Christian History & Missions | Lecture 5 : BC201-CH&M-20260825

Good morning everyone. >> Praise the Lord and welcome to class. This class is the in-person class is becoming smaller and smaller by the day. Yeah, shrinking shrinking by the day. Uh welcome online students. Thank you all for joining us and welcome to the e-learning students as well. Uh I hope you all are enjoying this study on um revivals and uh the revival in the book of acts. So how how many periods is the book of acts the revival in the book of acts divided into three first first eight years then >> then 10 years okay first year first eight years is outpouring of the holy spirit and what happened next 10 years is what how the revival fire what happens as a result of a revival how the revival fire >> spreads. So the next 10 years talking about the spread of the revival fire in the book of acts and the last 20 years is talking about what >> Paul yes okay so it's talking you look at top of page number eight we have the three um you know divisions there Paul as a carrier of revival so I've explained uh the the first and the second division okay now we'll be looking at the third one, the next 20 years, AD48 to AD68 and Paul as a carrier of revival. Okay, we already began that slide two, please. Yes. So we see that um the final 20 years uh record in the book of acts focus on the life and ministry of the apostle Paul a man chosen by God to carry the revival fire across the Mediterranean world. And in this period we also see how God prepared and shaped Paul to become a vessel. You will see basically how God not just how God used him mightily but also how God prepared him and shaped Paul to become a vessel through who or a person. Vessel means just basically a means or a person through the how the Holy Spirit would share the gospel into new communities, new cultures and regions. Okay. So we begin by looking at Paul's conversion. Slide three please. uh Paul's conversion uh in his early ministry we see that Paul uh journeys uh Paul's journey as a carrier of revival began with his where did it begin his journey of revival as a carrier of revival where does it begin where does Paul's journey of revival as a car or a carrier of revival begin where does it begin. Yes. On the road to Damascus. Yes. Acts chapter 9 1-9. And we I said the last time that Paul was likely between 29 to 33 years old. And immediately following his conversion, Paul began preaching, okay, about Jesus Christ in the synagogues of Damascus. And he was boldly uh you know uh proclaiming that Jesus is the Messiah. We read that in this in acts chapter 9 19- 22. So this period actually demonstrates an important principle. What is the principle? That revival fire often begins when people have a personal encounter with Jesus. Revival begins when people have a personal encounter with Jesus. And it's also a life transforming event. It transforms a person's life so that they can become channel of God's spirit. Okay. And we see that Paul very boldly is speaking the truth about Jesus Christ immediately after his conversion. There's nothing that stops him. Right? That is what revival does. When there's a revival, people are on fire for God. Nothing can stop them from not even persecution. We looked in Acts, right? The first eight chapters, we see, you know, nothing stops them. even persecution, they all spread out. They go out and they spread the gospel. Okay. Philip goes to Samaria, Acts 8 and all of those things we studied last week. Okay. So, uh Paul also begins speaking boldly about Jesus Christ immediately after his uh conversion. Okay. And um uh he becomes a channel of God's spirit. Okay? So it reminds us that revival cannot just be contained in our hearts. It just cannot be contained in a room. It cannot just be contained in a specific uh space. But from that heart or that room or that space, it just flows out towards others. Okay. Then we will look at what happened to Paul after that. You can show slide four please. After his initial ministry in Damascus, this is four. Okay. After his initial ministry in Damascus, Paul went to where? Arabia. Okay. Uh he went to Arabia. What does he do in Arabia? What is uh you know we read about his time in Arabia in Galatians chapter 1 15- 18. So Paul tells us that after his conversion if you look at Galatians 1 uh 15 to18 Paul tells us that after his conversion he went into Arabia and this was not a preaching tour that means he's not going and preaching and teaching in Arabia but it's a time of solitude that means a time of quiet uh you know uh uh yeah a time of loneliness separation isolation just you know reflecting on what he received what God is speaking to him. It's a time where he spends time in prayer in revelation from the Lord. Okay. Um verse six uh slide six please. So we see in Arabia you know that uh Paul also received much of his understanding of the gospel okay of the grace of Jesus Christ directly from Christ and he writes about this in Galatians chapter 1 11 and 12. So this was a time of unlearning his old reliance on the law and it was a time of receiving fresh revelation of the new covenant. Okay. Uh go back to slide five, you know. So what do we learn from this period? You can go. Yeah, this is slide five. Okay. Okay. So what does he learn uh you know uh during his time of solitude or what do we learn from Paul's time that he spend in Arabia? Now sometimes you know God pulls his people away or his servants away from activity. Okay. Uh to a place where he builds them in their foundational truth or he takes them away to break their old mindsets, their old way of thinking, their old way of doing and he equips them for future ministry. So you see even a person like Paul even before he is going to spread the revival what does God do? He doesn't just touch him on the road of Damascus and say come on start preaching Paul there is a time of preparation for him right of course he starts preaching in Damascus but then he goes on to Arabia you know where he spends much time in quietness he's just receiving revelations from God from the Holy Spirit from Jesus he's just learning spending time in prayer and all of his old mindsets of the Old Testament law and the way of thinking is all being broken and God is equipping him for future ministry. Okay. So when we want revival, it's not just we pray, pray, pray. Yes, we do that. But also we wait on God to change us so that we can be the good agents or the correct vessels to birth his revival. Okay. Now after Arabia, Paul returns back to Damascus. So you can go to uh slide seven please. and he continues preaching in the synagogues okay for a remainder period of three years so he's there in uh from Arabia he goes to Damascus he's preaching there for three years and he faces opposition in his ministry okay the Jews uh you know together with king um uh arites I 4th you know sought to arrest Paul and Paul mentions about this in 2 Corinthians chapter 11 32-35 but we see that all the believers they put Paul in a basket and he escapes and he travels to Jerusalem. Okay. So we see that this period basically highlights the reality that when you are carrying revival or you are a carrier of the revival fire it often attracts opposition. There will be opposition. So you might be excited. You go to a place revival. Oh, you're super excited. God touches you. You, you know, you're seeing God's >> pres mute your mic, please. Thank you. Yeah. So we see that you know we uh uh we can get excited with all the signs, miracles, wonders, all God is doing his presence you know and we want to take it back to our place from which we come and we think it's going to all be easy but revival can attract opposition right we saw that in chapters 1 to8 how the early apostles and disciples and believers were persecuted but we see yet divine protection allows God's purposes is to advance. Even when we saw in Steven stoning, what happened? People thought they can stone Steven and the believers or the Christians will be very very afraid and they will hide and run and not do anything. But what did it do as a result of it? They all spread. But wherever they went, they started preaching the gospel and doing signs, miracles, and wonders. So even in the midst of opposition, God's divine protection will be there and God's purposes will advance even when there is persecution and even when there is threats. Okay. Now Paul from um Damascus goes to Jerusalem. They let him down in the basket. He escapes from the walls. He goes to uh uh Jerusalem. So it's a short visit to Jerusalem. So let's move to slide eight. Upon reaching Jerusalem uh we uh we read in scripture Acts chapter 9 26 to 30. Okay. Acts chapter 9 um um 26-30. Okay. So can somebody read that please for us? Acts chapter 9 26-30. But >> yeah, but saying stand up. I myself I'm also a man. And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. Then he said to them, "You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. Therefore, I came without objection. As soon as I was sent, for I asked them, for what reason have you sent for me?" So Coronelius Cornelius said, "Four days ago I was fasting until this hour, and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me." >> I'm sorry. >> Apologies. And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him and did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that he had spoken to him, and how preach boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. So he was with them at Jerusalem coming in and going out. And he spoke boldly in the name of Lord Jesus and disputed against the Helenists. But they attempted to kill him. When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Cesaria and sent him out to Tarsus. Amen. You know what happened? Jesus go to Damascus. What do they do? >> Excuse me ma'am. Excuse me. Let me pause. >> So sorry. Yeah. So when Paul reaches Jerusalem, uh you know, does he have a grand welcome by all the apostles? Please come. We welcome you. We're so glad that you've accepted Jesus Christ. No. What did they do? They were afraid of him. They doubted him. They did not want to meet him or be with him. Why? ah he thought that they will you know he will be they Paul has come to Saul has come to arrest them right and uh but who introduces or stands up for Paul >> Barnabas Barnabas introduces him then Paul stays with Peter for 15 days he meets only James the Lord's brother among the other apostles and during his visit uh slide nine please during his visit we see that Paul spoke boldly in the name of the Lord and debated with the Grecian Jews. Okay, the Greekeaking Jews. Okay, so we see that Paul doesn't stop preaching or teaching, but he debates with the Greekeaking Jews about Jesus. And when the disciples learned um of a plot against him, the Jews were planning to kill him. And the disciples knew that, you know, they were the Jews were planning to kill Paul. They they went along with Paul uh to Ceceria and you can see in the map there from Jerusalem to Ceceria and then you know they sent him to Tarsus. Okay, Tarsus so that he can be very very safe. Acts chapter 9 verse 30. Okay, let's move on to slide 10. Uh from this what do we learn from this? We learn that revival fire is strengthened through community and mentorship, right? You can't do revival all by yourself. You have to have people, community, you know, and mentors uh around you. So Paul's connection with Barnabas and Peter, you know, helped him grow and helped him gain uh credibility and be prepared for the next stage of his ministry. Okay. So we see that even in revival, we need community, we need one another, we need people, uh we need mentors. So Paul's connection with Barnabas with Peter helped him to grow uh helped him to gain credibility and he was prepared for the next stage of his ministry. Okay. Now um approximately after this when he goes to Tarsus uh is AD 38 to AD 44 is called the silent years of Paul. Okay. So um we read about this in Acts 9:30 and also Galatians 1 21. So we see that Paul returns to his hometown in Tarsus where he lived in uh you know uh uh uh for many years he was very very uh you know um very quiet not making very uh himself very known. Okay. Doesn't mean he does did not preach or you know um uh do anything much but we we don't see we scripture does not record anything much about this period AD 38 to 44 which is called a silent years of Paul when he was in Tarsus but Paul was most likely teaching preaching locally and maybe he was also continuing to grow in his spiritual maturity. Okay. But this hidden season became uh very crucial for shaping him uh into the apostle that God would use later. Okay. So you see even a great learned man like Paul had to go so many years of training Arabia silent years uh from 38 to 44 you know uh possibly 7 to 10 years you know where there was 7 to 10 years where there was basically uh not much known about what he did but in all of this time God is shaping him into the apostle that God would use later. So sometimes we are in a hurry to do great things for God. You know, we don't want to go to training. We don't want to go to preparation. But Paul himself, we see many years in Arabia, 7 to 10 years in Tarsus, not doing much. Then uh Barnabas brings Paul to Antioch. We read about this in Acts 11 25- 26. Okay. So please put slide 11. Okay. So, Paul brings uh uh sorry, Barnabas brings Paul to Antioch. Why does he bring uh why does Barnabas bring Paul to Antioch? Because we know there's a revival. I spoke about the revival, right, in the Antioch church last week. There was a revival that happened in the church in Antioch. And so, Barnabas remembered Paul and then uh you know that Paul can be of great help. So he goes to Tarsus and he brings Paul to Antioch and then Paul begins teaching at Antioch. Slide 12. Okay. Paul begins teaching at Antioch. Uh and that becomes his launching pad for his missionary journey. So all the three missionary journeys that Paul sets off to, he sets off from this church in Antioch. And when he finishes his missionary journey, he comes back to his church in Antioch. So the church in Antioch becomes like his mother church or the base church. So this period teaches us that preparation is very essential for carrying revival fire. And God often works in quiet seasons, you know, to equip us as his servants and then sends us out into visible ministry. And some of us are not happy during that silent years, that invisible years, that time of preparation. But when people, great people like Paul and Moses and everyone had to go through those silent years, this time of preparation, we too need to be patient with God. Okay. So what are some of the things that we can learn from Paul's silent years? His time in Arabia and in Tarsus. Okay. Slide 10, please. The first thing is preparation before uh ministry. Slide 10. Okay. Um preparation before public ministry. God uses seasons of darkness or he uses silence uh to deepen our character and also give us more revelation. So these times of silence is not just you know um preparation of our character but also when God reveals things and speaks to us also uh we see it's time of transformation. Even after conversion Paul needed years to fully understand and to live the gospel. Even though he was a very learned man in the Old Testament, we see that even after his conversion, Paul needed years to fully understand what the gospel is, the revelation of the gospel and to also live the gospel. Okay? And also God's timing matters. Paul wasn't immediately sent to the nations. He was prepared in private first. So that's what God does. He prepares us in private and then he takes us. He was also faithful in the hidden place. Okay, we see that um even though Paul had his silent years, it was not that he was just sitting back and relaxing. No, he was preaching, teaching, but also praying, just receiving from uh God. So ministry is not about just being on the platform where everybody is able to see us. Not just visible success, but hidden faithfulness also builds lasting ministry. Hidden faithfulness also builds lasting fruit. Okay. So we see that Paul was a carrier of revival. Okay. Was uh slide 14 please. So when we examine Paul's life uh looking at through it through revival because we are studying revival. Uh there are several key truths that emerges. The first thing is that revival fire requires personal transformation. Okay. So if you want revival, you have to be your life has to be transformed first. So Paul's life was radically changed by his encounter with Jesus Christ. Then revival fire begins where? Revival fire begins where? In the in Paul's case, it begins where? For a person, it begins where? >> In our heart. Okay, that is where we encounter Jesus personally. So Paul's conversion was a turning point that changed him from a persecutor to a preacher. Okay. Now I want to pause and ask a question here. So all of you need to ask yourself a question. Has Christ indeed transformed my life? Is something that we need to ask ourselves. We all saying we are born again. That's good. But we need to ask ourselves this question. Has Christ indeed transformed my life? And am I living in a way that reflects his power and glory? So I want you to take a minute to just think, has Christ transformed your life? And are you living in a way that reflects his power and glory? Because only when Christ transforms our life can we be his you know carriers of his revival or birth revival. And we need to ask ourselves are we living in a way that reflects his power and glory. Okay. We also see that revival fire something else that we can learn here is revival fire grows through community and mentorship. Like Paul was not only just receiving revelation from God, from Jesus in the quiet place in Tarsus and Arabia, but we also see he was nurtured by Barnabas, Peter and James who continually encouraged him, validated his calling and helped him develop spiritually and relationally. Okay. So their influence helped prepare Paul for his ministry. Okay. So something that we can learn is we need to surround ourselves with mentors or with godly peers who will who will be people who strengthen our faith and prepare us to lead others. Okay. Puja are you saying something or can you please mute your mic? Yeah. Puja, can you please mute your mic? >> Okay, let me just do that for Puja. See Why am I not able to mute her? I'm not able to mute her. Why? Puja, can you please mute your mic? Hello, Puja. I'm not able to mute her mic. Huh? It's not muted. Puja, hello Puja. Can you mute your mic, please? It's not muted. >> [laughter] >> I just remove from the >> That's it. Okay. Sorry for that. Okay. So, we'll move on. Okay. Um so revival of fire al also something that we can learn is often includes periods of silent preparation where God equips his vessels in ways that are not always visible. Okay. This is slide 14 which you've put. >> Okay. Yeah. Okay. So um the years that Paul spent in Syria, in Sicilia and Tarsus were not wasted. There were seasons of preparation and equipping for the ministry that God had ahead. Uh so what can we learn? Don't despise silent years of growth. Uh use this time to study God's word to pray and to develop your character. Okay. We also learned that revival fire is God centered. Okay. uh so Paul's calling and ministry were direct was directed by the Holy Spirit and it was not by human am ambition or convenience. So what can we learn from this? We learn that we need to seek and hear and follow the spirit holy spirit in every decision and revival fire cannot be carried without god's direction. Okay. Um we also see that Paul faced um opposition but you know uh he faced it in boldness. Even in Damascus Paul faced threats from Jewish leaders and from rulers but yet he preached boldly and he did not stop or he did not retreat back but he continued to preach. So what can we learn from this? That revival often comes with challenges but we need to be ready to stand firm and act courageously uh for God even in the face of opposition. Okay. And we also can learn that we need that we can be a vessel for multiplication. Now we've not yet looked or studied uh Paul's missionary journeys. We will be looking at them. But we can see in Antioch that God was raising Paul uh to become a multiplier. That means someone who would later raise up leaders, many leaders and plant churches. And if you read his letters, he always writes in the end of his letters, you know, I'm uh a greeting from so and so or greet so and so. So we see how many leaders he has raised and how many churches he has planted. Okay. So we need to begin now to think about how we can influence okay and raise up others even in our own context. So some of you are you know already pastors, missionaries, evangelists, some of you are active in your church but think about how you can influence and raise up others in your own context so that you know you can the revival fire can spread through those whom you reproduce. um you know uh after your own kind or the the people that you raise up to be leaders. Okay. Um now the challenge here is that Paul's early life okay reminds us that revival is not about just extraordinary events. When we think about revival we just think you know the cloud will be there and God's presence will be there and everybody will be crying and falling down and there'll be mighty signs, miracles and wonders. Yes, all that happens. But it's not just only about extraordinary events. It also starts with personal surrender where people have to personally surrender their lives. It's also preparation. It's also mentoring others, other people, you know, and obedience to God. Okay. So the question that we can ask ourselves today is some of you saying, "Hey, I want revival. I want to be a carrier of revival." But the question we need to ask ourselves is, am I ready to be a carrier of revival fire in my family, in my church, and in my community? If you want revival, then God will have to take some time to transform your life and to prepare you. That is what we see in Paul's life, right? He had to be transformed and he had to be prepared, right? All of you with me? >> Yes. Yes. >> Okay. So we'll continue um there are no slides for this. Okay, we'll continue by looking at uh Paul's first missionary journey AD44 to AD46. Okay, so if you uh it's on page number 13. If you turn to Acts chapter 13, from Acts 13:E1 to Acts 14:28 is Paul's first missionary journey. I hope all of you read it. I can see only one nodding. uh head whatever the others. Okay, thank you. Some of you have read okay so uh thank you Muna. Acts chapter 13. How are you Ma? How is your health? >> I'm good ma'am. How are you? >> Okay. Praise God. >> Oh the the your classmates here in person students want to know when you're coming back. They're missing you. Okay. >> I'm coming soon ma'am. >> Okay. [laughter] Okay. Thank you. So uh his first missionary journey of Paul is Acts 13:1 and all the way up till Acts chapter 14 28. So Paul starts his missionary journey from where? Antioch. Where? Antioch in Syria. Okay. Uh which is a city of Paul's uh home church. Okay. Now if you look at the New Testament, the New Testament mentions two cities called Antioch. So don't get mixed up. One is Antioch in Syria where Paul starts his missionary journey and comes back and the other is Antioch in Picidia. Okay. So there are two cities called Antioch. One in Syria, one in Pacidia. Don't get confused. It's Antioch in Cyia that we are talking about here. Uh which is um you know Paul's starting point of his three missionary journeys. And um this place called Antioch was the capital of Syria. Okay. Uh and during the New Testament times it was the third largest city. So hence Antioch was a very welldeveloped established commercial center and it had numerous advanced uh features in Antioch. Okay. And today it is the ancient city of uh the Turkish city of uh Antia. in Takia. Okay, which is uh on the southernmost southern eastern part of Turkey. Okay, so we also see here there's a leadership team at um at the Antioch in church. Okay, very interesting. I think that PowerPoint has or I deleted it, I don't know. Okay. Anyway, the leadership team uh that was raised up at Antioch church is very interesting. Okay. Uh there were five men uh named as prophets and teachers in Antioch. We read about them in Acts chapter 13 verse 1. So if you look at Acts chapter 13 verse1 I think I deleted that slide uh so don't worry. Yeah. Acts 13:1 if you look at uh you know uh that verse it has all the leaders in the church in Antioch. So we see all of their names uh a very diverse social, cultural, ethnic mix in leadership team and we see that these leaders in the church of Antioch you know basically fasted and prayed and sought the lord to uh together. So Paul is coming from a church where there were you know a wellestablished church praying church a strong leadership team uh leaders from various cultural ethnic mix uh backgrounds and people who fasted and prayed and sought the lord so that is why I think he loves that church he starts all his missionary journeys from there and he also comes back there okay so let's look at Paul's first missionary uh journey it's in acts chapter 13 and 14 so what is the context Now after the church at Antioch which is in Syria experienced revival uh God set apart Paul okay who was called at that time he was called Saul and Barnabas to carry the gospel beyond their local community okay and uh this journey marks the first intentional effort of them to spread the revival to new regions showing how God can work through people who are willing people who are ready to take the gospel beyond their communities. Okay. So what are some of the key events? Even as some of you have read it, you would have read some interesting stories in Acts chap 13 and 14. Okay. So the first thing uh if you look at Acts chapter 13 1-4, we see the sending and the guidance by the spirit. In Antioch, the prophets and the teachers were led by the Holy Spirit and they set apart Paul and Barnabas for the mission. Right? So they prayed and they felt led and they uh so it was not something they did randomly or Paul and Barnabas did not get up one fine morning and said let's go for a mission trip. They actually you know the prophets and the teachers in the church set apart Paul and Barnabas for their mission. So the church prayed and fasted. So this emphasizes that revival work requires spiritual preparation and it requires discernment. Okay. And we also see that God directed them Paul and Barnabas to leave their own place their their home church their comfort zone so to say and to go wherever he is calling them to go. Okay. Um so what can we learn from this? That revival is not just meant to stay in one place. Okay, we see that God raises up leaders and he sends them with a purpose uh and they are guided but they are guided by the Holy Spirit. That is very very important. How long does Paul's first missionary journey last? Any idea? >> 18 months. >> Uh sorry. It's okay. >> 18 months. >> 18 months. Okay. 2 years. Okay. Uh and he traveled about 1,200 miles. So who and all go for the first missionary journey? Who all go for the first missionary journey? >> Barnabas. >> Simeon. >> Paul. And also John Mark. Who's John Mark? >> John Mark is one of >> Barnabas's nephew. Okay. So they form a team and they set out from Antioch. Okay. And they first travel 16 miles southwest to Salucia which is a seapport town. Okay. And from Salucia they sailed to Salamis uh which is an island on Cyprus about 90 miles. We read this in Acts 13:4 and 5. And Salamis was one of the largest city of Cyprus. Okay. Um, and we see that Cyprus was Barnabas's home country and in Salamis they ministered in the synagogue to the Jews. So they go to the synagogue. Synagogue is basically where the Jews meet and worship. Okay. Now from Salamis they traveled on land by road approximately 140 miles southwest to Pampos. Okay. Uh which is a capital city of Cyprus. And at pamphost there Paul ministers to a very important official in that country called Sergus Paulus. Now Sergus Paulus if you have read Acts chapter 13 6-12 was very very interested about knowing about God. He was very interested in the spiritual things. And because he was interested in the spiritual things, one of the Jewish sorcerer called Elmius had a great influence on Sergis polace. Now when Sergus polace heard Paul's preaching, he wanted to listen to him. So he called him and along with him all the council, all the officials, government officials and also LMS was there. And we see that Paul is preaching to them, teaching to them and he's seeing that Sergus Paulus is becoming very very interested in the gospel. And at that time, Elmus tries to stop him. Right? Elmus is saying, "Oh, you know, uh, Sergus Paul is becoming very interested with what u Paul is teaching now. He will not come behind me. So, let me do something." He's tried to stop Paul. And what happened? Paul was empowered by the Holy Spirit and he struck the Jewish sorcerer Elmus with >> blindness. >> Blindness, right? And what was happened as a result of that? Sergus Paulus was shocked because here he was considering this man as a super spiritual man. And Paul's power was greater. The go the God that he served was greater than the spiritual power that this Elmas had. And he you know ultimately believed in u in God. So sometimes we see that it's not just preaching and teaching but also signs, miracles and wonders that get people to uh you know believe in the gospel and accept Jesus. So they move there from Pamos. They sailed 150 miles to Pergia in Pampilia. We read about this in Acts chapter 13:E3. And then what happens at Per at Perga? John Mark for some reason we do not know why. maybe homesick, maybe thinking this is too much, he cannot handle it. He wants to go back to >> back home to Jerusalem from Perga. Okay, so he goes back. Then from Perga, Barnabas and Paul now they travel on land about 100 miles to Antioch in Pacidia. Not Antioch in Syria, but Antioch in Pacidia. And we read about this in Acts chapter 13 14- 52. And there we have a record of Paul's message at Antioch in Pacidia. And we see that many believed in the gospel. However, we read also that the Jews did not believe and they raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and they threw them out of the city. Okay. Uh so Paul preached there in Antioch in Pacidia in the synagogue starting with uh what does he preach about? He starts with Israel's history. Then he points to Jesus as a fulfillment of God's promise. So you see how Paul uses his Old Testament learning talking to the Jews knowing that they understand the Old Testament and through that how he is bringing them to show that all that is spoken in the in the in the Old Testament is actually being fulfilled in Jesus Christ. And many Jews and God-fearing Gentiles believed, but some people opposed the message and it eventually ended up in throwing out Paul uh and Barnabas from that city. But despite the opposition, we see the disciples rejoice because God's word had taken root among many people. Okay. So, what can we learn from this? we can learn that revival is both a work of God and also a call to bold proclamation. Okay. So we see it's not only we teaching and preaching but it's also God's work. It's God who works. The Holy Spirit who works. Also we see that opposition cannot nullify the fruit of God's word. Same thing. Okay. We already looked at it. And those who receive the gospel will grow and the gospel will multiply will grow and the fire will also spread. Okay. Now from Antioch of Pacidia, Paul and Barnabas, they travel 60 miles east to Iconium which was the capital uh city of the province of uh Lyonia. We read this about this in Acts chapter 14 verses 1-5. So you can all of you read look at acts 14:es 1-5. Okay. Now this city was surrounded by huge big high walls and Paul and Barnabas spend some time in Iconium. They speak boldly. Look at verse three. Speaking boldly in the Lord who was bearing witness to the word of his grace and granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. Okay. So what was the ministry in Iconium? Uh so they preached in the synagogue. Many believed some Jews rejected the gospel. They stirred up opposition and they were planning to attack Paul and Barnabas. But Paul and Barnabas left the city for safety. But they did not stop there. They continued their ministry elsewhere. Okay. So from Iconium they travel 18 miles to Lististra which is another city in Lyonia. Uh look at acts 14 6-20 and what happens at Lististra. What happens in Lististra? Acts 14 6-20. >> They became aware and fled to Lististra and Derby. >> A crippled man. >> What happens in to a crippled man? Certain man without strength in his feet was sitting a from his mother. >> Yeah. A man who was lamed from birth was healed. And what did the people think when Paul and Barnabas healed them? >> They were the gods. >> Ah the the gods they believed came down and they called Barnabas what? The god Zeus. >> Verse 12. And Paul they called as the god Hermes. Okay. But did Paul and Barnabas enjoy all the >> No. >> Ah, they restrained them and they preached the word to them. Okay. And the Jews from And then what happened after they did that? The Jews from Antioch in um in um Picidia and from Iconium. Now where is Paul and Barnabas? They are in Mistra. They had already gone to Antioch in Pacidia. They had already gone to Iconium. But the Jews heard, "Oh, Paul and Barnabas are doing great miracles in Lististra." They came from Antioch in Pacidia and they came from Iconium. And what did they do? >> Beat them up. >> What did they do? >> They stoned Paul and they dragged him out of the city thinking that he is >> left him for dead. >> Dead. Right. But there's something very very interesting there. Look at Acts chapter uh 14. What is very interesting in this whole episode that happened when they you know uh stone Paul and they drag him out of the city and leave him dead. What is very interesting there? Read it. Acts chapter 14. What is happening there? >> Yeah, they to their clothes and said we are not gods. We are humans. >> Look at verse 19 and 20. They have what have they done? The Jews come from Antioch and Iconium. They went up with the crowds here in which place are they now? Which place are they now? In Lististra. So they the Jews from Antioch in Picidia and Iconium. They come to Lististra. They stir up the Jews and what did they do? >> They stoned them. >> They stoned Paul and dragged them outside the city thinking that he was >> dead. Okay. >> Ah but what happens after that? >> He got up and went outside. Went back into >> the city. >> The city. And then what does he do? >> Next day he departed with Barnab. Next day he goes to Barnabas and goes to >> Derby. >> Derby from Lististra. What is strange here? What is strange here? >> Super. >> Yes. They stone him. He's they think he's dead because you know stoning is not a simple thing. They drag him. Imagine they drag him. It's not like an all tar rose. It's all muddy stone rose those days. Drag him and leave him for dead. But what does pet what does Paul do? >> He's ready to again preach. Now >> if you were in Paul's place, what would we have to do? We put a stretcher. Put a stretcher. Put you on a stretcher. You will be in uh bedridden for 6 months almost a year. But what does Paul do? >> He's ready to preach the next day. >> He gets up, walks into that same city. So boldly goes back into that city. And what does he get up and do next day? not lying down for 6 months or 1 year and everybody treating him. He goes next day to what? >> Preach. >> He leaves to Derby. Not takes the flight or the car or the >> walk >> train. Walks to Derby and he's preaching the gospel. So what is happening here? >> Despite all the persecutions, he's ready to preach the gospel. >> What is happening here? supernatural healing and supernatural work of God just restoring him like this giving him the strength to go back put your place and see your stone left for death dead it'll take you one year to come back Paul gets up walks into city next day goes to Derby and preaches the gospel that's what happens in the revival when we see there is there's a lot of supernatural things that happen any questions before we end us. Sorry, I've taken two minutes extra extra. Any questions? If you have not read, please read Acts chapter 13, Acts chapter 14. Please also read Acts chapter 15, 16, 17, and 18. Okay. Thank you everyone. I'll meet you next week and tomorrow. Okay. Thank you. Yeah.