Acts: Go & Be Chapters 10-18Sample

What is this passage saying?

The disciples are in Iconium proudly proclaiming the Gospel. Jews and Gentiles are believing and surrendering to the Lord. However, more jealous Jewish leader rile up Gentiles against the disciples. But verse 3 says, after “Therefore, they stayed a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord what was bearing witness to the world of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.”, this was despite the very real opposition that surrounded them. We will keep seeing the boldness of the Lord on display in the lives of great men and women in the book of Acts. Opposition for the disciples did not mean they had to surrender; they only grew bolder. Opposition is coming for us Christians- the Spirit of God within us will not shrink back. The choice is ours to be led by God or to be slaves to our flesh. The kindness of our God is that we can grow and be better. If you shrink back today, don’t do it tomorrow. And know that God has made a way for you to face opposition boldly. When your view of God is higher than you fear of man, confidence in Him will guide your decisions.

What is this passage teaching?

This passage ends with the disciples learning of a plan against them to abuse and stone them. Once they heard about it, they fled to Lystra. Now this in no way is a question on their dedication to the scripture. Unfortunately, Paul will later be stoned. Tony Evans addresses this so well, “Knowing when to stay in spite of persecution and when to leave to escape it requires wisdom. There’s no one size fits all answer. We need to follow the Spirit’s leading.” The Lord is sovereign, and it was time for them to go. There will be times when they stay. When you are Intune with the voice of the Lord- decisions become easier. He is not hiding His will for you. He is not retrained by your time. He is not mean and will leave your dangling. I can say this with full assurance because I have seen it in my own life, His ways are perfect and just on time. We cannot limit God to human confinements. He is not within the bounds of our understanding. When it’s time to go you will know and when it is time to stay you will know. The blessedness of it all is that no matter what- He will not leave you for one second of the journey. People will come and go; the God of the universe is always with His people.

How do I respond?

Learn the voice of the Lord through prayer and scripture reading. The voice of the Lord is our hope and peace. His Words are life to His people. We are only defined by Him and what He says. Intimacy is cultivated through pursuit. Pursue God and know His voice.