WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:01.360 And thank you, William. 00:00:01.520 --> 00:00:02.879 Thank you, team, for leading us. 00:00:02.959 --> 00:00:06.080 If you have your copy of God's word, I hope and pray that you do. 00:00:06.400 --> 00:00:09.119 Turn with me to Acts chapter 14. 00:00:09.679 --> 00:00:18.879 So a couple of weeks ago, we started our fall series through the remainder of Acts, Acts chapters 13 through 28. 00:00:19.280 --> 00:00:23.120 And today we're going to pick up with Acts chapter 14. 00:00:23.199 --> 00:00:30.559 So chapters 13 and 14 consist of Paul's first missionary journey. 00:00:30.879 --> 00:00:35.759 It encompasses a total of two years as far as history goes. 00:00:36.000 --> 00:00:43.280 So in in 80 verses between the two, we see two years of just church history. 00:00:43.439 --> 00:00:46.079 So obviously, not a lot of details there. 00:00:46.240 --> 00:00:52.560 I want to thank Joe and the rest of the team for leading last week and leading you through the Lord's Supper. 00:00:52.799 --> 00:00:54.399 And I know that was a blessing. 00:00:54.880 --> 00:01:05.120 It's so nice to be able to leave and to spend some time on vacation and knowing that everything is under control here, or at least I haven't heard otherwise. 00:01:05.200 --> 00:01:10.560 And so if it wasn't, just don't tell me, because I'd rather not know. 00:01:10.640 --> 00:01:11.280 I'm just kidding. 00:01:11.359 --> 00:01:12.319 No, it was great. 00:01:12.480 --> 00:01:13.599 I know it was. 00:01:13.840 --> 00:01:15.760 I've heard many of you share that. 00:01:16.079 --> 00:01:18.000 So Acts chapter 13. 00:01:18.159 --> 00:01:26.239 Acts chapter 13 ended, let me just try to give you a brief recap, ended in the city of Antioch of Pisidia. 00:01:26.400 --> 00:01:34.159 Not to be confused with Antioch of Syria, where Paul and Barnabas and his team were commissioned for this journey. 00:01:34.319 --> 00:01:40.000 So they're in a different Antioch in southeastern Turkey, roughly, that area. 00:01:40.159 --> 00:01:42.879 So it ends in Antioch of Pisidia. 00:01:43.120 --> 00:01:48.640 God has done a great work in the lives of Gentiles there. 00:01:48.799 --> 00:01:52.799 He's brought many to the saving knowledge of Christ. 00:01:52.959 --> 00:02:00.400 And at the same time, the opposition against the gospel and against the church of Christ is growing. 00:02:00.640 --> 00:02:10.159 So much so that it says in verse 50 of chapter 13 that Paul and Barnabas and his team, they were expelled from Antioch of Pisidia. 00:02:10.319 --> 00:02:11.840 And so they had to leave there. 00:02:12.080 --> 00:02:13.199 But it's very interesting. 00:02:13.439 --> 00:02:23.360 Verse 52 says, even in the midst of this growing persecution, this growing opposition, it says that they were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. 00:02:23.520 --> 00:02:34.639 And obviously that's only possible how, by the indwelling presence of God's Spirit, that in the face of opposition and persecution, that we still might be full of joy. 00:02:34.879 --> 00:02:38.080 And we rejoice in that because that is true today. 00:02:38.240 --> 00:02:40.319 Now, we come to chapter 14. 00:02:40.560 --> 00:02:47.360 Paul and Barnabas and his team, they've left Antioch of Pisidia, and they've made their way to a city named Iconium. 00:02:47.439 --> 00:02:52.159 Iconium is in modern day South Central Turkey. 00:02:52.319 --> 00:02:54.639 And so that's kind of where they are. 00:02:55.039 --> 00:03:00.479 The text tells us, and again, we're not going to look at every verse because we just don't have time to do that. 00:03:02.000 --> 00:03:04.159 This is more, again, of a survey. 00:03:04.319 --> 00:03:24.960 But verse 1 tells us that as was their usual custom, they went to the synagogue first, the Jewish synagogue, and it says they spoke in such a way that a great number, I like that, a great number of both Jews and Greeks, or Jews and Gentiles, believed. 00:03:25.199 --> 00:03:35.520 And so as we continue to study through the book of Acts, you're going to find that Paul's custom was to find the local synagogue and go there first. 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:49.680 And what here's what would happen: Paul would reason with those Jews from the scriptures, arguing and showing how Jesus is the Christ, how he is God's promised Messiah. 00:03:49.759 --> 00:03:56.159 And now remember this there was no New Testament when Paul was engaged in this. 00:03:56.400 --> 00:03:58.960 The New Testament hasn't been compiled yet. 00:03:59.199 --> 00:04:01.439 And so what text was Paul using? 00:04:01.599 --> 00:04:03.680 Paul was using the Old Testament. 00:04:03.759 --> 00:04:07.439 And so, as a Pharisee, he would have been an expert in the Old Testament. 00:04:07.599 --> 00:04:17.920 He takes the Old Testament scriptures and he chose these Jews from their own text how Jesus of Nazareth is God's promised Messiah. 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:31.199 Now, obviously, he would incorporate the eyewitness testimony and those accounts of Jesus' life and ministry and death and resurrection, and he would show them that Jesus is the Messiah. 00:04:31.279 --> 00:04:32.480 And how did God work? 00:04:32.639 --> 00:04:34.079 God worked in a great way. 00:04:34.240 --> 00:04:40.639 It says a great number, a large number of both Jews and Greeks believed. 00:04:40.800 --> 00:04:42.879 Now, here's what's so interesting. 00:04:43.120 --> 00:04:47.439 The same strategy Paul used is the same strategy Peter used, right? 00:04:47.519 --> 00:04:49.279 They would argue from the Old Testament. 00:04:49.439 --> 00:04:53.040 It's the same strategy that Jesus used in his own ministry. 00:04:53.279 --> 00:05:02.879 Remember on that road to Emmaus following his resurrection, Jesus encounters those two disciples, those followers of him, and they don't recognize him. 00:05:03.120 --> 00:05:08.639 And so they begin to discuss back and forth the events that have taken place over the past few days. 00:05:08.800 --> 00:05:13.199 And in Luke chapter 24, verse 27, here's what we read. 00:05:13.920 --> 00:05:24.639 Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he, Jesus, interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the scriptures. 00:05:24.879 --> 00:05:27.600 Church, family, I want to encourage you in this just for a moment. 00:05:27.680 --> 00:05:31.040 I want to just kind of pause and encourage you in this. 00:05:31.279 --> 00:05:34.720 Don't be afraid to study the Old Testament. 00:05:34.959 --> 00:05:41.839 Don't be afraid to dive into that text and see the Savior, for He's on every page of the Old Testament. 00:05:42.079 --> 00:05:49.360 And if you ever hear someone argue that the Old Testament's not important, that we don't need to look at it, we don't need to focus on it. 00:05:50.079 --> 00:05:51.920 It's no longer relevant or applicable. 00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:55.519 But listen, that's a lie from the adversary himself. 00:05:55.839 --> 00:05:58.000 The Old Testament is vitally important. 00:05:58.160 --> 00:06:03.600 For without it, you and I would never understand the new, because the new completes the old. 00:06:03.920 --> 00:06:04.800 We need both. 00:06:04.959 --> 00:06:07.439 It's all God's inspired text. 00:06:08.240 --> 00:06:10.639 For the early church, that's what they use. 00:06:10.800 --> 00:06:13.360 They use the Old Testament. 00:06:13.759 --> 00:06:18.399 And so don't be afraid to dive into the Old Testament. 00:06:19.040 --> 00:06:30.879 So a great number of Jews and Greeks believe, but we're also told here in verse 2 that some of the unbelieving Jews poison the minds of other Gentiles. 00:06:31.120 --> 00:06:33.600 And so the opposition is growing. 00:06:33.759 --> 00:06:35.360 Now here's what's fascinating. 00:06:35.439 --> 00:06:41.439 In verse 3, we're told how Barnabas and Paul respond to this growing opposition. 00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:42.240 Are you ready for this? 00:06:42.959 --> 00:06:44.319 Look what we read there. 00:06:44.879 --> 00:06:50.879 So they stayed there a long time and spoke boldly for the Lord. 00:06:51.199 --> 00:06:52.319 Think about that. 00:06:52.560 --> 00:06:56.240 Alright, the opposition's growing, the persecution is growing. 00:06:56.399 --> 00:06:59.199 And so what does Paul and Barnabas do? 00:06:59.439 --> 00:07:07.759 Instead of jetting out of town in a hurry, it says they stayed there a long time and spoke boldly for the Lord. 00:07:07.920 --> 00:07:11.839 Now, we don't know what a long time means. 00:07:12.639 --> 00:07:17.120 Again, chapters 13 and 14 cover a two-year period in history. 00:07:17.360 --> 00:07:20.560 So was a long time, three months, six months, nine months? 00:07:20.879 --> 00:07:22.160 We don't have any idea. 00:07:22.480 --> 00:07:31.759 But from Luke's perspective, the writer of the book of Acts, they stayed there a long time and they spoke boldly for the Lord. 00:07:32.399 --> 00:07:37.360 Conventional wisdom would have said, Paul and Barnabas, you need to get out of town as quick as you can. 00:07:38.079 --> 00:07:44.399 Well, Paul did very little that would agree with conventional wisdom as you study his ministry. 00:07:44.639 --> 00:07:47.839 They continue to boldly make known the gospel of Christ. 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:49.360 Church, listen carefully to me. 00:07:49.519 --> 00:07:58.399 Boldness is an essential characteristic without which nothing of eternal significance will happen for the gospel. 00:07:58.879 --> 00:08:05.680 And what was true 2,000 years ago in the city of Iconium is true today in the city of Watkinsville. 00:08:05.920 --> 00:08:11.279 Boldness is what enables us to faithfully persist in opposition. 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:21.279 Without it, you and I won't be used by God in any kind of significant way to further the gospel and grow the kingdom. 00:08:21.600 --> 00:08:23.120 And I want to encourage you in this. 00:08:23.199 --> 00:08:27.199 Look with me here on the screen from 2 Timothy 1, verse 7. 00:08:27.600 --> 00:08:33.360 This applies to you and me as much as it did to that audience when Paul first wrote it. 00:08:33.600 --> 00:08:40.639 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity or fear, but one of what? 00:08:40.960 --> 00:08:43.440 Power, love, and sound judgment. 00:08:43.600 --> 00:08:44.799 Here's the reality. 00:08:45.120 --> 00:08:50.399 As a follower of Christ, you and I are indwelt by God's Holy Spirit. 00:08:50.559 --> 00:08:53.360 He hasn't given us a spirit of fear or timidity. 00:08:53.440 --> 00:08:56.639 He's given us a spirit of power and of boldness. 00:08:56.720 --> 00:09:00.399 And we need to just be faithful to tap into that. 00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:07.039 In the paraphrase of the Bible, the message, it's not a translation, it's a paraphrase. 00:09:07.440 --> 00:09:10.000 This is how 2 Timothy 1.7 reads. 00:09:10.159 --> 00:09:14.080 I wanted to just share this with you because I found it encouraging. 00:09:14.399 --> 00:09:21.919 God doesn't want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible. 00:09:22.159 --> 00:09:25.679 So don't be embarrassed to speak up for our master. 00:09:25.840 --> 00:09:28.240 Church family, there's no reason for us to be embarrassed. 00:09:28.320 --> 00:09:31.840 There's no reason for us to be afraid or timid. 00:09:32.480 --> 00:09:38.559 For you and I are given a spirit of power as a result of the indwelling presence of Christ. 00:09:38.720 --> 00:09:43.840 Now, Paul understood the need to be bold, to be fearless, to be courageous. 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:48.559 And he understood that it wasn't something that comes natural to any of us. 00:09:48.879 --> 00:09:59.039 Writing to the church in Ephesus as he's closing his letter out, look with me here from Ephesians chapter 6, beginning in verse 9, look what Paul asked of the church. 00:09:59.360 --> 00:10:06.879 He says, Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will what? 00:10:07.120 --> 00:10:12.240 Fearlessly or boldly or courageously make known the mystery of the gospel. 00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:16.240 Pray that I may declare it fearlessly as I should. 00:10:16.799 --> 00:10:19.919 That is a good prayer for you and I to pray today. 00:10:20.159 --> 00:10:23.919 And that's a good request to share with others around you. 00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:29.840 Pray that we would declare it fearlessly, boldly and courageously. 00:10:31.360 --> 00:10:44.559 Now, church family, boldness is not rooted in arrogance, it's not rooted in self-confidence, it's not rooted in charisma or experience or education or intellect. 00:10:44.879 --> 00:10:51.600 Our boldness is rooted in the gospel and the power of the gospel to transform lives. 00:10:52.720 --> 00:11:04.320 Writing to the churches of Galatia in chapter 6, verse 14, Paul says, he says, May I never boast except in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:11:04.480 --> 00:11:09.039 In other words, may I never boast except in the gospel. 00:11:09.440 --> 00:11:10.240 That was it. 00:11:10.639 --> 00:11:17.200 If anyone had a reason to boast in how God was using them, it would have been the Apostle Paul. 00:11:17.279 --> 00:11:25.200 And he was very, very, very adamant to say, listen, it is not about Paul, it is about the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:11:25.279 --> 00:11:29.919 And we're going to see that in just a moment when we get to verses 8 through 20. 00:11:30.159 --> 00:11:32.399 Now, I do want us to just look at this. 00:11:32.559 --> 00:11:41.440 In verse 3, we're told that God had gifted Paul and Barnabas with the ability to do signs and wonders. 00:11:42.559 --> 00:11:45.759 That refers to supernatural works. 00:11:46.080 --> 00:11:50.480 And we're going to see that in verses 8, 9, and 10 in just a moment. 00:11:50.960 --> 00:11:52.639 Now, I want to just say this. 00:11:52.960 --> 00:12:04.480 God's purpose in allowing some in the early church to do supernatural works was to confirm or to authenticate the gospel message. 00:12:04.799 --> 00:12:12.399 And these authenticating marks brought credibility to the gospel, but also to those early disciples. 00:12:12.480 --> 00:12:19.360 And it brought credibility both in the face of the Jew and the Gentiles. 00:12:19.600 --> 00:12:36.960 Now, as marvelous and life-changing as the gospel is that we see, as marvelous and wonderful as these supernatural works that God is allowing Paul and Barnabas to do, there was a growing opposition. 00:12:37.200 --> 00:12:46.000 Look in verse 5, it says, when an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and the Jews with their rulers to mistreat and stone them. 00:12:46.240 --> 00:12:49.120 And so the verbal threats have progressed. 00:12:49.279 --> 00:12:52.480 Now they're physically threatening Paul and Barnabas. 00:12:52.559 --> 00:12:55.039 They're physically threatening them with stoning. 00:12:55.200 --> 00:12:56.720 And so what happens? 00:12:56.960 --> 00:12:59.279 It says they left Iconium. 00:12:59.840 --> 00:13:04.080 Paul and Barnabas were bold, but here's something important we need to remember. 00:13:04.240 --> 00:13:05.679 They weren't foolish. 00:13:06.399 --> 00:13:09.279 They were fearless for the gospel, but they weren't foolish. 00:13:09.600 --> 00:13:17.519 They recognize, okay, for the time being, at this moment of history, God's done working through them in Iconium. 00:13:17.600 --> 00:13:20.480 So we're going to go on to the next place of ministry. 00:13:20.720 --> 00:13:24.080 That's some good wisdom for you and me to understand. 00:13:24.559 --> 00:13:37.440 There are times in our ministry, times in our journey where we need to realize, okay, God, whatever I'm doing right now, okay, there's nothing left to do. 00:13:37.600 --> 00:13:40.799 And I need to move on to the next stage of the journey. 00:13:40.960 --> 00:13:44.639 So they were fearless, but they were not foolish. 00:13:46.559 --> 00:13:54.960 It's quite interesting that the faithful preaching of the gospel always attracts opposition. 00:13:56.559 --> 00:13:59.120 That's been true for 2,000 years. 00:13:59.840 --> 00:14:08.000 Interestingly, as we see here, that this growing opposition that was leveled against Paul and Barnabas didn't stop the growth of the church. 00:14:08.080 --> 00:14:11.360 It didn't stop the expansion of the gospel. 00:14:11.759 --> 00:14:18.720 Logic would argue that the opposition would hinder the growth of the church and the gospel, but it didn't happen. 00:14:19.039 --> 00:14:22.480 It works in a way that's counterintuitive to you and me. 00:14:22.799 --> 00:14:31.360 Instead of hindering the work of the gospel, instead of hindering the growth of the church, the persecution of the opposition, I actually fueled it. 00:14:31.519 --> 00:14:34.000 It helped grow the church. 00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:42.480 And for the past 2,000 years of church history, the church has grown the most when it's faced the most intense persecution. 00:14:42.720 --> 00:14:48.399 It's had the most difference in culture and society when it's faced the most opposition. 00:14:48.799 --> 00:14:53.919 I want to just share with you a modern-day example of this. 00:14:55.039 --> 00:15:10.559 I did a little research, and according to several different sources, the voices of the martyrs and some other sources, the fastest growing Christian populations in the past few years have come in these countries. 00:15:10.720 --> 00:15:12.159 Listen carefully. 00:15:12.720 --> 00:15:26.639 Nigeria, China, India, Indonesia, Nepal, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, and Yemen. 00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:38.960 And at the same time, according to these same sources, the most difficult places for a Christian to live, and see if you hear any parallels. 00:15:39.600 --> 00:15:47.679 Nigeria, China, India, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, North Korea, Iran, Somalia. 00:15:48.960 --> 00:15:59.120 So in some of the most difficult countries for Christians to live, we are seeing the Church of Christ grow faster than any other part of the world. 00:16:00.720 --> 00:16:02.320 That's not accidental. 00:16:03.039 --> 00:16:07.840 Because that's what we've seen over the past 2,000 years of church history. 00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:11.120 And church, I want you to be encouraged with this truth. 00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:21.519 The opposition and the persecution from unbelieving men or institutions or governments cannot stop the growth of the gospel. 00:16:21.759 --> 00:16:24.720 It will not stop the gospel from moving forward. 00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:31.919 No matter how intense, no matter how difficult it might become, the gospel will move forward. 00:16:32.799 --> 00:16:35.279 Because Jesus has promised us so. 00:16:35.679 --> 00:16:37.759 Now, let's look in verses 8 through 20. 00:16:37.919 --> 00:16:39.440 Again, we're not going to look at everything. 00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:46.879 So they've been threatened with stoning, so Paul and Barnabas leave Iconium and they find their way to the city of Lystra. 00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:54.799 And so Paul is preaching the gospel, and we would assume he's at the synagogue, even though it doesn't say it. 00:16:54.960 --> 00:16:55.840 Maybe not. 00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:58.080 But he's preaching the gospel. 00:16:58.159 --> 00:17:05.039 And we're told here in verse 8 that there is a man who is listening intently, who is physically disabled. 00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:08.400 He's paralyzed from apparently his waist down. 00:17:08.880 --> 00:17:11.200 There's no strength in his feet or his legs. 00:17:11.359 --> 00:17:12.240 He's never walked. 00:17:12.319 --> 00:17:13.759 He's been lame from birth. 00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:15.359 He's listening intently. 00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:17.519 He's showing an interest in the gospel. 00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:19.680 And then in verse 10, look what Paul does. 00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:25.440 He looks at this man and he says, Stand up on your feet. 00:17:27.200 --> 00:17:28.720 And notice what happens. 00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:32.240 He jumps up and he begins to walk around. 00:17:32.559 --> 00:17:35.279 Two things this man's never done in all of his life. 00:17:35.440 --> 00:17:40.799 We don't know how old he is, but the language man would mean he's a grown man. 00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:42.880 So he does two things he's never done. 00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:44.880 He stands up and he begins to walk around. 00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:46.480 Can you imagine that? 00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:53.519 I mean, the celebration that had to have taken place, not only in this man's life, but in all those around him. 00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:56.960 It reminds us of what we saw in Acts chapter 3. 00:17:57.119 --> 00:17:59.359 Remember Peter and John, they went up to the temple. 00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:09.119 They went up to the temple to pray, and there was a man who was over 40 years of age, and he sat on those stairs of the temple begging for money, and Peter and John are walking to him. 00:18:10.319 --> 00:18:19.119 He yells to them asking for money, and Peter and John look at him and say, Listen, we don't have any money to give you, but what we do have, we give you in the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 00:18:19.359 --> 00:18:20.079 Stand up. 00:18:21.519 --> 00:18:24.480 And here's what we read in Acts chapter 3. 00:18:25.119 --> 00:18:31.119 It says that immediately at once his feet and ankles became strong. 00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:36.400 So he jumped up and started to walk, walking, leaping, and praising God. 00:18:37.839 --> 00:18:47.599 Now there are many of you in this room who have had uh knee replacements or hip replacements or other types of lower extremity medical procedures. 00:18:47.920 --> 00:18:53.119 And you had to spend weeks in therapy and rehab to regain your strength, right? 00:18:54.079 --> 00:18:58.400 But not so when the God of the universe touches you and he heals you. 00:18:58.559 --> 00:18:59.279 At once. 00:18:59.440 --> 00:19:00.559 Can you imagine that? 00:19:00.880 --> 00:19:04.079 What's happening in the city of Lystra? 00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:11.839 Well, unfortunately, most in the crowd failed to understand what's just happened. 00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:21.359 And instead of glorifying God and giving God the credit for this miracle, they began to glorify Paul and Barnabas. 00:19:21.440 --> 00:19:27.680 So much so in verse 11 they say, the gods have come down to us in human form. 00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:31.279 And so they assign deity to Paul and Barnabas. 00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:35.200 To Paul they call Hermes, to Barnabas they call Zeus. 00:19:35.440 --> 00:19:37.920 You and I are familiar with some Greek mythology. 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:41.119 We probably studied it in school at some point. 00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:43.440 Now I want to just stop here real quick. 00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:45.599 They did have one thing right. 00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:50.160 The God of the universe did come down to us in human form. 00:19:50.640 --> 00:19:52.480 And his name is Jesus Christ. 00:19:52.720 --> 00:20:00.559 Born in a manger in Bethlehem, raised in the city of Nazareth, and crucified on a cross in Jerusalem and raised on the third day. 00:20:00.799 --> 00:20:02.720 God did come to us in human form. 00:20:02.880 --> 00:20:08.079 But it wasn't Paul and Barnabas, it was Jesus, the Christ. 00:20:09.680 --> 00:20:14.960 Well, we see a few verses here where Paul and Barnabas are just awestruck by this. 00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:21.680 They're angered by this response, and they rush into the crowd shouting, Why are you doing these things? 00:20:21.839 --> 00:20:28.559 Look with me at verses 15 through 17, because Paul reminds us of a temptation that all of us face. 00:20:29.440 --> 00:20:34.079 And that is the temptation to place our hope in worthless things. 00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:35.039 Look what he says. 00:20:35.359 --> 00:20:38.160 People, why are you doing these things? 00:20:38.400 --> 00:20:51.839 We are people also just like you, and we are proclaiming the good news to you that you turn from these worthless things to the living God who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them. 00:20:52.079 --> 00:21:07.359 In past generations he allowed all the nations to go their own way, although he did not leave himself without a witness, since he did what is good by giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons and filling you with food and your hearts with joy. 00:21:07.599 --> 00:21:19.680 Paul says, Listen, quit worshiping Zeus and Athena and Aphrodite and Hermes and Apollo and Athena and all these other false gods, these worthless things. 00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:33.519 He says, Turn to the one true God, the living God who created the heavens and the earth, the living God who's shown himself faithful to you by giving you rain and harvest at the appropriate time. 00:21:36.319 --> 00:21:45.920 And the same admonition that Paul gave to those Gentiles in Lystra is needed, even in our day today. 00:21:46.799 --> 00:21:58.640 We may not call them by the names of Zeus or Aphrodite or Athena or Apollos or Hermes, but we worship those same worthless things. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:08.880 Pursue money or possessions or popularity or pleasure or intellect or success or the arts or the entertainment. 00:22:09.359 --> 00:22:17.839 And we do so hoping that those things can bring us the joy and the peace and the contentment and the fulfillment that we long for. 00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:26.880 And yet, without fail, without fail, every single time those things leave us empty. 00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:29.839 They leave us wanting for more. 00:22:31.279 --> 00:22:32.880 And listen to me this morning. 00:22:34.799 --> 00:22:46.000 The more we are wanting can only come from a personal relationship with the God of the universe through his one and only Son, Jesus Christ. 00:22:46.720 --> 00:22:50.880 Only Christ can fulfill the deepest longings of man's heart. 00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:59.519 And that's what Paul is trying to show these Greeks in the city of Lystra. 00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:06.640 In John chapter 6, Jesus said to us, I am the bread of life. 00:23:06.880 --> 00:23:13.279 No one who comes to me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in me will ever thirst again. 00:23:13.440 --> 00:23:17.039 Now, was Jesus talking about physical hunger and thirst? 00:23:17.359 --> 00:23:22.160 Well, absolutely not, because as a Christian, we can still be hungry and thirsty. 00:23:22.400 --> 00:23:25.440 He was referring to those deepest longings of our life. 00:23:25.599 --> 00:23:35.039 He says, listen, if you'll come to me, that longing you have for joy and peace and fulfillment and contentment will be filled. 00:23:35.279 --> 00:23:43.920 But not only filled, because he would say to us later in John 10, 10, that I've come that you may have life to the full or have life abundantly. 00:23:44.160 --> 00:23:51.440 And so not only are those deepest longings filled in Christ, they're overflowing in Christ. 00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:53.440 Why? 00:23:53.680 --> 00:23:58.480 Because only Christ can fulfill the deepest longing of your heart and my heart. 00:23:58.640 --> 00:24:01.200 Well, how did they respond to this preaching? 00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:06.160 They didn't take kindly to Paul, telling them their gods were worthless. 00:24:06.640 --> 00:24:12.960 In verse 19, it says they stoned Paul, they dragged him out of the city thinking he was dead. 00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:17.440 Probably not the response Paul was hoping for, right? 00:24:18.559 --> 00:24:21.039 And so the disciples surround him. 00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:22.720 He wasn't dead, praise the Lord. 00:24:22.880 --> 00:24:24.480 God wasn't finished with him. 00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:28.799 They left Lystra, and now they've gone to the city of Derby. 00:24:29.279 --> 00:24:37.359 In verse 21, it says, After they had preached the gospel in that town, and look what it says carefully, made many disciples. 00:24:37.599 --> 00:24:51.119 And so, in the same way that God did a great work in Antioch of Pissidia, in the same way he did a great work in Iconium, in the same way he did a great work in Lystra, God continues to do this great work in the city of Derby. 00:24:51.839 --> 00:24:58.720 Paul is faithful to preach the gospel, and many people come to the saving knowledge of Christ. 00:24:59.279 --> 00:25:03.359 And then Paul's gonna recount how they they backtrack. 00:25:03.440 --> 00:25:20.880 They go back through the same cities where they've been, encouraging the churches, encouraging those believers, appointing elders in these churches, and finally they're gonna make their way back to Antioch of Syria, where this whole missionary journey began. 00:25:21.279 --> 00:25:26.720 Now, one thing I want to emphasize to you is verse 22. 00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:28.960 Look carefully what we read here. 00:25:29.359 --> 00:25:44.480 It says, strengthening the disciples by encouraging them to continue in the faith, and by telling them it is necessary to go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God. 00:25:45.519 --> 00:25:53.599 Now Paul would come to know and understand by experience the cost of discipleship. 00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:59.119 We just saw there in verse 19, where for the first time he was stoned. 00:25:59.440 --> 00:26:08.480 Paul would suffer greatly as a result of the gospel and his faithfulness to share the gospel to the ends of the earth. 00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:18.400 Matter of fact, in 2 Corinthians chapter 11, the Bible highlights for us some of the hardships that Paul faced as he ministered the gospel. 00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:19.440 Here's what we read. 00:26:19.759 --> 00:26:23.440 I just want to share these with you, just so you so you can hear it. 00:26:23.680 --> 00:26:30.880 Paul writes in that chapter that he endured imprisonments, beatings, floggings. 00:26:31.039 --> 00:26:41.359 Notice there in the plural, stonings, shipwrecks, hunger and thirst, sleeplessness, cold and without clothing, without food. 00:26:42.799 --> 00:26:44.559 And here's the reality. 00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:55.200 As we look back over the history of the church, opposition and persecution has been the normal Christian life. 00:26:55.920 --> 00:27:06.000 Most of our predecessors, most of our fathers in the faith, have lived through incredible opposition and persecution. 00:27:06.799 --> 00:27:16.640 I think it's appropriate if we look at a text that Jesus, at a text from Jesus that he gives to us in John chapter 15. 00:27:16.799 --> 00:27:18.160 Look with me here on the screen. 00:27:18.559 --> 00:27:20.880 A few slides beginning in verse 18. 00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:23.279 Look what Jesus says to us. 00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:32.720 If the world hates you, understand that it hated me before it hated you. 00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:37.759 If you are of the world, the world will love you as its own. 00:27:38.640 --> 00:27:45.759 However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you. 00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:48.079 Remember the word I spoke to you. 00:27:48.319 --> 00:27:50.960 A servant is not greater than his master. 00:27:51.119 --> 00:27:52.160 Let's pause there. 00:27:52.400 --> 00:27:55.200 So Jesus says, I have rescued you from the world. 00:27:55.279 --> 00:27:58.079 You're in the world, but you're no longer of the world. 00:27:58.319 --> 00:28:11.440 And because you and I are no longer of the world, because we are distinctly different from the world, our worldview is different, our priorities are different, our goals and our ambitions are different, our aspirations are different. 00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:12.000 Why? 00:28:12.160 --> 00:28:15.839 Because we've been transformed by the power of the gospel. 00:28:16.640 --> 00:28:19.440 Naturally, that is going to create friction. 00:28:20.720 --> 00:28:25.440 And so there will be friction as you and I faithfully follow Christ. 00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:28.400 And we don't have to go looking for it. 00:28:28.559 --> 00:28:30.720 Trust me, it'll find us. 00:28:31.359 --> 00:28:32.799 Let's keep going. 00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:38.240 If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. 00:28:38.480 --> 00:28:42.160 If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 00:28:42.400 --> 00:28:49.599 But they will do all these things to you on account of my name because they don't know the one who sent me. 00:28:50.640 --> 00:28:51.839 Are you ready for this? 00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:54.880 This isn't a really feel-good statement, but it's truth. 00:28:55.039 --> 00:28:56.640 Jesus made a promise. 00:28:56.880 --> 00:29:01.200 In the same way they persecuted me, they're going to persecute you. 00:29:01.839 --> 00:29:09.519 So as a follower of Christ, you and I should not be surprised when we face persecution or opposition for the gospel. 00:29:09.920 --> 00:29:12.400 Look with me here from 2 Timothy 3. 00:29:12.559 --> 00:29:23.200 Paul later in his ministry would write, in fact, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:28.799 Church family, faithfully following Christ comes at a great cost. 00:29:30.240 --> 00:29:32.960 Salvation is a gift from God. 00:29:33.119 --> 00:29:35.839 It cost you and me nothing. 00:29:37.440 --> 00:29:41.839 But faithfully following Christ will cost you and me everything. 00:29:42.799 --> 00:29:44.720 That's the call of the gospel. 00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:57.680 Most of us, if not all of us in this room, will not suffer a physical beating or imprisonment or death for the gospel. 00:29:58.400 --> 00:30:01.200 Maybe, but I would highly doubt it. 00:30:01.599 --> 00:30:16.400 However, it is very likely that we will face some sort of mocking or ridicule or alienation or exclusion because of our convictions and our beliefs in the gospel. 00:30:18.079 --> 00:30:22.640 And so our Savior has promised us opposition and persecution. 00:30:22.960 --> 00:30:24.319 That's kind of the downer. 00:30:24.640 --> 00:30:30.640 But he's also promised us eternal reward on the other side of that persecution. 00:30:30.720 --> 00:30:32.640 Look with me here from Matthew chapter 5. 00:30:32.799 --> 00:30:35.039 I want to leave you with this encouragement. 00:30:35.359 --> 00:30:45.839 He says to us in verses 10 through 12, Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. 00:30:46.079 --> 00:30:51.359 Now it's hard for you and I to understand how we're blessed when we're persecuted, right? 00:30:51.839 --> 00:30:52.799 But we are. 00:30:53.279 --> 00:31:02.559 He goes on to say, you are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. 00:31:03.680 --> 00:31:07.359 Then he says, Be glad and rejoice. 00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:11.200 Again, how counterintuitive is this? 00:31:11.519 --> 00:31:20.319 Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven, for that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 00:31:20.880 --> 00:31:25.920 I can promise you, if you stand for Christ, the world will stand against you. 00:31:26.640 --> 00:31:30.160 Your friends won't involve you in a weekend get together. 00:31:30.319 --> 00:31:34.960 Your neighbors won't invite you over to a neighborhood Halloween social. 00:31:35.680 --> 00:31:40.160 Whatever it may be, you'll be made fun of in class by a professor. 00:31:40.319 --> 00:31:41.920 Who knows what it might look like? 00:31:42.000 --> 00:31:46.559 But I can promise you this: if you stand for Jesus, the world will stand against you. 00:31:46.720 --> 00:31:48.559 But be encouraged, are you ready? 00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:51.759 Great is your reward in heaven. 00:31:52.799 --> 00:31:55.519 Be glad and rejoice in that opposition. 00:31:55.759 --> 00:31:58.400 Be glad and rejoice in that persecution. 00:31:58.640 --> 00:32:06.319 Just smile on the inside and think, thank you, Jesus, for one day my reward will be great. 00:32:07.039 --> 00:32:09.839 So that's a quick look at Acts chapter 14. 00:32:10.000 --> 00:32:10.319 All right? 00:32:10.480 --> 00:32:11.279 Four takeaways. 00:32:11.359 --> 00:32:13.200 If you're following along then in your notes, here they are. 00:32:13.279 --> 00:32:14.240 Are you ready? 00:32:14.880 --> 00:32:17.039 Here are the four takeaways. 00:32:18.559 --> 00:32:31.519 Number one, we can expect both fruit and fierce opposition when we boldly and courageously proclaim the gospel. 00:32:32.240 --> 00:32:39.039 We can expect fruit and fierce opposition when we boldly and courageously proclaim the gospel. 00:32:39.279 --> 00:32:43.039 Just in chapter 14, we see that paradox. 00:32:43.359 --> 00:32:49.920 We see in verse 1, verse 10, verse 21 that this great fruit of the gospel. 00:32:50.160 --> 00:32:55.200 Then we see in verse 2, verses 11 and 12, verse 19, this fierce opposition. 00:32:55.599 --> 00:32:57.519 Just in this chapter alone. 00:32:58.160 --> 00:33:00.240 It's quite fascinating, really. 00:33:00.880 --> 00:33:01.920 Number two. 00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:09.200 God alone transforms lives through the power of the gospel. 00:33:09.920 --> 00:33:13.440 And God alone deserves the glory. 00:33:15.359 --> 00:33:21.119 Notice how quick Paul and Barnabas were to tell that crowd in Lister, wait a minute, it's not about us. 00:33:21.200 --> 00:33:23.680 That this isn't, we didn't do this. 00:33:24.799 --> 00:33:27.039 That this is the work of Almighty God. 00:33:27.359 --> 00:33:28.720 Don't give us the credit. 00:33:28.799 --> 00:33:30.400 Listen to me, this is important. 00:33:30.720 --> 00:33:33.359 It's never about the messenger. 00:33:33.680 --> 00:33:35.279 It's always about the message. 00:33:36.319 --> 00:33:38.400 Don't ever celebrate the messenger. 00:33:38.559 --> 00:33:40.960 Always celebrate the message. 00:33:41.359 --> 00:33:46.400 For the message is where the power of the gospel lies, not in the messenger. 00:33:47.279 --> 00:33:52.480 God alone transforms lives and God alone deserves the glory. 00:33:52.720 --> 00:34:04.480 Number three, faithfully following Christ will involve some level of opposition and persecution. 00:34:05.119 --> 00:34:05.759 It will. 00:34:06.400 --> 00:34:22.639 Maybe what we face in our cultural context is not as severe and as difficult as our brothers and sisters in Christ and Iran or Saudi Arabia or China or other places, but there will be some level of opposition and persecution. 00:34:22.719 --> 00:34:26.079 It's just the nature of following Christ. 00:34:26.239 --> 00:34:38.960 And then finally, number four, we see that healthy local churches are built through the faithful proclamation of truth and intentional discipleship. 00:34:39.119 --> 00:34:48.320 We see in these two chapters, and we're going to continue to see it, how Paul and Barnabas poured their lives into these local bodies of believers. 00:34:48.559 --> 00:35:08.800 Whether that was in Antioch of Pisidia, whether it was in Iconium, Lystra, Derby, wherever it may have been, we see them proclaiming truth and then being very intentional to invest in the lives of others, to disciple them to become more like Jesus. 00:35:09.119 --> 00:35:10.079 Let's pray together. 00:35:10.320 --> 00:35:12.000 Heavenly Father, thank you. 00:35:12.320 --> 00:35:17.840 Thank you for this first missionary journey that we've embarked on with Paul and Barnabas. 00:35:17.920 --> 00:35:24.559 And Lord, I thank you for allowing us to see how you worked and moved in mighty and awesome and incredible ways. 00:35:24.639 --> 00:35:27.920 And Lord, we would humbly ask and pray, would you move like that today? 00:35:28.079 --> 00:35:35.039 Would you move like that in Watkinsville and our surrounding counties in this state, this nation? 00:35:35.199 --> 00:35:45.679 Would you allow us, Lord, to be an instrument in your hands to carry the gospel to our Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth, Lord? 00:35:45.840 --> 00:35:50.800 We want to see you do the same thing today that you did then, Lord. 00:35:51.119 --> 00:35:57.840 And so we are asking and we are inviting you to move and work in a great and a mighty way. 00:35:58.079 --> 00:36:04.880 And Lord, we will be quick and certain to give you the glory and no one else. 00:36:05.760 --> 00:36:22.960 Father God, if there is any individual here today that's never placed their faith and trust in your Son Jesus Christ, I would ask and pray that right now you would grab hold of their heart and their mind, convince them, convict them of their sin, and convince them of their need of a Savior. 00:36:23.119 --> 00:36:24.480 Would you bring them to Jesus? 00:36:25.440 --> 00:36:28.639 Thank you, Father God, and it's in your holy and precious name we pray. 00:36:29.519 --> 00:36:30.000 Amen.