October 12, 2022

Perseverance Through Tribulation

Acts 14

Taylor Hadwiger
Wednesday's Devo

October 12, 2022

Wednesday's Devo

October 12, 2022

Central Truth

If God's kingdom (instead of our own) is the goal, then we are able to persevere through many tribulations. 

Key Verse | Acts 14:22

[S]trengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. 

Acts 14

Paul and Barnabas at Iconium

Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. 1 14:2 Or brothers and sisters So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles. When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them, they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, and there they continued to preach the gospel.

Paul and Barnabas at Lystra

Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, 2 14:9 Or be saved 10 said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he sprang up and began walking. 11 And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. 14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, 15 “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. 16 In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” 18 Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.

Paul Stoned at Lystra

19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. 20 But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. 23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Paul and Barnabas Return to Antioch in Syria

24 Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. 25 And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia, 26 and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled. 27 And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they remained no little time with the disciples.

Footnotes

[1] 14:2 Or brothers and sisters
[2] 14:9 Or be saved

Listen to the Podcast

Listen Now

Dive Deeper | Acts 14

I don't know about you, but as I read through Acts 14 my thought was, "How does Paul do it?" How does he persevere through so many tribulations? No matter how many trials he faces, he keeps going! In this chapter alone, Paul perseveres through three:

1. He is met with verbal opposition and persecution from unbelieving Jews (Acts 14:2)

2. He is met with death threats (Acts 14:5-6)

3. He is nearly stoned to death (Acts 14:19)

And how does Paul respond? He continues in ministry! (Acts 14:3, 7, 20-21) The man was nearly stoned to death, then hops back up and reenters the city that stoned him. If you're anything like me, you're asking, "What? That's crazy! How does he do it? How does he endure so many tribulations and not let them stop him?"

I believe Acts 14:22 gives us the answer. In this verse, Paul encourages the disciples to continue in the faith by saying to them, "[T]hrough many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." This verse, along with many others found elsewhere in Paul's writings (Acts 20:24; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; Philippians 3:8-9, 1:20-24), show us that God's kingdom is Paul's goal.

And because God's kingdom is Paul's goal, he's able to persevere through tribulations. If his reputation, body, or comfort were his goal, he would not have been able to persevere.

Here's how this plays out in my own life:

Because I value my bodily comfort over the thrill of completing a marathon, I do not run marathons. I am unwilling to face the trial of training because my goal is bodily comfort; many, however, are willing to face the pain of training because their goal is the thrill of completing a marathon. Do you see what I'm getting at here?

It's all about what your goal is. 

If your goal is God's kingdom, you will be able to persevere through many tribulations. But if your goal is your own kingdom, you will be slowed down or even debilitated by the trials that attack your kingdom.

Discussion Questions

1. What's your goal? Your kingdom or God's? Explain. Does your goal ever change? 

2. Do you believe God's kingdom is of surpassing value over your own? Why or why not? Do your actions, thoughts, and words reflect your answer?

3. Do you have believers around you who will support and encourage you in your tribulations? If so, do you let them help you? Explain.

4. Why does God allow believers to endure tribulations? Use Scripture to support your answer.

5. How does He use our tribulations for our good?