https://youtu.be/vNqsgQdh76c

Consider staying a little longer

Acts 14:1-7 Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and [a]poisoned their minds against the brethren. 3 Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

4 But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles. 5 And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them, 6 they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. 7 And they were preaching the gospel there.

Paul and Barnabas have just been pushed out of Antioch and the same thing happens in Iconium

This is because, they command great presence, God is moving and lives are being changed,  

How many people know that no matter the good you are doing, someone somewhere will be offended

What is keeping you here?

I ask that question because Paul & Barnabas stayed there because they had an assignment from the Lord – To go and spread the good news

The Jew on the other hand, stayed as well, to cause trouble – the poisoning didn’t take a day

They were both listening to the Word of God. But their motives were different.

What are you doing here? What’s keeping you here?

When the politics begin, you are too serious about this Jesus, you are judging, you are not with the times, and soon...the unbelievers…start poisoning the minds of everyone else

I wonder if there was a time like that where people who have heard the Word of God would allow those who don’t believe, to poison their minds?

But no matter what ……Vs.3 – Therefore they stayed there for a long time.

These guys were not faced by threats, the circumstance changed but their Faith didn’t

They spoke boldly in the Lord because they knew, just as David wrote in the

Psalms 123:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

~ We understand that a shadow is not tangible but is cast by something that is. One can rightly say that we face only the shadow of death because Jesus took the full reality of death in our place. - Enduring Words

~ Death in its substance has been removed, and only the shadow of it remains. Someone has said that when there is a shadow there must be light somewhere, and so there is. Death stands by the side of the highway in which we have to travel, and the light of heaven shining upon him throws a shadow across our path; let us then rejoice that there is a light beyond. Nobody is afraid of a shadow, for a shadow cannot stop a man’s pathway even for a moment. The shadow of a dog cannot bite; the shadow of a sword cannot kill; the shadow of death cannot destroy us.” (Spurgeon)

Let is not give in to fear. God was backing them up, they stayed and He showed up.

They didn’t stay to be seen, but they stayed so that the healing, deliverance, life changes could glorify God “granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands

They plotted to stone them but they were alerted- This is for someone who want to do the work of God but you are scared - God will provide a way out

He will use His resources to alert you out or move you. “is there something so great that our God cannot do”?

They fled to Lystra and Derbe – 20 miles away -That’s from Auburn to Redmond

What happens when you are hedging you hope on security, provision, healing, deliverance and it takes a little longer? Are you still going to hang on?

Isaiah 40:31- But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall