paul’s first missionary journey: part ii acts 14

Paul’s First Missionary Journey: Part II

Acts 14

The First Missionary JourneyActs 14

14:1 At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed.

2 But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.


3 So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders.

"Brothers, listen! In this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. Everyone who believes in him is freed from all guilt and declared right with God—something the Jewish law could never do!” Acts 13:38-39 (NLT)


4 The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles.

5 There was a plot afoot among the Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them.

6 But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country,

7 where they continued to preach the good news.


8 In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked.

9 He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed

10 and called out, “Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.


11 When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!”

12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker.

13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them.


14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting:

15 “Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.


16 Through history, he let all nations go their own way.

The human condition:The human condition:• Too many Too many victimsvictims……• Cold-Cold-heartedhearted……• PointlessPointless……

““No one has real understanding; no one is seeking God.No one has real understanding; no one is seeking God.All have turned away from God; all have gone wrong.” All have turned away from God; all have gone wrong.” Romans 3:11-12 (NLT) Romans 3:11-12 (NLT)



17 Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons…

ObjectiveObjective General Revelation General Revelation::

Rom. 1:20 For since the creation of the world His Rom. 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.has been made, so that they are without excuse.The presence of The presence of designdesign implies the implies the

presence of a presence of a designerdesigner……• IntellectIntellect• WillWill• ForethoughtForethought• PowerPower• PersonalityPersonality• InfinitudeInfinitude




he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”

IntuitiveIntuitive General Revelation: General Revelation:

Rom.1:19Rom.1:19 that which is known about God that which is known about God is is evident within themevident within them; for God made it ; for God made it evident to them.evident to them.Without God, our Without God, our deepest needsdeepest needs remain unfulfilled: remain unfulfilled:

• No No SignificanceSignificance (and freedom of (and freedom of choicechoice))• No No MeaningMeaning (beyond (beyond nownow))• No No MoralityMorality (ethics are (ethics are arbitrary?arbitrary?))• No No LoveLove ( (beyondbeyond propagating the species) propagating the species)• DeathDeath is an unresolved terror ( is an unresolved terror (notnot normalnormal!!))


19 Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead.

20 But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

The Fiber of Paul’s Endurance

Six cities, only one without persecution! Homecoming: faced with division, rejection,

slander and ferocious opposition. Launched 2nd, 3rd and 4th missionary journeys

with more stress, hardship and suffering…

I have worked harder, been put in jail more I have worked harder, been put in jail more often, been whipped times without number, and often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. Five different faced death again and again. Five different times the Jews gave me thirty-nine lashes. times the Jews gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea.spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea.

I have traveled many weary miles. I have faced I have traveled many weary miles. I have faced danger from flooded rivers and from robbers. I have danger from flooded rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the stormy seas. And I have in the deserts, and on the stormy seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be Christians but faced danger from men who claim to be Christians but are not.are not.I have lived with weariness and pain and sleepless I have lived with weariness and pain and sleepless nights. Often I have been hungry and thirsty and have nights. Often I have been hungry and thirsty and have gone without food. Often I have shivered with cold, gone without food. Often I have shivered with cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.without enough clothing to keep me warm.

Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of how the churches are getting along. Who is of how the churches are getting along. Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger? is led astray, and I do not burn with anger? 2 Corinthians 11:28-29 (NLT) 2 Corinthians 11:28-29 (NLT)




with more stress, hardship and suffering… Battled with heartbreaking failure…

““The time of my death is near.The time of my death is near. Please come as soon as you can. Demas Please come as soon as you can. Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life… Crescens has has deserted me because he loves the things of this life… Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus has gone to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me… gone to Galatia, and Titus has gone to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me… Alexander the coppersmith has done me much harm…Alexander the coppersmith has done me much harm…The first time I was The first time I was brought before the judge, no one was with me. Everyone had abandoned brought before the judge, no one was with me. Everyone had abandoned me.me.” 2 Timothy 4:9-11 (NLT)2 Timothy 4:9-11 (NLT)




with more stress, hardship and suffering… Battled with heartbreaking failure… Always emerging victorious…

I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful!and I have remained faithful!…the Lord stood with me and gave me strength, that I might preach the Good News …the Lord stood with me and gave me strength, that I might preach the Good News in all its fullness for all the Gentiles to hear…Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from in all its fullness for all the Gentiles to hear…Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly Kingdom. To God be the every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly Kingdom. To God be the glory forever and ever. Amen. glory forever and ever. Amen. 2 Tim. 4:72 Tim. 4:7

The Fiber of Paul’s Endurance:not just for Missionaries!

It applies to Americans too! “We must go through many hardships to

enter the kingdom of God!” We should never be surprised! Why are we exempt?

21 They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch,22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

Suffering? What! Me!?WHY BOTHER!!!

Suffer for this: Or this:

The human condition:The human condition:• Too many Too many victimsvictims……• Cold-Cold-heartedhearted……• PointlessPointless……

1.1. Freedom of Choice.Freedom of Choice.2.2. Meaningful lives.Meaningful lives.3.3. Longing for Justice…Longing for Justice…4.4. LoveLove Relationships Relationships5.5. EternalEternal significance… significance…


What does it mean?1. Volunteer to enter Christ’s suffering!

“Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1

“Since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose…” 1 Peter 4:1


What does it mean?1. Volunteer to enter Christ’s suffering!2. Surrender your controversy with God!

“Since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose…so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. “For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality…” 1 Pet.4:1-2

“Since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…” Heb.12:1


What does it mean?1. Volunteer to enter Christ’s suffering!2. Surrender your controversy with God!3. Adopt a Vertical Perspective!

Let Jesus Christ lead you into real joy! Don’t let crazy people control you! Don’t let circumstances control you!

“Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith…” Heb.12:1b-2a

Fixing our eyes on Jesus…who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb.12:2

For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world…We are fools for Christ's sake…we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.” 1 Cor. 4:8-13

For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2Cor.4:17ff


What does it mean?1. Volunteer to enter Christ’s suffering!2. Surrender your controversy with God!3. Adopt a Vertical Perspective!4. Let God Change you!

Stop whining! Quit running and HOLD STILL!

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 2 Cor.4:17

No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it is painful! But afterward there will be a quiet harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. So take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs. Hebrews 12:11-12 (NLT)


What does it mean?1. Volunteer to enter Christ’s suffering!2. Surrender your controversy with God!3. Adopt a Vertical Perspective!4. Let God Change you!5. Build a Future!

For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison…2Cor.4:17ff

Comments?Questions?




he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”

Jesus Christ died to “fill our hearts with joy”:1.To discover your significance in God’s Kingdom.2.To build meaningful lives as God designed.3.Longing for Justice,

revulsion of earth’s hideous evil.4.Hunger to be Loved, and the joy of loving another

person.5. “Eternity in their hearts” for lasting significance &

relationships

paul’s first missionary journey: part ii acts 14

Documents

missionary journey acts

nlt slide

iconium paul

apostles barnabas

city gates

living god

great number of jews

human condition