Sermon Notes
“Plutonium at Iconium”
Acts 14:1-7
Kent Simmons
Scripture Passage:
AC 14:1 At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed. [2] But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. [3] 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. [4] The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles. [5] There was a plot afoot among the Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them. [6] But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, [7] where they continued to preach the good news.
Introduction:
Plutonium, an artificially created element, contains some of the most powerful capabilities of all the radioactive materials at our disposal. A product of Uranium and scientific intervention, it contains within its properties both immense power to fuel things such as naval vessels and power plants and a destructive ability to kill organic beings or plants up to and including us. In short, it is an element to be treated with great respect and fear.
The introduction of the gospel to the cities of Galatia represented the same kind of respect and fear. Because of the sheer magnitude of the message of Paul and Barnabas, that of Jesus, as the Christ, His life , His ministry, His death, and His resurrection, what they preached was nothing less serious and in fact more so, than if Plutonium had been introduced or released into the lives of those who would listen. For some, the message would bring divine power into their lives-- limitless power; for others, their rejection would become the instrument of their eternal death.
I find in the passage before us this morning three types of people. The first are those who bring the power, the second are those who receive the power, and the third are those who reject the power. Before we are through, we will know who we are.
Prayer:
God of all grace, we thank you this morning for your power. We ask that as we consider your word you would show us your limitless power and unyielding love. In Jesus, our Savior’s name, we pray. Amen.
I. Those Who Bring The Power (Pastors, Teachers, Evangelists)
a. AC 14:1 At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed.
b. ISA 52:7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion "Your God reigns!”
1. The high calling, a very high standard, and high accountability before God.
a. JAS 3:1 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
2. It is a position deserving respect.
a. 1TI 5:17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.
3. It is a position of sacrifice.
a. 2TI 3:10 You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, [11] persecutions, sufferings--what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. [12] In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
ILLS “Perfect Pastor Found” (Sermon Central)
“Are You The Person Bringing The Power To People’s Lives?”
II. Those Who Receive the Power
a. Vs 1b There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed.
b. On the one hand, Paul and Barnabas have become an excellent conduit for the power of God to flow through them, but on the other hand there were those that the power came into contact with-- those who received the power.
c. Jesus said in his parable of the sower and the seeds that there are essentially 4 types of soil in the heart of man.
d. MK 4:1 Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. [2] He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: [3] "Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. [4] As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. [5] Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. [6] But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. [7] Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. [8] Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times."
MK 4:9 Then Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
MK 4:10 When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. [11] He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables [12] so that,
" `they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,
and ever hearing but never understanding;
otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’ " MK 4:13 Then Jesus said to them, "Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? [14] The farmer sows the word. [15] Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. [16] Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. [17] But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. [18] Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; [19] but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. [20] Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop--thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown."
c. Many, many, many times, in the gospels Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear...” Why? that we might receive power...
“Are You Receiving The Power God Has For Your Life?”
III. Those Who Reject The Power
a. Vs 2 But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. [5] There was a plot afoot among the Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them.
b. Sometimes we believe that people are generally tolerant of our faith. In our country in particular, we for the most part have the freedom to worship without persecution. But what we often don’t realize is the growing lack of knowledge of our faith to the secular world and that can and will become the catalyst for the rejection and hostility of the gospel of Christ for the generation to come.
ILLS (Sermon Central)
c. George Hunter contends that the first characteristic of a secular person in the modern world is that he or she is ignorant of basic Christianity. It has been said of the Baby Busters, those born between 1963 and 1977 and the first generation to grow up in a postmodern context, that they lack even the memory of a hope-giving gospel. Today many people outside of the church struggle with the concept of Christ’s deity. They think he was a good man, perhaps even a prophet, but not God in human form. Further, 72 percent of Americans now deny the existence of absolute truth, and few have confidence in the historical accuracy or ethical authority of the Bible. Two-thirds of the population does not know what John 3:16 refers to, and less than four out of every ten Americans have any idea what the term gospel means. Ten percent believe that the name of Noah’s wife was Joan of Arc.
d. from barna.org (Sermon Central)
6 out of 10 Americans believe Satan is only a symbol and not real
47 % of Christians believe the same thing
1 out of 4 Christians believe it doesn’t matter what religion you are because all of them are the same and they all lead to God
31% of Christians believe Heaven can be earned
Daily horoscope reading is equal among Christians and non-Christians
Only 51% of Christians would make it illegal to distribute pornographic material
35% of Christians believe it is OK to bend the rules to get what you want
e. Rejection comes in many forms. For some, violence is the answer. For most today, however, it comes through apathy and indifference.
“Are You Rejecting the Power Of God In Your Life Today?”
Closing:
Three types of people... Those who bring the power, those who receive the power, those who reject the power. Which one are you?
ILLS (Sermon Central)
Years ago in London there was a large gathering of notables for a concert. One of the invited guests was a famous preacher, Caesar Milan. A young lady charmed the audience that night with her singing. After the concert Milan went up to her and graciously, but boldly, said to her, "I thought as I listened to you tonight how tremendously the cause of Christ would be benefited if your talents were dedicated to His cause. You know, young lady, you are a sinner in the sight of God, but I am glad to tell you that the blood of Jesus Christ can cleanse you from all sin."
The lady became so angry at the preacher that she stomped her feet and walked away. As she was leaving he said, "I mean no offense. I will pray that God’s Spirit will convict you."
The young lady went home, but she couldn’t sleep. The face of the preacher appeared before her, and his words rang through her mind. About two o’clock in the morning she got out of bed, took a pencil and piece of paper, and with tears rolling down her face, Charlotte Elliot wrote:
Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come
