Through The Door
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19 Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.
They were followed and spoken against even into the next town. To follow these two men because of your anger and hate for a truth that contradicts what you believe. Even after they left the area, they are still followed and attacked.
Where does hate like that come from? Why must we respond with such hate and disdain when our views are challenged?
This is why its so important to understand not only what you believe, but why you believe it. It's easy to tell people what you think about certain things, but can you clearly explain why? Can you defend your position without resorting to hate, negativity, personal or physical attacks?
It wasn't because of something Paul did, but because of the words he spoke. Truth , love, and Jesus made these people angry and violent.
We must take care not to become the people that cannot defend our views and respond with anger.
20 However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.
Was this a miracle? Paul was stoned to the point of death. He was dragged out of the city and perceived as dead by his attackers. Yet, he gets up and makes the journey to the next city!
However! He was not dead.
However:
the sickness disappeared
the addiction was overcome
the marriage was not over
the circumstances changed
he was not defeated
she did not give up
God was not finished and what the world thought was dead got back up and claimed victory over death and sin and made a way for you and I to have an abundant life!
God is a God of miracles and redemption, and just because you feel you have been left for dead doesn't mean that He is through with you. His work will be made to completion.
God will open the doors He wants you to walk through.
21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,
Acts 14:21
Notice that they backtrack to the places they had just come from. The very places in which they had been attacked and persecuted. Immediately after the attack and near death experience, there is a victory.
Sometimes the way forward is to go back.
Immediately after the attack and near death experience, there is a victory.
Sometimes getting through the struggle doesn't mean that we are done. We must turn around and go back into the same situation in order to receive the complete blessing. We were not put there to just make it out by any means necessary, we were put there experience all of it, and sometimes we struggle so hard to avoid the pain and avoid the struggle, and avoid the discomfort that we cheat ourselves out of the miracle by leaving before it's time. Sometimes I think back on times that I really struggled, the times my wife and I really struggled together, and I realize that if God had delivered me at the exact moment that I asked Him to deliver me, I would have missed out the blessing that He had waiting for me.
If we would have given up on our marriage, we wouldn't have experienced the amazingness of what a marriage centered on God is like.
If I would have given up on following God's call on my life, I wouldn't be up here today fulfilling His purpose for me. And you wouldn't have the opportunity to see me in this blue suit and bowties.
If we give up Bellview today, we will not see or be a part of the victory that awaits us on the other side.
God opens the doors He wants us to walk through.
22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” 23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. 24 And after they had passed through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25 Now when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed.
They return in order to reassure and encourage the people who had already responded to the Gospel to remain true to the faith. Also to remind them that it is not suffering that leads us into salvation, but that suffering is necessary for following the path righteousness.
You might have kicked me out, you might of thought that I was dead, you might have thought I was done, but that's what you get for thinking. My God is greater, my purpose is greater, my power is greater, my passion is greater and I still got work to do.
22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” 23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. 24 And after they had passed through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25 Now when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.
Acts 14:
They return in order to reassure and encourage the people who had already responded to the Gospel to remain true to the faith. Also to remind them that it is not suffering that leads us into salvation, but that suffering is necessary for following the path righteousness.
V. 22-25
You might have kicked me out, you might of thought that I was dead, you might have thought I was done, but that's what you get for thinking. My God is greater, my purpose is greater, my power is greater, my passion is greater and I still got work to do.
Sometimes we run out of the oppression so fast that we forgot the people we left in there.
Sometimes we run out of the oppression so fast that we forgot the people we left in there.
The goal is not to just make it out, but to bring as many people with us as possible. We are not the only ones hurting, and having the key to the door, knowing where the door is and knowing the one who opens the door makes us responsible to get as many people through the door as we can before it's too late.
Sometimes we have to go right back into the pain we just made it out of so that we can help others get through it as well. That means reliving hurt and the memories of what we went through.
The hurt of losing a loved one
the hurt of physical or emotional abuse
the hurt of betrayal (ours or others)
the hurt of bad decisions or mistakes that shattered relationships
the hurt of knowing that you are responsible for destroying the lives of others
No one wants to go back to those things. No one wants to bring up those memories or relive those moments, but God brought you through those times so that we could bring others with us.
4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
God opens the doors He wants us to walk through.
Groundhog Day Movie
Have you been stuck in a battle for so long that you've forgotten what it feels like to live any other way? Maybe the reason you are still there is because you still haven't gotten it right. You still haven't learned, you're still being selfish, you still don't see it, you just aren't open to what God is trying to teach you, or maybe you've seen it but refuse to submit to what God is asking you to do.
Isrealites were in the wilderness for 40 years because of their selfishness.
Jonah had to be thrown overboard and spent days in the belly of a fish because of his rebelliousness.
Job had to suffer for God's character to be displayed.
Paul has and continues to suffer for the work he has been called to complete.
What work have you been called to complete?
17 But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches.
26 From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed.
27 Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 So they stayed there a long time with the disciples.
They returned to where they began. This was a missionary journey. They made they way out and then circled back to establish and strengthen the churches that came together. They were planting churches!
Gathering with the home church, they shared their stories and celebrated God's work in what had happened. They stayed to be refueled, reenergized, refocused. To minister and be ministered to. To fellowship and be fed spiritually, emotionally and physically.
Some people stayed in their towns while others joined them on their journey.
This was a missionary journey for Paul and Barnabas. They left home in obedience to the call on their lives. But when they came back, they shared stories, they celebrated, they rested and were fed and strengthened.
Gathering with the home church, they shared their stories and celebrated God's work in what had happened. They stayed to be refueled, reenergized, refocused. To minister and be ministered to. To fellowship and be fed spiritually, emotionally and physically.
This was a missionary journey for Paul and Barnabas. They left home in obedience to the call on their lives. But when they came back, they shared stories, they celebrated, they rested and were fed and strengthened.
They stayed to be refueled, reenergized, refocused. To minister and be ministered to. To fellowship and be fed spiritually, emotionally and physically.This was a missionary journey for Paul and Barnabas. They left home in obedience to the call on their lives. But when they came back, they shared stories, they celebrated, they rested and were fed and strengthened.
Too many churches today make their time of gathering a substitute for time of mission. We make coming together the goal instead of going out. We use this time as a refuge from the busy week, from the job, the bills, the headaches, (which it is). It's supposed to be a time of recharge in between missions, but we forget the mission. And if we, as the body of Christ, are not out there on mission, sharing the Gospel with others, then again, we have to rely on talent, personalities, production, presentation and marketing to get people to come to church. Which leads to the question, "Is the church gathering on Sunday mornings for the believer or for the lost?" That's a whole other topic and sermon, but it goes back to you and I living on mission every day! Sharing the Gospel, investing in people, forming relationships, showing the love of Jesus, and walking through the doors that God has opened for us.
If you are not saved, God has opened the door of faith for you to walk through this morning.
If you need a church home, God has opened the door of family for you to walk through today.
If you are a follower of Christ, God opens the door of a life on mission every single day.
Are you choosing the doors you walk through this morning, or are you walking through the doors He has opened for you?
Are you looking for the blessing in every situation, or are you turning your back on the situation because it’s difficult?
Prayer
Invitiation