8 Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked.

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1 Preface These notes are to serve as a blessing and help to those studying the word with Pastor Neil Spencer. Pastor Neil does not claim to fully agree with all the thoughts, beliefs, writings, or teachings of every named source/person in these notes. The Bible is the ultimate authority & ALL believers are to be Bereans (Acts ). Intro 1. Before His ascension into heaven Jesus has 2 important conversations w/ the disciples a. POWERPOINT Mt 28 & Acts 1.8 b. POWERPOINT Outline of the book of Acts 2. This morning we will pick up our study through the book of Acts in chapter 14. a. Paul & Barnabas are sent from the church in Antioch POWERPOINT i. This is commonly known as the 1 st missionary journey ii. It was a time period of 2 yrs / yrs after the birth of the church b. They ve encountered great VICTORY & great DIFFICULTY i. The sorcerer & governor in Cyprus (Acts 13:5-12). ii. John-Mark bails on them (as they re in Perga) iii. Powerful sermon in Antioch many get saved, Jew & Gentile (Acts 13:42-44). iv. The crowd turns against them in Antioch (Acts 13:45-52). v. They preached in Iconium until people wanna kill them (Acts 14:1-7). vi. They head to Lystra & Derbe 3. This morning as we come to chapter 14 we re gonna look at a few things a. This is a book of history, so historically conclusion of 1 st missionary journey i. We ll observe what happens & how God uses natural man to do the supernatural ii. But we ll also gain some points of application & that s how I want to frame our time this mornings b. POWERPOINT It s all about Jesus the battle rounds of faith i. There is something within most of us we enjoy battles, struggles, something that tests the strength, purity, or greatness of something POWERPOINT 1. Classics (Rocky & Drago) 2. This week s debate toe 2 toe 3. The Voice battle rounds ii. As we look at this txt the theme of Faith reigns central, so I d like to break it down into 3 rounds. Teaching Acts Faith That vs Faith In 8 Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. 1. The author Luke really wants to make sure you get the picture; he says the same thing 3x almost like a 3 year old would do. - who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. 2. He wants you to get the picture that this man is totally and completely helpless 9 He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, 10 said in a loud voice, Stand upright on your feet. And he sprang up & began walking. 1

2 1. Paul & Barnabas are in a new city, Lystra. Typically when they got to a new city they d hit the synagogue, where they would have some common ground a. Order of a service in a synagogue would be something like: i. They d recite the Shema (Deut 6) POWERPOINT ii. Prayers (the Tefillah) iii. the priestly blessing iv. reading from the Torah v. reading from the prophets vi. a sermon vii. concluding benediction b. Since, Paul was educated, he would be given an opportunity to share at the sermon c. In Lystra, there may have not been a synagogue i. Paul & Barnabas may be at the gate of the city 1. Where beggars and the sick would hang out 2. No one really knows, they could have been at the synagogue or the gate ii. Whatever the location / what happens here s what s important 2. Paul saw that this man had faith a. What does this mean? i. There was something about this man s faith that was clearly evident ii. His face & manner must have showed that he believed Jesus could touch his life iii. No one really knows the dynamics here, but I ve had this text rolling through my mind all I week b. A few nights ago we were having our evening little Bible reading w/ Lily POWERPOINT i. We came to the story where Jesus heals a crippled man. 1. you know the one where his friends do a little home demolition to bring their friend to Jesus. ii. Let s look at it in Mark 2 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. 3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. 5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, Son, your sins are forgiven. 1. I m not sure what sort of evidence of faith the man in Acts 14 showed 2. But here we have a similar setting, Jesus saw their faith it says 3. This is the BIG IDEA here 4. They didn t just have faith THAT Jesus could heal they placed their faith IN Jesus how do we know? a. They re ripping through shingles to get to Jesus b. Jack hammerin 4 Jesus doing whatever they can b/c of their faith c. Their actions lined up w/ their belief. 3. There is a difference between faith that & faith in POWERPOINT a. Faith THAT is a matter of the mind & believing facts no salvation in FAITH THAT b. Faith IN is a matter of the will and trust there is salvation in FAITH IN c. One of the most familiar illustrations for this story POWERPOINT "Suppose you are at Niagara Falls and you see a well known high-wire walker with a wheelbarrow. He has a wire strung across Niagara Falls and when you walk up to him he asks you if you believe he can push the wheelbarrow across the falls. You tell him you most certainly have faith 2

3 in him to do just that. After all, you ve seen him do it many times before and you know he s an expert. Now, faith that is believing he can do it but faith in would be to climb into the wheelbarrow." i. Faith In is a matter of trust & a matter of will ii. There is always fruit, evidence, results to some degree of faith in something iii. I mean, look at what happened here in Acts 14 he had faith in Christ = results. 4. Saving Faith is a faith in Christ! a. It s not just an intellectual agreement to the truth of the gospel b. It s a trust in the TRUTH 5. Over and over again you see this interplay between true faith = action / fruit / evidence a. So how do you know if you really have faith in Christ b. In my opinion you ll see results what do you mean? i. Ability to hear God s Word 1. Jn 8.47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. 2. I Jn 4:6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. 3. Jn My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. ii. Love for God s people 1. I Thess 4.9 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another 2. I John 3.14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. iii. New Perspective on Life 1. 2 Cor 5.17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2. John 3.3 Jesus answered him, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. 3. Rm 6.4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. iv. Peace 1. Rm Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2. Acts As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), 3. John Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. v. The Leading of God 1. Rm For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 2. Phil for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure Jn And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. vi. Good Works 1. Eph For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good 3

4 works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. 2. James For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. vii. The chastening of God 1. Heb For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives. 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 6. A faith that truly trusts is saving faith & there is fruit in that life. a. MT 7.16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Acts Can t Faith vs Won t Faith 11 And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men! 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. 1. These people saw an amazing miracle, yet their idea of who God is had not changed. They considered Paul and Barnabas gods. a. Paul Hermes (messenger of the gods) b. Barnabas Zeus (the god of the sky and ruler of the Olympian gods) POWERPOINT 2. POWERPOINT The people of Lystra had a legend that once Zeus and Hermes visited their land disguised as mortals, and no one gave them any hospitality except for one older couple. In their anger at the people, Zeus and Hermes wiped out the whole population, except for the old couple. This may help explain why the Lystrians were so quick to honor Paul and Barnabas. 14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, 15 Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. 16 In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness. 18 Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them. 1. Paul & Barnabas do everything they can to restrain, convince, & encourage these people to forsake their idols and follow after God 2. And it says they scarcely restrained them. What do you mean? Look at what happens next. 19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. 20 But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. 4

5 1. Paul & Barnabas one minute they re gods the next they re dead meat! 2. Paul & Barnabas do everything they can possibly do to reach these people in Lystra and what happens Paul gets killed for it. a. They are giving what many would call an apologetical argument for the faith b. They are giving a reasoned defense for what they believe in i. Appealing to the design of the universe to prove God s existence ii. Appealing to their experience to show God s faithfulness & goodness c. What happens their hearts are unchanged. i. Why? ii. Probably gave a great sermon, I mean they re calling him Hermes iii. POWERPOINT 1. Apologetics only removes obstacles 2. Reason doesn t bring salvation / Only faith brings salvation 3. It s not that one can t believe it s that they won t believe Sincere Faith vs Insincere Faith Acts When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. 23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. 24 Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. 25 And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia, 26 and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled. 27 And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they remained no little time with the disciples. 1. In Derbe they make many disciples POWERPOINT a. A record of their travel back to home-base Antioch b. They re encouraging the disciples i. To continue in the faith ii. That they ll experience great trials 2. As they make they re way back over this 2 year endeavor a. They share with their sending church all that has happened and what God s done b. The good & the bad 3. What stands out is the difference between sincere & insincere faith POWERPOINT a. Sincere faith: Triumphs & Trials / Victories & Difficulties / Joy & Pain b. Insincere Faith: Nada Nothing Everything is Fine nothing changes Conclusion 1. This morning we looked at 3 battle rounds of faith as I m calling them a. Faith That vs Faith In where are you that or in b. Can t Faith vs Won t Faith praying for a loved one c. Sincere Faith vs Insincere Faith self-evaluate is there Sincerity or Nada? 2. Come and pray / repent / be refreshed in His presence 5