NEVER GIVE UP
Acts 14:1-7
One thing we have to learn as Christians is, regardless of how hard things get or how disheartening they may become, we must not give up. I’ve discovered in this vocation as a pastor, is that every pat on the back is not for encouragement, every smile is not in friendship, and many promises are just idle words. But yet through it all I must continue to lead, pray, and encourage, even those who mean the ministry no good, with the hope that one day the Lord will touch their hearts to please Him rather than themselves.
Dr. H. Beecher Hick, tell a story about a fern and a bamboo plant. He said in planting the fern, it will start to grow within the first year, but the bamboo plant will show no visible sign of growth. The second year the fern will sprout new growth, but again the bamboo showed nothing. This went on for the next two years with the same results, the fern growing all over the place and the bamboo still showing no signs of growth, but don’t give up on the bamboo. Because in the fifth year the bamboo grew six inches out of the ground, and the fern had peaked in its growth. Dr. Hicks proceeded to say that while the fern was growing on the surface, the bamboo was having viable root growth under the surface. He then asked the question “How high will the bamboo grow? His answer was as high as the bamboo wants to grow. You have to understand that just because you might go through minimum growth from time to time and there are people that are half hearted in their worship, don’t worry because like the bamboo, we are growing roots underneath and God is raising up a people that are growing out of view of mankind and growing internally to endure.
In last week’s lesson we saw how the devout Jews chose to give up on the blessing that the Father had promised them to bring to the world, and that was His Son and His life changing words. And all this was because of the jealous spirit that they had because of the two missionaries named Paul and Barnabas, who preached in the synagogue. Their words were so impressive that they were asked to return to the synagogue on the next Sabbath, and when they did, almost the whole city came out to hear them. But the Jews spoke against the word that they spoke contradicting them and committing blasphemy. It was then, that Paul and Barnabas grew bold, and reminded them that the words they spoke were to come to them first, but seeing that they did not feel worthy of everlasting life, Paul and Barnabas then turned the gospel to the Gentiles who gladly receive it. Not only did the Gentiles receive the word of life but they also published it throughout all the regions. And when the devout Jews stirred up the people and wanted to expel them from their borders. Paul and Barnabas did as the Lord had instructed the twelve to do as they went out to preach the kingdom of God. They shook the dust from their feet as a testimony against them.
In this lesson, again we find these two missionaries and their assistant facing even more rejection. They are found in Iconium after being ejected from Antioch. They once again took their ministry into the synagogue, and like in Antioch, they preached to a mix crowd, those who rejected and those who would receive. And again the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and contaminated their minds with evil. But Paul and Barnabas never gave up on the mission that they were chose to do. So let’s take a look at these chosen men of God and be encouraged with their drive to never give up in-spite of their opposition.
First of all . . .
1. THEY COULDN’T GIVE UP BECAUSE THE WORD THEY PREACHED WAS OVERLY ANOINTED (V.1)
“And it came to pass in Iconium that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke, that a great multitude, both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.
As we see these men of God entering into Iconium, they are found following the same steps they used in Antioch. They entered the synagogue preaching to the Jews and the Greeks. We must understand their logic. They had to go into the synagogue with the good news because of the Jews were the people of promise, and the word had to be preached first to them before it was to go abroad as we found out in Antioch. Now regardless of them shaking the dust from their feet in Antioch as a testament against the Jews there, it did not mean that the Lord felt the same way toward every Jew in every province. He only felt that way to those who rejected His word. But look what happened in Iconium. Verse one says that they so spoke, that a great multitude, both of the Jews and also the Greeks believed. The N. L. T. says of this verse that they preached with such power that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. The word that they preached that day, still have the same power today. It is that many of the apostles who preached it then, preached it armed in the Holy Spirit. The Apostles preached with the anointing. Now days they preach with a degree. The apostles preached because they were called by the Lord. Today, many preach because they were call by money. The Apostles preached with a purpose. Today, they preach with popularity in mind. We should note in the text that they were not interested in degrees, money, or popularity, they were interested in winning another soul for the Lord Jesus Christ. So they couldn’t give up because the word they preached was so anointed.
Secondly . . .
2. THEY COULDN’T GIVE UP BECAUSE THE HAND OF THE LORD WAS UPON THEM (V.3)
“A long time, therefore, abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, who gave testimony unto the word of His grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.”
The KJV was a bit old world, let’s hear from another version. The NIV says, “So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord. Who confirmed the message of His grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders.”
In this text we see Paul and Barnabas abiding in Iconium simply because the preaching of Christ was effective. As we noted in verse one, many of the Jews and Greeks believed what they had heard. But not only were they effective in their preaching, they were also used of the Lord. One of the things that separate preachers from anointed preachers is that the anointed preacher seeks to be used by the Lord. He cannot worry about whose feelings are being hurt, because sometimes the Lord has to hurt our feelings to bless our souls. I tell the story as often as I can, about how the Lord had to do something to me, before he could do something for me. And once we realize that the whippings that the Lord gives us are not to hurt us, but they are given to align us with His word and our next blessing. That is why we need to hear from the Lord, not only on Sundays or whenever you decide to come to church, but we need to hear from Him daily to receive directions to our next blessing.
Paul was speaking boldly in the synagogue, especially to those that chose to hear, and the Lord confirmed His message of grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders. We must understand when the Lord has his hands on you, He will prove His Word through you with His miraculous power.
So if they could not give up because the preached word was overly anointed and because the hand of the Lord was upon them.
Then finally . . .
3. THEY COULDN’T GIVE UP BECAUSE THERE WERE PEOPLE THAT NEEDED TO HEAR THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST (Vv.5-7)
“And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them, 6. They were aware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia and upon the region that lieth round about; 7, And there they preached the gospel.”
Finally they could not give up because there were people in other parts of the region that needed to hear the gospel of Christ. Like in Antioch the devout Jews stirred up the people. Verse four lets us see that the city was divided, some embraced the words of the apostles, while others stood firm with the Jews and the Gentiles. They had aspirations to use them despitefully, and to stone the apostles. But they were aware of their intentions and fled to Lystra and Derbe. Just like in Antioch they had to leave the city because of those who did not believe. But just like leaving a city that does not believe, the Holy Spirit who led them had another city prepared to hear the word of the Lord. That is why an anointed preacher does not give up, because the Holy Spirit is leading him to preach to those who want to hear the word. And if the nonbelieiver or the unconvinced keep coming to church they too, will become a believer. That is why the enemies of our souls don’t like it when you come to church regularly. He’ll put family, friends, jobs, and football games between you and the church. He does not like for you to get much of the word, because he knows that the word is so powerful that you cannot be exposed to it without being changed by it.
CONCLUSION
Well I have to close now, but before I close, I need someone to remind us never, no never give up. Regardless of how hard things may get, or how tight they are, we should never give up.
I need a witness to let me know that my help is on the way. If Peter was here, he would tell us about his experience. I can hear him say on the day that Jesus had fed the five thousand, He told us to get into a boat and go to the other side, while He sent the multitude away. But once we were in the midst of the sea the winds started blowing and the billows were tossing to and fro. Then about the fourth watch, out of no where we saw an image moving toward us. It looked like a ghost and we all cried out with fear. But then we heard a voice speaking to us, and it told us to be of good cheer, it is I be not afraid. That is when I recognized the voice and said, “Lord, if it is thou bid me to come unto thee on the water.” and He said, “come.” And I got out of the boat and started walking toward Jesus on the water. But the winds were blowing and splashing on me and I was afraid and began to sink. But I cried out to my Savior, saying “Lord, save me” and immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand and caught me. But, Hart I want you to know that Jesus sort of scolded me. He said to me, “Oh, thou of little faith, why did you doubt.” Now He didn’t ask me that because I didn’t have faith, because it took faith to get out of the ship. He didn’t even ask me that because I took my eyes off of Him just like so many imply. But the reason was because I gave up too soon. You see all I needed to do was to take one more step and I would have been in His arms.
So I say to you don’t give up, because your blessing is closer than you think.
Don’t give up! Because you might be in the midst of your blessing and don’t even know it.
Don’t give up! Because you are one step from your blessing!
NEVER GIVE UP!
