In Acts chapter 14, we see one main theme running throughout the chapter. That is: the tongue is sharp and powerful!
Summary: Paul and Barnabas travel through Iconium and Lystra after just having finished their ministry in Antioch in chapter 13. While they are in Iconium the city becomes divided and they are forced to leave to prevent being stoned. They then go to Lystra where the miracles that they performed make the people believe that they are gods of some kind. They would have sacrificed unto them, but Paul and Barnabas were barely able to stop them. Then, bitter Jews from Iconium ended up convincing the people at Lystra that Paul and Barnabas were to be feared and hated and Paul ended up getting stoned. So Paul went from being treated as a God to being stoned all within a short period of time. Paul miraculously survives the stoning and he and Barnabas return back to Antioch by retracing their route back. They encourage the disciples and appoint leaders in the churches at Lystra and Iconium and report back to their home church all the things that had happened unto them.
In this chapter I want to point out three things:
- The damaging ability of the tongue
- Healing depends on faith
- We should encourage fellow Christians in the faith
One
Act 14:2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.
In verse one, the Bible says that a great multitude of both Jews and Gentiles believed. But in verse two the unbelieving Jews stirred up the unbelieving gentiles and caused them to think evil of those that were being saved. Just a few verses later (v4) the ENTIRE CITY was divided. The Jews used the power of the tongue to turn people against Christ and eventually half the city! Their discord that they sowed eventually required that Paul and Barnabas leave Iconium.
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.
This verse shows just how powerful the tongue’s affect can be. Not only were people stirred up in Iconium, but people from that city TRAVELED to Lystra just to sow more discord against Paul and Barnabas which resulted in them being stoned!
Two
Act 14:9 The same heard Paul speak: who steadfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
Notice that for the lame man who had never walked in his life to be healed, he must first have the faith to do so. So many Christians pray for healing over and over, but they don’t actually believe that God can or will do it. If you do not ask in faith you cannot please God. The problem is that people don’t want to expect God to do something in case he doesn’t and this causes them to lose confidence in God. If you pray for something in faith and don’t receive it, then that should be a clue that you need to be sure that what you are praying for is biblical, you don’t have sin in your life, and then KEEP praying. Remember our importunity is sometimes what causes God to move. Show Him you are serious!
Three
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.
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.
Christians shoot their own far too often! We need to follow this example by encouraging fellow believers and realizing that we are all on the same team. I think the biggest fault is when churches compete against each other. Stop! We are all trying to accomplish the same purpose so we need to lift each other up in the Lord like Paul and Barnabas did here.
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December 13th, 2010
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