Help is on the Way

Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. (Acts 14:1)

This is incredible! Revival in Iconium. But that's not the end of the story. It's not smooth sailing. Check out the very next verse:

But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. (Acts 14:2)

Ouch! The brothers share the good news that Jesus saves and people are against them. Not quite the "how to make friends and influence people" result some hope for today. Maybe it is time to "get out of dodge" - except they didn't.

So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. (Acts 14:3)

If they were hoping for approval and applause they would have left. If they were searching for comfort they would have stopped speaking about the Lord. These missionaries were motivated by something else or maybe Someone Else. What or WHO motivates you to do what you do? Are you tempted to "throw in the towel" when outward circumstances get difficult? What centers these missionaries?

Notice in verse three this phrase - the Lord, who bore witness to the word of HIS GRACE. The Lord witnesses all we go through and HE honors His WORD. He sees what others see and He sees what no one else can see. He is the only One who's vision and insight and understanding is 20/20. And His call wins the day for these missionaries. I am prone to wander and prone to forget HE sees me and HE is with me, for me and in me. Are you?

This isn't the end of the Story. It gets harder still. The unbelievers in town plan to stone them but the missionaries are able to flee to another town. As they flee they continued to preach the gospel. (Acts 14:7b)

And I would love to tell you it went much better in that next town, but it didn't. In Iconium, the Enemy seeks to discourage them by the disapproval of the crowd. In Lystra, the Enemy seeks to deceive them by craving an unhealthy approval. The people of Lystra try to deify Paul as Hermes and Barnabas as Zeus. And when Paul and Barnabas stop them, calling them to turn from these vain things to a living God, they along with unbelievers from Antioch and Iconium stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. (Acts 14:19)

It seems like speaking God's truth can get you killed. And...it can. Look at Jesus. But just like Jesus' death wasn't the end, it won't be the end for us. HELP is on the way. But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. (Acts 14:20)

When the disciples gathered about him - the help comes in the form of the people of God - the church.

Sunday we will witness as brothers and sisters look to the Living God and gather around each other as we pray, sing, worship, hear and respond to the Word and witness baptisms. We will draw strength from the Living God and from each other.

See you Sunday,

Steven