[ACT:14:1-28].
Lesson 326 - Junior
Memory Verse
"In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
Notes
From Iconium to Lystra
Paul and Barnabas had been expelled from Antioch in Pisidia after preaching a powerful sermon there. In the days of the early Church, as yet today, wherever the truth is preached the devil is at hand to try to bring division or cause trouble of some kind. Now at Iconium, the forces of evil were stirred, and when these two missionaries learned that the people were planning to stone them, they departed to other cities. Paul, in his later writings, compared the Christian life with that of a soldier, and we can see from these chapters why he felt that way about it. The life of a soldier is not one of ease, and Paul did not expect things to go smoothly for him. A soldier faces many dangers and must not be a coward and run from the fight; however, sometimes it is wise to move or he may lose his life. During World War II some of the Christian boys on the battlefield faced great dangers, and often the voice of God told them just when to move from a place of danger. We believe it was the voice of God that warned these soldiers of the Cross just in time to move from the city of Iconium and go to Lystra.Stoned
But the wicked Jews of Antioch and Iconium were still determined to stop the work of Paul. They followed him to Lystra. No doubt there they learned that the work was going on, for it was at Lystra that the crippled man was healed through the power of God. Perhaps they saw him leap and walk, something he had never done before. At last they persuaded the people and had Paul stoned. Now they had accomplished their end; now they had stopped his preaching about the resurrection of Jesus, so they thought. They could go back to their old forms of worship as before. Their wicked hearts did not care whether any sick were made well by the words of Paul. They did not wish to see sad hearts made glad, as had been the case where Paul had preached [ACT:13:48]).The Eternal Word
Those who oppose the Gospel of Jesus Christ have ever tried to stamp out the truth of the Word of God and to stop the spread of Christianity. At one time every port in England was carefully watched by officers, and thousands of copies of the New Testament were seized and burned at the old cross of Saint Paul; but other copies were again printed. When they found that they could not stop the entrance of the Books into England, the Bishop of London asked a certain merchant to buy up all the copies across the water. However, this merchant was a great secret friend of Tyndale, who was the first one to translate the whole Bible into the English language. The merchant at once replied, "I will insure you to have every book that remains unsold." The bishop now thinking that "he hadde God by the toe, whanne in truthe he hadde . . . the devyl by the fiste" promised to pay him whatever the books cost, "For," he said, "the books are naughty, and I intend surely to destroy them all, and to burn them at Paul's Cross." The merchant at once bought up the copies from Tyndale, who decided that the bishop would burn them anyway. Now he had enough money to enable him to print more, which he did, and the copies again poured into England. When opponents of the Book at last realised that it was beyond their power to destroy it, one of them preached a famous sermon at Paul's Cross, pointing out the "naughtiness" and errors of the Book. At the close of his sermon he threw the copy into a great fire burning near by. In spite of severe opposition, the Book became more widely read and more talked about, until one day a bishop said, "It passeth my power, or that of any spiritual man, to hinder it now." The path of the Bible was now hewn; no king or monarch could stop its progress, for God had said, "Let there be light," and there was light! The Bible is today the most widely published Book; it is translated as a whole or in part into more than 1,118 languages, and may be purchased for a small sum of money. Ingersoll, a noted infidel, once held up a copy of the Bible and said, "In 15 years I'll have this book in the morgue." Within 15 years Ingersoll was in the morgue, and the Bible still lives. Voltaire, another unbeliever, said that in 100 years the Bible would be a forgotten Book. At the end of the 100 years his house was owned by the Geneva Bible Society.Suffering for Christ
At one time Paul had given his consent to the stoning of Stephen, and had held the raiment of those who committed this terrible sin [ACT:22:20]). Later Paul suffered for Christ in the same manner at the hands of sinful men. But the Lord knew that Paul's work was not yet finished, and raised him up again. He went right back to preaching, so he was no doubt restored to health. There must have been praises from the lips of Paul and the other Apostles who stood around him, as he rose to his feet and went back to his work. At the conversion of Paul, the Lord had spoken to Ananias and said: "I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake" [ACT:9:16]). By now, Paul had tasted some of that suffering, and that was not the end of it, either. Sometimes the Lord lets severe troubles and trials come to His chosen ones, and at times the going may be "rough"; but when it is permitted in God's love, it is for our good. Let us keep that in mind when afflictions or trials come to us. If we have not suffered for Christ yet, we may see some of it before our life upon earth is finished, because terrible conditions are coming upon this old world. Let us purpose in our hearts to stand steadfast and firm and not be shaken from our faith in God.The Home-Coming
The first missionary journey of Paul was nearing its close as his ship once more reached the land of Syria; then they travelled to Antioch, from where he and the others had started. What a home-coming! Everyone came to church to hear Paul tell what God had done. The best news they brought home was the fact that God had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles [ACT:14:27]). How Paul's face must have beamed with joy as he said the Gentiles had asked him to preach to them, and that almost the whole city had gathered to hear the Word of God. We are sure he brought back a good report of his first journey, even though it was not easy all the way. If he told of the dangers, the hardships, the stoning, we are sure that it was only in order to show God's protecting hand, His keeping power and grace that went with him every mile of the way. We believe he felt like saying that the toils of the road were nothing compared with the joys of service. Every true Christian feels that way about serving God.The Way of the Cross
If you are a boy or a girl who has been saved for a period of time, you have perhaps learned that while living a Christian life you meet with a few temptations and trials. But you have also learned that it is the best way to live, for you have the joy of the Lord in your heart, no matter what happens. If you are a boy or a girl who has been saved recently, you may find a few difficulties along the way; but it has been often said that the worst time that a Christian ever has is better than the best time that a sinner ever has. If you are a boy or a girl who is not saved and you want to make Heaven your home, do not let the way of the Cross seem difficult to you, for remember that it leads Home. Whatever the test or trial, you have the promise, "My grace is sufficient for thee" [2CO:12:9]). Through Christ you may be victorious in every battle. A Christian may walk and talk with Jesus; he tells Him every problem, and Jesus understands even better than a kind, loving parent. He daily crowns the life of a Christian with good things, and has a home in Heaven prepared for all who are true and faithful to the end. Paul said: "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" [ROM:8:18]).Can you say what the song writer said? "Not for ease or worldly pleasure, Nor for fame my prayer shall be; Gladly will I toil and suffer, Only let me walk with Thee."