ACTS

ACTS 14

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  Acts 14:1 And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. 
• 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren. 

We must make something clear. It was the unbelieving Jews that stirred up trouble, not the believing Jews. The early church was Jewish. The first coverts to Jesus Christ was Jews. The church was comprised of Jews and Gentiles. So who can Satan stir up to hinder Jews from following Christ but the unbelieving Jews.

Notice how easy it is for a trouble maker to stir others up. I'm reminded of the Proverb that tells us, "Follow not a multitude to do evil." 

Great multitudes started believing and coming to Christ. This made those that opposed the truth feel threatened and it angered them. There are usually different responses to the gospel message. One that hears but dismisses it right away, one that hears but is weak in faith and another coming along with threats may cause doubt, One may ignore it as nothing, one may receive and be too busy with other things to really allow it to grow within him or her and then others believe and bring forth fruit. 

It is dangerous though for those that hinder the gospel or persecute those that brings the gospel. The bible says all that live godly in Christ shall suffer persecution. Jesus said that we would be hated, but when we read Revelation we see nothing but woe to those that do the persecuting and try to stop the gospel. They will face severe judgment if they never repent. Paul the apostle found the Lord just in time for if he had not of repented and changed his life, he would have faced eternity in a lost condition. I would say that the Proverb that warns us never to follow a multitude to do evil applies when we listen to those that come along to stir up the crowds against someone or a group of people. Have critical thinking skills that discerns between good and evil.

We must today be careful of all the warnings against certain people and ministries. I realize that some are really false because Jesus said false teachers and false prophets shall arise and deceive but we have to be careful, very careful not to get it wrong and accuse our own brethren in the Lord of being false when they just merely disagrees on certain non essential topics or traditions.  The bible warns against being an accuser of the brethren as well as warning against false teachers.

Everything that is taught, everything that is done and all worship must measure up to that word. The spirit will bear witness to all truth and will not contradict the written word. If anything is taught or done that is contrary to that word, we must question it. If anything is taught and is done that causes a check in our spirit, we must question it. All must be done in love never wanting to find fault and accuse. We must strive to walk in the Spirit of God and be led by Him in all things. Christ alone must be our foundation to build upon.

There will be trouble makers though so we take heed never to be led astray but endeavor to walk in truth always.

• Acts 14:3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 

We should always desire that signs follow those that believe. We should never desire signs to follow us if we are not teaching the truth if that were possible. We want signs to follow us confirming the word that we speak. Signs should confirm the word and bring more people to Jesus. Jesus is the goal of any miracle and sign. It should never be to deceive, draw crowds, get money or exalt a man (woman) above any other man (woman). To bring people to Jesus and into the knowledge of the truth and of course the desire to see people delivered from their sin and affliction is the main purpose to desire the signs and wonders. Never to exalt self. We have nothing that we have not received from God and God can give His gifts to anyone else who believes. 

• Acts 14:4 But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles. 

Again it was the unbelieving Jews spoken of here. The apostles were Jews too. 

• Acts 14:5 And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them, 

Both unbelieving Jews and unbelieving Gentiles were part of this assault. 

• Acts 14:6 They were aware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and into the region that lieth round about: 
• 7 And there they preached the gospel. 

Notice that they did not demand their rights to preach, they did not sign petitions and fight against the government, they moved on. This is what true preachers of the gospel must do. If they are persecuted one place they were to flee to another continuing to preach the gospel. We are never to seek and try to force the governments and the world to accept us. In fact to be accepted by the world usually means that we are not pleasing to God. We can't do both because His kingdom is not of this world. I do understand though that when a government already has had freedom of religion in their constitution like the United States, it would be hard not to stand up and fight for the right to speak. In fact it might not be wrong to do so in that case but notice that in the apostle's day and age, they didn't attempt to change any governmental laws. So being led by the spirit of God and getting the mind of the spirit is vital in all situations. 

• Acts 14:8 And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked: 
• 9 The same heard Paul speak: who steadfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, 
• 10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. 

Sometimes we really guilt ourselves and beat ourselves up because not everyone we pray for is healed. It could be because we don't believe or because we are not faithful in prayer; but sometimes it is because it is not the right time and not in the will of God. Notice here that Paul perceived that this man had faith to be healed. Paul was acting in the spirit and saw that the will of God was to heal this crippled man. True healing comes by the will and leading of the Holy Spirit at a given time. We can't just walk in hospitals and start healing everyone. I wish we could but we can't heal anyone. The Holy Spirit is the one that leads and does the work. We are just vessels that can obey the will of the spirit or resist but God does the healing. That is why we must never get our eyes on the one doing the praying instead of on God.

I'm not using this to let us off the hook or as a cop out for our lack of prayer and unbelief but I am saying that we need to seek to be able to discern the will of God in situations. In other words to be able to led by the Holy Spirit when we pray. It is still okay to ask and pray for healing but we must realize that there is a divine order and the will of God to consider. If we truly are full of faith and walking in the spirit, we can pray completely in the will of God. We pray with complete faith and confidence in God but we have to trust Him for the outcome.  

• Acts 14:11 And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. 

This is the first temptation that comes when healing and miracles follow believers. The first thing that occurs is the temptation for people to look at the one doing the praying rather than the one they are representing and that is Jesus Christ. This may be why we do not see more healing and miracles than we do. Perhaps we are not quick to make sure the glory is given to the real healer. We must remember that when we lay hands on a person and they are healed, we are not exercising any gift that cannot be given to the kid next door if he or she is a believer seeking the face of God. It is never because we are holier or better than someone else. God uses us, when we allow ourselves to be used. He can use any Tom, George, Noah, Kevin, Mary or Martha. 

• Acts 14:12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. 
• 13 Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. 
• 14 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, 

This should be our attitude the moment someone looks at us or praises us for any action we do by the spirit of the Lord. We must be grieved. We must not start excepting gifts and allowing ourselves to receive big offerings because of what we do for God. I know we have to live and have to have money to live on but just because we pray for someone and they are healed does not entitle us to become rich and increased with goods. We have nothing that any little elderly lady cannot have if they seek God and pray night and day.

We see from the scritpures in Acts that healings and miracles caused both persecution and jealousy among unbelievers or those that felt their own ministry was threatened but it also causes the temptation of the one God uses to heal to be exalted in him or herself rather than give glory to the real healer which is Christ with the healing done by the direction of the Holy Spirit.

• Acts 14:15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: 
• 16 Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. 
• 17 Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. 
• 18 And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them. 

If Paul had of allowed them to worship him, he could have been rich. He would not have been stoned. He could have lived a good life unmolested and not have eventually been martyred for the gospel's sake. He could have had a nice house, a wife, and all good things he could desire but he chose to tell the truth. He chose the reproach of Christ rather the pleasing the crowds. He chose to take up his cross and follow Jesus rather than be comfortable in the pleasures of sin which only last until death and then there is nothing. It is all gone and for nothing.

• Acts 14:19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. 

If Paul had of accepted their worship they probably would not have fallen victim to the lies of these troublemakers. But Paul chose to be a true servant of Jesus Christ instead of a deceiver,

• Acts 14:20 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. 
• 21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, 
• 22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. 

In spite of what men teach in these days, living for Christ does not guarantee wealth, prosperity and the so-called good life. We are rich but in the things of the spirit that is not worthy to be compared to the riches of this world. 

Some suffer much tribulation for their conversion to Jesus Christ. If the gospel we preach cannot apply to all parts of the world, it is not the truth. The gospel we preach in the rich prosperous United States must also work in places where one is persecuted or killed for believing the gospel.  Actually the poorest faithful Christian that is in jail for preaching the gospel is richer by far than the one who owns mansions in the United States. It is not wrong to have a nice home, a car and plenty to eat but it is wrong to teach that if someone does not have those things, he is out of the will of God or is lacking faith. That has nothing to do with true faith.

• Acts 14:23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. 
• 24 And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 
• 25 And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia: 
• 26 And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled. 
• 27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. 
• 28 And there they abode long time with the disciples. 

Paul and most of the apostles suffered persecution and death for their faithfulness to the spread of the gospel. If only one soul was saved as a result of their labor, it would have been worth it all. They were faithful until death and are now with Jesus in heaven where they can never be harmed any longer. They now are rich and increased with goods because their labor on earth is finished. Their time of suffering is over. They laid up their treasure in heaven and not upon the earth. They refused to compromise and seek the approval of men. 

The riches we have now in Jesus Christ is worth more that what the world thinks are riches. The spiritual blessings is what is needed now. We seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all things we need to spread the gospel and to live will be added unto us. We are not to worry or concern ourselves with worldly things. Those that have turned aside to lust after filthy lucre (money) have pierced themselves through with many arrows. DC

• 1Timothy 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 
• 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 
• 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 
• 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 
• 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Acts 15