ACTS

ACTS 14

Act 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.
Act 14:2 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. They are not going to be deceived very well by a Gentile. The best way to deceive people is to raise up trouble makers from among us. I know that once in a while a stranger can come in and preach a false doctrine but the easiest way to deceive someone is to use someone that the majority of the people already trust and believe in. 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."

I know we have to keep our eyes open. I know that a charismatic stranger that looks good can come in and deceive but we must be aware that we ourselves can get into error. A deceiver can be someone we know and trust. That doesn't mean that we start distrusting everyone and start finding fault with our brothers and sisters in the Lord. We must at all costs walk in love and faith preferring to believe in each other. The Lord gave two things to the church that is vital. One is the Holy Spirit and the other is the written word. Those two things are to guide us into all truth. 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. This business of teaching everyone to go along to get along and follow the leader to keep peace and harmony is not a correct teaching. We must check everything out and not follow anyone blindly. Remember Jim Jones and Joseph Smith. Jesus is the foundation and the only foundation upon which the church is to be built.

When people followed Jim Jones they had to get off the foundation of Jesus Christ. When people followed Joseph Smith they left the foundation of Jesus Christ. No true prophet of God will lead people away from the foundation of Jesus. The way of salvation is through Jesus Christ and Him alone. We follow His teachings because we can't say we believe in Him and refuse to obey His word. But if someone comes along and teaches that Jesus is the way of salvation but only if you come through our particular organization, that is dangerous because we are leaving the foundation of Jesus Christ and following something else. It is not Jesus and the Catholic Church, or Jesus and the Mormon Church or Jesus and this other way. It is Jesus. It is faith in Jesus who God sent to save us from our sins. There is no other way.  We are to teach and make disciples to follow the Lord. We are never to draw followers after ourselves or after a certain organization.

If we lead someone to Christ and then invite them to our own particular church that is good but if we tell them that they have to go to our church to complete their salvation, we are not telling the truth. Jesus is the cornerstone. Jesus is the way of salvation and only Jesus is the foundation. Finding a good bible believing fellowship is essential for growth and maturity in Jesus Christ but that is an extra gift God gives us. The church or body of believers is a vessel God uses to bring people to Christ and into the knowledge of His word but the organization itself is not the way of salvation. I do not have to join any church to be saved but if I am saved, I will most probably desire to worship with others of the same mind and one accord. That is where love comes on the scene. How can we love one another if we never see one another?

Act 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 is the only goal for desiring the signs to follow us.

Act 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.

Act 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.

Act 14:6 They were aware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and into the region that lieth round about:
Act 14:7 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.

Act 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:
Act 14:9 The same heard Paul speak: who steadfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
Act 14:10 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 neither are we in the place where God can use us to heal 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. 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 be in a place in God that we can discern the will of God in situations. It is till 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.

Act 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 anyone who will allow themselves to be used.

Act 14:12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.
Act 14:13 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.
Act 14:14 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 for 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.
I have heard of well known speakers that charge thousands of dollars and demand private jets in order to come to a church and speak. I say, please stay home. I want to hear someone who is on their face before God and will go to a poor church that has nothing to give. And yes there are poor churches in the United States that could never afford the big name speakers. Being poor does not mean that God has forsaken them or that they lack in the things that count. This evil prosperity doctrine has really blinded the eyes of the church today.

Act 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:
Act 14:16 Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.
Act 14:17 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.
Act 14:18 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 pretty 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.

Act 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,

Act 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.
Act 14:21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,
Act 14:22 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. Teach the prosperity doctrine to a person who has their property taken away because of their faith in Jesus and see how silly it is. 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. It is not wrong to have a good salary but it is wrong to tell people to give to the rich evangelists and not to the poor struggling pastor. This stuff being preached today in the United States by prosperity preachers is the very opposite to what Jesus preached.

Act 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.
Act 14:24 And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.
Act 14:25 And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia:
Act 14:26 And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.
Act 14:27 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.
Act 14:28 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 is 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.

1Ti 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
1Ti 6:9 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.
1Ti 6:10 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.
1Ti 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
1Ti 6:12 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