Our Eternal Adventure Chapter 10
When God Throws A Curveball
One of my favorite movies is called ‘Trouble With The Curve’. An aging scout for the Atlanta Braves is sent to North Carolina to evaluate a high school slugger named Bo, whose ability to hit the long ball is superseded only by his arrogant attitude toward his teammates and opposing players. The scout, played by Clint Eastwood, is one of the best, but he is suffering from macular degeneration, which affects his driving, his walks around his house, and his ability to see the swing of the slugger.
When his lawyer daughter, played by Amy Adams, discovers his condition, she leaves an important case at her firm, and comes to North Carolina to assist him. There she meets a former pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, played by Justin Timberlake, whom Clint had signed a few years earlier, but had torn his rotator cuff, and was now trying to make it as a scout for the Red Sox. To his surprise Justin discovers that Amy knows more about baseball history, baseball players, and the game of baseball than he does. It is because her mother died when she was six, and she travelled with her dad to all the games, until she got lost one night after a game, and her father found she had been taken to a barn by an older man. Clint was so enraged he probably killed the guy, and afterward sent his daughter to live with her aunt and uncle.
Amy spends her adolescence wondering why her father sent her away and is deeply hurt. She pursued her law career to impress and gain acceptance from her father. Clint cannot bring himself to discuss anything with his daughter, and all the while Justin is asking Amy why she has given her life to her law firm.
It's a movie worth watching-- Intriguing story line, deep emotional issues now on the table, excellent characterization by the actors.
Bo hits the ball out of the park every game, but there is a problem. Even though Clint cannot see his swing, he can hear the contact with the ball, and he knows there is something wrong with Bo’s swing. Amy goes down to the field to watch and confirms a shifting of the hands during the swing. The sound is very clear when a curve ball is thrown. Clint recommends that the Braves do not sign Bo to a contract. The drama plays out to a final scene at the Braves’ stadium where a walk on pitcher, whom Amy discovers outside the motel in North Carolina, is throwing heat to Bo, who cannot hit much of anything, especially the curve ball.
Clint sums it up for us all:
“That’s what we call ‘trouble with the curve’”
Life often throws us curveballs, things that we don’t expect. It happens in this 2012 movie with the relationship with the scout and his daughter. It did to the upcoming pitching star who tears his shoulder, as well as the cocky high school slugger. Life throws curveballs to us as well.
Can we adjust our swing and hit the oncoming pitch? Or do we have ‘trouble with the curve?”
Principle: God will often do things not according to our expectations nor desires, but according to His plans and purposes.
The Social Worker / Cosmetologist who had never been camping found herself walking through a muddy trail in the most isolated corner of Central America in 1988.
After John Mark deserted the missionary team, Paul and Barnabas continued inland and up to the central plateau of modern-day Turkey to the city of Pisidian Antioch.
Paul and his companions then left Paphos by ship for Pamphylia, landing at the port town of Perga. There John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem. But Paul and Barnabas traveled inland to Antioch of Pisidia. On the Sabbath they went to the synagogue for the services. After the usual readings from the books of Moses and the prophets, those in charge of the service sent them this message: “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, come and give it.”
So Paul stood, lifted his hand to quiet them, and started speaking. “Men of Israel,” he said, “and you God-fearing Gentiles, listen to me. Acts 13:13-16
Paul, knowing that his audience knows Jewish history, proceeds to speak about the many things God did.
“The God of this nation of Israel chose our ancestors and made them multiply and grow strong during their stay in Egypt. Then with a powerful arm he led them out of their slavery. He put up with them through forty years of wandering in the wilderness. Then he destroyed seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to Israel as an inheritance. All this took about 450 years.
“After that, God gave them judges to rule until the time of Samuel the prophet. Then the people begged for a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, who reigned for forty years. But God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said, ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.’ Acts 13:17-22
Here is what God did:
- He chose our ancestors, multiplied them, and made them strong.
- He led them out of slavery in Egypt.
- He ‘put up’ with them for 40 years in the desert.
- He destroyed the seven nations in Canaan and gave the land to Israel.
- He appointed judges to lead them.
- He appointed a king over them.
- He removed that king and replaced him with David.
Then God did one more thing:
From the descendants of this man, according to promise, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, after John had proclaimed before His coming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. Acts 13:23-24
Finally
- God sent Jesus, the promised Savior!
“Brothers—you sons of Abraham, and also you God-fearing Gentiles—this message of salvation has been sent to us! The people in Jerusalem and their leaders did not recognize Jesus as the one the prophets had spoken about. Instead, they condemned him, and in doing this they fulfilled the prophets’ words that are read every Sabbath.
“When they had done all that the prophecies said about him, they took him down from the cross and placed him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead! And over a period of many days he appeared to those who had gone with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to the people of Israel.
“And now we are here to bring you this Good News. The promise was made to our ancestors, and God has now fulfilled it for us, their descendants, by raising Jesus. Acts 13:26–33
Paul continues with quotes from Psalms 2, Isaiah 55, and Psalms 16 to show that indeed Jesus is the Messiah. Then he finishes with a warning:
“Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. 39 Everyone who believes in him is made right in God’s sight—something the law of Moses could never do.
Be careful! Don’t let the prophets’ words apply to you. For they said,
‘Look, you mockers, be amazed and die! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it.’” Acts 13:38-41
Paul finishes his speech with a surprising quote from Habakkuk chapter 1. The context of this quote is the lamentation of the prophet Habakkuk over the wickedness in Judah 600 years before:
How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen! Violence is everywhere! I cry, but you do not come to save. Must I forever see these evil deeds? Why must I watch all this misery? Wherever I look, I see destruction and violence. I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight. The law has become paralyzed, and there is no justice in the courts. The wicked far outnumber the righteous, so that justice has become perverted. Habakkuk 1:2-4
In response, God says: “Get ready, because I’m going to throw you a curveball.”
Aphrodesia Forum, Southern Turkiye
“Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it. I am raising up the Babylonians, a cruel and violent people. They will march across the world and conquer other lands. Habakkuk 1:5-6
To which the prophet replies:
O Lord my God, my Holy One, you who are eternal— surely you do not plan to wipe us out? O Lord, our Rock, you have sent these Babylonians to correct us, to punish us for our many sins. Habakkuk 1:12
God is answering Habakkuk’s prayers. He is sending a force to correct the evil injustices of Judean society. But it’s not the solution that Habakkuk expects nor wants.
The Jewish culture of Paul’s time knew about the Messiah, and they expected his coming. However, the common understanding of the Messiah was that he would be a political leader who would throw off the heavy yoke of Roman oppression, and restore the Jewish kingdom.
Jesus fit the expected profile of the Messiah. He was born in Bethlehem, performed many miracles and said many profound things, explaining the Scriptures like no one before Him. John records this reaction of the crowd after Jesus fed 5000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish.
When the people saw him do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, “Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!” When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself. John 6:14-15
John later records the reaction of the crowd to Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem:
When Jesus entered Jerusalem on the first day of Passover week, the people waved palm branches and shouted at Jesus “Hosanna!”
On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.” John 12:12-13
The Palm Tree is found on most of the First Century Jewish coins minted during the rebellions against the Romans. I've seen several at coin shops in the Old City of Jerusalem. Apparently, it was a symbol of the nation of Israel.
But God threw them a curveball.
That Palm Sunday was the first day of the Passover Week, and it was the custom of the people to come into the city to select their lamb for the Passover sacrifice on Friday. This was the day that God presented His Perfect Lamb as the once and for all offering for our sins. The prophet Isaiah had foretold this curveball that God threw to the Jews that day in a similar manner that God spoke to Habakkuk:
Who has believed our message? To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm? My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him.
He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins!
But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.
All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief.
Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied.
And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. Isaiah 53:1-6, 10-11
This was a big curveball to many of the Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, and Temple authorities. As we will see, some saw the pitch, adjusted their swing, and hit the ball. Others could not adjust, took a wild swing, and entirely missed it. Many of them became enraged, and as we will see, charged the mound and attacked the pitcher.
Here is our second principle: We often make our plans based on our understanding of God’s will, only later to discover that He had something more significant in mind.
Aphrodesia Forum, Southern Turkiye
We have experienced this over and over in our lives of ministry, and the writer of Proverbs expresses it best:
The mind of man plans his way,
But the LORD directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9
We must use our natural intelligence and experience and make plans, but it is imperative that we follow the lead of the Holy Spirit as He directs. Get on your bicycle and start peddling. Those first few cycles may be a bit wobbly but eventually you straighten out and head in the right direction.
When Paul and Barnabas arrive in Antioch of Pisidia, a pattern in their ministry begins that will carry through their first mission road trip. They first go to the local synagogue where they give a very detailed message about Jesus as the Messiah according to the prophetic words in the Hebrew Scriptures, and within the context of Hebrew history.
Their message was well received by many of the Jews, as well as the Greek proselytes, who were attending. Over the next week, there were obviously many conversations, probably over coffee and meals.
The following week almost the entire city turned out to hear them preach the word of the Lord. But when some of the Jews saw the crowds, they were jealous; so they slandered Paul and argued against whatever he said. Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and declared, “It was necessary that we first preach the word of God to you Jews. But since you have rejected it and judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we will offer it to the Gentiles. For the Lord gave us this command when he said,
‘I have made you a light to the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth.’”
When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for his message; and all who were chosen for eternal life became believers. So the Lord’s message spread throughout that region. Acts 13:44-49
Although the initial reception by the Jewish community to Barnabas and Paul had been warm, something strange happened when they saw the large crowd (almost the entire city) gathered to hear the Gospel. They became filled with jealousy. They began arguing with Paul and slandering him.
Why would they do this? Were they suddenly jealous of these two newcomers who suddenly had more of a crowd than had even come to any of their synagogue events? Perhaps, but it was more likely a spiritual attack through them against the Road Trip Ministry Team.
John saw this vision as recorded in Revelation 12 that shows the activity in the spiritual world when we engage the culture around us for the purposes of the Gospel:
Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels. And the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven. This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels. And the dragon was angry at the woman and declared war against the rest of her children—all who keep God’s commandments and maintain their testimony for Jesus. Revelation 12:7-11,17
Here is the third principle for our ministry to those the Lord brings us: Even when you are receiving a warm welcome from your new friends, expect that Satan and his fallen angels will attempt to destroy the relationship.
It has happened repeatedly. That is why we always pray for those new friends we meet, asking God to open their hearts, and protect them from the attacks of the enemy.
Aphrodesia Chariot Track
When the Jews voice their opposition and try to destroy Paul’s reputation before the crowd in Pisidian Antioch, Paul announces that now the Road Trip Ministry will focus on those receptive to the message- the Greek and Roman inhabitants of the city. When Paul quotes from the Jewish prophet Isaiah (Is 49:6) that the Gentiles are to be included in the Kingdom, great rejoicing breaks out among the crowd, and “all who were chosen for eternal life became believers”.
Here is our fourth principle: God is always doing something in the people around us.
Even though we often don’t see it, God does. He has an eternal view, seeing the past, present, and future all at once. It boggles my mind to comprehend that, but God already knows who will become members of his family.
Does that negate the free will we all have? No, because that would be cruel and uncharacteristic of God. He wants all humans to choose to be with Him for eternity. As Paul told his disciple Timothy:
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-4
Our fifth principle: God wants all humanity to become members of His Family!
There are some sects of Christianity who believe in a doctrine called “Predestination” – that humans when born are pre-determined to go to Heaven or go to Hell. Some use this doctrine to eliminate evangelism from their church lives. However, this goes against multitudes of passages from Scripture, and in fact the central theme of the Bible- God reaching out to His Creation, inviting them into a personal relationship with Him, and 'making disciples of all nations' (Matthew 28:18-20). We are cautioned against accepting teachings from the Bible that are not consistent with the entire Scripture and are in fact distortions of Biblical Truth.
Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead. 1 Timothy 4:1-2
What could be a more demonic strategy than to attempt to convince the followers of Jesus not to share the Gospel with those around them?
Aphrodesia Chariot Track Seating
God is doing something in the people that He brings into our lives. We may not see it while they are with us, but there will be times later when we will know that in fact God did use our service, our care, and our words to cause them to look toward Him.
Patrick is a computer engineer from Sydney Australia, who came to Utila in 2016 for a week of diving. He had taken off from his profession to do some travelling. I watched Patrick interact with my family all week as he came in for meals and drinks. Finally, the last day he was on the island, we had a conversation. I sensed that God was doing something with Patrick, and I spent the afternoon with him, encouraging him that God had His hand on him, and was calling out to him. That’s when Patrick told me that his mom was a strong follower of Jesus. She had undoubtedly been praying for her son, that he would find the true source of life during his travels. I offered him a copy of Echoes Into Eternity, which he gratefully received. He left on the ferry the next day.
Fast forward three years- September of 2019. Unexpectedly, I get a call from Patrick, I was surprised, but not really. Here is how our conversation went.
“Michael, I just returned to Sydney and I want thank you for the care that you and Laura gave me when I was on Utila three years ago. I spent the next year travelling through South America, and then went to Asia, but I often was reminded about the things you said to me before I left. Your family really touched me in a way that is hard to explain, but I am closer to God, and more at peace in my life”.
I thanked Patrick and asked him about his travels. Finally, I asked the question:
“Did you even read that book I gave you? Echoes Into Eternity?”
“It’s funny. In my travels, I would often empty out my backpack and get rid of unnecessary stuff. Somehow, I could never discard your book. I still have it with me and am going to read it next week.”
God was doing something with Patrick when he was at the Rio Coco Café. All we did was enjoy his company, serve him good coffee and food, and when it was the right moment, speak the things of God into his life. This has happened many times in our cafe ministry.
It was a short time later that I got a text message from Chris, whom we met on Utila in 2016. Chris is an electrician from Melbourne Australia, who became good friends with my son Lukas. That fall, Lukas invited Chris to come to Vero Beach, where he spent almost a month with us. He went back home, and occasionally we would hear something from him. Here is the most recent message from Chris.
“Hi Michael. I hope you and the family are well. I just wanted to let you know I got accepted into the fire brigade in Melbourne. Living with you and your family is one of the reasons I went down this career path.
You inspired me to give back to the community, to try to be more selfless, and to make a difference.
Thank you for your motivation and inspiration.”
I don’t recall having any conversation with Chris about ‘giving back’, ‘being selfless’, and ‘making a difference’. Probably Lukas did, or he observed those messages in our lifestyle. It was obvious to all of us that God was doing something with Chris, and I was very proud of my son that he invited Chris to come to Vero Beach and extended his friendship to him.
Aphrodesia Forum
Meanwhile, back at Antioch.
So the Lord’s message spread throughout that region. Then the Jews stirred up the influential religious women and the leaders of the city, and they incited a mob against Paul and Barnabas and ran them out of town. So they shook the dust from their feet as a sign of rejection and went to the town of Iconium. And the believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
The same thing happened in Iconium. Paul and Barnabas went to the Jewish synagogue and preached with such power that a great number of both Jews and Greeks became believers. Some of the Jews, however, spurned God’s message and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas. But the apostles stayed there a long time, preaching boldly about the grace of the Lord. And the Lord proved their message was true by giving them power to do miraculous signs and wonders. But the people of the town were divided in their opinion about them. Some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles.
Then a mob of Gentiles and Jews, along with their leaders, decided to attack and stone them. When the apostles learned of it, they fled to the region of Lycaonia—to the towns of Lystra and Derbe and the surrounding area. And there they preached the Good News. Acts 13:49-14:7
It was bold preaching by the Road Trip Team, with God supplying the power to the words, as well as demonstrations of His power through miraculous ‘signs and wonders’ that caused many to be convinced that the apostles were speaking the Truth. At the same time, the Jews were getting riled up and bringing in the city officials to come against the Road Trip Team, and eventually drive them out of town.
We who have experienced the presence of God, His power in our lives, and have seen miraculous events naturally want to share this with those around us. Although we don’t have to share our testimonies, we are often compelled to by the Holy Spirit. When we do, usually one of three things happen:
- That person is touched in their spirit, and are moved one notch closer to God.
- They may listen, but because of their spiritual blindness do not receive the message.
- They get enraged, because they have deep personal wounds or are under the influence of demonic spirits, and actually begin to verbally or physically attack us.
Jesus told His disciples what kind of people they would encounter in their evangelistic efforts.
“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” Matthew 13:3-9
We are all the farmers throwing out the seeds- the message of the Gospel. We do this through our actions as well as our words. The results of our words are often dependent on the “soil” that our seeds fall on. Here is how Jesus explains the various ‘soils’ that we will encounter:
“Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” Matthew 13:18-23
We can read this description and decide “That is just the way it is. We give them our words, and now it is up to them.” However, evidence from the history of the Early Church indicates that in many cases this is just a starting point in truly effective discipleship. Here are some Biblical examples:
The Ethiopian Eunuch was riding in his carriage reading from Isaiah 53, and he was confused, and didn’t understand. He was the “footpath soil” of Jesus’ parable.
The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.” Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The man replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him. Acts 8:29-31
Philip jumped up in the carriage and ‘instructed him’ that this passage was referring to Jesus, the Messiah, who had been crucified by the Romans, but offered for our sins on the Passover, and now we are all complete in God’s sight. This so excited the Eunuch that he asked to immediately be baptized, something his ‘incomplete’ physical state would never allow during his pilgrimage to the Temple. He became an effective disciple because Phillip helped him overcome his misunderstanding. The ‘footpath’ became ‘good soil’. This eunuch is credited with starting the Ethiopian Coptic Church, which is still functioning today, and has made many disciples over these past two millennium.
Cornelius was a Roman Centurion who had an understanding of God but did not know about Jesus. He was like the rocky soil, with no deep roots, and in danger of having his faith wither away when problems come- and in his position as a Roman military officer, they would undoubtedly come. He had a vision from God, and is told to send for Peter, living in Joppa. When Peter arrives, he is reluctant to say anything until Cornelius tells him of the vision, because of his disdain for Romans. Then Cornelius continued:
So I sent for you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here, waiting before God to hear the message the Lord has given you.” Acts 10:33
Peter turns the corner on his prejudice against Romans and tells him about Jesus.
Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. For they heard them speaking in other tongues and praising God.
Then Peter asked, “Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days. Acts 10:44-47
After the Holy Spirit fell on these pig eating pagans, Peter baptized them, and stayed with them for ‘several’ days. It was here that Cornelius and his friends developed very deep roots of faith in Jesus. The rocky soil was transformed into very good and productive soil.
The Caesarea Amphitheater
On Paul’s second Mission Road Trip, he spent time in the city of Thessaloniki, a Roman city in northern Greece along the Via Ignatia. With its harbor and location along the major trade routes from Europe to Asia, Thessaloniki was a center of commerce. A mint located in that city produced coins used through the Empire.
Most of the population of the city were involved in trade and business, and the people whom Paul and Silas met were a good example of the ‘thorny soil’ where worries of the world and the desire to get rich would choke out the Word of God.
We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people. 5 For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you. 6 So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit despite the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord. 7 As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Greece—throughout both Macedonia and Achaia. 1 Thessalonians 1:4-7
Paul and Silas poured out their lives to the new believers in Thessaloniki. In chapter two, they describe the love and service they gave them, and how they developed familial relationships with them. Because of their reception of the Gospel, their lifestyle changed, and they suffered persecution from their neighbors. As a result of their steadfastness, this congregation became an example through Greece of true disciples.
The thorny soil became good soil through the care of Paul and Silas.
The Agora of Ancient Thessaloniki
The experience of the Road Trip Team is common to all evangelistic efforts. We need to recognize the ‘soil’ that is before us. That is why it is important to speak when and what the Holy Spirit prompts us. We need His Words, with His Power, to carry out His Purposes.
Our sixth principle: God will use you to turn the footpath, rocky soil and the thorny soil into good soil.
Friends at the Rio Coco Cafe Utila 2013
Luke continues the adventure:
While they were at Lystra, Paul and Barnabas came upon a man with crippled feet. He had been that way from birth, so he had never walked. He was sitting 9 and listening as Paul preached. Looking straight at him, Paul realized he had faith to be healed. 10 So Paul called to him in a loud voice, “Stand up!” And the man jumped to his feet and started walking.
11 When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in their local dialect, “These men are gods in human form!” 12 They decided that Barnabas was the Greek god Zeus and that Paul was Hermes, since he was the chief speaker. 13 Now the temple of Zeus was located just outside the town. So the priest of the temple and the crowd brought bulls and wreaths of flowers to the town gates, and they prepared to offer sacrifices to the apostles.
14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard what was happening, they tore their clothing in dismay and ran out among the people, shouting, 15 “Friends, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings—just like you! We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things and turn to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. 16 In the past he permitted all the nations to go their own ways, 17 but he never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts.” 18 But even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could scarcely restrain the people from sacrificing to them. Acts 14:8-18
In ministry, there is always the danger that we will get identified with the ungodly culture that we are trying to influence. Many will view our actions and words within their own cultural context. While we are ‘in the world we are not of the world’, we must always maintain our identity as ambassadors of Christ and live according to His desires. We are to be “holy” representatives of Him, living our lives according to His moral standards rather than the morality of the society around us. When we begin identifying with the culture around us, we risk the danger of losing our effectiveness, and our message will be misunderstood. Like Paul and Barnabas, we may be confused as being part of their belief system.
Holy: Hebrew qodesh /kodesh: displaying a morality different from the culture around you that comes from God Himself.
Paul was a man who walked in three worlds- The Greco-Roman world with their language and values, the Religious Jewish world with their legalistic ways, and the Kingdom of God, with its freedom and personal connection to the Living God.
How did he reach these other cultures, yet maintain his own “holiness” and live his life according to God’s moral standards? Here is how he described it to his friends in Corinth:
Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. 20 When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. 21 When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.
22 When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. 23 I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.
24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. 1 Cor 9:19–27
Principle: Finding the bridges to the culture around us is the key to beginning relationships.
Responding to life’s situations according to God’s standards of morality will always draw attention to God Himself, especially when coupled with others-centered service. Maintaining the personal discipline to avoid the temptations of sin will go a long way in having the footpath, rocky and thorny soils become very good productive soil.
Principle: Personal discipline and focus on the mission are essential ingredients to the success of the ministry.
Michael & Laura at the Entrance to the Temple of Aphrodite at Aphrodesia
Now disaster strikes. The enraged crowd physically attacks Paul and tries to kill him by throwing lethal stones at him. He is knocked unconscious and appears dead.
Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds to their side. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead. 20 But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe. Acts 14:19-20
Jesus warned His disciples about satan’s agenda:
The thief’s (satan’s) purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. John 10:10
Satan riled up the crowd and they tried to kill Paul but were unsuccessful. It was not God’s time yet. He still had much to accomplish.
After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”
When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
They passed through Pisidia and came into Pamphylia. When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. From there they sailed to Antioch, from which they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had accomplished.
When they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. And they spent a long time with the disciples. Acts 14:21-28 NAS
A few years ago, I was talking with my friends Tamaye and Jon about the trying times of ministry that we had all experienced- personal slander, relationship issues, health challenges, financial setbacks, and opposition from non-Christian friends. Jon, who is an excellent Bible teacher, quoted this passage, “Through many tribulations we must enter the Kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22) and said
“You will never see that on a refrigerator magnet in America.”
A few days later I found an old photo taken in 1986 by one of my friends. I’m sitting on the bank of the Coco River (Honduran side), after a four-hour trudge through the swampy trail from Turalaya. You can see the mud on my shoes and pants. It was an especially exhausting seven-mile hike through the muddy jungle, with swarms of bugs, and thorn trees lining the path. It was a rainy day, and I was cold when we arrived in Utlamata. Just a few minutes before the photo was taken, the wife of my friend Trano handed me a bowl of hot rice. I had never tasted anything so delicious!
I attached the verse and inserted the photo in a plexiglass frame with a magnet, and gave it to Jon & Tamaye for their refrigerator.
Paul is right. For those who follow Jesus Christ and walk in the mission that He has given us to reach out to the people around us, to serve them, love them, and invite them to spend eternity with Christ, there will be tribulation. It is a natural occurrence.
Be encouraged! These experiences have benefited me! I have been changed by many of them, as I have had to remember who God is, what He thinks of me, and the future that He has for me. Temporary discomfort happens when we work out at the gym, swim, run, or ride bike. But the discomfort has the effect to make us stronger.
Our Ninth Principle: God allows you to got through the thunderstorm of life so you will be ready for the hurricanes.
Hurricane Milton, October 9, 2024, Vero Beach Florida
As The Road Trip Team passed through the visited cities on their way home, they appointed leaders to guide the new disciples after they left. These leaders were also new disciples. They didn’t have a theology degree from the non-existent local Bible school. There were no internet online courses for them to take. There was no means to communicate on a daily basis with The Road Trip Team. All they had was probably a copy of the Septuagint-the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, and the Holy Spirit.
Did Paul and Barnabas think that these leaders might make a few mistakes? Undoubtedly. But they trusted that the work that the Holy Spirit began, He would continue and complete. Because of the physical distances involved, there was no way to ‘control’ these new disciples, nor even make frequent checkups. They had to trust the Holy Spirit.
Our Tenth Principle: We are not responsible for the salvation and the sanctification of others- that is the job of the Holy Spirit and we should trust Him and do our part.
Handy Links
Go to Biblical Places Spiritual Spaces
Ready for some delicious coffee? Check out our Rio Coco Beans!
Purchase Echoes Into Eternity, The Vision Behind the Verses & Living In The Spiritual World
All photos are (c) Michael Bagby
Leave a comment
Please note, comments must be approved before they are published