Paul's Missionary Trip (Part 2) | Pr Matthew Chang

You're listening to a message to go from X church. We hope this message

will light up your day. So I'm continuing on the series of the Book

of X, and I know that you'll be a bit sporiadi because it's not

continuous, So I will do a quick recap from the previous one that I

did. So it's not the entire book of Acts. It's specifically the Paul's

missionary trip. And so currently we are covering part one, which is why

I said part one means Paul's first missionary trip. It was his first one,

and it is also his shortest one. Okay. He has three missionary

trips. Okay, three missionary trips. The first one is the shortest one,

and we have covered about fifty percent of it. Okay, And maybe

we can go up to the slide okay, the first slide that I have

Okay. And so you know it starts with the church. Okay, It's

starts with the church, the sending church. Okay. The first church that

was built or established okay, or the name even Christians were even used,

was in the church in Antiochy Okay, in Antio of Syria. Okay.

There are two Antiochs one in Antio of Syria and Antier of Pasidia. And

this is called the Antiosyria. So this is where the church began. Both

Paul and Barnabas were the first few leaders, the pastors, the eldest,

and the apostles there. And I mentioned to you before. Okay, when

you study the history, right, you must understand that literature is there.

But books were very few, you know in you know, in Rome,

when even when the Christians were being persecuted, Bibles were being burned, and

you know, bibles being burned that you must say, oh, okay,

well, God Lord Bible. I must understand, books are very very rare,

very very rare, and the whole or city of you know, wrong.

They were estimated to be at that time to be only about fifty bibles.

Okay, only about fifty bibles, Bibles Course of fortune. And if

you later you read about just any books, just journey, any books.

Books take a long time to be written, okay, because first of all,

the material that they have is very expensive. It's not just typical paper.

They don't have a printing press. It's all handwritten. And then the

copy has to be copied, you know, laboriously. The Bible could be.

You know, I was talking to a girl who's from Germany. And

then you know, the first printing press was called the Gutenberg machine. And

then the first book that was ever printed by the main machine is called the

Gutenberg Bible. How mean, if you're not over before the Gutenberg Bible?

Okay, you can see the actual Gutenberg Bible. And I think, if

it's Notmasacon, it's in US. It's in Philadelphia, Okay, the Bible

Museum, if I'm not mistaken. Okay, there's a Bible museum. Okay.

So the first printed Bible is called the Gudenbook Bible. So it was

the first printed okay material, And in all they had developed the letters to

be printed. Okay. But before then, the average time for a book

to be written, and especially the Bible okay, to be written, was

taking us about anywhere from a year to two years. So if you order

a copy, the only if the first copy to be delivered will take between

a year to two years to something like three years. Okay. So it's

very expensive, very precious. Normal people cannot afford it. Normally it is

owned by a collective or the very extremely wealthy, or by the church,

very rare, So books were very rare, and you must understand as well.

At that time, the Bible has not been compiled yet. So when

Paul and Apaulos went to Antio to verify the believers who were there, they

didn't check a you know, ay your doctrines sound or not? Did you

follow this academy? And you know there was no such thing. They were

just believed by faith, okay, And you must understand as much as they

had faith, there were also a lot of influence around them as well.

There were Jews, there were Greeks, there were Romans, and there were

false teachers who had different genders as well. So in a way, your

faith is being surrounded by all sorts of Hellenistic or pagan beliefs and also human

interference. Well sounds like a lot of influencing it. How can and then

you don't ever, you don't even have a reference. How do you even

continue to work? We've gone and so at that time you must understand,

So without the Bible, how do you know what you believe is true?

And not only that, how do you know what you heard from someone teaching

is true? That's a question. How do you believe? Do you verify

that. How do I know if someone come and tell me that certain teaching,

some angel visited them, or that person is the profit promise Messiah.

How do you know that at that time, without Bible, that what that

person say is true and it's from God? How do you know that everybody

is done? How? How no Bible will know? How? The only

way is true the give of the apostles. So God gave apostles. The

apostles word is as powerful and as the authority as Christ himself, because Christ

verified them in some sense. So it's not they themselves. They declare it

is Christ who gave them the authority. They say that your word is scriptural

and that Jesus recognizes it. So Jesus is the one who gives the authority.

So not only Jesus gives the authority. You will read later when you

read today, we will cover it. Sorry that every time when they preach,

God will also bear witness. And how God best witness is what signs

and wonders. Sorry, they had to get up there. They'll come out.

Yeah, oh the praise the Lord. Okay, it was like I

was like wrestling with you in ah. Okay, science and wonders are get

out, get out? Okay? So yeah, talking about science and wonders.

So science and wonders who accompany their works? You know, if you

help me preach before when Peter were there, Peter and James, okay,

Peter and James. When they heal the main Uh, there was laying before

the beautiful game. He called under the name of Jesus. I hear you

in the name of Jesus. So the name of Jesus bears witness, isn't

it. So the science and wonders were accompanying the name of Jesus. And

the science and wonders who are accompanying the preaching and the gospel that was carried

by the apostles as well. And so was this age where in the absence

of the scripture, the apostle, science and wonders were very important. And

you can and you can't understand that how important Paul and Barnabas was to the

Church of Antioch because they carried the authority. They were so hungry. Imagine

you just became a Christian, you just believe you go no Bible. The

only thing you can have is the apostles. They was so precious to the

church in San what I'm saying, It was so important to them. Yet

what did the Holy Spirit spoke to the church? Set apart for me,

Paul and Barnabas for missions the most important people God requires? What does it

tell you? What does I tell you? Hey, that means are in

this church? Sometimes? Are your best pastors? Are your best leaders?

Are your best home leaders? Are your best worship leaders? Are will not

always remain here? Will get sent away. Sometimes your best son, your

best daughter, your dad or mama will have to go out and do missions.

You know why, because God has called them to be set apart for

His work so important to the church and the church. What did the church

respondered? They were They were willing even though they depended on them, they

were willing to send them out. You understand what I'm saying. Yeah,

so it was a very big deal, you know, very very very big.

It was not just a great preacher. You know, you got God

prayer, but these guys were teaching every scriptural truth from God and not He

gave me literally you know, the most important about God. But set apart,

what did God send them? Because God will always raise new leaders among

them as well. And the same what I'm saying, there's where deacons and

elders come up as well. And so that's why I wanted you guys to

learn. Go through the Book of Acts. You know, why not when

you see the lines, what is transpiring they is they are basically the template

of what the church should be, not just in terms of the structure,

but the heart that the church should be prepared to. It makes sense right

now, the first church that receives such great gift from God also have to

give away. You receive an isaac. God requires an isaac as well,

saying you know, he's not saying what I'm saying, you know, so

when sometimes he said, oh, hey, I have been the homes right

now, My home leaders so great, the house so nice, or the

auntie makes the best food. Man always do all the teaching, you know,

I don't do do anything else the end of the day. Well,

God requires them to be multiplying, to be sending. How Oh yeah,

but you know I can't teach, but that person teach the best one.

How send to another place? Sent to another plan? God, call them

down if you go where I read them moved to another homes ready? How

but it happened to Apollo said to a part of mission Workay, they said,

we don't want to start judgement. We move down to Jerusalem back complete

right, fourteen chapters, only half the chapter not written yet. How then,

when Paup goes through all the other cities he planted, hen move at

Some of it he stays one month, some he stays six months, some

he stayed three years. But eventually he lives in us. So all the

churches go down with it. You think, imagine it, think about it,

think about it. So the book effects has a real powerful implication on

how we should perceive the church where we are in and also yourselves and the

people around you as well. You might not be called to be remaining where

you are. Most likely you won't be remaining where you are. God never

leaves us to be very comfortable, and people around you will have to move

on as well. Sometimes people are very dear to you, Sometimes people who

are very influential to you. You have more move It's part is difficult,

it's painful, but it's part of what God calls us to do. Makes

sense, it makes sense or not, And eventually when you come full round

again, it's that you go through around where people are leaving you, and

you to leave them and you come back to the to the starting round.

You see God's beautiful work. You must have patience. You must wait not

just see one month two months. You have to wait years sometimes to see

the full provision of what God wants to teach us as well. Okay,

So Antioch, the Neil believing church, was generous. They were generous,

they gay, they were submitted, and there were ascending church. I hope

the xpedi would be like that. I hope your host would be like that.

I hope your life will be like that. Amen. Well what's that

sound? Okay? Hey? So there was then enough there we talked about

oh, okay, preaching in Cyprus, and then the preaching in Antioch in

Prosidire and there where many people believe, and especially the gentiles, they rejoice,

uh, and they were very hungry because they no longer need to be

a Jew, to be a Christian. In the same Homa saying so before

that there always, as a gentile, I always need to step into to

become a Jew. First, I need to follow all the rituals, the

circumcision, the purce like Baptist is to become a Jew first, to obey

all the commandments before I can become a Christian step into here. So pol

say, no, you don't need to become a Jew. That door has

been opened straight for gentiles to go straight to believe in Jesus. You get

me right, The door has been opened. And the reason why they say

the door is being opened and say, hey, you didn't go through that

door, but when you enter this door, you spoke in tongues the gospels.

No one is preached to you, but yeah, you believe in the

fundamental truths. So it must have come from the Holy Spirit. The Holy

Spirit is the evidence, not just to the Jews, but to the Gentiles.

It's not what you go through, it is what it is fruit that

comes up from your life, saying that foot bears witness for it as well.

Everybody clear of us, and my teacher is one teaching making sense to

you guys. Okay, So, but then the Jews who are here seeing

people, they start building. No crossing through another highway bypassed and not going

through a new new Hey, we've been paying toll all this world, but

you don't have to pay toll. You go straight to the fella that you're

upset. That why you know why they got jealous, they got angry.

And the one thing, you know, it's the thing when you read through

the Book of Acts, a lot of times they don't have problem with Jesus,

at least with the normal Jews, the said he dream, and then

the leaders they have a lead problem in Jews with with with with Jesus.

Okay, But you can preach everything about God, Moses, the forgiveness of

seeing no problem, until you touch about gentiles. That's the moment they say

no, that's the moment they start picking up stones and throw a part that

was the most sensitive thing, because to them, the Gentiles was second class,

not just second class. He called the dogs literally as dogs. You

cannot you say, then, you know, if you go to the Temple

mount or not in Jerusalem, then there are certain courts, the gentile courts,

and then a certain passwhere and even at that time there's a signage there

if anyone were to pass by, today are we will not be responsible what

happens to this person, especially gentles. Okay, And you will learn later

on towards the last missionary. When Paul returns to Jerusalem, he wanted to

make amend with his people. He said, you know, I'm not against

you. I'm just trying to tell you about Jesus and he was there when

he was cleansing himself. People saw him and they thought that he brought a

Greek into the court of Us into the temple, and because of it was

not because of Paul. It was because of what he did, or not

what they thought he did bringing a Greek gentle into the cont then they want

to prosecute him. Okay. So the gentle issue has always been a big

problem and a big throne in among the Jews at that time. But doesn't

mean that this is not about talking about Palestine and Israel at Pleisa. I'm

always praying for Israel. I'm always believing for Israel. There will be another

teaching I would do another time, Okay, but it is what it is.

Okay. Now, now let's move on to the second slide. Now,

concluding the second part to be teaching about is concluding the first missionary trip.

Okay. So it starts from Antior. Okay, Okay, it starts

from Antior. Maybe I can go to their map to the third slide.

Story starts from the on the right side of my right here. You so

Antio of Syria. Then they will move down to Cyprus where you have the

Salamis platforms okay, and there is where they met them Addian okay or the

bar Jesus guy. And then they went up to a Telia Perga to Antioch,

and that's where we stopped. Okay. This is where they're preaching to

the gentile house. And then they will chase the way. And so this

is for the first half. The second half we will move to Iconium,

to Listra and then to Derby and then after that technically they should be actually

doing so like a reverse trip. They will go back to Iconium and Distra

and also a bit to Ntio as well to strengthen the believers, and then

they will take her see all the way back to Antio. By the way,

this region okay, this is a very not this one Okay. Sorry,

they want to safe on another time. Okay. It's not that it's

not a part where pull head a ship, right okay. But so we

will cover the second half okay. So the first half was an Iconium and

then to Listra okay, and then it will come back to Listra, Iconium

and the Prosidia again. Okay, now I know there's a lot of names

there, okay, So just bear with me. Okay, Now let me

see where am I slices. Okay, X Chapter fourteenth, Part one,

Okay, don't worry. Two day's one will be who won't be very long?

Okay, I always say that Part one. Now it happened in Iconium,

Okay, except the fourteen verse one. Now it happened in Iconium that

they went together to the synagogue, the Jews, and so spoke that,

and so spoke that. A great multitude both of the Jews and the Greeks

believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their mind against

the brethren. Therefore they stayed there for a long time, speaking boldly in

the Lord, who was what bearing witness to the word of His grace.

I told you there was no Bible. There was the only apostles. Okay,

So the apostles spoke. But the apostles word were also come in authority

and got best witness to that. So how does God bad witness to it?

Grantings, signs and wonders to be done by their hand? Amen?

Makes sense right now? Okay, Without the absence of the Bible there the

world or the propostals. The gift and anointing of the Apartles were very important

at the time, so signs and wonders followed them so that they can so

that they are validated and what they called it or witness by God. But

verse foll. But the multitude of the city was divided, part sided with

the Jews and part with the Apostles. And when a violent attempt was made

by both the Gentiles and Jews with their rulers to abuse and stone them,

they became aware of it and fled to Lestra and Derby, cities of Lies

La Conia, and to the surrounding region. And they were preaching the Gospel

there, So me just a brief summary. They spoke at the synagogues.

So many actually, you know, at the very beginning, many Jews and

Greeks believe. Okay, many people believe. But the remnant of the Jews

that were from empty or came and stir them up. Even when they preach

the truth, and even when science and wonder's accompany, then they will be

resisted, isn't it. Sometimes when you preach the truth, you think that

God, I'm doing your will. God, even your science and wonders for

the way. But what does it tell you? Man's heart are sore hard?

So evil, isn't it? And a lot of times what do they

do? You know? I wrote here When they cannot deny, when they

cannot resist what you are saying, when you're full of wisdom, when you're

full of truth, when you're coming inside, and wonder what is the weapon

of the enemy. Three things they dilute, the contradict and their blesspheme.

Okay, three things. Dilute means to water down. Simple, isn't it.

You make something pure, you water it down. You add makes sense

or not? So? Sometimes we teach the gospel, you add other teachings.

Sometimes you add you can dilute ith. No, did Jesus say that

you know you cannot eat? Or this fruit? No? All fruits you

can eat? Dilutioni't ready one. It's a formatation among other things. Okay,

isn't it Did you really say you cannot? No? It? Care

you know becomes loose. Contradict, isn't it? You add, you know

other things that contradict to it. You add water with oil, isn't it?

You insist on it and you mix it up? And you. But

I like this taste, but it's not supposed to mix with it and it

start to surface up. Isn't it? Then? The last one you blessed

feed? Why it's blesspheming? What does fleass beeam actually actually mean? Bless

thing means when when making what is good evil or calling what is good evil

and calling what is evil good? Simple as that? Okay? Can I

repeat it again? What does blest feaming mean? It's not saying something fouwarden.

There's not blast feming blast feeling. It means calling what is good evil

and calling what is evil good. That's a rhyme or sound a little familiar

in what we see in the world nowadays. True, not when you put

in this simple context. Do you sleep? Do you see and hear a

lot blest famous things in this world? Isn't it? But the problem is

it doesn't sound like bless famous? Isn't it? To the person who is

saying it? They sound so accepting, sound so liberal, open minded,

loving, Isn't it When they're blastpeing, they're not calling you farwards you now

they're calling what you do evil and they're calling what they do good. Makes

sense? Now you're like oh yes, mind, Oh yes, there is

what blest feeming is. They will say you are blest fheming and they are

doing it right. They will make you look like teachers of evil, and

they will make themselves look like teachers of God. That is how the end

of the world will be. Like. There's bless femous, isn't it.

That is why when Jesus performed a miracle, said you can, if you're

even a bless film against Me and the Father, you can be forgiven.

But it's the best feam against the Holy Spirit. They will not be forgiven

because it is the Holy Spirit who perform this miracle, which is good.

And you call it evil. Ah, it makes sense or not, it's

blesspemous. So in the life of a Christian you've got to be very careful.

Also, sometimes you blessed feing you don't realize in it. You know,

you simply join, you do something, you stand for something, You

quickly believe in something without understanding what is truly good and evil. You become

wise in your own eyes like Adam or like Eve, like that isn't it,

And you start to pervert, calling good evil and evil good Ah,

and said no, be very very careful. That's what the enemy will always

do. Okay. So basically all the stories said they eventually there was some

disciples. No, yes, it is not a lost, complete loss,

because what they managed to do was that they managed to raise up a lot

of believers in the church there and the disciples, although they were chased away.

You know, sometimes you plant the church, you get chased away.

Unfortunately, it's life. Many times if they planted the church the city where

they planner the church, they get chased away, but the locals remain.

So if you understand the model omissions there's always been, isn't it, you

go there not to remain, you know, if you go out there thinking

that you will be accepted. No, you go there, you plan on

what your colt to do. If you chase out, your chase up.

But make sure you plan what your colt to plant. If you think that

you are that seed mistaken, No, you are not a savior. Jesus

is the savior. Okay, you planted the church, you plant you start

a home. Start and plant their homes to the best of the ability,

and make sure that if God calls you you go, but that home still

remains. You are not that savior, you are not that high and mighty

that without the youth, everything would fall and crumble. Makes sense or not

makes sense or not, people, it's very very important one. Paul left

almost every he was changed out for every city that he planted people. Okay,

let's move on to the second one Lestra. Now this is the interesting

one, not the interesting one. It is interesting, but this one will

sure puck up your ears, Okay, because this story is very weird.

Okay. Now, in verse eight it says that and in Leistra, a

certain man without strength in his feet, was sitting a cripple from his mother's

womb. Means from young him was born with cripple, who had never walked.

This man hurt Paul. Okay, there was it was very powerful.

This man from young you know, was crippled. And he started to hear

okay in the marketplace, the common area where you know, in the in

the public that Paul was speaking. And then Paul noticed that Paul observing him

intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed or what was Paul looking

for? What attracted Paul? Faith? Isn't it? Healing follows those who

have faith always, always healing follows those who have faith. Look at Jesus

miracle the ministry. Where does he follow? Some places he said he could

not perform miracles. Does that mean Jesus is not powerful enough? Remember you

know there are places that that Jesus I couldn't perform miracles. But some places

that he was not supposed to perform miracle he performed because people believed. Amazing.

It is not his ability, no, but his ability. His gift

is the result of people responding and people being prepared. You get me in

right and saying, you know, it must be faith welcoming in. I

can bring a gift, but the door is not open. What's the point?

You get me and God will never overrite there. But faith is always

must be present in that part. In their part, okay, and sow

faith. Okay, see that he had faith, said with a loud voice,

stand up straight on your feet. Wow. And he lived and walked.

Okay. So that's a miracle. Great. The next part even more

more weird. Men, Okay. Now, when the people of Lestra Okay

saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying, in the

Laconian language, the gods have come down to us in the likeness of men.

Oh and Barnabus, they called Zeus and Paul Hermes is that Hermes Hermer's

Hermes? Okay, because he was the chief speaker. Then the Prince of

Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought Oxen and Garland

to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes. What in the world

just happened? Man, With all the places they heal, people believe at

this one. This guy went next level and he started to uh what they

call it, associate names of the Roman and Greek gods to Paul and Barnabas.

Okay, Okay, because of time, I have to go through very

quickly, and this has to do with the background of the city. You

must understand that. Okay, First of all, Roman culture and Greek culture

and the religion that share almost similar gods, actually the same gods are.

So give you an example, like if you in Greek you have Zeus,

isn't it? In Rome you have Jupiter? Okay, in Greek you have

Aires. Then in Rome you have Mass okay, and in Greek you have

Athena. Okay. Athena is the goddess of what. Athena is the goddess

of wisdom and hunt. That's why in the city of Athens it's the patron

deity of Athens is Athena. So all the smart people like to go to

Athens because it's associated with the goddess of wisdom, or the Socrates or the

Plate or they all are in Athens. Then, so every city has a

patron what we call a patron deity, you know, as a patron deity,

a deity or god they actually adopt and they will name the city after

that god. So Athens was named after the patron deity of Athena, and

you will build the temple of Athena. Okay, So now Lystra? Who

was the patron deity of Lystra? Am I boring? You guys? Who

is it? This ex USh? And not only they adopted patron deity,

they're also typically there is a legend that follows it. Okay. Now the

legend is very exciting. The legend comes from this guy called ovid all of

it was a poet. Okay, he was a great poet and he wrote

a very his grand His magnus opus was magnus Opus, magnus forces grand masterpiece.

Lana Leonardo da Vinci MICHELANGELRD. They all have their magnus opus. Some

people's magnopus is the sam bitterest pasifica the magnus opus. So for all of

it. His magnus opus was a poem called Metamorphosis, how original okay,

metamorphosis, and he in his great poem that was talks about Lystra, the

city of Lystra, Okay, and Elysra, how it was founded. And

it sayss in the legend that Zeus and Hermits actually visited that city, Okay,

in disguise. And when they came down to that city, they were

met with much inhospitability, and that's such a word, Okay, rule are

not welcome. But they received a very good hospitality from an old and simple

couple in the cottage. Okay. And then you don't you want if you

go and read it can go. You know, there was a story about

the killed the gul don't want to kill the goose, but the goose didn't

die and come to Zoos. And then when they pulled the jar of wine,

and they never run empty. But you must understand a lot of these

poems are not originals. They borrow for a lot from other UH influencers,

as well so called inspired. Okay. Actually a lot of it comes from

the Old Testament. It sounds like Elijah, you know, it sounds like

you know, Sorto and Moron. And then you know, some of you

are familiar with the story. Okay, but what we call metamorphosis, okay.

And so this couple, this old couple, welcome them, and there's

a gift to this old couple Zeus and Hermits, who told them run to

the mound. Okay, we will not destroy you, but we will destroy

the rest of the city with a flood because they did not welcome us.

But okay, there are some versions of it. One version say if they

look back, they will turned into two trees. Okay, you know,

but if they don't, they'll be safe, and the Zeus and Hermits will

give them a temple. And they were serving the temple there, so they

ran up there and then on the flood, it was the flood of the

city. And then some versions said that they look bad and then turned into

two trees within the temple there. Now you must understand that people at that

time were very religious. One everything was cool and fine until Paul and Barnabus

showed up. Everything was cool and fine, no, no, old couple,

you know, hosting some and all to gods disguise them in themselves.

But suddenly you got two guys healing, one lame person who was born lame

from not from birth. They flooded freaking out, and know we better host

this dude. You know, you know we're gonna get flood We're gonna turn

into trees. So they tell them so who was leading the pack? It

was the chief priest from the temple. She was like, Hi, better

do something if the people were doing I'm the chief priests and I don't do

anything. Yeah, So he quickly took out all the oxen or Zeus and

Hermers. You must be Hermits because Hermits is the speaker. He stays the

messenger. Normally the gods that don't speak for themselves, Hermers who brings the

message, so called barnabus. You Hermis, you know we're gonna sacrifice for

you. That's the reason why they're panic. Now that makes sense or not?

Now? You see, a context makes a lot of things, isn't

it. Context makes a lot of So that's why I said you now like

oh the oh you're poking up right now already. It's very interesting okay,

so that's what happened. Okay, but let's read on verse fourteen. But

the apostles, Barnabas and Paul heard this. They told their clothes, ah,

I am actually not okay, and I'm not okay superman or crypto that

come on, no, okay, and ran in among the multitudes, okay,

crying out and saying, man, why are you doing these things?

Why are you doing that? I'm not sure whether the poor band numbers know

about the story. I don't know, okay, maybe they know, maybe

they don't, okay, saying that we are also men with the same nature

as you, because he saw that they were trying to attribute him as a

form of God or deity. We are not different, and what we are

trying to do is preach to you. He says, Hey, I appreach

you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, living

God. Okay, that's a thing God, not just a story. He's

a living God who made the heaven, the earth, and the sea and

all things that are in them, who, in bygone generations allow all nations

to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless, he did not leave himself without

witness in that he did Good gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons.

Okay, cheat rain proof was very important for their hearts as well. That's

what this is what they desired. And so God is the one who's living

God, God made everything, and God in his grace also provides the rain

and the seasons for them as well, filling our hearts with food and gladness

and verse eighteen. And with this saying, they could scarcely restrain the multitudes

from sacrificing to the jazz Betty, you know. Then the Jews from Antio

and Iconium came there, and having persuaded the multitudes, the stone pull and

dragged him out of the city, supposed supposing him to be dead. Okay.

I don't think this is the version of the stoning they did with Stephen,

Okay, they I think they literally just threw rocks at him. Okay,

not the type. Okay, that's what I'm guessing. Okay. But

supposedly they threw so hard they thought he was dead, and then they dragged

him out of the city. Okay, not that. However, when the

disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. Wow.

Okay. And the next day he pre departed with Barnabas to Derby.

Okay, I just want to make a mention. So this, at this

place in Lestra, Paul met a very important person, met a very important

family, okay. And this family the first this is a couple of a

grandmother and a mother. The grandmother is Louise, if I'm not mistaken,

okay, and the mother is Eunie. You know who did. The mother

gave birth to Timothy, who became post Precious Disciples. Who is Timothy?

Timothy came out about here, Timothy, And you will see in the book

later in the Book of Acts, in book sixteen, on the Book of

Two, Timothy Paul mentions, you know, very fondly actually or mentioned it

tewod Timothy chapter one, verse five. You know, he wrote to Timothy,

I'm reminder of your sincere faith, which first leave in your grandmother Louise,

and in your mother union and I'm persuaded now lives in you. So

he so Paul remembers no time. Paul mentions all these people in his letter

as well. So this is where you know, even though he was stoned,

you know, he was almost not a tribute to be a god.

Yet in all these things, he managed to find one precious protege in Timothy.

Amen, God is good, isn't it? You know? Amen?

Guys doing o case, let me close, okay, in this last part

here verse twenty one, So that sort of not u you. Alistra was

probably the last edge of where the city was. And you will see that

Paul starts to, you know, before he concludes his mission to go back

to antil A, Syria, he will do one last thing. Okay,

what was it? The titles calls for strengthening the converts. All the places

that he went through, Leistra, the b Iconium, Anti got all these

places. Some he'll remain long, he'll remains short. But he has raised

believers and converts in those parts. And he did not just want to leave

them there, Okay, he didn't just want them that. Who wanted to

strengthen them. And this is a very important thing that we ought to learn

and also be able to the rivers from He says it verse to any one.

And when they had reached the gospel and preached the gospel to that city

and made disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the

souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith and saying we

must through many tribulations. Okay, underline, there enter the Kingdom of God.

So when they had appointed underlying elders in every church and prayed with fasting,

they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. And after

they had passed through Prosidia, they came to a Panphilia. Now, when

they pushed away in prograd they went down to Attilia and went there to sell

to Antioch. Okay, they went back to the Antiopsyria, which is their

home church or sending church, Okay, where they had been commended to the

grace of the Lord for the word which they had to be completed in verse

twenty seven. And when they had come and gathered the church together, they

reported all that God had done with them, and that he, that God,

the Jesus, had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. So

they stayed in there a long time with the disciples. Let me conclude a

few key things here what we observe. Okay. Number one, Okay,

there's I think there's a slight there. They raised disciples every place they planted

a church. They didn't say, hey, we raise newcomers, We raise

church comers. They raised disciples. Okay, go and make disciples of all

nations. Okay, go and make disciples of all nations. You really,

when you go to every place, the one thing, the most important thing

in what you do, and when you start at homes and you start a

church, it's got anyway. When you're planted, when you you have to

maybe you migrate to a place. We say, God, why is you're

calling for me? You don't have to wait for a special message. You

know, God's message is already in Matthew twenty eight. There, you know,

go ahead, make disciples. It's it's not changed for Paul. It's

not changed for Peter. Why should we change for you? Sure not?

Why should we change for you? It's the same. Are you so special

that you have a unique calling? You can mean? Right, You're not

going to fall from the tree and you grow somewhere and then plant another tree.

No, no, no, we must abide in Jesus and all that

he is commanded. Apart from him, we can do nothing. Remember,

we must abide in him. Oh okay, wow, now that not that

fruits falling off the petree. Okay, you know what I mean right,

we must raise disciples. Now, how now they're just raising disciples. We

see a bit of a pattern of what Paul showcase display and teach them in

the very small time they had. What did he told them? What did

he do? He strengthened the soul's disciples? Why did he hat to strengthen

the soul disciples? Because he was a good encouraging He strengthened them because they

were weakened, simple as that. What weakened them? There were few and

the pole almost died, Actually he died and it came back again. Get

me right. As simple as that. Their strengthened because they were like,

oh my goodness, what did I jump into? You know what? I

just jumped into every place this guy goes to, there's a mob. You

on the mob. They were terrified. They were scared. That's why Poe

said, I have to strengthen them. That's why what did what did he

say? That we must through many tribulations and the Kingdom of God, isn't

it We must telling them we must true, it is hard, but it's

the truth. And the truth will bring tribulation. But the truth will set

you free, and no tribulation will overcome you. Amen. Again, I

said this again. The truth will set you free. The truth will help

you overcome trip every tribulation, and the tribulation will not overcome you. It

makes sense or not. That's why he needed to strengthen them. They were

scared. Will you be scared. I'm sure you will be scared. Will

you be intimidated? Of course you beam that. I am intimidated as well.

But the truth of this gospel can never be removed. And it's what

I'm saying. Yeah, And so that's why God also supplies us with apostles,

past us, elders to strengthen us. Not just to do the high

by the decoration the different things. No, no, no, just to

maintain the church. No, it is for times like this that apostles and

leaders and elders and disciples are there too strengthen one another in times of tribulation.

Okay, and then what else did Paul do to strengthen the church?

From the disciples? He raised elders, overseers, people who will care and

make sure they steered the church. You think that whatever he planted he would

remain there. No, sometimes one month, sometimes being forced out as well,

But there will always be an elder inside the house. Okay, sometimes

you may you not use the word elder. Sometimes they use the world oversee

you, okay, were pastor to strengthen the church. The last one,

Paul was not a man on his own. He submitted to the church.

What did he do at the end of the day, He went on straight

to the second missionary treat Ready, No, he reported and committed himself under

the church. He went back to church and reported all things. He was

a man, very accountable, an accountable man, great man, and an

accountable man. So that you so that the church can follow your food sets

can tell all the other elders and disciples in your risk, can follow in

your foodstets, what you have done, what is honorable before the Lord.

You continue. It tells the disciples and the rest of the people that you

are always abiding in Christ and within the church you trust. Whether the church

is big small, you know up and down you are accountable. Even in

Paul has a disagreement with Mark and eventually he a disagrament Barnabas, He's still

a counterpack Maturity, isn't it? Great strength? Steadiness these other girl that

is required from an elder as well Okay, so this is where I will

stop. Hope you guys are blessed by it here so far. I hope

you guys learn something that will guide and not steal your character, your maturity

as a believer, and grooming you up to be a leader as well to

respond wisely. You know what I mean? Right? How that how the

template has been painted for us. We hope you've been blessed by this message.

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