who decides the strategy soldiers will fight out on the battle field? The king does. No one sacrifices more in battle than the king.

Who leads soldiers on the battle field? Who is the first person the enemy wants to kill? The king. No one is more heavily vested in battle than the king. Our king sacrificed His Son as His strategy of choice to win His battle.

2 Chronicles 20:17 (ESV)

17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”

Do you think the cripple knew the evil in his own community? Of course he knew. Did he know the danger he would face if he rose and stood on the Lord’s side? Probably, yet he stood up and stood firm because God commanded it. Cripple, rise up, stand immediately, and watch God fight. Cripple, rise up and face this murderous crowd and watch the Lord win. Rise up with great faith to stand in this evil day choosing this day whom you will serve, and doing everything to nurture faith.

George Mueller said, “To learn strong faith is to endure great trials. I have learned my faith by standing firm amid severe testings.”

That was the second test of resolve. We find the third test of resolve in verses 11-18 in Acts 14. Paul and Barnabas could have been worshipped as gods, but instead they grieved the crowd’s wicked response. "Standing firm” is...

3. “Standing firm” is grieving and restraining wickedness. (14:11-18)

Please follow along starting in verse 11…

Acts 14:11–18 (ESV)

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.

The Roman emperor would have been jealous of such praise! Herod Agrippa the First reveled in praise such as this when the crowd cried out, “The voice of a god and not of a man.” Paul and Barnabas stood firm by rejecting fame and fortune but they also did something even more remarkable...

14 ...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.

All around us toxic people tempt us the poisonous message of tolerance. First come their gifts and promises, “look at the wealth that can be yours if you follow our ways!” “Won’t our society be stronger and better if all thoughts and beliefs are tolerated?” People softens sin’s names instead of using God’s names for sin.. that is tolerance.

Tolerance is anything that de-emphazizes God’s call to personal holiness and tolerance is anything that elevates accepting sin. For example a Forbes article stated that tolerant people do not enforce rules or follow rules. That writer claimed that an employer who enforces the rules creates a toxic work atmosphere. That author’s point was that employees should be free to act however they want so long as the company continued to make a profit off that employee.

The wicked message of tolerance is all around us, but people’s fight against God and His unchanging Word proves the Gospel is the only power that stands between them and what they want! Wickedness was all around Paul and Barnabas. What did they do? They tore their garments and rushed at the crowd.... “Stop! You don’t want to do this! You are making a big mistake! Let me tell you about the one who is worth worshipping! They grieved the sin in other’s lives.

How do we grieve the choices of the wicked?

Stop playing in the dirt!

When I was young, I hated getting dirty! I remember sitting on a stool at a counter, I must have been 3 or four years old at the time, mom was mixing baking ingredients for something and had the flour out and then she did something really unexpected. She dumped a cup of flour on the counter in front of me and encouraged me to play in it. “Don’t worry, I can clean it up when you are done” she said.

Tolerance has messed up our response to sin. Instead of being repulsed by sin, toxic people encourage us to play sin and get their hands dirty why? "Don’t worry, your God can wash it off,” they say.

Scripture says...

(Proverbs 6:16–19) There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: 17 pride, lies, murder, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that quickly run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

Most people make a big mistake when they hear this passage. They focus on the seven deadly sins instead of focusing on what God thinks of sin. All sin is an abomination to our Holy God who cannot tolerate any sin. We can’t simply wash sin off our hands and pretend it never happened. Tolerance cries out that sin is like the flour in my mother’s kitchen. No! An abomination is whatever you thing of that makes you immediately gag… what is that for you?

An abomination is untrained dogs love doing… dogs roll in every feces pile they come across. That is an abomination. Hosea collected feces as an illustration of the Jews’ abominations in contrast to God’s holiness.

We can’t grieve sin properly when we think of it as flour. Sin is not flour. Sin is an abomination. Call it what it is! We need to stop playing in the crap. Where in the Bible does God give us permission to sin so He can tolerate it longer? In fact, Paul tells us in Romans that God does not tolerate sin and God’s people should not prolong the process of becoming holy. Look at this other passage from Romans...

Romans 6:10–11 ESV

10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Put off and firmly stand. Stop making excuses that we are crippled. Be Holy, rise up, immediately stand and be made whole. Stand up out of the dirt you are sitting in and never to return to abominations again. It is perhaps the most urgent task at hand.

When we are clean, we are in a place where we can restrain others from committing abominations and thereby grieving the Holy God. Whether they believe in God or not, I believe it is still our duty to...

Restrain people from grieving our Holy God! (v18)

Tolerant people say things such as, “You can worship however you want.” “You have the right to choose how to worship and to whom you worship.” “You can believe whatever you want, it is ok with me. You do your own thing over there, I’ll do my own thing over here and everything will be just peachy.” Hold on! Did Paul and Barnabas think this way? Did Spirit-filled and Spirit-speaking people let others worship as they wanted? No… they were jealous that God alone get the praise and worship He alone is due! Sure, those people didn’t believe in God, but Godly people still restrain sin because all sin grieves our holy God. There is no segregation here… live your life the way you want, I’ll live mine the way I want. Look at the wording of verse 18.....

Acts 14:18 Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.

We know that the Spirit restrains sin on the earth from John 14, 15, and 16 but he uses using Spirit-filled people to speak His message. We restrain sin on the earth by boldly speaking God’s words. We prevent the ungodly from experiencing the fullness of God’s wrath on this earth.

Resolution #55. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I think I should, as if I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell torments.

Paul, in part, on the road to Damascus caught a glimpse of God’s glory. He understood God’s holiness. If we were to see heaven and return to earth, I believe we would grieve sin just as God does. If we were to see heaven and hell, we would be fully devoted to restraining others sin because of it’s impact on our most holy God.

Oh, the crowds didn’t like this..... The pressure kept increasing for Paul and Barnabas. Let’s read of perhaps the greatest test of their resolve in verses 19-20...

Acts 14:19–20 (ESV)

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. 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.

4. “Standing firm” is going back to the people who have just “stoned” us. (v19-20)

But it is important to catch this. The people who stirred up hatred were the same toxic people whom they ministered to in the streets of Antioch of Pisidia (last week’s message) who traveled 135 miles to kill Paul. Those toxic people in Iconium traveled 30 miles to poison the Lystran’s minds with the intent to kill Paul. This attempted murder wasn’t a spur of the moment reaction. This was pre-meditated murder. Hearts devised evil plans and their feet ran swiftly to blood. but God intervened and prevented Paul’s death. Paul’s mission was not over, and this is remarkable… he got up and walked back to the very same people who tried to kill him.

This raises a very good question...

How do we go back to the people who have just stoned us?

The toxic lies of our culture tell us that we don’t deserve the horrible things that happen to us, but God’s Word says otherwise. Going back to those who just stoned us requires a foundational, Biblical truth:

I must believe I am a sinner who deserves consequences for my sin.

and no consequence in the flesh even come close to the punishment I deserve. I deserve eternity in Hell, but no earthly peril can even come close to the punishment I deserve.

I must count myself worthy to suffer as Christ did.

Paul thought, “What might the kingdom of God gain through this current affliction?” So he went back, wholly trusting God. If I live, I live. If I perish, I perish.

62. Resolved, never to do anything but duty; and then according to Eph. 6:6-8, do it willingly and cheerfully as unto the Lord, and not to man; “knowing that whatever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord.”

67. Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them.

8. Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God.

Paul was resolved to suffer so others would stand firm. The final test of resolve would come for these churches. Would these new believers follow Paul’s example and imitate Christ or would they fall?...

5. “Standing firm” is equipping others. (vv20b-23)

In verses 20-23, we find Paul and Barnabas returning to Eastern Antioch and stopping in each community they visited on that missionary journey. Their task? Equipping others to stand firm. They had been “strengthening the souls of the disciples.” They were preparing them to stand firm just like Paul and Barnabas did, so they did their best to equip the churches for success.

They encouraged them, “saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” No true believer can go through life unscathed.

The churches in Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch consisted of local people who needed to live day in and day out next to murderous neighbors. If local people tried to expel the Gospel message which outsiders brought, how much more would they persecute and try to silence the Gospel among those in their own community? See the Jerusalem persecutions for reference. These churches were in the Roman Province of Galatia. Not too long after these events recorded in Acts 14, Paul wrote a letter to these very churches. In the opening verses in the book of Galatians Paul penned these words...

Galatians 1:6 (ESV)

6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—

The pressures are building in our state and country for conservative, God-fearing men and women. We must be equipped to stand and we must be equipping others to stand in this evil day.

How do we equip others to stand firm?

We must be of a mind to suffer much for Christ! (1 Cor 15:58, 1 Pet 5:9)

“Follow my example” was a thought that drove Paul. We have been studying Richard Wurmbrand’s example as he lived out his faith by embracing suffering in the same way that Paul did. Richard, tortured for 14 years in communist prisons for his faith, equipped Christians to stand firm for Christ. Examples are inspiring and we should be such examples to others.

1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV)

58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

1 Peter 5:9 (ESV)

9 Resist (the devil), firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

We must “strengthen the souls of the disciples!” like Paul and Barnabas did in (v22-28, Ps 33:11-12)

This took place in each local church. Notice that they called the church together, established local church leadership, prayed with them and otherwise encouraging them.

What I love about these verses is that they didn’t only quote scripture, they told stories of how God faithfully acted in their lives lust like scripture promised. Living for God is very different than knowing about God. Faith meets feet. When we act how God tells us, God will act just as He promised. Scripture “is a living and active two edged sword.”

Psalm 33:11–12 ESV

11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations. 12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!

Conclusion

(Slow Down)

Standing firm has great reward on earth… churches grew and Christians experienced great joy! Standing firm gains eternal rewards. We find this in...

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

In which aspect of standing firm will you prayerfully grow this week? Let us be...

5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can for the glory of God.

7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life for the glory of God.

17. Resolved, that I will live so as I shall wish I had done when I come to die for the glory of God..

Prayer