We’ve come to the end of this journey. Paul and Barnabas have had quite a trip. I believe last week I mentioned the time frame was about 2 years, during which time these boys have been through the ringer! They’ve been threatened, stoned, run our of town, mocked, lied about, worshiped, and yet, their ministry has produced much fruit! With great joy and celebration they are able to share the whole story with their friends in Antioch, who sent them out.
Acts 14:21-28
As I read through the conclusion to Paul and company’s first official missionary journey, there was one thought that rose above the rest. It is contained in Acts 14:22-23. It was during this time when they reconnected with the new believers in each of the towns they had originally shared the GOOD NEWS. Paul and Barnaba were able to strengthen, encourage, acknowledge and prepare them for the troubles ahead and appoint leaders who would continue the work God had begun. Let’s reflect on the help that these men provided.
1. Strengthening. In other translations, the word is confirm. At a glance, that doesn’t seem to gibe with strengthen until you understand it means to make firm or make firmer. What they were doing was building upon the foundation that had been set earlier. To make their connection with God firmer, longer lasting, and able to withstand more challenges than when they had first accepted Christ as their Savior.
This is why Jesus called us to make disciples, not converts. The new convert to Christianity is going to need support to strengthen their faith. They are going to need to know how to study their Bible to know God more intimately, live their faith out, and so on.
Just like a little seedling needs to experience a bit of wind and a bit of sun at a time to grow, we need help to get established and be able to support our own faith when we’re new.
2. Encouraging. Some might be encouraged by a word, a verse, time spent, extra shared resources, or attending things like a retreat together. Regardless a bit of encouragement will help each of us become the person God has shaped us to be.
3. Acknowledging is the word that came to mind when Paul states, “we must go through many hardships…” For certain, the believers in Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch during the first century were going to go through hardships, but are we in the American 21st century immune? Acknowledging the trouble the devil, the world, and our own old nature can all create should lead us to seek the ONE who has overcome all of it. Christ is our help. He has overcome the trouble. He will provide a way out of our temptation. And He does not leave us to fend for ourselves through the process.
4. Appointing. Paul and Barnabas’ final act to help the new believers succeed in their faith mission was to provide some structure for them in the church. We sometimes think we’re better off on our own, or that don’t need direction but that simply is not true. We flourish under godly leadership. We work together beautifully when there is someone responsible for keeping us moving in God’s direction. Those people in Paul’s case and likewise in our lives are sought through patient prayerful consideration. God will not only provide the best leaders, He will also hold them accountable for the responsibility they have been given.
Lessons
Strengthening, Encouraging, Acknowledging and Appointing are things that we need to move forward in our faith journey. That’s right, it’s a journey. No matter where we are we can grow stronger, we need to seek encouragement through people who are ahead of us, we need to be wary of potential troubles and guard our hearts and minds with God’s truth, and also submit ourselves to godly authority.
On the flipside, we are capable of strengthening, encouraging, and providing guidance.
So the question is who are leading? How are you strengthening yourself to strengthen others? Are you willing to let God’s encouragement be shown to someone through your actions or words?
These are 4 important elements of HELP that we can both receive and give.
