The Word This Week
Acts 14:1…
The mission field is where those who are called will experience the highest of heights and the lowest of lows.
Of Jesus it is written that He had the oil of gladness more than any man, (Hebrews 1:9,) and also that He was a man of sorrows. (Isaiah 53:3)
That gamut of emotions well describes what those sent to share God’s Word may expect to experience.
Paul and Barnabas certainly did, and it began from the very first days of their ministry back on the mainland of modern-day Turkey – having sailed there from Cypress.
At Antioch of Pisidia this pattern of joyful receptivity followed by intense rejection began.
Having received the Word with such gladness they asked them to preach the same message the following Sabbath. Most of the whole city turned out to hear the message. Because of the popular reception of their Gospel presentation, the Jews became envious of their popularity and had them driven out of town.
Undismayed by this rejection, Paul and Barnabas headed to Iconium where once again the reception was overwhelming. There was great joy because the Gospel message they shared was accompanied by great signs and wonders. They stayed there a long time because of this – but the joy they were initially received with faded – and this time both Jews and Gentiles alike planned to have them stoned.
Paul and Barnabas heard of this and fled for their lives to Lystra, where Paul observed a lame man he sensed had the faith to be healed – and he was! Having seen this, the people gathered and proclaimed them to be gods. Barnabas, they called ‘Zeus’, and Paul they called ‘Hermes,’ because he the was the chief speaker. Even the priest of the Temple of Zeus at Lystra came desiring to sacrifice to them because of the great miracle God worked through Paul and Barnabas. Paul and Barnabas would simply not allow this to be, declaring themselves to be, “mere men, having the same nature as you.” Still, they were exalted as great men, nonetheless.
But again it didn’t take long for their popularity to turn to abject rejection. The Jews at Iconium had been so incensed by Paul and Barnabas they traveled to Lystra and convinced all those who had been desiring to treat Paul and Barnabas as gods to stone them instead.
And this time they did. Paul was stoned by the people and left for dead. For many people this may have been the end of the story of their willingness to continue – but not Paul.
Pastor Bill
The mission field is where those who are called will experience the highest of heights and the lowest of lows.
Of Jesus it is written that He had the oil of gladness more than any man, (Hebrews 1:9,) and also that He was a man of sorrows. (Isaiah 53:3)
That gamut of emotions well describes what those sent to share God’s Word may expect to experience.
Paul and Barnabas certainly did, and it began from the very first days of their ministry back on the mainland of modern-day Turkey – having sailed there from Cypress.
At Antioch of Pisidia this pattern of joyful receptivity followed by intense rejection began.
Having received the Word with such gladness they asked them to preach the same message the following Sabbath. Most of the whole city turned out to hear the message. Because of the popular reception of their Gospel presentation, the Jews became envious of their popularity and had them driven out of town.
Undismayed by this rejection, Paul and Barnabas headed to Iconium where once again the reception was overwhelming. There was great joy because the Gospel message they shared was accompanied by great signs and wonders. They stayed there a long time because of this – but the joy they were initially received with faded – and this time both Jews and Gentiles alike planned to have them stoned.
Paul and Barnabas heard of this and fled for their lives to Lystra, where Paul observed a lame man he sensed had the faith to be healed – and he was! Having seen this, the people gathered and proclaimed them to be gods. Barnabas, they called ‘Zeus’, and Paul they called ‘Hermes,’ because he the was the chief speaker. Even the priest of the Temple of Zeus at Lystra came desiring to sacrifice to them because of the great miracle God worked through Paul and Barnabas. Paul and Barnabas would simply not allow this to be, declaring themselves to be, “mere men, having the same nature as you.” Still, they were exalted as great men, nonetheless.
But again it didn’t take long for their popularity to turn to abject rejection. The Jews at Iconium had been so incensed by Paul and Barnabas they traveled to Lystra and convinced all those who had been desiring to treat Paul and Barnabas as gods to stone them instead.
And this time they did. Paul was stoned by the people and left for dead. For many people this may have been the end of the story of their willingness to continue – but not Paul.
Pastor Bill