Acts 14:1-20 THE WORD OF HIS GRACE. What a blessing it is when those who serve the Lord in the work of the Gospel are able to work together in harmony and with a united objective. Paul and Barnabas "went together" and were bold in their testimony as they presented "the word of His grace." Their boldness wasn't just the aggressive, in-your-face style of many. Their boldness was in the Lord. Teamwork is a principle that we can follow throughout the scriptures when we trace the work of God. Moses, Aaron and Joshua were together in the work, each with different roles but the same objective. The Lord Jesus Himself had those with Him when He was involved in His public ministry. Teamwork is done by several people each doing a part but subordinating personal prominence to make the work in their hand efficient.
Love for God, for each other, for the work itself and for the souls of men and women promotes a loyalty and unity in action. A division of labor is needed so redundancy is avoided. The value of a united effort strengthens each one when opposition comes as it did in Iconium. The operation of commitment to the word of His grace follows the same pattern, with the same objectives the Lord Jesus had - the Gospel to every creature. Paul and Barnabas, who are both called apostles in this chapter for the first time, used the same method the Lord used. On some occasions the best way to deal with opposition is to just move on to other places. Other times we must stay and press ahead in spite of obstacles and even confrontation. Their vision, as ours should be, was that every person is important and their attitude was they were servants of the Lord and served Him by serving people.
When we do the work to which God has called us, it deserves our very best effort with the very best results in view - the fulfillment of the commission the Lord gave. Therefore, in communicating the message of salvation we must do so with warmth and sincerity. The people we speak to can sense our attitude toward them. Our message should be accurate with scriptures to back up our comments. When Paul spoke to the Gentiles, his message came from a different perspective than that when he spoke to the Jews. To the Gentiles he pointed out their responsibility to the God of creation, not the God of Jewish history. There is great value in keeping calm and composed when speaking in spite of any disruption that might be caused by those in opposition. In Lystra there was a flattering comparison of the preachers to the gods the people of Lyaconia were familiar with. Paul used this comparison to present the truth of the Gospel. To speak to people on a friendly and familiar basis, is one way people who hear the message, know we really care for them.
The healing miracle of the crippled man who truly believed he could be healed, provided the spring-board that Paul and Barnabas needed to reach the whole city in a short time. It was so kind of God to open an effective door to them right after they had been threatened with stoning in Iconium. Now in the place where there had been such adulation, these same fickle people were easily moved to stone them to death. A big beginning and great enthusiasm of people when the Gospel is first preached does not mean a whole lot in the long run. It is the lasting effects of the Gospel that are important. A crest of enthusiasm can quickly be replaced with opposition when there is no lasting results from a movement. What really counts are those faithful few who remain and continue on in the ways of the Lord and the truth of God's word in spite of opposition.
God has left every person in the world with the testimony of rain and crops that grow to feed mankind. When presenting the Gospel, it is a good thing to point out evidence of God that can be seen right where the listeners are. God is at work in the world. The approval of people may make us feel good, but we always need to make our decisions on the basis of "the word of His grace.," not the appeal or approval of the crowd. The Lord Jesus "did not commit Himself to them, because He knew what was in man." Our guidance must come from God. These apostles were committed to obey God in spite of the cost to themselves. What a stir it must have caused when the ones they left for dead outside of Lystra, returned with the marks of stoning upon them and stayed overnight. There is a time to go and preach, a command to fulfill, a time to move on and a time to return to support those God has saved in a community.
Acts 14: 3. “Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of His grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.” What was important, the signs or the grace, That those men spoke to those in their day? As they traveled the world going on place to place, What gave proof to the words they did say? The signs and the miracles, the healings and all, Were good things for the people to see. But the word of His grace spoken with power shall Convince the hearers when they gave testimony.
When the Lord Himself was here among men, People marveled at the gracious words that He spoke. They saw His miracles; tasted miracle bread; But it was the truth of His words their will broke. Grace from His lips gave testimony then; That He had come down from above. The truth that He taught was the way that those men Had learned and were convinced of God’s love.
Like the Lord when he was here in the body of flesh, And the apostles who faithfully scattered the seed; We are responsible now to all those we can reach, To preach the word of His grace we received. It was by the word, not the miracles, I was convinced, Of the greatness of the Person I need. It is word of the Lord that will each argument clinch To the skeptic who will not to miracles heed.
The word of His grace reaches the heart and the mind, Touching emotions and intellect - both. In the scriptures of truth is where the Person we find, That brings life and peace to those living on earth. Those things that He said when salvation He brought, Is the assurance that the message is true. When we speak for the Lord – give the truths that He taught; Then through them, the Lord Himself we will know.
“O God of all grace, and Father of all that believe: I am seeking Thy help that today when I speak, it will be the word of Thy grace people hear. If these stiff lips of mine cannot form the gracious words they should speak, then keep me silent. If this heart of mine is not melted and graceful, then work Thy work of heavenly anointing that there will be evidence of the truth of the words of Thy grace. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”