Trials And Persecutions Drive Us Onward.

Trials and Persecutions Drive Us Onward.

Acts 14:1-25TPT

In Acts 13, Paul and Barnabas Are Sent to the Gentiles. They travel through the Antioch region. I call it, “The Antioch calling.”

Paul preaches while going back into history, He points out how men and women of God were terribly mistreated. But they kept living, while preaching, and or, prophesying about His Kingdom.

Acts 13:49-52NKJV And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. 50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

I want to teach and preach under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to you, verse by verse, from, Acts 14:1-25

Acts 14:1TPT When Paul and Barnabas arrived at Iconium, the same thing happened there. They went, as they always did, to the synagogue and preached to the people with such power that a large crowd of both Jews and non-Jews believed.

Notice, Paul and Barnabas preached Jesus with power, as large crowds, both Jews and non-Jews believed.

They preached believing, “If I don’t believe in what I’m preaching, neither will others." P.H

The apostles Paul writes in, Romans 1:16NIV For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

The power of God that brings salvation. Signs followed. The normal was salvation; The normal was signs and wonders.

Again, just like Acts 13, Acts 14:2TPT Some of the Jews refused to believe, and they began to poison the minds. (Embittered their souls.)”of the non-Jews to discredit the believers.

Satan goes into the battle field of the mind. Ungodly thoughts poison the mind. The lier- loser, wants you to become Independent.

Independent, on your own, away from God.

The apostle Paul writes about this in, 2 Corinthians 10:4-5AMP The weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood]. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ,

The devil was thrown out of heaven because of pride. Believers are told our weapons destroy his fortresses, sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God,

Isaiah 14:12-16NKJV “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! 13 For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ 15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.

16 “Those who see you will gaze at you, And consider you, saying: ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, Who shook kingdoms,

Acts 14:3TPT Yet Paul and Barnabas stayed there for a long time, preaching boldly and fearlessly about the Lord. Many trusted in the Lord, for he backed up his message of grace-(Manifestation of grace).” --with miracles, signs, and wonders performed by the apostles.

Acts 14:3, The Greek word for grace, charis, means, “that which brings delight, joy, pleasure, and sweetness.”(See Strong’s Concordance, Gr. 5485.)

“Your walk should be a sweet walk with Jesus!” PH

Acts 14:4-5TPT The people of the city were split over the issue. Some sided with the apostles, and others with the Jews who refused to believe. 5 Eventually, all the opposition factions came together, with their leaders devising a plot to harm Paul and Barnabas and stone them to death.

Acts 14:5, The Aramaic is “They issued a decree” (death sentence).

Men and women alike, came together (peer pressure) mounted to stone and kill, Paul and Barnabas.

Many of you are too young to remember the show, “Candid Camera with host Alan funt.”

Here’s the scene, The elevator opens a young lady enters. Of course, she faces the front. Candid Camera’s staff enters the elevator. Everyone turns and faces the back of the elevator. Rather quickly, this young lady begins to feel pressure to turn and face the back of the elevator also. Lol.

For Paul and Silas tension was the way of life, it was all around them making it readily available to conform. PH