Acts 14:21-28 – 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 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.
“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.” Instead of taking a more direct route home Paul and Barnabas doubled back to minister to the new converts. It is important to note what they did. First that they taught them further to strengthen their faith. Second they encouraged them to remain true to the faith. It is as sad thing for someone to hear and to believe, but then to have no strength and to have no understanding to remain true in the faith. (Matthew 13:1-9). It is sadder still for the newly born to have no-one to give them sustenance and loving direction. The Neophyte is not a trophy, but a baby who needs to fed and taught. As we all have been.
Obviously the new disciples at Lystra knew that there was a price to follow Jesus. Not a price to come into the fold as we know that we are saved only by faith and not by any work that we have done. But once we begin walking with the Lord we draw the rage of the enemy. When we came to the Lord we did not reach up to God but God reached down to us and snatched us out of the devil’s prison. The devil does not think that we are now with God where we truly belong. He thinks that we were his and now he has lost us. We are free from his hate and his destruction of us. Not only are we free but we will bring the Gospel to others so that it will free them. To him we have become not only an escaped prisoner but an enemy combatant. The enemy, as much as he is able, will fight us. Yet, not so much us, because without God we are easily beaten. He is fighting God who lives within us (Romans 8:10). Yes, the enemy hates us because God loves us. Ultimately it is God who lives within us whom the devil hates most deeply. God, whom the enemy wanted to overthrow but could not, is whom he hates. He hates God who, though the enemy has a crumbling kingdom here on earth, will soon snatch the enemy from his defeated kingdom and throw him in the Lake of Fire where he will forever remain. We are the Ambassadors of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20) and have been transformed, through the victory of Jesus, from victims of his kingdom to pillagers of it. (Matthew 16:18) So the enemy will bring us trouble at every opportunity and would overcome us if we survived by our own strength. But we survive not by our own power but by the power of God who loves us (Zechariah 4:6). It is only by the power of God that we are not destroyed by the enemy (Jude 10). But we are not destroyed, but victors through the blood of Jesus. (Romans 8:31-37).
The new disciples had seen Paul stoned. When Paul told them that there would be hardships ahead, they knew that he knew what he was talking about. Though troubles are to come for all of us, Jesus told us that we need not worry because He has already overcome the world (John 16:33). Not that He would overcome the world (the enemy), but that He already has! Praise God! Jesus openly defeated the enemy and all his powers and He did it in plain sight for all to see (Colossians 2:15). Therefore we have nothing to fear and every reason to celebrate our Champion the Savior and Lord Jesus. Praise God! What Paul and Barnabas did by bringing the Word to these people, and thereby freeing them, is what the Lord has already done for all who will receive the gift of eternal live through Him. They saved, strengthened and encouraged. Jesus saved us through His death and resurrection. He has given to us everything we need to continue on in victory (2 Peter 1:3). Importantly the Holy Spirit is within us to teach us, to strengthen us, to encourage us and to guide us. Jesus saved us and has not left us as orphans, praise God (John 14:15-27). We have no need to fear, we are in His hand and none shall be able to take us from it (John 10:28). Jesus has done the complete work. In Him we are forever safe and are on a sure path to spend eternity with God. Thank you Jesus! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.