Sermon Tone Analysis

DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?

(Acts 14:19-28)

August 28, 2022

Read Acts 14:19-28 - God's marching orders: Rom 12: 6 "Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them."

We're expected to use God's gifts to us.

Not like the boy who was asked, "What position does your older bro play on the football team?"

He replied, "I'm not real sure what it's called, but I think he's a drawback."

That's the problem in almost every church.

Too many drawbacks, not enough halfbacks and fullbacks.

We're all ministers -- every believer.

God gave teachers Eph 4:12a: "to equip the saints (believers) for the work of ministry."

We can't say, "But I can't do much."

Huge mistake to do nothing because we can only do little.

What if your eyelids said, "I don't do much - just flutter around a bit.

I'm taking the day off."

You'd be blind by noon.

There are no small ministries, just small minds.

We're all needed.

Genuine believers want to serve their Master.

So, what does ministry look like.

P&B give us a great example.

Every true child of God will want to use their giftedness to serve others.

It's a beautiful thing.

So, what exactly defines ministry - the use of our spiritual giftedness?

I. Ministry Involves Persecution

Tough place to start, isn't it?

"By the way, if you sign on, expect to suffer."

But this sets expectations correctly.

As P&B minister in Lystra, some Jews from Antioch and Iconium appear who previously wanted "to mistreat them and to stone them" (Acts 14:5b).

They're head-hunting.

After P&B escaped them in Iconium, some travel the 100 miles east to finish them off there.

They stir up trouble quickly.

Perhaps some in Lystra were offended by P&B's refusal to accept divine honors.

So, an illegal lynching occurred.

Paul was stoned, thought to be dead, and dragged out of town to hide the evidence and foil the Romans.

They're like the group that wanted to crown Jesus King on Sunday and cried for His execution on Friday.

It must have also been a vivid reminder to Paul of how he had held the coats of those who stoned Stephen.

Did Paul actually die?

Probably not.

The mob was "supposing that he was dead."

Paul later says, "Once I was stoned" (II Cor 11:25b), a clear reference to this time, but he doesn't say killed.

But a miraculous recovery did ensue.

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."

The disciples from Lystra prayed, Paul was healed and "he rose and entered the city", having just been left for dead!

Imagine the stir that caused!

But ministry does cost!

Paul later encourages Timothy: II Tim 3:10: "You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra-which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me."

Paul reminds Timothy, ministry is costly.

This very stoning was no doubt indelibly embedded in Timothy's mind bc, being from Lystra, he was likely there!

He's seen the price Paul paid.

Paul goes on: 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."

Not maybe, might be, could be, possibly - but will be.

Discipleship costs.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was executed by Hitler days before the end of the war wrote, "When Christ calls a man, He calls him to come and die."

Jesus said Jn 15:20b: "If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you."

It may be a mocking laugh by friends, the loss of a business deal for being honest, the loss of friends for taking a stand against abortion, the loss of tax exempt status for taking a biblical stand on issues of morality, or the loss of life for claiming Christ - faith will cost.

We must not tell people how easy it is.

Discipleship costs.

"All who desire to live a godly life will be persecuted."

Expect it; prepare for it; embrace it for His sake.

II.

Ministry Involves Perseverance

20 But when the disciples gathered about him."

What disciples?

The new believers in Lystra.

Paul's been stoned and left for dead.

Their future might have looked pretty bleak.

But they stood by Paul.

They persevered.

And Paul, after being roused by Christ, "rose and entered the city" - the very place from which he'd been stoned.

Ministry involves perseverance.

Genuine faith results in a lifetime of committed service.

Or it's not real.

Let Jesus rock your world: Rev 2:7: "To the one who conquers (perseveres) I will grant to eat of the tree of life."

Rev 2:11: "The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death."

Rev 2:17: "To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone."

Rev 3:5: "The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life."

Get the point?

Saving faith perseveres - to the very end!

This is serious business.

Sideline observers are largely self-deceived about being saved at all.

Jesus is saying loud and clear: "Don't kid yourself.

If you're real, you'll persevere."

Charles Simeon was a great 19th century preacher in Cambridge.

For 12 years he was so hated by those who opposed his preaching the gospel that those who rented pews locked everyone out.

Twelve years.

Those who came were forced to stand in the back to listen.

Twelve years.

But he went on to a fruitful half century ministry there.

Persevered.

So must we.

Believers finish strong!

So don't be deceived.

If you are content to sit on the sidelines; if you've no desire to serve; if you got hurt and checked out; if ministry is too costly, you may not be real at all.

Ministry involves perseverance -- the ability to be hurt, mocked, overlooked, unrecognized or criticized and still keep going -- like the energizer bunny.

Nothing can stop it.

They stoned Paul and he got up and walked right back into the eye of the storm.

Like genuine disciples.

III.

Ministry Involves Proclamation