Daily Bread Acts 14
Daily Bread Acts 14
14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard what was happening, they tore their clothing in dismay and ran out among the people, shouting, 15 “Friends, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings—just like you! We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things and turn to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. 16 In the past he permitted all the nations to go their own ways, 17 but he never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts.” 18 But even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could scarcely restrain the people from sacrificing to them.
19 Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds to their side. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead. 20 But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.
Observation:
We see the up and down nature of Paul’s ministry. In one instance, they are ready to make Paul and Barnabas a god. Then, in the next instance, Paul is getting stoned and dragged out of town. That is a pretty big swing in the opinion polls. And it reveals the nature of what happens when God starts working mightily and doing things like healing a man crippled from birth.
There were two opposite reactions that the people had. One, instead of giving glory to God for the miracles, which is what the disciples intended, the people tried to put their faith in Paul and Barnabas. And then, on the other hand, instead of recognizing the miracles, the Jews who felt threatened, minimized what Paul and Barnabas did to swing the crowd to their side. Those will often be the two reactions when God starts working powerfully.
Paul didn’t seem to care as much about these reactions and with the help and prayers of the believers got up and completed his missionary travels. As he returned to the believers in Antioch, from which he was sent, he shared his adventure and reminded the other believers along the way that suffering and hardship often accompany our journey to help others discover the kingdom of God.
Application:
You will notice once again that Paul did not let the results affect him too much. He didn’t let the fickle crowds dissuade him from his purpose for which he was sent. Although part of the fruit of ministry is changed lives and numbers being saved and healed, sometimes the crowd will not always be an indicator if you are pursuing God’s mission. As someone has said, “The church is not a democracy”.
Sometimes when we take a stand in the church, some will not like it. We have to remember that we serve God, not people’s applause. If we are faithful, God will bring the fruit to our ministries, and will direct us to those who are receptive to the message and willing to follow.
You can imagine the courage it took for Paul to confront the worthless gods they were worshipping to turn to the one true and living God. In more subtle ways people today worship the gods of “materialism”, “narcissism” and “individualism”.
Prayer: God may we be faithful to preach the message of turning from worthless idols to pursue you, the living God. Create openness in those who we see everyday in the marketplace that they might turn from the things of man to the things of God. Send Your Holy Spirit to empower us we pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard what was happening, they tore their clothing in dismay and ran out among the people, shouting, 15 “Friends, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings—just like you! We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things and turn to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. 16 In the past he permitted all the nations to go their own ways, 17 but he never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts.” 18 But even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could scarcely restrain the people from sacrificing to them.
19 Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds to their side. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead. 20 But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.
Observation:
We see the up and down nature of Paul’s ministry. In one instance, they are ready to make Paul and Barnabas a god. Then, in the next instance, Paul is getting stoned and dragged out of town. That is a pretty big swing in the opinion polls. And it reveals the nature of what happens when God starts working mightily and doing things like healing a man crippled from birth.
There were two opposite reactions that the people had. One, instead of giving glory to God for the miracles, which is what the disciples intended, the people tried to put their faith in Paul and Barnabas. And then, on the other hand, instead of recognizing the miracles, the Jews who felt threatened, minimized what Paul and Barnabas did to swing the crowd to their side. Those will often be the two reactions when God starts working powerfully.
Paul didn’t seem to care as much about these reactions and with the help and prayers of the believers got up and completed his missionary travels. As he returned to the believers in Antioch, from which he was sent, he shared his adventure and reminded the other believers along the way that suffering and hardship often accompany our journey to help others discover the kingdom of God.
Application:
You will notice once again that Paul did not let the results affect him too much. He didn’t let the fickle crowds dissuade him from his purpose for which he was sent. Although part of the fruit of ministry is changed lives and numbers being saved and healed, sometimes the crowd will not always be an indicator if you are pursuing God’s mission. As someone has said, “The church is not a democracy”.
Sometimes when we take a stand in the church, some will not like it. We have to remember that we serve God, not people’s applause. If we are faithful, God will bring the fruit to our ministries, and will direct us to those who are receptive to the message and willing to follow.
You can imagine the courage it took for Paul to confront the worthless gods they were worshipping to turn to the one true and living God. In more subtle ways people today worship the gods of “materialism”, “narcissism” and “individualism”.
Prayer: God may we be faithful to preach the message of turning from worthless idols to pursue you, the living God. Create openness in those who we see everyday in the marketplace that they might turn from the things of man to the things of God. Send Your Holy Spirit to empower us we pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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