Don’t get Discouraged (Acts 14: 1-28)

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I'm so glad you are joining us today. In this episode, we're diving into Acts 14:1-28 with a focus on a timely and important topic: "Don’t Get Discouraged." 

Life is full of challenges, and sometimes we face discouragement in various aspects of our lives. But through the story of Paul and Barnabas, we can find strength and encouragement to persevere. Let's explore how we can stay strong in our faith and find courage even in the toughest times.

Episode Notes:

Episode Summary: In this episode, we delve into Acts 14, where Paul and Barnabas face significant opposition and challenges during their missionary journey. Despite the trials, they demonstrate remarkable perseverance and faith, offering valuable lessons on dealing with discouragement.

Key Points:

• Facing Discouragement: Life can get difficult, and discouragement can affect all areas of life, including relationships and work. Within the church, discouragement can also creep in. How should we respond?
• Paul and Barnabas' Journey: During their first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas faced intense opposition, yet they persevered. Their journey through Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe was filled with both triumphs and trials, showing their commitment to their mission.
• Miracles and Misunderstandings: In Lystra, Paul healed a man crippled from birth, leading the locals to mistakenly worship Paul and Barnabas as gods. Their reaction to this incident teaches us about humility and the importance of directing glory to God.
• Enduring Through Trials: Despite being stoned and left for dead, Paul continued his mission, demonstrating the power of steadfast faith. His message to new believers was clear: expect trials, but remain steadfast.
• Encouragement in Hard Times: Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in each church, ensuring support and leadership for the new believers. Their return to Antioch of Syria marked the complet

Transcript

Don’t get Discouraged.  (Acts 14: 1-28)

Transcript: 

Life can get difficult, and sometimes it can get difficult real quick. And when it does, we often find ourselves discouraged. Have any of you been discouraged lately? When discouragement sets in, our natural reaction is to want to exit stage left, immediately.

This discouragement can impact almost any aspect of life, including marriage, work, relationships with friends or colleagues, and when frustration peaks, the thought of quitting and finding another option can becomes tempting.

Even within the church, discouragements can creep in. So, what should we do we do when we feel discouraged? 

Well, we've been studying the book of Acts, and today we find ourselves in the middle phase of Paul's first missionary journey. This journey marks the first recorded instance of a church sending out missionaries. Paul and Barnabas began in Cyprus, then moved on to the mainland, modern-day Turkey, hitting city after city. One thing is clear though: their journey was far from easy. 

In chapter 13, we saw they faced opposition so intense that they were expelled from one of the cities. John Mark, overwhelmed by the challenges, decided to return home. But Paul and Barnabas persevered on, driven by the joy of seeing people come to Christ.

Their journey continued with both triumphs and trials. They saw converts and experienced joy in each city they visited, but their path grew increasingly difficult. When you add illness or pain to discouragement, it can seem unbearable. Pain, whether physical or emotional, can be a joy killer. So how do you carry on with joy in your heart when there’s pain in your body? This is the question Paul and Barnabas faced as their missionary journey progressed.

Today, we will look at the last leg of this first missionary journey, focusing on the challenges and the lessons we can learn. So, let's turn to Acts chapter 14 in today’s episode of TBPDP….

This chapter might be long, but I believe it's important to read it in its entirety. Scripture instructs us to give attention to the public reading of God's Word, and I think we sometimes neglect this practice these days. Additionally, our modern attention spans have shortened, but we need to remember that the early church listened to long sermons and speeches.

So, bear with me as we dive into Acts 14, starting from verse 1:

1 At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. 2 But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. 3 So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders. 4 The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles. 5 There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them. 6 But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, 7 where they continued to preach the gospel.

8 In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked. 9 He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed 10 and called out, “Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.

11 When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. 13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them.

14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: 15 “Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. 16 In the past, he let all nations go their own way. 17 Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” 18 Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.

19 Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. 20 But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

21 They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. 23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders[a] for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. 24 After going through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia, 25 and when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.

26 From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. 27 On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.

(Acts 14: 1-28)

Paul's journey continues as he travels to Iconium, Lystra, and finally returns to Antioch. Let's break down these events.

First, in Iconium, Paul and Barnabas preach in the synagogue, and many Jews and Greeks believe their message about Jesus as the Messiah. However, some Jews reject this and attempt to turn the Gentiles against them. 

Despite this opposition, Paul and Barnabas remain in Iconium for a considerable time, speaking boldly and performing signs and wonders, relying on the Lord for strength and courage. Their persistence in the face of adversity is inspiring, showing us the importance of standing firm in our faith even when faced with challenges.

Eventually, the city becomes divided, with some supporting the apostles and others siding with the opposing Jews. When a plot to stone them is uncovered, Paul and Barnabas wisely decide to move on to Lystra and Derbe, trusting that the new believers in Iconium will be cared for by other leaders.

In Lystra, they encounter a man crippled from birth. Paul, seeing his faith, heals him, mirroring the miracles performed by Peter earlier in Acts. This act not only brings physical healing but also serves to validate Paul's apostleship, demonstrating that he operates with the same authority as Peter.

The reaction to this healing by Paul is fascinating. It says, they thought, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!" In verse 11, they specifically called Barnabas Zeus and Paul Hermes. 

Now, those of course are the Greek names of Gods from Greek mythology. Zeus was the chief god, and Hermes was the spokesman of the gods. The Roman name for Hermes is Mercury, and the Roman name for Zeus was Jupiter. So, it’s the same gods, just the Greek and Roman versions. Since Paul was the spokesman, they figured he was Hermes, and Barnabas must be the chief god, Zeus. So, they said to the local pagan priests, "The gods have come down to visit us," and the priests decided to get animals to sacrifice to them.

Paul and Barnabas didn’t initially understand what was going on probably because the people were speaking in the Lycaonian language. When they realized what was going on, they said, "Why are you doing these things?" 

In verse 15, Paul says, "We also are men with like natures as you. Look at us! We have five fingers on each hand and five toes on each foot. We put our pants on one leg at a time. We’re just like you. Don’t do this!"

But the people were adamant. They really wanted to sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas. 

The Lycaonians probably reacted in this way because in Greek mythology there was a legend that says something similar happened in this place in the distant past. The legend goes that the gods came down disguised as humans and tried to find someone to host them, but no one would except for one poor old couple. Because of this, the gods destroyed the city, except for that couple. 

So, the people maybe thought, “We’re not making this mistake again!” They got the animals ready to sacrifice.

Either way, Paul and Barnabas were horrified and said, “We are merely human beings!” 

So, in Acts 14, we see Paul and Barnabas's journey continuing with some remarkable events and responses. Let's take a look at these key moments:

First, in Iconium, Paul and Barnabas preached in the synagogue, leading many Jews and Greeks to believe. Despite this success, some Jews rejected their message and tried to turn the Gentiles against them. Yet, Paul and Barnabas remained for a considerable time, speaking boldly and performing signs and wonders through the power of the Lord. Their persistence in the face of opposition is a testament to their unwavering faith and reliance on God.

When a plot to stone them was discovered, they moved on to Lystra and Derbe. This wasn't a case of them fleeing in fear this was a strategic decision to protect the new believers and continue their mission. Their adaptability and trust in God's plan are evident here.

In Lystra, they met a man crippled from birth, whom Paul healed. This miracle mirrored the ones performed by Peter earlier in Acts, showcasing that Paul operated with the same apostolic authority. The people of Lystra, amazed by the miracle, tried to worship Paul and Barnabas as gods. However, Paul corrected them, emphasizing that they were mere humans bringing the good news of the living God, the Creator of all.

Paul explained that God has always left a witness of Himself through creation. Romans 1 tells us that God's invisible attributes are evident in what He has made, leaving everyone without excuse. This underscores the message that God’s power, intelligence, and goodness can be seen in the world around us.

Despite this teaching, opposition followed them. Jews from Antioch and Iconium persuaded the crowds to turn against Paul, leading to his stoning. They thought he was dead, but he miraculously survived. Instead of fleeing, Paul and Barnabas continued their mission, returning to strengthen the new believers and encourage them in their faith.

Through these events, we see the resilience and faith of Paul and Barnabas. They faced significant challenges and physical danger but remained committed to their calling. This highlights the power of steadfast faith, the importance of relying on God, and the impact of bold proclamation of the gospel.

In this passage, we see that both Jews and Gentiles believed. Paul and Barnabas encourage them to continue in the faith saying, if you were a pagan, don’t go back to paganism. If you were Jewish, don’t go back to Judaism. Stay firm in the belief that Jesus is the Messiah. 

They also said, "Through many tribulations, we must enter the kingdom of God" (verse 22).

Believing in Jesus doesn’t mean you’ll never have problems. You will face many tribulations, but it’s through these tribulations that we enter the kingdom of God.

Hear me and hear me well: if you have trusted in Jesus Christ, you have eternal life. That’s a gift that cannot be taken away. He didn’t give you temporary life; He gave you eternal life. That’s settled. But that doesn’t mean you won’t face challenges. Life is difficult and discouraging, and we often react by saying, “I don’t want to do this anymore; I’m out of here.” 

Remember, Paul is talking to new Christians and he’s saying, "Let me tell you upfront, life is tough. There are going to be trials, and things are not going to go smoothly." And let me tell you how bad it can get: I was stoned I had rocks hurled at me. So, when he says, “I’m telling you it’s going to get tough out there,” and he meant it.

But why does God allow us to go through trials? Why are we left to face these challenges? The answer lies in the purpose behind these trials. God uses them to mature us, to shape us into the people He wants us to be. 

When we respond properly to trials, they refine us in ways nothing else can.

You have a choice in how you respond to these difficulties. You can let them make you bitter, or you can let them make you better. Think of an iron rod that is bent. To straighten it, you have to put it over a hot fire. Similarly, God allows us to go through the fire so we can come out the other side straightened and strengthened.

Trials are a part of our journey in the Kingdom of God. Jesus told Nicodemus, “Unless one is born again, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.” Salvation is a gift, but the path to fully experiencing God’s Kingdom involves trials. These hardships are inevitable, but they also produce something valuable within us.

Consider Paul’s experience. He was stoned and left for dead, yet he didn’t quit. He continued preaching the gospel despite the persecution. He didn’t say, “I’m done with this.” Instead, he persevered, demonstrating unwavering faith and dedication to his mission.

Paul also provided encouragement and leadership. 

Note, in verse 23, we see that he appointed elders in every church. This plural leadership ensured that each church had several elders to guide and support the congregation.

Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch of Syria, the starting point of their journey. They passed through various cities, preaching the word and sharing what God had done. When they finally returned to Antioch, they stayed there for a long time, likely around a year, from spring 48 AD to spring 49 AD. During this time, Paul wrote the letter to the Galatians, addressing the churches he had just visited.

OK, let me try and wrap all this up.

The point I want to make today is really very simple.

In spite of being abused, threatened with being stoned and actually being stoned, Paul persevered, he kept ministering to people, by the Word and in the Spirit and  he didn't let any of that discourage him. He didn't let any of that stop him. 

So let me put it really simply. 

When you get discouraged, here’s what you need to take from this from a spiritual point of view:

First, expect problems. If these two chapters on the first missionary journey teach us anything, it’s that you can expect problems. Just look at these last two chapters: They were attacked verbally and physically, expelled from a city, and then Paul actually got stoned. In Galatians 6, Paul will say, “I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.” Likely referring to what has gone on in these chapters.

He’s saying very clearly, “I was persecuted, I was stoned, but I did not quit.”

That leads us to the second point: We are called to endure. 

Paul says, “Persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra—what persecutions I endured.” Paul’s message to us is clear: when you meet opposition and feel like quitting, endure. He faced much and endured it.

Paul’s testimony is that through these difficult trials, Paul learned to trust the Lord and developed qualities like faith and love.

After giving his testimony, Paul states, “All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” So if you’re following the Lord and striving to be godly, expect difficulties. But here’s the good news: if you endure and trust the Lord, you’ll come out better on the other end. 

You should become more patient and loving. That’s Paul’s message, and he demonstrated it by strengthening the early church and despite his trials, he didn’t at any time say, “Woe is me.” Instead, he asked, “How can I use this to minister to others?”

When life gets discouraging, don’t run from it. Instead look it in the eye and ask, “Lord help make me more patient and loving in this and other future situations? 

Also ask, how can I minister to someone else who is going through a similar situation in the future?” Doing this will help you grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

So, what do you need when you’re discouraged? Courage, of course. 

Think about it: if you’re discouraged, it obvious you need the to replace what your circumstances are trying to rob you of, courage. 

The outstanding feature of this story is Paul’s sheer courage. After being stoned, his first act was to go right back into the city where it happened. 

John Wesley advised, “Always look a mob in the face.” Paul’s return to the city was incredibly brave.

So, what do you do? 

First, expect problems. Don’t be surprised; know they’re coming.

Second, endure and minister to others. Don’t quit. Keep doing what you’re doing and trust the Lord to produce fruit in your life and ministry to others.

I’m passionate about this subject because this life of mine has been tough recently. It’s tough out there, especially if you love people. So, expect it, endure it, and take courage from it and go encourage others. You will be blessed.

Consider John Milton, one of the greatest literary figures in English literature. He wrote "Paradise Lost," a masterpiece, despite losing his eyesight. At the height of his career, he began to go blind. Instead of letting it stop him, he wrote a poem on blindness and continued working. 

It was after going completely blind, he gave us "Paradise Lost." Milton’s perseverance through his trial gave us one of the greatest pieces of western literature.

Keep ploughing ahead and enduring, no matter the challenges you face.

Don't quit, hang in there. Go find somebody to encourage who is going through the same thing and God will bless you and encourage you, fill you with courage to face the days ahead. Amen.