Acts, Chapter 14 - The Power of Faith in Real Believers

Outbless Weekly

Acts, Chapter 14 - The Power of Faith in Real Believers

14 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.

- Next chapter 13 the apostles were preaching boldly in Antioch and many people were coming to a place of faith. but certain people from the Jewish religious leadership stirred up the people of power and position against the Christian brothers and forced them out

- now in chapter 13 Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue

o Notice that Paul and Barnabas went as usual (to boldly preach the gospel)

- they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed

o this is what happens when you speak the word of God empowered by the Holy Spirit

- but the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers

o notice it's the same fight; it's the same type of people

o Notice the pattern of their incorrect thinking:

§ first they refused to believe

§ next they stir it up the other gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers

§ the devil and his minions are always trying to stir up trouble and poison people's minds (This is why we have to take every thought captive and compare it to what the word of God says before we allow it to travel the 18 inches from our head to our heart)

§ let the word green supreme in your heart and in your mind and allow it to control your decisions

§ and yet make sure that the words that enter your hearing if they are not in alignment with the word of God that you do not allow them to go from your head to your heart but rather you delete them immediately because they are from the devil and not from God.

o so Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there

§ notice they didn't run or quit but instead they spent considerable time

§ speaking boldly for the Lord (this is what they spent considerable time doing)

§ who confirmed the message of his grace (grace is unearned undeserved favor)

§ by enabling them to perform signs and wonders

§ this is how God confirms his Word wo others who are listening

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.

- The people of the city were divided

o some sided with the Jews

o others with the apostles

o notice the two sides (one who believed that keeping the law is the way to heaven; the other depending upon the work of the cross to get entrance into heaven)

§ the first is man doing something to earn it

§ the latter this man receiving from God that which was unearned

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