Scripture:
“And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.””
Acts 14:21-22 NKJV
Observation:
Paul and Barnabus had been preaching the Gospel and planting churches. In the process, they were stoned, beaten, chased out of town, etc. for their faith. Sometimes, they were only in an area a very short time and they left a church behind. Here, they are going back to those churches and encouraging them to continue in the faith and telling them through many tribulations they would enter the kingdom of God.
Application:
Sometimes in today’s church, we feel that if anything goes wrong, or there is any opposition, either we are doing the wrong thing or God isn’t with us. Paul and Barnabus were doing the right thing at the right time and were being run out of town and persecuted for it. Maybe we need to be telling people up front that following Jesus may cause them to walk through tribulation because that’s how we enter the Kingdom of God. Rather than feeling that if there is opposition that God isn’t with us, maybe it is a confirmation that He is. We can’t lose faith in difficult times.
Prayer:
Father, help me to communicate truth to Your people. Help me not to sugarcoat the Gospel or only speak the parts that I like, but to truly prepare Your people for tribulation and difficult times. Empower me to preach the full Gospel and to build a strong church that can endure any and all tribulation.
Your Son,
Jeff
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