4/7/10 Acts 14
Tribulations
(Ac 14:22)22strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”
Faithfulness in preaching the gospel and living godly lives will incur many tribulations. The tribulations or trials vary greatly between cultures and individuals. There are some disciples who only endure such things as being mocked on the least hostile end, to death on the most extreme end. Listed below are some of the tribulations that we have seen in the book of Acts so far.
Mocking – 2:13 – Disciples were speaking in tongues.
Interrogation – 4:7 – Rulers, elders, and scribes asked by what power or name do you do these things.
Threats – 4:17-18 – Rulers, elders, and scribed commanded them not to speak or teach in Jesus name.
Imprisonments – 5:18 – Disciples were put in public jail.
Beatings – 5:40 – Disciples were flogged by the rulers and ordered them to not speak.
Slander – 6:11-14 – People spoke lies against Stephen.
Murder - 7:58 – People murdered Stephen.
Genocide - 8:1-3 – Saul began to systematically imprison and kill any disciples of the Lord.
Paul and Barnabas are experiencing these tribulations at different levels as they move from city to city and preach the gospel. Each city has a group of individuals that receive the gospel which makes them recipients of similar tribulations. After Paul and Barnabas journey to the Derbe they then return through the same towns were they suffered many of these tribulations to strengthen and encourage those who have believe to continue in the faith and to expect this kind of treatment. Paul and Barnabas spent enough time in each city to appoint leadership (elders) and then they prayed with fasting entrusting the Lord would be faithful to minster to them through the Holy Spirit and the scriptures, which was the Old Testament.
Today, we should expect to be met with tribulations as we individually and corporately preach the gospel. The reason for this is (Jn 3:19)19“This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. Another reason can arise from those within the church who having not realized it have become proud, jealous, envious, unforgiving, or greedy to mention a few things. Notice who has been the most hostile to the gospel message throughout the book of Acts, it has been the religious Jews.
As the church we must not forget that on a world wide scale today there is great and severe persecution of our brothers and sister in the faith. Those who encounter modest tribulations ought to be much in prayer matched with fasting, so they will be encouraged and strengthened by the Lord through the Holy Spirit and the scriptures.
"Millions of American Christians pray in their churches each week, oblivious to the fact that Christian in many parts of the world suffer brutal torture, arrest, imprisonment and even death -- for no other reason than that they are Christians. The shocking, untold story of our time is that more Christians have died this century simply for being Christians than in the first nineteen centuries after the birth of Christ. They have been persecuted and martyred before an unknowing, indifferent world and a largely silent Christian community." – International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church
Paul later writes Timothy about his tribulations that he experienced on this first missionary journey.
(2 Ti 3:10-12)10Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, 11persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me! 12Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
I just read that there is great persecution in the land of India, but many of the believers there consider persecution as a blessing because it allows the glory of the Lord to shine through.
In much suffering the glory of the Lord is seen.
Prayer: Father, I pray now for all those who suffer for believing in the name of Jesus. Those who are being mocked in their homes or at school for what they believe. I pray for those who are being judged and accused of criminal activity or conspiracy for simply believing in Jesus. I pray for those who are being threatened by family members or groups who are hostile to the message of Jesus Christ. I pray for those who have been imprisoned simply for living a godly life. I pray for those who are losing homes and possession because they are Christians. I pray for those who are experiencing beatings because of what they believe and those who are in danger of losing their lives. Lord I entrust them to you who are faithful that you will strengthen them through the Holy Spirit that they will know your presence is with them in every tribulation. I pray that they will not recant, but will endure and continue in the faith. I pray that you will give them a heart of forgiveness toward those who attack and persecute. Father, now be glorified in each and every individual’s life that suffers for your name, in Jesus name. Amen.