I please God to bless us for
a few moments as we consider his word in the last verses in
the 14th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles and commencing
at verse 19. Well, we read how the Apostles,
we meditated rather on how the Apostles' preaching was greatly
blessed. and how they were able to be
the instruments in blessing this impotent man who was a cripple
from his birth and he stood up and could walk and leapt in thanksgiving
to his God and there were those who believed that perhaps Paul
was a God and they wanted to bring sacrifices to him but you
remember he said that he was just like they were, a man of
like passions and no different And so we come down now to this
occasion, and we read, 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. Now, what had the apostle been
doing to require such treatment when he'd been preaching the
gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ? He'd been preaching in Antioch.
This of course was Antioch in Pisidia and also in Iconium and
in both those places there were those Jews who were raised up
to speak against what the Apostle Paul was doing and try to turn
the people from the truth. And now they followed him and
they come and now they hear him preaching and they come and they
raise up the people, they persuade the people that they stoned the
Apostle Paul. And they stoned him so much that
he would appear to have been dead. And they drew him out of
the city, supposing he had been dead. Well, how hard that must
have been. Just a short time ago, the Lord
greatly blessing the work, and now the Lord allowing this to
occur. We sometimes think, perhaps,
that we shall be exempt from such treatment. We may think,
well, we're Christian people and we're doing God's will, and
therefore the Lord will take care of us, we won't have to
suffer in that way. Well, we must not think like
that, because the Lord has a purpose in all of our lives, and it may
be that we are called to suffer for his sake. Indeed, like the
Apostle, Paul was here, and it wasn't just a few words, He was
stoned. Can you imagine having stones
thrown at you? Large stones, small stones, so
many that they appear to kill you. It would appear that the
Apostle Paul was unconscious with all these stones being thrown
at him. It was no mean thing, was it? We should recognise the
days may come and we may have to stand like that. When there
is great opposition toward us, we have a very easy and cushy
time, don't we? in the world in which we live,
in our country at the present time. But you see, there was
great persecution. There always has been great persecution.
And there is great persecution in other parts of the world.
And we may have to face it in the not-too-distant future. Things
can change very rapidly, can't they? We see how ISIS has changed
a large part of the world very quickly. And very soon, perhaps,
that effect may come into our nation here. So we need to be
warned and we need to be ready for such an attack and realize
that we are being dealt with in accordance with God's will
and purpose. But you see, God was with Paul. No doubt they thought, well,
no, we got rid of him. But God was with Paul because the disciples
stood around him and he rose up and came into the city. We're amazed at that, perhaps,
to think there he was, stoned in the city, they dragged him
out, they dumped him outside, and now he's risen up, and what
does he do? He goes back into the city. You
see, what a wonderful thing it is to realise that we, as the
Apostle tells us, he could do all things through Christ that
strengthened him. So he came back into the city,
and the next day, he and Barnabas departed to Derby, And when they
had preached the gospel, remember, as I've said, whenever they went
to a new place, what did they do? They preached the gospel. Whatever the situation was, they
preached the gospel. That was their burning desire,
that sinners might hear the word of the Lord, that the work of
God might be wonderfully manifested in the souls of many, many. Indeed,
who can value a soul. When we think of the lost eternity,
we get some little idea of the apostle Paul and Barnabas and
the other apostles' zeal for the things of God. And when they
had preached the gospel to that city and had taught many They
returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and to Antioch. Now, remember that this is Antioch
in Pisidia, and to Iconium. Those two places where they'd
been turned out, where they'd escaped because of the enmity
which was raised against them. But you see, they were firm in
the Lord. They didn't back away from this
great work which God had called them to. And they went back.
to these cities, going to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch. And what did they do there? Did
they hide themselves? Did they try and avoid any contact
with the people? No. They came to confirm the
souls of the disciples, those who had been worked upon by the
blessed Spirit of God. They came to encourage them.
They came to establish them. in the truths of God, confirming
their souls as to the truth and exhorting them to continue in
the faith. Now you see, we might say it's
easy, isn't it? When everything's smooth and
there's no enemies around. But you know, when there's persecution,
when there's opposition, it's not quite so easy to continue
in the faith. And perhaps they need an encouragement
Well, Paul was able to encourage them, and Paul set a wonderful
example, didn't he? He'd been stoned, he'd been cast
out of these places, back he goes to encourage them, to exhort
them that they might continue in the faith. And he comes in
and tells us, and tells them, and that we must, through much
tribulation, enter into the kingdom of God. Now this is the word
of God. It's not my words, it's the word of God, and it's so,
so true. And we must recognise that in
one way or another, you and I, in our lives today, if we are
blessed to be amongst those who are the true followers of the
Lord Jesus Christ, that we can expect to suffer tribulation. If we hide our light, if we pretend
we're not Christians, then there won't be any persecution. then
there won't be any opposition. But you know, as the Lord enables
us to show who we are and whom we serve, and be able to say,
like the Apostle, I was not ashamed. My friends, may we never be ashamed
of the gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, whatever
the cost may be, and there will be a cost, be very sure of that. There'll be a cost to us, perhaps
from our families, perhaps from our friends, perhaps from our
workmates, perhaps from those at school. There will be a cost. But you see, the great blessing
is this. The apostle said he was so glad
that he was counted worthy to suffer for the sake of the Lord
Jesus Christ. How do we view that today? Can
we say that we're counted worthy to suffer for the name of the
Lord Jesus Christ? Or do we hide? Do we try and
pretend that we're not Christians? Perhaps we only become Christians
on a Sunday when we turn up to chapel and then we get back on
a Monday morning when we've hung up our Christianity behind the
door and we carry on then as some worldly person. You see,
here was the Apostle Paul. He was confirming the souls of
the disciples and exhorting them to continue in the faith And
he told them very clearly, having encouraged them in this way,
he then told them very clearly, and that we must, through much
tribulation, enter into the kingdom of God. The Lord Jesus said exactly
the same sentiments when he told them it's through much tribulation,
but be of good joy, I have overcome the world. And there's our consolation
to be found in this evil world today, walking before our God
in that right way, in that God-honouring way, seeking his honour, seeking
his glory, that we may not be ashamed of the gospel of our
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and recognise that if we are
walking on that way to heaven, to that rough and rugged road,
it is through much tribulation that we shall enter into the
kingdom of God. The inference is that if we don't
walk in this way, there will be no entry into the kingdom
of God. And so how important it is that
you and I consider such a great and important and glorious truth
as this. And so the apostle and Barnabas,
they were able to proclaim these great truths. And when they had
ordained them elders in every church and had prayed with fasting,
they commanded them commanded them to the Lord on whom they
believed. You see, this wasn't a vain hope,
it wasn't a vain religion. This was the God, this was the
religion in which they believed. And therefore they came and we
have the order here that here were the churches, the young
churches being formed, little groups of believers meeting together
in houses, no great cathedrals to meet in, but gather together. And the apostle appointed then
these elders, elders that had, and when they had ordained them
elders in every church, those who were to preach the gospel,
those who were to lead them, those who were to instruct them,
and to direct them. And so these little churches
were blessed with leaders that were with them. And what did
they do? They prayed, and they fasted. We don't think much,
do we, today, perhaps, of fasting. Perhaps we pass over and we think,
well, of course, well, I just think that's not so necessary. You read the Word of God, there's
many times when people fasted. You know, when we When we're
fasting, we're more awake than when we're full up with a big
meal. You know what it's like to have a big meal and you want
to go to sleep? You don't fast, do you? Well,
here we see the opposition, this different situation. The Apostle
Paul, a true servant of God, had been the means to ordain
these elders and little churches, and they prayed and fasted for
the Lord's blessing. They were concerned. might indeed
be much blessing. And so they commended them to
the Lord on whom they believed. And after they had passed through
Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. And when they had preached the
word in Perga, They went down to Italia. You see again, preaching
the word. What a glorious day it was, wasn't
it? What a wonderful zeal the apostle
had to preach the gospel. And thence to Antioch. This of
course is not Antioch in Pisidia. This is the other Antioch, and
a long way from Antioch in Pisidia. But now they'd sail thence to
Antioch. And from whence they had been recommended to the grace
of God for the work which they had fulfilled. You see, they'd
been recommended for this work and they hadn't failed. They'd
gone forth preaching the word. The opposition was great. It wasn't an easy path, but they
had done that which God had commanded them. And they'd done it in the
strength of the Lord. and therefore and then sailed
to Antioch from whence they had been recommended to the grace
of God for the work which they fulfilled." You know we all have
a work to do, all those who are God's children, all those who've
been called by grace, we're all his servants, we all have a work
to do and we should perhaps be concerned to know what that work
is. Some are called to preach, But
many are not called to preach, but we're all called to serve.
We're all called to serve the Lord. And so when they were come
and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had
done with them. What a good example that is.
They didn't forget what God had done, but they rehearsed. They told the church what God
had done. It's a good thing, isn't it,
to tell the Church what God has done. There seems to be a great
lack of desire in this day and age in which we live. Many people
are not concerned about speaking about what God has done. God
has done for them, as a people, how God had gone before them,
how God had blessed them, and of course, how they'd been preserved. Although they'd suffered, they
didn't die. God had preserved their life, and so they came.
And they spoke to the church. They told the church what God
had done. It wasn't what they had done. It was what God had done. What
a difference there is. What a wonderful thing when we
can say and tell what God has done so that his name may be
lifted up and honored and glorified. They rehearsed all that God had
done with them and how he had opened the door of faith unto
the Gentiles. A wonderful thing to observe,
isn't it? to see people's heart opened to receive the Word of
the Lord. It's the work of God. My friends,
may we long to see it more, may we pray for it urgently and earnestly,
that God may do great things and open many hearts, many hearts,
that the door might be opened, that door of faith, so there
may be much blessing. And there they abode, long time. with the disciples. Well, it
must have been a time of blessing as they conversed no doubt upon
the things of God and what he had done and anticipating what
he would do. Well, may God bless his word
to us. For Jesus' sake, Amen. Our last hymn tonight is 567.
Jesus, the Lord, my saviour is, my shepherd and my God. Well, I hope we can all say that. If we can't, pray that it may
be so. My light, my strength, my joy,
my bliss, and I, his grace, record whate'er I need. In Jesus dwells,
and there it dwells for me. Tis Christ, my earthen vessel,
fills with treasures rich and free. 567.