Acts 14:20^b-28

^20b The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.²¹ They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, ²² strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. ²³ Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. ²⁴ After going through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia, ²⁵ and when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. ²⁶ From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. ²⁷ On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. ²⁸ And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.

VFA

The VFA [Visiting Forces Agreement] is an implementing agreement to the Philippines-United State of America [RP-US] Mutual Defense Treaty.

All activities approved by the RP and US governments to enhance interoperability and gain familiarity with Military Exercises, Training, Planning Activities, Doctrines, Systems and Equipment.

VFA includes Civil Military Operations like: Medical, Dental and Veterinary missions, engineering constructions, and relief efforts to mitigate or moderate the impact of natural disasters.

VFA keeps soldiers get going, physically and mentally alert and not to be idle.

Similarly, church activities or discipleship trainings are practical Christian life exercises, training, or preparation for actual Christian living on earth.

Ephesians 6:11-12 says, ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Paul and Barnabas have been in constant spiritual warfare in the mission fields. No genuine disciple is exempted from encountering spiritual struggles.

Just as soldiers are given recognitions, medals, and benefits for the exploits they have been through, Christ will reward His disciples accordingly. Spiritual struggles are God’s design to reward and build disciples’ character.

1.  Disciple

^20b The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe. ²¹ They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, ²² strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

After winning a large number of disciples in the city of Derbe, they returned to the previous cities they been to and encouraged and strengthened the disciples.

Those new believers might have been experiencing some kind of persecutions also. That’s why Paul and Barnabas told them, “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.”

Experiencing hardship as believers are realities to be experienced as the Lord Jesus declared it in John 15:20; it will surely happen because Christ said so. ²⁰Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.

TMEC Got Talent

During our Anniversary celebration, 3 Sunday school classes were chosen. To those who didn’t win, did you feel some kind of displeasure or dismay?

That’s human instinct – to be dismayed, disappointed, or frustrated when you don’t win.

Winning or losing, it sure helps you realize whom you are trying to impress.

Aim to please the Lord not people. Your dedication and selfless effort will surely attract some sort of criticism. Expect that always!

If you are serving God and you are ignored, overlooked or disregarded, well, those who ignored, overlooked, or disregarded you are not God; humans are limited. God knows those whose heart are devoted to Him and surely reward them. The Lord will certainly bless you if you serve Him, even if people criticize you.

Romans 15:15 is a godly command that can be accomplish by God’s grace. ¹⁵Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

When we feel bad when we lose or we feel proud when we win, both are indications that our human sinful instincts are at work. When we rejoice with those who win and when we feel sorry for those who are down, that’s a testimony that the Holy Spirit is actively at work in our life.

2.  Declare

²⁶ From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. ²⁷ On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. ²⁸ And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.

Paul and Barnabas returned to the church of Antioch that commissioned them. They reported all that the Lord had done through them. Like heralds, they declared the wonders of God, the miracles, and the openness of the Gentiles to the gospel. They testified to the church about their personal experiences, how Gentiles were converted. For sure, they informed the church that churches were established.

After their successful missionary journey why did Paul and Barnabas remain in Antioch for a long time? Have you ever thought why God has allowed you to be in you current situation? Have you discovered God’s design for you; what mission God wants you to do?

Small Voice

One professor said, “Some of you will be pastors in a country side, others will be pastors in big cities; still there will those who will be assigned abroad.

I assumed, “perhaps, I’ll pastor a country-side church”. I acceded and resigned to that idea based on my assessment to myself. I feel good of the idea as country-side pastor; but a small voice resisted inside me. Yet when our church in the city installed me as an associate pastor, that yearning to explore more ministry opportunities did not fade away. It was as strong as before.

When God calls disciples to serve Him, our common tendency is to respond by assessing or evaluating our capabilities, experiences, and circumstances. If you do something by using or utilizing your abilities, talents, or trainings, is it proper to claim, it’s by God’s power that His work was accomplished?

When God gives us a mission to accomplish, evaluating our talent, trainings, and circumstances is a noble place to start but God’s work requires no experiences. Noah had no previous experience when God told him to build the arc. Joseph had no political experience when Pharaoh assigned him as governor. David was just a shepherd not a soldier when he defeated the giant Goliath. Paul and Barnabas saw miracles, survived many death threats in their mission endeavour not because of their trainings or talents but by God’s grace.

If we do things because we are expert in doing it, glory belongs to us. If we don’t know what to do but things are accomplished, glory belongs to God. In Ephesians 2:10 it says, ¹⁰For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

God is preparing you for a mission or assignment that is very unique for you only. There will be a sense of yearning deep inside you until you will come to the place God wants you to be or God wants you to be doing.

Keep praying that God would reveal to you very clearly His design for you life. God might be calling you to be pastor, missionary, evangelist, teacher, preacher, or to lead a certain ministry. Each disciple is called to be a leader.

Are you yearning to obey and do you feel some kind of excitement deep inside you?

Don’t force the issue. Just keep on praying. Ask God to bring you to a situation where you will know for certain where and how God wants you to be.

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