TRUSTING GOD IN TIMES OF TROUBLE
Acts 14:8-11, 19-23
FAITH IN JESUS IS THE
KEY TO BLESSINGS
V:8 . "In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet,
who was lame 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 "
A. God chooses the time and places for miracles so that His
power and glory can be
shown.
1. The man was
lame from birth and the whole community could attest to that fact.
2. He had heard
Paul speak about Jesus and perhaps had witness miracles
performed by
Paul in the name of Jesus.
3. He became a believer
in Jesus Christ.
B. Paul's faith in Jesus was so strong that he knew that
what he ask on behalf
of another
believer would be done.
1. Paul had the
spirit of discernment.
2. He determined by
looking at the lame man that he had become a believer and that
his faith was
strong.
3. Paul determined
that when he spoke in the name of Jesus that the lame man
would respond in
obedience.
C. We must anticipate that whatever we ask the Father in
Jesus name will be done
for us.
1. Like the lame
man we must live in faith that good things happen to those
who believe
that Jesus will act in their favor.
2. Faith come by
hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
3. Paul determined
the lame man had become convicted by the Word of God.
OBEDIENCE IS FAITH IN OPERATION
V:10. " and called out, "Stand up on your
feet!" At that, the man jumped up and began to walk. "
A. Learning to walk is a process.
1. The muscles,
spinal cord, nerve system, blood vessels, legs
ankles and
feet are just a few of the elements of the body that
have to work
together for a person to walk.
2. A baby learn to
walk in a year to year and a half.
3. The lame man
immediately jump to his feet and began to walk.
4. It was
according to his faith that the power of God worked to
enable the man
to walk.
5. We lose
blessing when we doubt the power of God in our lives.
6. We have not
because we ask not.
B. Our faith may determine the greatness of the Lord shown
through
us.
1. Our lack of
faith may delay our recovery.
2. Our lack of
faith may cause our prayers not to be answered.
WHO DO YOU CREDIT FOR YOUR RECOVERY?
V: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!"
A. The crowd witness a miracle but attributed to their idol
gods.
1. Depending on
their frame of mind, people can see and hear the same thing
and interpret
it differently.
2. Paul gave the
power and authority to the one true living God.
a. The lame
man heard the Word and accepted it as the Word of God.
b. The
community heard the same Word but was left in their lost condition.
B. The lame man saw Paul as an apostle of the true and
living God.
1. The
community saw Paul as a human form of
their idol god.
2. The key
question is how do you see Jesus?
3. Do you believe Jesus can do a miracle in
your life?
4. Do you see the
miracles of every day living and attribute them to "mother nature"?
5. Or, do you see
God in His creation all around you?
REJECT CHRIST AND BE SUBJECT TO THE DEVIL'S INFLUENCE
V: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. "
A. The Gospel was preached, but it fell on stony ground.
1. They say the
miracle of previously lame man walking and was glad for a
short period
of time.
2. Evil men from
out side of the city easily persuaded them that Paul and Barnabas
were evil.
a. They witness
a miracle, but couldn't see good, but only saw evil.
b. The men of the city saw the healing of one
of their own as a punishment
against
them.
B. A person without God in their life is capable of all
evil.
1. They took Paul
who preached the Word of God outside the city
and stoned him,
leaving him for dead.
2. Paul preached
eternal life and they tried to take his life.
3. Paul preached
the good life and they saw evil.
GOD SPECIALIZES IN YOUR RECOVERY
V: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. "
A. Evil exist all around us, but God's good will prevail.
1. In the same
city where Paul was stoned, the church and new believers
stood by
silently as if they had no power.
2. The church had
access to all power but didn't know how to use it.
3. Even the lame
man who had been healed didn't stand in defense of Paul.
B. Barnabas, Paul's companion, didn't stand in defense of
Paul.
1. After Paul was
left for dead, the church came out of the city
to see what
happen.
2. The church
witness the miracle of life in Paul's resuscitation.
3. God allows bad
things to happen to good people so that He can be
glorified.
4. These events
added to the testimony of the power of God of those who
came to faith.
a. The church
witnessed a lame man being healed.
b. The church
witness Paul being stoned and left for dead and
him
being restored to perfect health.
USE YOUR TESTIMONY TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS
V:21. " They preached the good news 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
A. The evil that God allows to happen to members of the
Church will work to the
good of the
Church.
1. The healing of
the lame man didn't convert all the members of the church.
2. It was seeing
Paul preached the Gospel after being stoned that convicted
large numbers
that Paul's God was the true and living God.
B. Paul used his testimony to encourage the Church to remain faithful.
1. Paul used his
near death experience to preach the power of God
and the good
news about Jesus.
2. Paul's
experience, demonstrated to the Church that they are under the
protection of
the almighty God.
C. Paul and Barnabas went back to same places where evil men
threaten
their lives, to
show the Church that evil has no power over God.
1. Being a child
of God does not preclude you from hardships
brought on by
evil men.
2. The devil is
busy trying to destroy the Church and Christian homes.
3. We may have to
endure hardships while God fights our battles.
4. We want know
that God is fighting our battles until we see triumph
over
hardships.
5. God takes us
to trouble, through trouble and out of trouble.
6. God said, I
will never leave you or forsake you..
D. Paul gave the reason for our troubles; to enter into the kingdom
of God
1. Whoever tries
to save his life will lose it. Whoever
loses his life
for Jesus sake
will save his life.
2. Jesus said they
did it to the green tree, what will they do to the dry tree.
3. Jesus said they
hated me, so they will hate you who believe.
4. Strength in our
faith come through trials and tribulations.
USE YOUR TESTIMONY TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL
V:23. " Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in
each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom
they had put their trust."
A. Paul did not reprimand the Church for not standing up for
him when he was
ran out of the
cities and when he was stoned and left for dead.
1. Instead, Paul
encouraged the Church to trust God.
2. Paul encourage the Church to keep their
focus on the Lord.
3. Paul was a good
example for the Church in trusting God in times of trouble
and life threatening situations.
B. The key to trusting God is a strong and active prayer
life.
1. Paul established
the structure of the Church.
2. He initiated
prayer and worship in the Church.
3. In times of
trouble we need that talk with God.
4. It is through
prayer that we learn to call on God and expected His
protection and
provision.
5. It is through
prayer that we express our gratitude to God
for His
goodness.
6. It is through
prayer that we learn that our cries never
fall on deaf
ears.
THANK GOD FOR CHOOSING US
AS HIS SERVANTS
Rev M Mitchell
Asst Pastor of Greater Macedonia
Baptist Church
For more lessons, visit me on face book and my blogs,
revmmitchell,com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com
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