“If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.” –Jesus, Matthew 10:14

Sometimes, we’ve just got to pick ourselves up, shake the dust off our feet, and move forward to go and tell the Good News of Jesus.

Acts 14, The Message

^1-3 When they got to Iconium they went, as they always did, to the meeting place of the Jews and gave their message. The Message convinced both Jews and non-Jews—and not just a few, either. But the unbelieving Jews worked up a whispering campaign against Paul and Barnabas, sowing mistrust and suspicion in the minds of the people in the street. The two apostles were there a long time, speaking freely, openly, and confidently as they presented the clear evidence of God’s gifts, God corroborating their work with miracles and wonders.

^4-7 But then there was a split in public opinion, some siding with the Jews, some with the apostles. One day, learning that both the Jews and non-Jews had been organized by their leaders to beat them up, they escaped as best they could to the next towns—Lyconia, Lystra, Derbe, and that neighborhood—but then were right back at it again, getting out the Message.

Gods or Men?

^8-10 There was a man in Lystra who couldn’t walk. He sat there, crippled since the day of his birth. He heard Paul talking, and Paul, looking him in the eye, saw that he was ripe for God’s work, ready to believe. So he said, loud enough for everyone to hear, “Up on your feet!” The man was up in a flash—jumped up and walked around as if he’d been walking all his life.

^11-13 When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they went wild, calling out in their Lyconian dialect, “The gods have come down! These men are gods!” They called Barnabas “Zeus” and Paul “Hermes” (since Paul did most of the speaking). The priest of the local Zeus shrine got up a parade—bulls and banners and people lined right up to the gates, ready for the ritual of sacrifice.

^14-15 When Barnabas and Paul finally realized what was going on, they stopped them. Waving their arms, they interrupted the parade, calling out, “What do you think you’re doing! We’re not gods! We are men just like you, and we’re here to bring you the Message, to persuade you to abandon these silly god-superstitions and embrace God himself, the living God. We don’t make God; he makes us, and all of this—sky, earth, sea, and everything in them.

^16-18 “In the generations before us, God let all the different nations go their own way. But even then he didn’t leave them without a clue, for he made a good creation, poured down rain and gave bumper crops. When your bellies were full and your hearts happy, there was evidence of good beyond your doing.” Talking fast and hard like this, they prevented them from carrying out the sacrifice that would have honored them as gods—but just barely.

^19-20 Then some Jews from Antioch and Iconium caught up with them and turned the fickle crowd against them. They beat Paul unconscious, dragged him outside the town and left him for dead. But as the disciples gathered around him, he came to and got up. He went back into town and the next day left with Barnabas for Derbe.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Paul and Barnabas are now going beyond Jerusalem to deliver The Message to those who have never heard and to those who know enough to be against them.  We remember that Jesus prepared His disciples and all who would follow them, like Paul and Barnabas.  Jesus not only warned them about what His enemy would do against them, He told them how to hang on to His peace, joy, and wisdom in doing the work.

Jesus trained his followers how to “go and make disciples” with this warning of wisdom: “Stay alert. This is hazardous work I’m assigning you. You’re going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don’t call attention to yourselves. Be as shrewd as a snake, inoffensive as a dove.  “Don’t be naive. Some people will question your motives, others will smear your reputation—just because you believe in me.”  Matthew 10:16-17, MSG

Led by the God’s Holy Spirit, the work of Jesus, Son of God, continues to preach salvation with the gift of eternal life because of the sacrifice made by Jesus.  As promised by Jesus, the Holy Spirit leads them where to go with what to say and when to say it. He also taught them (and us) that the enemy will try to stop The Message from changing lives from death to life! 

Don’t look around the next time you go to church to judge who is on God’s side and who is on the enemy’s side, but know this:  both are in the room as we worship God, relate to each other, sing songs of praise, hear the Message of salvation with the right ways to live, and prayer in the Name of Jesus.  What was clear to Paul and Barnabas was the “whispering campaign” against them.  Avoid being caught us in whispering campaigns.  Gossip maims, hurts, and can easily stop what God is doing among his believers.

We must daily examine ourselves and realize that what we think, say and do may help someone else find and follow Jesus OR drive them away.  Prayerfully pause to let that sink in. Ask Jesus in prayer, “Am I a Judas who is led of the enemy to betray with thoughts of trying to stop The Message, Lord”?  “Is it me?”

How do we know for sure?  Paul, so passionately led by the Holy Spirit, will write letters to the churches later explaining what helps and what hurts.  Here is an example:

“So let’s not sleepwalk through life like those others. Let’s keep our eyes open and be smart. People sleep at night and get drunk at night. But not us! Since we’re creatures of Day, let’s act like it. Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation.”

“God didn’t set us up for an angry rejection but for salvation by our Master, Jesus Christ. He died for us, a death that triggered life. Whether we’re awake with the living or asleep with the dead, we’re alive with him! So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it.”

The Way He Wants You to Live

“And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!”

“Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. And be careful that when you get on each other’s nerves you don’t snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out.”

“Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.”

“Don’t suppress the Spirit, and don’t stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don’t be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what’s good. Throw out anything tainted with evil.”

^“May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he’ll do it!” 1 Thessalonians 5:7-24, MSG

Even today, people will try to put pastors on a pedestal, thinking they are gods OR they will run them out of town for preaching Jesus in ways that convict their souls.  Whispering campaigns are the work of the Enemy.  God knows what is inside all hearts.  He is always at work and will always make a way for The Message to be heard.

Jesus also said; “You can be sure that on Judgment Day they’ll be mighty sorry—but it’s no concern of yours now.”  (Matthew 10:15) Move on, like Paul and Barnabas, as the Holy Spirit leads.  Again, the response of people is not up to us.

Jesus teaching in Matthew 10 is such wisdom for the journey of Paul and Barnabas and for all of us who believe.  As we go and tell The Message of Jesus salvation for all.  Jesus also delivers this encouragement;

“Don’t be intimidated. Eventually everything is going to be out in the open, and everyone will know how things really are. So don’t hesitate to go public now.  “Don’t be bluffed into silence by the threats of bullies. There’s nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life—body and soul—in his hands.” –Jesus, Matthew 10:26-28, MSG

How comforting and encouraging!  As we walk in His Steps, we are in His Hands!

Lord,

Thank you for your message of salvation that saved me and made me whole. Thank you for daily cleansing my heart, renewing my mind, refreshing my soul and restoring the joy and peace of you in me and me in you!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen.  I believe.