Go back with me to Acts 14. I have a message for us. I have a message for us. I was burdened Monday with something. And through the big picture of
this story, we just read 20 verses of scripture. We're only going
to look at 17 of them because the first three I read, we looked
at them last time we were in Acts. But through the big picture
of this story, I believe I have a message for us. I have a message
for this local assembly especially. And anybody who happens to hear
this who loves the Lord Jesus Christ, I have a message for
us. Paul preached. He's going to all these different
places preaching. And he preached, and as he was
preaching, he saw a crippled man who he perceived had faith
to be healed. He had faith to believe. And
he said to that man, stand upright on thy feet, and he leaped and
walked. And when all the people saw what
God did through Paul, God did it through Paul, when all the
people saw that, They started worshipping Paul and Barnabas,
the men, not the God they were preaching. They started worshipping
the men. Verse 11, 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. And they called Barnabas Jupiter
and Paul Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. was the
Greeks' highest god, little g god. We worshipped Christ, they worshipped
Jupiter. And Mercury was his messenger. He was the one who spoke on behalf
of Jupiter. So they called Paul Mercury because
he did all the speaking. Verse 13, then the priest of
Jupiter, they had worship and somebody conducted their worship
service. The priest of Jupiter, which
was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates
and would have done sacrifice with the people. They were about
to literally start making sacrifices to these men. Verse 14, which
when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of, they rent their
clothes and ran in among the people crying out. Back then,
ripping your clothes was an outward show of hating, just absolutely
detesting, rejecting, being sorry for, blasphemy against God. Blasphemy was worthy of death
and it was a show of blasphemy against God. And I don't know
if ironically is the right word or shamefully is the right word,
but to man's ignorance that is what they convicted our Lord
of and sentenced Him to die for. Blasphemy against God. He was
standing there and the high priest said, Are you the Christ, the
Son of God? And he answered, Thou hast said. And he ripped his clothes and
he said, he spoke in blasphemy. We don't need any more witnesses.
Crucify Him. Blasphemy. God, the Son of God
Himself. Well, this time it was true.
They said, this is blasphemy. Verse 15, saying, sirs, why do
ye these things? We also are men of like passions
with you. And so many of these things we
could stop and take time to talk about it. We're just men of like
passions. But we're going to move on. We're
men of like passions with you and preach unto you that you
should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made
heaven and earth, and the sea and all things that are therein,
who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own
ways. 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, And with these
sayings, scarce restrained they the people that they had not
done sacrifice under them. That word scarce means with difficulty. That's what it means. Much work. It took a lot to stop them from
sacrificing. They insisted, you are not going
to sacrifice to us. They were in all of them, absolutely
in all of these men, just men. Worship though that is not fully
directed to God Almighty is not true worship. Watch this in verse
19. Paul had been preaching in some
different places, and there came thither certain Jews from Antioch
and Iconium who persuaded the people. And having stoned Paul,
now they were just worshipping him, ready to sacrifice to the
God's come down. And it took just a little bit
of persuading, not much. And they stoned Paul. And they drew him out of the
city, supposing he had been dead. They went from absolutely loving
this man to absolutely hating this man. We want him dead. They stoned him to the point
that they all actually believed he was dead. They drug him out
of the city. They left him there. Everybody
believed he was dead. The other disciples, they were
not checking his vitals and running him to the hospital. Verse 20
says, how be it as the disciples stood round about him. This is
their brother. This is their friend. And they
know he's dead. He's dead. As his disciples, 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. And when they had preached the
gospel to that city and had taught many, and my margin right there
says, had made many disciples, they returned again to Lystra
and to Iconium and Antioch, 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. Now
let me tell you what the word tribulation means. We think we
know what that word means, and we do, but here's the actual
definition of it. It means pressing. That's what the word means, pressing.
They were confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting
them to continue in the faith and that we must, through much
pressing, enter into the kingdom of God. When I read that, I thought
of this verse of scripture. Go with me to Philippians chapter
3. Philippians chapter 3, look at
verse 13. Paul says, Brethren, I count
not myself to have apprehended. I didn't do this. I didn't start this. This was
not of me. I count not myself to have apprehended. But this one thing I do, forgetting
those things which are behind. and reaching forth unto those
things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize
of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Just in Acts chapter 14, as we
go through the book of Acts, we're going to see everything
that happened to Paul and a lot happened to Paul. But just in
Acts 14, he started that chapter by preaching in Iconium, and
a great multitude believed, and then an assault was made on him.
So he fled to Lystra. And through the preaching, a
man was healed, and then they stoned him. And then he got up,
and he forgot those things which were behind, and he pressed toward
the mark, And he went to Derby and he started preaching the
gospel there. And it says, confirming, you don't have to turn back,
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. I was studying this Monday and
I had time to sit and think about the purpose of believers. purpose of believers and you
know I don't want to go deep but my question was why are we
here? Why are we here? Brother Dickie
called me on the phone that day and he said what are you doing?
I said my whole life is flashing before my eyes. That's what I'm
doing. Why am I here? And I don't mean in Kingsport.
I know why I'm here. There's no place I'd rather be.
Why are we believers on this earth? Why are we on this earth? Why are we here? What is our
purpose? Well, it's to worship and to
praise and to honor and to glorify God. That's true. That's true. But we can do every bit of that
with our Lord in glory. We will spend eternity doing
that. So why are we here? Why are we
here? We have a life that we live here. We do things. We make decisions.
Why are we here? What are we doing and why are
we here? Look at Philippians chapter 1. Paul says in Philippians chapter
1 verse 21, For to me to live is Christ,
and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this
is the fruit of my labor, yet what I shall choose I know not,
for I am in a strait betwixt two. having a desire to depart
and to be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless,
to abide in the flesh is more needful for you, and having this
confidence I know that I shall abide and continue with you all
for your furtherance and joy of faith, that your rejoicing
may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to
you again. We are here for each other. We are here for men's souls. Everything that God does is for
the salvation of souls. God puts people together. One
day he might give you children. And if he does, somehow it's
for the furtherance of a saved soul. Maybe yours, maybe somebody
else's. But every single thing that happens
to us in this life is for the collection of God's souls. Every single thing. There are
souls that have not been called out yet. There are souls that
need to hear this gospel. There are souls that need to
see Christ with eyes of faith. And Paul said right here, that's
why I'm still here. Now I'm in a straight between
two. I would rather just go be with Christ and just worship
Christ and live with Christ and rest in Christ. But for me to
be here and for you to be here and you to be here is far more
needful for our brothers and sisters, for the furtherance
of this gospel. Paul, they are going to kill
you for this message. And they did, didn't they? Paul,
they're going to kill you for this message. He said, let's press toward the
mark. That's what he said. Let's press
toward the mark. Don't you think you ought to
get discouraged? Don't you think it's about time?
Paul, one chapter? How many times have they tried
to take your life? Don't you think it's time to get discouraged?
No. Don't you think it's time to
give up? At some point, don't you just
give up? No. No. He said, if I could, I would
wish myself accursed for my brethren. Can you imagine? Let's press
toward the mark. Let's all press toward the mark. I told you before about a man
who has been under the gospel for about 60, 70 years, something
like that. He's not a pastor. He's just a dear brother. But
I heard him pray in one time. And in his prayer, he said, Lord,
give us a greater concern for men's souls. A greater concern
for men's souls, not their earthly well-being, their eternal well-being. A greater concern. Go with me
over to 1 Corinthians 9. First Corinthians 9, look at
verse 19. Paul says, For though I be free
from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that
I might gain them more. And unto the Jews I became as
a Jew, that I might gain the Jews. And to them that are under
the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under
the law. To them that are without law, as without law, being not
without law to God, but under the law to Christ, that I might
gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak,
that I might gain the weak. I am made all things to all men,
that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel's
sake. that I might be partaker thereof
with you. Know ye not that they which run
in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run that you may
obtain." Run like that. Run as though you want to be
first. And every man that striveth for
the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain
a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. I therefore so
run, not as uncertainly," meaning you want to go for a jog today?
Sure. Where would you like to go? I don't know. Let's just
start jogging and then we'll see where we go. He said, I have
a finish line. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly,
so fight I, not as one that beateth the air, but I keep under my
body, and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means, when
I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." I keep
my flesh down. You know, this is not about the
flesh getting all pumped up, my own fire for God, and look
at me. He said, that pride will take
over and I keep it down. He said, I became all things
that I might save some. Now, my biggest fear in all of
this has been to insinuate that I'm preaching works. And everybody's
listening really hard right now, wondering, maybe not wondering
if I am, but making sure I'm not. Does Paul, do you believe
that the Apostle Paul, believed in his heart that he had the
ability to save some. Do you believe he thought that
he could save some? Go with me over to Romans chapter
9. Romans 9 verse 13 says, As it
is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. What shall
we say then? Is there unrighteousness with
God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will
have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion
on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that
willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.
For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, even for this same purpose
have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that
my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath
he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will, he hardeneth. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why
doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
Nay, but, O man, who art thou that replies against God? Shall
the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made
me thus? Hath not the potter power over
the clay of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor and
another unto dishonor? You know what he's saying right
there? God does all the choosing in salvation. That's what he's
saying. His will, not mine. Salvation is by the will of God
alone. And he's saying Christ did all
the saving, all the redeeming. God did all the choosing. Christ
did all the saving. It's not of him that willeth,
nor of him that runneth. It's of God that shows mercy
to sinners through the blood of Christ. That's what he's saying.
Salvation is totally of the Lord. God did all the choosing. Christ
did all the saving. The Spirit does all the calling.
Not one of God's sheep will be lost. All right? So we're running
this race, he says. Pressing toward the mark, he
says. But not one of his sheep are
going to be lost. Why does he say, I press toward the mark
that I might, as he says it, save some? Why did he say that? Let me show you why. Go to Matthew
11. And Deuteronomy 32. Our Lord said, I even I am he,
didn't he? And there is no God with me.
I kill, I make alive, I wound, I heal, neither is there any
that can deliver out of my hand. He said in Isaiah 45, I form
the light and create darkness, I make peace and create evil,
I the Lord do all these things. Isaiah 43, he said, I will work
and who shall let it? But look at Matthew 11 verse
1. And it came to pass when Jesus had made an end of commanding
his 12 disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach
in their cities. He went to their cities, and
he started teaching and preaching. Why did he do that? Is he not
God Almighty? Isn't he God Almighty? He said,
Moses wrote of me. He said, before Abraham was,
I am. Why did he not just walk up to
a crowd and say, you, you, you, you, and you, go on up. Everybody
else is damned. Why? He crossed the sea to go preach
to one person. Why? Why? God did. God did. It's because it pleased Him by
the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe the
message that's preached. It pleased him to open eyes,
open ears, put life into a soul, regenerate a soul by the preaching
of the gospel of Christ. He said, go unto all the world
and you preach this gospel. Preach it to all the world. Commanding
men everywhere to repent. Do not invite them. command them
to repent. He said, the kingdom of heaven
suffereth violence and the violent take it by force. So Paul writes
under the inspiration of God, press toward the mark. Press your own soul, press the
souls of others toward the mark. Jesus Christ is the mark. Press toward Christ. Press toward
Christ. Press the ones you love toward
Christ. Today is the day of salvation.
Call on him while he's near. Seek him while he may be found.
Do not wait. Do not put it off. Press. Let's not allow our souls to
become lazy and tired and indifferent to the one thing that matters
in this life. The one thing. Press toward the
mark. It really sounds like you're
preaching works now. It sounds a lot like you're telling
us to go out and do. Our Lord said, Pray ye the Lord
of the harvest. It's his harvest. But he said,
pray ye the Lord of the harvest that he will send forth laborers,
workers. You mean preachers? Not necessarily. We do need preachers. Please
the Lord by the foolishness of preaching. But a man or a woman
does not have to be a preacher to be a laborer in the cause
of Christ. Aquila and Priscilla, they were
not preachers. The house of Stephanus, they
were not preachers, but they pressed toward the mark. They
pressed, they gave their all. They gave it all. Go with me
to Mark 14. Mark 14 verse 3 says, Being in
Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat,
there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of
spikenard, very precious. And she break the box and poured
it on his head. She poured it all on him, her
mark. And there were some that had
indignation within themselves and said, Why was this waste
of the ointment made? For it might have been sold for
more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor.
And they murmured against her. And Jesus said, Let her alone.
Why trouble ye her? For she hath wrought a good work
on me. For you have the poor with you
always. And whensoever you will, you
may do them good. But me you have not always. She
hath done what she could." She did what she could. She has
come beforehand to anoint my body to the bearing. Well, what
should I do? What do you want me to do? Press
toward the mark? do all you can, and what do you
want me to do? I thought you always tell me
to rest in Christ. I do. He's our mark. If we get to Him, there's nothing
but rest. And if all souls get to Him, there's nothing but rest.
Paul told us through much tribulation we're going to enter into the
kingdom of heaven. Through much pressing. And we're here for
our sake, the sake of our soul, and the soul of every brother
and sister that the Lord will call. Well, what would God have
me to do? Ask him that. Ask him that. Talk to him about
it. Lord, I realize there's much
work to be done in your ministry. The only reason that this earth
is still turning, the only reason we need another day is because
at least one more soul has to be called out. As soon as that
soul, that final soul is done, boom. So Lord, I realize there's much
work to be done in the cause of Christ. We have a little church
here. No, this is God's ministry. And God has established a ministry
in all these different places, and God has purposed to raise
up ministries wherever he has pleased to do so. What do they
need? You need some financial support?
We got $100. What do you need? You need a man to come over and
preach? Would you like to hear the gospel? We'll send him. You
don't have to pay us, our expense. What would God have me to do?
Only he can burden a heart for his work and his ministry. Once he tells you what it is,
though, press toward the mark. Press toward the mark. If God
ever calls a man to preach, preach with all you have. Study with
all you got. And declare it as the oracles
of God. And if God calls you to work,
you work as hard as you can. Give it all your might. to give your all to the obtaining
of Christ and the obtaining of others in Christ. Is salvation of the Lord? Yes,
it is. There is therefore now no condemnation
in Christ Jesus. Is He going to save His people?
Yes, He will. He started this work. He will
finish this work. Did He give us a charge? Yes, He did. Let's obey His commandment. Press toward the mark. Give yourself,
your time, your energy, your efforts, your resources. Give
everything you have to press your own soul and the souls of
others. Drag them with you. You know
that God's going to only save His elect, but I don't know who
they are. So let's preach it to all the
world. Let's preach it to all of Kingsport. Lord, how would you have us to
get the gospel out? Every time our children walk
through that door, you know what we're doing? We are pressing
them toward the mark. If God saves them, God's going
to save them. If God calls them, God's going to call them. Whatever
happens to them, God is the doer of it. But in obedience to him,
we're going to press him toward the mark. He is the one thing
in this life that is needful. Everything else is secondary
to him. Press toward the mark. Only the
mark. Back to Acts 14. I'm going to
try to finish up. Acts 14. Verse 21 says, When they had
preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned
again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, confirming the souls
of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith,
and that we must, through much pressing, enter into the kingdom
of God. And when they had ordained them
elders in every church, pastors for each church, and had prayed
with fasting, they commended them to the Lord on whom they
believed. And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they
came to Pamphylia. When they had preached the word
in Perga, they went down to Atalia, then sailed to Antioch, from
whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work
which they fulfilled. 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. There they abode long time with
the disciples. Who did they end up giving all
the glory to for the work that was done? To God be the glory. Press, do, give, work, knowing
that God is the author. If God causes me to hear his
word and respond and believe and do, I was dead. He gave me life. He caused me
to hear. He caused me to believe. He caused
me to do. To God be the glory for all things. God be the glory for all things.
Now I close with this. You'll want to see this. This
is a word of encouragement for everything that God calls us
to and causes us to do. Go to Mark chapter 10. You know, we just went through
saying, give it all, do it all, press toward the mark. Mark chapter
10, look at verse 28. Then Peter began to say unto
him, lo, we have left all and have followed thee. And Jesus
answered and said, verily I say unto you, There is no man that
hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother,
or wife, or children, or lands for my sake and the gospels. The sake of the gospel and the
cause of Christ. But he shall receive an hundredfold
now in this time houses and brethren and sisters and mothers and children
and lands with persecutions and in the world to come eternal
life. Rest toward the mark. Press. Let's press toward the mark,
knowing all the while God is the doer of it. Who is causing
us to press? To God be the glory. All right,
let's stand together.