Power in Humbleness for His Glory (8/29/23)

Acts 14

8/30/2023

Life Lesson(s)…

Acts 14 encapsulates the concept of God's power activated in the humble obedience of Barnabas and Paul as they work to tell about the joy and glory of what Jesus has done for the salvation of Jews & Gentiles alike. Barnabas and Paul went to Iconium, Lystra, Derbe and Antioch at the leading of the Holy Spirit.

With their bold preaching of the grace of the Lord to the various people, the Lord performed signs and wonders through them so that many would believe. However, in Lystra, the people misunderstood and mistook the preaching, signs and wonders that the Lord did through Barnabas and Paul by attributing it to the Roman gods they perceived the apostles to be. In their faith and humbleness to God, both apostles redirected those with these mistaken beliefs to God. Barnabas and Paul halted the people's worship of their persons and insisted that the people direct their worship to the one true living God.

Today, it is not much different. As people, we must be careful not to turn to hero (idol) worship as the people of Lystra or accept accolades for what God has done. Rather, people of faith need to be like Barnabas and Paul and give God the glory for His Glory whether in word or deed.

Your Thoughts…

Study, journal and pray about the following:

  1. Throughout Acts 14, what other incidents reflect the title concept for this week?

  2. Think about today's hero worship, do you believe it to be idol worship? Do you or do you know of people who worship a man, an ideology, or association? If so, do the(se) person(s) hold this person, idea(s), and connection(s) over their belief system or what you know of their belief system?

  3. If you are a follower of Christ, have you mistakenly idolized something? Did you ever feel the Holy Spirit convict you of this trespass against God?

  4. Consider humbleness. What does it mean? What does humbleness mean to you? What do you think it means to the Lord? Can you think of someone living or has passed away that you would describe as humble? Would you describe yourself as humble? Why or why not?

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Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.

ACTS 14:15 (ESV)

Read: Acts 14 (ESV)