Skip to content Acts 14-15: Strength in Tribulation Sep 15 · 14 min ...more
Support this leader Liking this video? Support this ministry.
Support this leader
Liking this video? Support this ministry.
Give
Support this leader Liking this video? Support this ministry.
93.9K followers
Family Research Council is serving in the kingdom of God by championing faith, family, & freedom in public policy and the culture from a biblical worldview.
93.9K followers
Comments No comments yet. Start the conversation.
Faith Through Tribulations 0:11 Good morning. Welcome to Stand on the Word. Thanks for joining me on this, Friday morning. It's been a challenging, week for, many in America. We need to continue to pray for our country. Today,0:23 we're looking at Acts chapters 14 and 15. Verse 22 of chapter 14, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith and saying we must through many tribulations enter0:35 the kingdom of God. Now my background's a little bit different today. I'm actually out on the left coast for a series of events. In fact, I'll be preaching this Sunday at Calvary Chapel Downey. So if you're in the area,0:47 come join us. There are 3 services. We would love to have you. So today, we continue with Paul and Barnabas as the first missionary journey draws to a close. And in chapter 15, they go to0:59 a meeting in Jerusalem, of the council to discuss what had been previously, a concern that Peter, that surrounded Peter taking the gospel to Cornelius,1:11 and that was should Gentiles be circumcised and follow the law of Moses or not? Let's begin verse 1 chapter 14. Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the1:23 Jews and so spoke with that a great multitude both of the Jews and the Greeks believed. But unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren. Now we've seen this before, and1:35 we're gonna see it again. In fact, we see it today. Many people believe, but the enemy of our souls will fight to keep people captive to bondage in darkness. Alright?1:46 So how did Paul respond to this? Look at verse 3. Therefore, they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the lord who was bearing witness to the word of his grace, granting1:59 signs and wonders to be done by their hands. So far from the opposition driving them away, just to convince them that they were in the right place. So they stayed a long time.2:11 Now I found that while the opposition can be very discouraging and frustrating, among other things. It also can is confirmation that our efforts are2:23 on target. Now, if we're not being effective, okay, if we're not being effective, if our life is not making a difference in terms of of2:34 eternal things, then why would the opposition worried about us? The opposition is worried about those who are shining the light on the darkness. Verse 4. But the multitude of the city was2:46 divided, part sided with the Jews and part with the apostles. Now this is what happens. Truth exposes division. We see this in our country. Evidence this week of what we've seen, we are a2:58 divided nation. Now I don't celebrate this division. Far from it. But I'm not gonna try to conceal it or ignore it by avoiding speaking the truth. Compromise3:10 will never bring us together in a in a solid, lasting way. Truth divides. Alright? It divides so that it can heal. Remember what Jesus said,3:22 who, by the way, said, I am the way, the truth, and the life? This is what he said in Luke chapter 12 verse 51. Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you not at all, but rather division. The truth3:34 divides. That's the reality. Look what the opposition resorts to next. Alright? Looks like the headlines out of today's paper. Verse 5. And when a violent attempt was made by3:46 both the Gentiles and the Jews with their rulers to abuse and stone them, they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derby, cities of Laconia and to the surrounding region. So they fled and3:58 they went silent. Right? No. Not hardly. Remember, they had been there a long time, and I'm pretty sure that they had saturated the city with the gospel. So they temporarily relocated4:10 and proclaimed the truth in a new location. They moved on. Now this is wisdom. Knowing when to stand and resist opposition and when to pivot and put your focus elsewhere. Alright? There4:22 becomes a point where there's no return on your investment. We have to be listening to the Holy Spirit. Verse 7, and they were preaching the gospel there. Now I wanna be very careful how I say this, so4:33 please listen carefully. God has not called us to be fighters. He's called us to be messengers. Now let me let that sink in. Now4:45 sometimes we must fight our way through to deliver the message, but our focus should be on the message, not the fight. What our desire should be is to deliver the message, not4:57 engage in the fight. You know, we live, I believe, in similar times when the opposition to the gospel and Christianity are increasing. It's visible. It's vocal. So we5:09 need to guard our hearts and our minds so that we do not become fighters with a message. Rather, we are messengers who will fight if necessary to deliver5:21 the message of truth. That's an important distinction. And a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting a cripple from his mother's womb who had never walked. This man heard Peter or heard Paul5:33 rather speaking, Paul observing him intently, seeing that he had faith to be healed. Now this I I love this verse. It says that he observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to5:45 be healed. I wonder what he looked like. Paul saw that he had faith to be healed. Verse 10. And and you know what? I think that's seeing the best in people. Alright? Looking at people optimistically.5:58 That person has the faith to be healed. Verse 10. Said to the loud voice, stand up straight on your feet, and he leap and he walk. Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices6:10 saying in the Iconian language, the gods have come down to us in the likeness of men. And Barnabas, they called Zeus, Paul Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Zeus, whose6:21 temple was in front of their city, brought out oxen and garlands to the gates intending to sacrifice with the multitude. Now this sounds bizarre, but it was their worldview. Verse 14. But when the apostles,6:33 Barnabas and Paul, heard this, they tore their clothes and ran among the multitude crying out and saying, men, why are you doing these things? Verse 18. And with these things, they could scarcely restrain the multitude6:45 from sacrificing to them. Then the Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there, and having persuaded the multitudes, they stone pole and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be6:57 dead. Now this is fascinating. Okay? It is an example of why we should never put our trust in public opinion. At 1 minute, they're ready to sacrifice to them as if they were gods, and the next7:09 minute, they're stoning them. Verse 20. However, when the disciples gathered around them, he rose up and went into the city, and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. This,7:21 frankly, this was a miracle. Now physical altercations are not something most people have been involved in, but I can say as having been a police officer for a number of years, I had my share of altercations.7:33 And there were a couple that were pretty intense, you know, far from a stoning, put it that way. But it left me laid up a couple of days, barely able to move. So this is a miracle that after being stoned, Paul is able7:44 to just get right up and go about his business. Verse 21. And when they had preached the gospel of that city and made disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,7:56 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith and saying, we must, through many tribulations, enter the kingdom of God. Now those were not empty words. They had just walked through8:08 this challenging time, and they were exhorting the others. I mean, this is powerful. Stoned and left for dead for preaching the word, bruised and battered. They go to another city, no doubt bandage bandaged up. TheyUnity in the Gospel 8:19 probably still had, you know, scars on them, open wounds. They preach the word, and they made more disciples. Then they go back and they check on the disciples that they had made in Lystra,8:32 Iconium, and back to Antioch, encouraging them in the faith, helping them to realize that tribulations would be a part of the journey. So what? So embrace them. Kinda like the8:44 I remember the sign we had in our weight room when I was in high school, and I played football. And we'd go to the weight room in the off season to lift weights. It says, no pain, no gain. We have to embrace the8:55 difficulties that will be on the journey. Because remember what we looked at in the book of James? That is for those trials. That brings about endurance, which brings about our maturity. Right?9:07 When when they got back to, to HQ, to Antioch, they gathered the church together. They reported all that God had done with them and that he had opened the door of faith to the9:18 Gentiles. So they stayed there a long time with the disciples. Now in chapter 15, we had the council of Jerusalem and the outcome of this gathering. Verse 1, and certain men came down from Judea9:30 and taught the brethren, unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved. Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with him, they determined that Paul and9:42 Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question. So being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria describing the9:54 conversion of the Gentiles, and they caused great joy to all the brethren. By the way, this is the right response. Rejoice that men and women and children are finding freedom in Christ,10:06 and and souls are being added to the kingdom. Not the fact that some might have tattoos or their hair might be too short or too long, or that they wear shorts to church and not Sunday suits. We gotta keep the main thing10:17 the main thing, and that is hearts are being transformed by the truth, and the result is lives are transformed and souls are added to the kingdom of God. Verse 4. And when they had come to10:29 Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all things that God had done with them. But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up saying it is necessary to10:40 circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses. Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to10:52 them, men and brother, you know that a good while ago, God chose among us that by my mouth, the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. So Peter11:04 here recounts his experience with Cornelius and the outcome of that meeting to set the stage for this discussion. I mean, Peter provided a powerful endorsement11:16 of what Paul and Barnabas were presenting. Then after everyone spoke, James, the leader of the church, half brother of Jesus, said this, verse 19, therefore, I judge11:28 that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we write to them to abstain from polluted those things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from11:40 blood. So that is what they did. And when they're talking about the, abstain from sexual immorality, I I think many of the scholars say this was close relationships. It was a11:52 given that sexual immorality should not be found among believers. But this was about, I think, marrying close relations. That is what some scholars say. Alright.12:04 Verse 30. So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch. And when they had gathered the multitude there, they delivered the leather letter. When they read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement. So Judas and12:15 Silas themselves, being prophets, also exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words. This is the founding of the church. And I believe as we see what was happening at the beginning,12:27 I think we're seeing the same things today as I believe we're getting close to the end of the church age, this age prior to the return of Jesus Christ. And so we need the same power of the Holy Spirit, the12:39 same conviction to take this message of hope and truth to the lost and not get distracted by the physical things that we're going to encounter along the way. As12:51 the disciples said, we need to embrace that as a part of the journey, rejoicing in the Lord. Father, we thank you for your word. And, Lord, we do pray for the church in this hour that we would have13:03 the same boldness that is birthed through the filling and the power of the Holy Spirit that comes, Lord, through sanctification and yielding ourselves to you and walking in holiness. Lord, again,13:15 empowered by your grace. So I pray, Lord, for our nation. I pray for the church. I pray that we would provide the the the the the way forward. Lord, shining a light into13:26 the darkness, the spiritual and cultural darkness that embraces our nation. We thank you for your word. And, Lord, I pray that we would be bold in proclaiming it. For we ask this in13:38 Jesus' name. Amen. Alright. Thanks for joining me this morning, and until next time. Keep standing on the word.13:47 Today's study comes from the stand on the word bible reading plan available for free at f r c dot o r g slash bible. By following along in just a few minutes a day, you13:59 can read through the entire bible in just 2 years. Learn more and request the free reading guide at frc dot org slash bible.In this video 0:00 Faith Through Tribulations8:12 Unity in the Gospel
Comments
Keep it kind. Comments are public.