Mission in Galatia
Bible Text: Acts 14:1-20 | Preacher: Andrew Love | Series: Acts | Introduction
Paul’s missionary journey
Paul has been to Antioch
Iconium and Lystra
Next week to Derbe
There is a strategy to the journey
Places that are known to them
Major cities
Then smaller surrounding villages and towns
The gospel has a huge impact – a time of great awaking and revival
Iconium
They have been expelled from Antioch
They travel over the mountains to Iconium – the capital city
Part of Lycaonia
A city steeped in Greek tradition
They began their mission first in the Synagogue
A great multitude of Jews and Greeks believe
Their message is accompanied by supernatural power – v1
They preach in boldness and the power of the Holy Spirit
We need to pray for this
There was opposition – v2
The unbelieving Jews poisoned their minds
This is a common tactic of the devil
They were venomous people
Examples
How are our minds poisoned today?
Examples
Often it is unbelieving ‘religious’ who criticise and speak against
They remained there a long time – v3a
God was at work
Multitude were saved
They preached boldly in the Lord
1 Cor 2:1-5
The ministry was accompanied by signs and wonders – v3c
God was vindicating His servants and His word
The people were divided
Part believed and part did not believe
Luke 12:51-53
We pray for household salvation
Initially there are often divisions with the house
Not everyone who comes to church is a believer
Are we on Jesus’ side?
Are we still of the world?
An unholy alliance – v5-7
The Jews and Gentiles are opposed to Paul and Barnabas
What had they done?
It was the work of the devil
Hatred in the hearts of people towards Jesus Christ and God
The apostles became aware of it and flee to Lystra and Derbe
Lystra
20 miles south of Iconium
No synagogue but a temple dedicated to Zeus
A superstitious people
Paul preaches the same gospel
No gimmicks
Paul observes one particular person
He is given a word by the Spirit
A wonderful miracle is performed
It shows the mighty power of God
The people think they are Greek gods and want to sacrifice to them
Paul and Barnabas rip their clothes
A different reaction – not poisoning of the mind but treating them as gods – both demonic
Preachers are not to be put on a high pedestal – they are sinners
Next week we will see the terrible reaction to want to stone Paul almost to death
Learning Points/Application
Idolatry is a terrible thing
Example of Martin Luther, Gideon
Example of Paul and Barnabas
What would they see today?
How are we to react?
To love
To call things out
To follow Jesus Christ means to suffer
Quote from Paul and Jesus
We must be prepared to suffer
We are to be weak like Paul and Barnabas
We are not to bring glory to ourselves
Not for self-adulation
The Gospel causes a division
This is hard
This happened initially in Jesus’ own family
We must pray that God will save all the members of our family
God’s goodness to a fallen world
The healing of the cripple (healed his body, not just his soul)
The mighty power of God
We must never lose sight of this
We must not become accustomed to how things are
We shall not despise the day of small things
We must be an expectant people