Acts 14 - 12 Favorite (and not-so-favorite) truths

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​Acts 14
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My top 12 favorite (and some not-so-favorite) truths all tucked into Acts 14…

1. We don’t have to do this life alone. Acts 14 starts off, “Now at Iconium they entered TOGETHER…”. I love that so much of our Christian walk and calling is with others. We can enter the good, the bad, the hard, the scary TOGETHER. God places people in our life so we don’t have to do it all alone.
2. We can expect opposition. We are told that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed when Paul and Barnabas spoke. Good news, right? “BUT the unbelieving Jews STIRRED UP the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.” There will always be those who stand against us. And they are never content to just oppose on their own…they want to drag other people down with them.
3. There is no formula for what to do, outside of following the Sprit’s leading. There is a time to stay and a time to shake off the dust and go. We see both in verses 3-6. As the unbelievers sought to stir things up and poison the minds of those on the fence, we are told that Paul and Barnabas remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord. However, the division continued to the point the opposers were plotting to stone them, leading Paul and Barnabas to flee. Time to move on. Their loss. We have to constantly be in communion with God to hear the Sprit’s leading and discern when it is time to stay or time to go.
4. Even under unfavorable circumstances when we may feel like a failure for having to flee, we can be on mission for God in our new environment. We are told that as Paul and Barnabas fled to the surrounding areas they didn’t hide…instead, “they continued to preach the gospel.” Often times our going seasons open doors for new opportunities to share the gospel. Going isn’t just to avoid something; it is to start something new.
5. People need to be seen. As Paul and Barnabas enter the next community, we meet a man crippled from birth, never having walked his entire life, who was listening to Paul speak. “And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing he had faith to be made well…” Paul wasn’t just consumed with his preaching, he was looking and noticing. He doesn’t just see this crippled man, he looked “intently” at him. And in doing so, he saw something…an opportunity for God to be glorified. I fear we miss so many opportunities to be a part of God’s miracles because we are too self-consumed or distracted to “look intently” at people in our surroundings.
6. Sometimes we have to be loud…no time to be timid or bashful. Paul, looking at the crippled man, “said in a LOUD voice, ‘Stand upright on your feet.’” The man sprang up and began walking! And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they LIFTED UP THEIR VOICES.
7. While we were created to worship God, we often look to everything else in the world to worship instead. We feel a need to worship, but our worship is often misplaced. The men who see the incredible works of Paul and Barnabas attribute them to their false gods, even calling them Zeus and Hermes and attempting to offer them sacrifices. Though Paul and Barnabas had been preaching in the name of Jesus, these men sought another “god” to worship. We might be tempted to scoff at their worship of Zeus and Hermes in this case, but we should not be fooled that this does not apply to us. We too are quick to replace worship of other people and things for worship of God. And this substitutionary worship is HARD to shake. We are told in verse 18 that, “even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifices to them.”
8. Even heaven and earth worship and declare the glory of God. In trying to convince these people that God is the true source of all worship, they point out that while nations were permitted to walk in their own ways…”Yet he [God] 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.” God’s creation testifies to Himself and His goodness. He alone is worthy of worship.
9. Through tribulation we enter the Kingdom of God. God is clearly using Paul in a mighty way, with an extraordinary gifting and call. And still the Jews come from Antioch, persuade the crowds against him, and have Paul stoned and dragged out of the city. Stoned to the point they assumed he was dead. This will be one of many cases of suffering Paul will endure for the sake of the gospel. Time and again, God reminds us that trials are part of our story. Out mission is to share the good news, not avoid suffering.
10. Our trials can become a powerful story and testimony for God’s purposes. Despite the stoning and being left for dead, it isn’t Paul’s time to leave his calling yet. Not only does he survive, he rises up, moves on to the next city and preaches the gospel. He is uniquely qualified in gifting from God and life experience to share the message he shares…that of strengthening the souls of the believers, encouraging them to continue in faith, and making them aware that through many tribulations they will enter the Kingdom of God.
11. The church is not left on its own. Before Paul and Barnabas leave these new churches they have planted in various communities, they make sure leaders are in place, and more importantly they continue with prayer and fasting. It is not a quick-fix, good sermon, then leave them on their own to figure things out. They ensure a strong and steady foundation and continue to support them in prayer and fasting.
12. We can always come back to home base to share what God is doing. Acts 14 ends with Paul and Barnabas back in Antioch. Home base. Back with their people and community. And with this group that worshiped with them, prayed with them, fasted with them, laid hands on them, and sent them off, they tell story after story of all that God had done with them and the doors He opened. “And they remained no little time with the disciples.” Sometimes you just need to go home. To encourage and be encouraged by your people. God is so good to provide for us.

 
So, what is your favorite/not-favorite truth in this chapter?

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