Misdirected Worship

April 14, 2019 |
Passage: Acts 14:8-18 | Series: | Topic:

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I. Paul is used by God to heal a crippled man (Acts 14:8-10)

8 And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. 9 This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, 10 said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked.

 

  1. The man was crippled from birth (Acts 3:1-8).
  2. The man had faith to be healed (lit. “saved”. Acts 4:12; Rom. 5:10).
  3. Paul observes his faith, speaks loudly, and the man is healed completely.

 

II. The response of the crowd (Acts 14:11-13)

11 Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” 12 And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes.

 

  1. The crowd sees the miraculous healing and believes that Paul and Barnabas are some of their gods in human form.
  2. The Priest of Zeus hears the crowd and bring out sacrifices to offer to Paul and Barnabas.

III. Paul’s message to the crowd (Acts 14:14-18)

14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out 15 and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, 16 who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways.  17Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” 18 And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them.

 

  1. Paul and Barnabas refuse to be worshipped as gods (Ex. 20:3; Acts 10:26; 12:21-23).
  2. Paul’s reasons that God alone should be worshipped:
    1. Their idols are useless / dead (Psalm 115:4-8; Isa. 44:9-20)
    2. God is the living God (Jer. 10:10; 1 Tim. 4:10)
    3. God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things (Heb. 11:3)
    4. God is patient and merciful (Ex. 34:6-7; 2 Peter 3:9)

 

IV. Conclusion

The crowd in Lystra was looking for God in human form; Paul and Barnabas had traveled to Lystra to point the people to the living God that had humbly taken on human form, lived a perfect life, died on the cross as a suitable sacrifice for sins, rose victoriously from the grave, and is alive today, interceding on our behalf.  The crowd in Lystra missed what they were looking for, let us not make the same mistake.

 

Today’s Key Insight! If you were to share a key insight from today’s sermon with a friend, what would you say?

Today’s Lunch Discussion: Are there any things in your life that you have made into an idol?  Is there someone in your life that has made you into an idol?  Are you as passionate about the worship of God as Paul?  What can you do to improve your worship of God?

David Gamble is a gifted teacher, serving as an elder at Providence Church since 2019. David taught high school History and Bible at a local Christian school for over 15 years. He and his wife Hannah have four children. David is passionate about taking the truths of the Bible and making them accessible to believers from all walks of life, and encouraging believers to grow in holiness. David also runs a small martial arts ministry with his brother that focuses on teaching self-defense in a safe, Christian environment. David is a graduate of Whitefield Theological Seminary and College.