Acts 14 (The Message)
1-3 When they got to Iconium they went, as they always did, to the meeting place of the Jews and gave their message. The Message convinced both Jews and non-Jews—and not just a few, either. But the unbelieving Jews worked up a whispering campaign against Paul and Barnabas, sowing mistrust and suspicion in the minds of the people in the street. The two apostles were there a long time, speaking freely, openly, and confidently as they presented the clear evidence of God's gifts, God corroborating their work with miracles and wonders.4-7But then there was a split in public opinion, some siding with the Jews, some with the apostles. One day, learning that both the Jews and non-Jews had been organized by their leaders to beat them up, they escaped as best they could to the next towns—Lyconia, Lystra, Derbe, and that neighborhood—but then were right back at it again, getting out the Message.
It is amazing to me how much scripture parallels modern society, heck, even my own church.
First, I've been reading Proverbs, it is a challenge to check myself against every verse. Am I going through life with wisdom, or as the fool not fearing God? (here is something for another time)
Saul or rather Paul, starts his ministry off with a bang. He and Barnabas are tearing it up through the cities preaching to both Jews and Gentiles, to anyone who would hear, and to any who would believe. Kicking the Jews in the tails with the realization that God left his inheritance not only for the Jew but the non-Jew as well.
Of all people, you would think the Jews would leave them alone, they are Jewish by birth. You would also think that, because what Paul and Barnabas are preaching aligns so closely with scripture of old, and prophecy fulfilled, they would either believe or at least step out of the way. You would think that with the miracles being preformed in front of their eyes and the authority of which they proclaim the scripture that maybe, just maybe the Jews would at least back down and admit that there was something else in control here.
No.
Some believed and the others...well they deceived.
This division, this deception, goes hand in hand with religion today. Yes, it even happens in our own church. People become so wrapped up in their idea of what religion should be. They see authority given to one man, one woman, one teacher, one preacher. They put their trust so much so in fallible man that they loose sight of Christ. Out of this begins division, small seeds planted among those teetering on the edge of true faith, or even those who are saved, but are weak and easily influenced. These people begin to think that it's all about the man. They loose sight of the cross, or miss the cross altogether. They become so entrenched in their religion that they take the messengers of Christ and stone them and leave them for dead. Not caring one way or the other what happens to the body of Christ.
Unfortunately this is how satan works. He sends a few, they may not even know it. They sew deceit and deception among the ones gathered to hear the gospel. A small whisper turns into a murmur, that murmur builds into a subtle cry and that cry bursts into a roar.
Can you hear it?
It's the same tactic used before Pilot.
GIVE US BARABAS! CRUCIFY HIM!
So maybe the passages of Proverbs apply more than I realized as I typed....are you the man following wisdom, or the foolish man seeking his own flesh?
Further in the chapter, Paul does get stoned, he's left for dead. The fools missed something though, he wasn't dead! So what did he do? He got back up and after some recovery began preaching again, and ruffling the feathers of those Jews that stoned him. He didn't go after them, but continued preaching the truth of Christ.
Go ahead ruffle some feathers. In love and perseverance never give up.
You have been called in Christ to deliver his message to as many as would listen, some seed upon hard ground, some seed choked by weeds, and some after careful cultivation of many others, will grow into belief in Christ. So while you may not see direct fruits, your labor is not in vain. As time goes on it becomes harder to show people truth, because they have been deceived. They have convinced themselves of non-truths as truths.
Be of good courage because of the hope you have in Christ Jesus.
