Acts Chapter 14 - Strengthened in the Faith: Endurance Through Opposition

Today we are studying Acts Chapter 14. In this chapter, Paul and Barnabas continue preaching the gospel with boldness, even while facing rejection, division, persecution, and danger. In Iconium, many believe, but others stir up opposition. In Lystra, God heals a man who had never walked, but the people misunderstand and try to worship Paul and Barnabas as gods. Later, Paul is stoned and left for dead, yet he rises and continues the mission. Acts 14:22 says, “Strengthening the disciples by encouraging them to continue in the faith and by telling them, ‘It is necessary to pass through many troubles on our way into the kingdom of God.’” This chapter reminds us that following Christ may bring hardship, but God strengthens His people to endure.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:17

What a blessing it is to see God's word continuing to go out and accomplish his purpose in lives around the world. This passage reminds me of Psalm 107, verse 20. He sent his word and healed them. He rescued them from the pit. Praise God that his word is bringing healing and restoration in 45 countries around the world. We want to take a moment to say hello to our listeners in Yekaterinburg, Svordlovsk Oblast, Russia, Kiryu, Gunma, Japan, Nairobi, Nairobi County, Kenya, San Pedro Sula, Corte's Department, Honduras, and Kaylee Bradford, United Kingdom. We're grateful you've joined us today. Thank you for being part of this mission. It means so much to have you listening.

SPEAKER_02 1:05

Welcome to Giving God Praise. This is a podcast where we walk through the entire Bible, book by book and chapter by chapter. Our desire is to discover not only what God's Word says, but what it means to praise God in our daily life. In each episode, we explore a promise to claim, a response to make, an attitude to change, an instruction to obey, a sin to confess, and an example to follow. So let's go ahead and grab our Bibles and dive into today's teaching. Today we are studying Acts chapter 14. In this chapter, Paul and Barnabas continue preaching the gospel with boldness, even while facing rejection, division, persecution, and danger. In Iconium, many believe, but others stir up opposition. In Lystra, God heals a man who had never walked, but the people misunderstand and try to worship Paul and Barnabas as gods. Later, Paul is stoned and left for dead, yet he rises and continues the mission. Acts 14, 22 says, strengthening the disciples by encouraging them to continue in the faith and by telling them, It is necessary to pass through many troubles on our way into the kingdom of God. This chapter reminds us that following Christ may bring hardship. But God strengthens his people to endure. Let's begin reading Acts chapter 14. The same thing happened in Iconium. They entered the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against the brothers. So they stayed there for some time, and spoke boldly in reliance on the Lord, who testified to the message of his grace by granting that signs and wonders be performed through them. But the people of the city were divided, some siding with the Jews and some with the apostles. When an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to assault and stone them, they found out about it, and fled to the Lycaonian towns called Listra and Derby, and to the surrounding countryside, and there they kept evangelizing. In Lystra a man without strength in his feet, lame from birth, and who had never walked, sat and heard Paul speaking. After observing him closely and seeing that he had faith to be healed, Paul said in a loud voice, Stand upright on your feet, and he jumped up and started to walk around. When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaeonian language, The gods have come down to us in the form of men. And they started to call Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the main speaker. Then, the priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the town, brought oxen and garlands to the gates. He, with the crowds, intended to offer sacrifice. The apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their robes when they heard this and rushed into the crowd, shouting, Men, why are you doing these things? We are men also, with the same nature as you, and we are proclaiming good news to you that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them. 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 satisfying your hearts with food and happiness. Even though they said these things, they barely stopped the crowds from sacrificing to them. Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and when they had won over the crowds and stoned Paul, they dragged him out of the city, thinking he was dead. After the disciples surrounded him, he got up and went into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derby. After they had evangelized that town and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the disciples by encouraging them to continue in the faith, and by telling them, It is necessary to pass through many troubles on our way into the kingdom of God. When they had appointed elders in every church and prayed with fasting, they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. After they spoke the message in Perega, they went down to Italia. From there they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been entrusted to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. After they arrived and gathered the church together, they reported everything God had done with them, and that he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. And they spent a considerable time with the disciples. Let's take a moment to pause and bring our focus to the Lord. Heavenly Father, thank you for the truth of Acts chapter 14 and the reminder that you strengthen your people through every season of hardship. Thank you for the message of your grace and for opening the door of faith to all who believe. Lord, help us to remain bold, humble, and faithful, even when we face opposition. Teach us to give you all the glory and to keep trusting you as we continue in the faith. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

SPEAKER_01 7:05

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SPEAKER_02 7:27

Now that we've read God's word and prepared our hearts in prayer, let's begin our praise study and listen to what God wants to say to our hearts today. In Acts chapter 14, we see a powerful promise to claim in the truth that God strengthens his people to continue in the faith. Paul and Barnabas faced resistance, threats, misunderstanding, and even violence, yet God continued working through them. This reminds us that opposition does not mean God has left us. Sometimes opposition comes because the gospel is moving forward. We also see the promise that God's grace is powerful enough to open doors that no one else can open. At the end of the chapter, Paul and Barnabas report that God had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. That means salvation is not limited by background, culture, or past mistakes. God is still calling people to himself. Another promise is that God can use hardship to strengthen disciples. Trouble may be painful, but it is not pointless. God uses it to deepen faith, build endurance, and remind us that his mission continues no matter what comes against it. The response to make in this chapter is to keep proclaiming the truth with boldness and reliance on the Lord. Paul and Barnabas did not preach in their own strength. They spoke boldly while depending on God. That is a response we need today. When we face resistance, we should not become silent, bitter, or afraid. Instead, we should lean more fully on God's grace. Another response is to stay humble when God works through us. When the people of Lystra tried to worship Paul and Barnabas, they immediately redirected the attention back to the living God. Our response should be the same. Any gift, opportunity, or blessing we have must point back to Him. We are also called to encourage others to continue in the faith. Paul returned to strengthen the very disciples in places where he had suffered. This chapter calls us to respond with courage, humility, endurance, and a desire to help others stand firm in Christ. We are called to change our attitude from comfort seeking to faithful endurance. Acts chapter 14 reminds us that the Christian life is not always easy. Paul and Barnabas taught the believers that it is necessary to pass through many troubles on the way into the kingdom of God. That truth changes how we see hardship. Instead of assuming trouble means failure, we learn to see it as part of following Christ in a broken world. Another attitude to change is from self-glory to God's glory. The people wanted to honor Paul and Barnabas, but they refused to receive worship that belonged only to God. We must have that same heart. We also need to change from discouragement to perseverance. Paul was stoned, dragged out, and left for dead, but he got back up and continued the mission. A changed attitude does not deny the pain of hardship, but it trusts that God is still working through it. The instruction to obey in this chapter is to continue in the faith. Paul and Barnabas strengthen the disciples by encouraging them not to give up, even though trouble would come. This is an instruction we must take seriously. We are not called to follow Christ only when life is easy. We are called to remain faithful through opposition, disappointment, and uncertainty. Another instruction is to turn from worthless things to the living God. Paul told the people of Lystra that the good news called them away from empty worship and toward the Creator of all things. We must examine our hearts and turn away from anything that takes God's rightful place. We are also instructed to build up the church. Paul and Barnabas appointed elders, prayed, fasted, and committed the believers to the Lord. Obedience means standing firm personally, encouraging others spiritually, and trusting God to sustain his people. The sin to confess in this chapter is giving glory to people instead of giving glory to God. The people of Lestra saw a miracle and immediately wanted to worship Paul and Barnabas. While we may not bow down to people in the same way, we can still wrongly elevate personalities, leaders, talents, or platforms. We must confess when our admiration becomes misplaced worship. Another sin to confess is fear that keeps us from speaking the truth. Paul and Barnabas faced real danger, yet they continued to preach. If we have allowed fear of rejection, criticism, or conflict to silence our witness, we need to bring that before the Lord. We also need to confess discouragement that tempts us to quit. Hardship can wear us down, but God calls us to continue in the faith. Confession helps us turn from fear, pride, and spiritual weakness, so our hearts can be renewed and strengthened by God's grace. The example to follow in this chapter is Paul and Barnabas. They preached boldly, depended on the Lord, refused personal glory, endured persecution, and strengthened other believers. Their example teaches us that faithful ministry is not measured by comfort or applause, but by obedience to God. Paul's perseverance is especially powerful. After being stoned and left for dead, he got up and continued serving. That kind of endurance challenges us to keep going when we feel wounded, tired, or opposed. Barnabas also shows us the importance of partnership and ministry. Paul was not serving alone. He had someone walking with him in the mission. We also see an example in the disciples who gathered around Paul after he was attacked. They stood with him in a difficult moment. Following these examples means being bold in witness, humble in success, steady in suffering, and committed to strengthening others in the faith. Acts chapter 14 reminds us that the gospel will face opposition, but God's grace is stronger than every obstacle. It calls us to continue in the faith, give God the glory, and encourage others along the way. Take time today to reflect on your walk with God. Are you standing firm when life becomes difficult? Are you pointing people to Christ instead of seeking attention for yourself? Are you helping strengthen someone else in their faith? If this message encouraged you, share it with someone who needs to be reminded that hardship does not mean God is absent. He is still working, still opening doors, and still strengthening his people to continue. And as always, we invite you to keep walking with us through God's Word at www.giving God PraisePodcast.com as we continue to grow together, book by book and chapter by chapter. Let's close today by bringing our hearts before the Lord in prayer. Heavenly Father, we are so grateful that our listeners chose to spend their time with us in your word today. Thank you for the truth of Acts chapter 14 and the reminder that you strengthen us to continue in the faith. Lord, help us to be bold when we face opposition, humble when you work through us, and faithful when the road becomes difficult. Teach us to turn from worthless things and worship you alone, the living God. We pray that this message would encourage every listener and draw them closer to you. May God bless you and keep you in his grace. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

SPEAKER_00 15:51

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