Daily Bread 2011 - Acts 14
In Lystra and Derbe
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 In the past, he let all nations go their own way. 17 Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” 18 Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.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.
What Does This Mean?
In chapter 14, Paul and Barnabas continue their 1st missionary journey, and we see a pattern emerging. They go into the local synagogue and begin to teach and also perform miraculous signs and wonders that confirm their message. Notice the works/miracles/signs confirm the message/Word/Jesus. Miracles are signs that also lead us to the Word, Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith.
Then, the effectiveness of their ministry creates lots of interest and lots more people, and the local leaders and those who don’t believe get jealous and stir up the crowds against the apostles. So there are spiritual breakthroughs, then spiritual battles. When they get to Lystra and have a similar success ( a man lame from birth is healed), the same people from the previous town follow them and create more havoc for Paul and Barnabas. Paul is stoned and left for dead outside the city, but as he is prayed for he goes back into the city and continues on to another town the next day.
Then, as they return home, they visit the disciples who believed in the Word and encourage them and finally end up back at base camp (the Church at Antioch). Importantly though in the reading above, after Paul and Barnabas do these powerful miracles, the believers try to worship them as “gods”. Paul and Barnabas quickly and thoroughly debunk this myth, and help them to realize these gods are but idols, but in contrast they represent the living God!
What Does This Mean For Us?
Sometimes as God begins to work powerfully through us, we might want to take the credit. It is important for people to realize that if anything good or powerful happens through us, it is the Jesus in us that is our strength. The quickest way to kill a movement of God is for human leaders to take the credit. When Paul says, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ”, he is not bragging but saying, “Imitate the Jesus in me, but leave the rest behind.” We are all imperfect and every leader has weaknesses, but to the extent we can die to our “old-selves”, especially in the area of pride, we give God room to use us powerfully.
Do you think you could carry on this type of ministry? Have you ever prayed for healing for someone in the name and power of Christ? Do you think the gifts given to the early church are for today? Why, or why not? The answers to these questions will determine the mindset and openness you have to the Spirit’s work through you to bring in God’s kingdom in your local church.
Heavenly Father, help us not to get confused and take credit for anything you choose to do through. Keep us humble in heart and relying on you like Paul and Barnabas did. Give us faith to pray for others in your name so that we might minister in similar effectiveness to your first disciples. Amen.
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 In the past, he let all nations go their own way. 17 Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” 18 Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.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.
What Does This Mean?
In chapter 14, Paul and Barnabas continue their 1st missionary journey, and we see a pattern emerging. They go into the local synagogue and begin to teach and also perform miraculous signs and wonders that confirm their message. Notice the works/miracles/signs confirm the message/Word/Jesus. Miracles are signs that also lead us to the Word, Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith.
Then, the effectiveness of their ministry creates lots of interest and lots more people, and the local leaders and those who don’t believe get jealous and stir up the crowds against the apostles. So there are spiritual breakthroughs, then spiritual battles. When they get to Lystra and have a similar success ( a man lame from birth is healed), the same people from the previous town follow them and create more havoc for Paul and Barnabas. Paul is stoned and left for dead outside the city, but as he is prayed for he goes back into the city and continues on to another town the next day.
Then, as they return home, they visit the disciples who believed in the Word and encourage them and finally end up back at base camp (the Church at Antioch). Importantly though in the reading above, after Paul and Barnabas do these powerful miracles, the believers try to worship them as “gods”. Paul and Barnabas quickly and thoroughly debunk this myth, and help them to realize these gods are but idols, but in contrast they represent the living God!
What Does This Mean For Us?
Sometimes as God begins to work powerfully through us, we might want to take the credit. It is important for people to realize that if anything good or powerful happens through us, it is the Jesus in us that is our strength. The quickest way to kill a movement of God is for human leaders to take the credit. When Paul says, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ”, he is not bragging but saying, “Imitate the Jesus in me, but leave the rest behind.” We are all imperfect and every leader has weaknesses, but to the extent we can die to our “old-selves”, especially in the area of pride, we give God room to use us powerfully.
Do you think you could carry on this type of ministry? Have you ever prayed for healing for someone in the name and power of Christ? Do you think the gifts given to the early church are for today? Why, or why not? The answers to these questions will determine the mindset and openness you have to the Spirit’s work through you to bring in God’s kingdom in your local church.
Heavenly Father, help us not to get confused and take credit for anything you choose to do through. Keep us humble in heart and relying on you like Paul and Barnabas did. Give us faith to pray for others in your name so that we might minister in similar effectiveness to your first disciples. Amen.
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