Acts 14
Iconium – located in modern day Turkey
-Acts 14 starts off by emphasizing the preaching of the Word of God
-Paul preached the Word of God – vs 1, 3, 7, 9, 15, 21, 25
Chapter 14 tells us a few things about the Bible
(1.) THE WORD TELLS US TO CONTINUE – Vs20-22
-Continue is a word of determination, progress, remaining at it..enduring…moving ahead…keep at it…stick with it…
-We are called to advance. Paul went to a place that had never heard about the gospel…
-There are two things that can hinder us from continuing on…….
1. Pain – vs19-22
-hardships…tribulation…
-v20 – Paul got up……
2. Poison – v2
-Poison can cause us to back away from the faith
-church stuff…social media stuff…..people stuff in general…..
(2.) THE WORD OF GOD IS ALWAYS WORKING – vs21, 27-28
-people were saved and discipled
-opposition cannot stop the body of Christ – the Word is always working
-Isaiah 55:10-33 – the Word of God never returns void
(3.) THE WORD OF GOD TELLS US TO CRY OUT – Acts 14:8-18 (vs14-15)
-cry out about Idolatry
definition – idolatry takes place any time e allow anything to take the place of God as the central life giving force in our lives
-identify any golden calves in our lives and repent
(4.) THE WORD OF GOD TELLS US THERE IS HOPE – vs8-10
Hope – is an expectation of things getting better and will change
v8 – this man had no hope
v9 – the Word was preached/the man exhibited faith/was healed & saved
(5.) THE WORD OF GOD TELLS US TO MAKE DISCIPLES – Acts 14:21-22a and Matthew 28:18-20
-the word disciple is used around 269 times in the NT
-disciple means learner…student…
WHAT ARE SOME QUALITIES OF DISCIPLES?
1.) Luke 14:25-26 – you must make Jesus #1 in your life
-hate – refers to total allegiance to the Lord first above all else
2. Luke 14:27 – Deny Yourself – give up your own wants and desires
3. Luke 14:28-33 – We have to give up all of our stuff
-it actually means to say goodbye to
-Mark 10:17-27 -= the rich young ruler
v17 – good implies sinlessness and complete goodness that only belongs to God
vs19-22 – we cannot earn our way to heaven
vs23-27 – the disciples thought wealth was a sign of God’s favor meaning they would go to heaven
v27 – salvation can only come through Jesus…