Sermon Tone Analysis

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!