From
Acts to Revelation
Part
38 – Return to Antioch in Syria
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House
of Faith Church | www.PS127.org
| www.TruthDigest.org
INTRODUCTION
Today, we will look at how nothing should
stand in the way of us sharing the Gospel of Salvation with others.
In fact, the Apostles Paul and Barnabas
teach, that “...we must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of
God...”
It is not the cake-walk some teach it to
be.
We will see how after Paul was left for
dead, the next day, he continued to travel, preaching the gospel, establishing
churches, and ordaining Elders, despite Satan's attempt to stop the Word of
God.
During this time, they meet with persecution,
trials and tribulations, yet, nothing can stop what God has put into motion.
We will also see how Salvation has two
parts to it. The Preaching which brings about Salvation, and the Teaching,
which causes us to grow Spiritually.
We are instructed to Grow Spiritually after
we are saved!
Today's scripture should cause us to
examine ourselves, and our lives and ask the all important questions...
1) Have I allowed
tribulation to stop my work for the Lord?
2) Am I continuing my
Spiritual Growth as I am instructed to?
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
Acts 14:21-28 Return to Antioch in Syria
21 They
preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples.
Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22 strengthening
the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must
go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. 23 Paul
and Barnabas appointed elders[a] for them in each church
and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom
they had put their trust. 24 After going through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia,25 and
when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.
26 From Attalia they sailed back to
Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the
work they had now completed. 27 On arriving there, they gathered the church together and
reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a
door of faith to the Gentiles.28 And they stayed there a long
time with the disciples.
I.
PAUL AND BARNABAS CONTINUE TO PREACH
a. Paul
was left for dead after being stoned in verse 19
i.
Jews who had followed Paul and Barnabas
from Antioch and Iconium, persuaded the people, who then dragged Paul outside
the city and stoned him, leaving him for dead.
ii.
Why did they stone Paul and not Barnabas?
Because they saw Paul as the leader.
iii. The
Disciples gathered around Paul, who stood and went back intot he city for the
night.
b. The next
day, Paul and Barnabas left for Derbe, lead by the Holy Spirit
i.
Approximately a 40 mile journey
c. Verse
21 tells us that once there, they preached and taught many
i.
The two steps in relationship with the Lord
ii.
Preaching is for Salvation
a. Romans
10:14-15 “14 How,
then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they
believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without
someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is
written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
b.
This is repeating Isaiah 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!”
iii. Teaching
is for Spiritual Growth and Maturity
a. Matthew
28:19-20a “19 Therefore
go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey
everything I have commanded you...”
b.
Through Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, we
see “Jesus began teaching...” of some form of this, multiple times.
Teaching is a command by Jesus.
II.
RETURNING TO CONFIRM NEW CONVERTS
a. Afterwords
they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch
b. Lead
again by the Holy Spirit
c. There,
they confirmed the new converts
i.
Confirmation in the scripture, is simply
making sure that the new converts have an understanding of Christ, Salvation
and what they are to do next, which is listen to teachings and obey them.
ii.
After this confirmation, it was clear they
had a true understanding of Salvation, and were ready for teaching. This was to
be done by the elders of the church...so Elders were recognized, and anointed
for service in every church. Without Elders/Pastors, the congregation may
receive Salvation, but will never grow Spiritually, and may even lose what they
once had by walking away from God.
iii. We know
that no one can “take” you from the hand of God. Once you are saved, you have
salvation, and you do not have to keep "getting" saved...however, the
scriptures also warn us, that we can "walk away from" that salvation,
essentially turning our back on God.
a. John
10:28 “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish,
neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
b.
The scriptures also warn us, that
believers, brothers, can stray, or turn away from God, and when they do, their
soul is in danger.
1. Hebrews
3:12 “See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful,
unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.”
2. James
5:19-20 “My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should
bring him back, 20 remember this: Whoever
turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death, and
shall hide a multitude of sins.”
iv.
So we see it is essential that teaching
take place after salvation, just as Jesus tells us in Matthew 28, so that those
who have found the Lord, may stay with the Lord, not falling into sin, and
turning away from the living God.
d.
We see Paul and Barnabas taught again, in
Verse 22, “...we must through much tribulation enter the Kingdom of God...”
i.
This is different than most preach today.
ii.
Living for the Lord, brings trials,
tribulations and hardships.
iii. However,
the scriptures here tell us, that the way to enter the Kingdom of God is
through much tribulation.
III. ORDINATION
OF ELDERS IN NEW CHURCHES
a. They
then ordained Elders/Pastors in each church
i.
Ordination by man (the Apostles in this
case), does not “make” someone an Elder/Pastor, rather, it is a recognition,
and acknowledgment by someone who is already ordained, that a certain
individual has been educated and is prepared for a calling by God to fulfill
their Spiritual Gift as an Elder/Pastor.
ii.
Man cannot “give” Spiritual Gifts, only the
Holy Spirit
b. Paul
and Barnabas ordained Elders/Pastors in every church
c. Then they (Elders/Pastors) were commended to
God (for God's blessing on them)
IV. PAUL
AND BARNABAS THEN RETURN TO ANTIOCH IN SYRIA
a. When
they returned to the church in Antioch, they shared with the church how God had
made a way for the gentiles.
b. They
stayed for approximately two years with this church.
CONCLUSION
We saw how the path to the
Kingdom of God is full of tribulation.
However, we also saw that
nothing can stop what God has put into motion.
We saw how Salvation has two parts to it.
The Preaching which brings about Salvation, and the Teaching, which causes us
to grow Spiritually.
We are instructed to Grow Spiritually after
we are saved!
Today's scripture should cause us to examine
ourselves, and our lives and ask the all important questions...
1) Have I allowed
tribulation to stop my work (or progress) for the Lord? Has it slowed, or even
put a stop to my ministry?
2)
Am I continuing my Spiritual Growth as I am
instructed to by hearing the teaching of God's word, and studying His word?
Want to learn more about Salvation and
Getting Saved? CLICK
HERE!
