Discovery Church of Ridge Meadows

“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. 2 Some of the Jews, however, spurned God’s message and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas. 3 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. 4 But the people of the town were divided in their opinion about them. Some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles.”

~Acts 14:1-4 NLT

Over the years of ministry I have often wondered “WHY” it is sometime so hard to plant the WORD into the lives of the people that God has brought into my world. I would say that overall the split between those who accepted the WORD through the teaching and ministry was probably 50/50 or maybe 40/60! It is a frustrating thing to watch people walk away from the faith that can change lives for today and for eternity! It is difficult to witness people reject God (and the ministry that I’ve been called to) and live for themselves or for the faith of this world.Sometimes in watching this happen I have called out to God seeking some kind of miracle that would prove the TRUTH of the WORD… some kind of miracle like the healing of those around me who are sick and ailing! IF only they could see the power of the message demonstrated in some kind of miraculous way… then maybe the percentage of believers to naysayers would go up!

However… as I read this section in the New Testament book of Acts (and many other sections in the ministry journey of Paul and the apostles) I am reminded that people will chose even when their eyes witness the powerful and miraculous! In the city of Iconium (and many others) Paul and Barnabas preached boldly and the Lord proved their words to be TRUE by giving them power to do miraculous signs and wonders and STILL some people sided with the Jews and some with them!

The REALITY is… some people may witness the power in the WORD… and believe and others may witness a MIRACLE and in the end still want more proof of the truth of the message being brought their way! Which in some strange way encourages me today as a minister of the Gospel of Christ because what this means is the outcome is not in my control! Even though I wished it were sometimes within my control (human nature I guess) the response to the message of the WORD of God is in the hands of the ONE who gave us the message in the first place! Our role as ministers, as followers of Jesus is simply stated… to be FAITHFUL to witness to the change in our lives through our words and actions and then leave the results in the hands of the ONE who is in control of the ultimate outcome!

Seeking to be FAITHFUL despite the outcome…

Rev Trev