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Consider staying a little longer
Acts 14:1-7 Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and [a]poisoned their minds against the brethren. 3 Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
4 But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles. 5 And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them, 6 they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. 7 And they were preaching the gospel there.
Paul and Barnabas have just been pushed out of Antioch and the same thing happens in Iconium
This is because, they command great presence, God is moving and lives are being changed,
How many people know that no matter the good you are doing, someone somewhere will be offended
- What is keeping you here?
I ask that question because Paul & Barnabas stayed there because they had an assignment from the Lord – To go and spread the good news
The Jew on the other hand, stayed as well, to cause trouble – the poisoning didn’t take a day
They were both listening to the Word of God. But their motives were different.
What are you doing here? What’s keeping you here?
When the politics begin, you are too serious about this Jesus, you are judging, you are not with the times, and soon…the unbelievers…start poisoning the minds of everyone else
I wonder if there was a time like that where people who have heard the Word of God would allow those who don’t believe, to poison their minds?
But no matter what ……Vs.3 – Therefore they stayed there for a long time.
These guys were not faced by threats, the circumstance changed but their Faith didn’t
They spoke boldly in the Lord because they knew, just as David wrote in the
Psalms 123:4 Yea, though I
walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; For
You are with me; Your
rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
~ We understand that a shadow is not tangible but is cast by something that is. One can rightly say that we face only the shadow of death because Jesus took the full reality of death in our place. – Enduring Words
~ Death in its substance has been removed, and only the shadow of it remains. Someone has said that when there is a shadow there must be light somewhere, and so there is. Death stands by the side of the highway in which we have to travel, and the light of heaven shining upon him throws a shadow across our path; let us then rejoice that there is a light beyond. Nobody is afraid of a shadow, for a shadow cannot stop a man’s pathway even for a moment. The shadow of a dog cannot bite; the shadow of a sword cannot kill; the shadow of death cannot destroy us.” (Spurgeon)
Let is not give in to fear. God was backing them up, they stayed and He showed up.
They didn’t stay to be seen, but they stayed so that the healing, deliverance, life changes could glorify God “granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands
They plotted to stone them but they were alerted- This is for someone who want to do the work of God but you are scared – God will provide a way out
He will use His resources to alert you out or move you. “is there something so great that our God cannot do”?
They fled to Lystra and Derbe – 20 miles away -That’s from Auburn to Redmond
What happens when you are hedging you hope on security, provision, healing, deliverance and it takes a little longer? Are you still going to hang on?
Isaiah 40:31- But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
If you are not waiting on God, then you must well start leaving now…unfortunately nothing will keep you when your expectations are not met
Expectations – you need to dismiss your expectation…” Your” Cloth yourself with expecting God and ONLY Him
Jeremiah 20:8-9 For when I spoke, I cried out; I shouted, “Violence and plunder!” Because the word of the Lord was made to me A reproach and a derision daily. Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name.” But His word was in my heart like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not
Though it cost him much pain and humiliation, Jeremiah could not not preach God’s word
What have you seen God do in your life, that you can’t shut up about Him- these apostles faced stoning, yet they stayed a considerable amount of time in the midst of threats?
I pray that we are consumed by Gods goodness that we can’t hold it in but declare that HE IS WORTH, WORTH, WORTH
Are you willing to wait a little longer to see God work?
- God does not owe you anything
Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Matthew 28:19-20 – Go [a]therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I amwith you always, even to the end of the age.” [b]Amen.
They were commanded!!!
This idea that God will keep you away from trouble is a lie. That you get your best life now
There need to be a Holy fear of God, that when He sends us …we say “ Here I am”
The apostles were on a mission, and no matter how much the opposition there was, they did not consider their lives worth
They were willing to stay until God said go…. How long are you willing to stay?
“The WORD is meant to refine character and bring forth good fruit for His kingdom and glory. If you find yourself being greedy, check the message. If you find yourself thinking you “deserve” anything, check your message. If the message is centered around idolizing YOU, run fast away. God gives beautiful and amazing gifts because He is good, not because we deserve” anything. He’s a good Father, not a divorced parent visiting his kids once a month and lavishing expensive gifts on them to compensate for missing their lives. – “Crystals Krachunis Tue devotional”
Let me translate
Let us be a good vase – whether we are holding flowers in the bathroom or at the King Palace- A broken vase was destined for the trash – discarded forever, and was given a new life, how dare it say – How dare you put me in the bathroom?
Whatever you focus on expands – Focus on the flowers (Word) you are holding and the joy they bring to others when they smell (hear) them.
“ many people came to Christ and at that point they apostle decided it was time for them to leave because it was dangerous” – No- they stayed for a long time and God continued to use them.
1 Samuel 15:22 – Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.
Obedience is better than sacrifice, God is not moved by your sacrifice if there is disobedience.
We don’t get to tell God what He needs to do in our lives so that we can do what He is asking us to do
Job 38: 3-7 (41)Now [a]prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.
4 “Where were you when I laid
the foundations of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements?
Surely you know!
Or who stretched the [b]line upon it?
6 To what were its foundations
fastened?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
7 When the morning stars sang
together,
And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
God choose your arrival time, place and everything else it took to get you here on earth, He gets to choose your Exit, either to the next city, or back to Him
Young Kenya Man- 25 years young
He does not owe us an explanation, He is Lord- That is what reverential fear of the Lord demands – profound adoring overwhelmed respect
It demands everything. Dying to self
Yet we know that when we loose all- we gain all because we get God who is our everything!
This evening am asking you to stay a little longer
Though you may not feel like it, though there seem to be opposition every direction, though “they” seem loud and mightier, though it may feel like you are alone
There is one that sticks closer than a brother. He will never leave you nor forsake you.
God see you, sees your obedience and He will confirm His presence with miracles
All am asking you is to align yourself with Christ
I will end with a story- The duck story
Some of you look like you got it together, like the duck…but when I look with the spiritual eyes, I can see you fighting under the water….
It very hard to stay when you are fighting to stay a float. Let Him who walk on water help you tonight.
Song –
You don’t owe me anything
Still you give me everything
God, I owe you everything
I want you more than anything
Let this be your cry tonight!!!
Please play this at the end – https://youtu.be/RdCOGwkhieg