1. An Open Door
Acts 14:19-28
Maud church of Christ
by Jim Bradshaw
Sunday Evening, April 28, 2013

2. Hard Headed Preaching
1. Paul was Stoned!
2. Jews had traveled from s had traveled about 100 miles from
Antioch and Iconium to Lystra.
3. Talk about what have you done for me lately the god of
yesterday is stoned today, Acts 14:8-12.
4. Paul must have had a hard head.
5. Perhaps one of the disciples who drug him out of town was a
young Timothy.
6. Act 16:1 NKJV Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And
behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a
certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek.

3. Hard Headed Preaching
1. Paul was tough! Traveled from Lystra to Derbe about 60 miles
2. Eze 3:8-9 NKJV Behold, I have made your face strong against their
faces, and your forehead strong against their foreheads. (9) Like
adamant stone, harder than flint, I have made your forehead; do not
be afraid of them, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a
rebellious house."
3. Paul means what he says; Phil. 4:13
4. Act 14:20-21 NKJV However, when the disciples gathered around
him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed
with Barnabas to Derbe. (21) And when they had preached the
gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to
Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,

4. Faith required encouragement
Why did they return to cities that they had just visited?
Act 14:21-22 NKJV And when they had preached the gospel to that city
and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and
Antioch, (22) strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to
continue in the faith, and saying, "We must through many tribulations
enter the kingdom of God."
Act 14:22 ESV 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.
Heb 10:25 NKJV not forsaking the assembling of ourselves
together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so
much the more as you see the Day approaching.

5. Faith required encouragement
Jas 1:2-4 NKJV My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into
various trials, (3) knowing that the testing of your faith produces
patience. (4) But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be
perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Jas 1:12 NKJV Blessed is the man who endures temptation;
for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of
life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Act 14:23 NKJV So when they had appointed elders in
every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended
them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

6. God Opens Doors
Paul & Barnabas go home:
Act 14:27 NKJV Now when they had come and gathered the church
together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He
had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
The door to man’s heart is opened by the Gospel; Romans 1:16
Col 4:3 NKJV meanwhile praying also for us, that
God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the
mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains,
God's door is open to all who obey and only God can shut it;
Rev 3:8 NKJV "I know your works. See, I have set before you an open
door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept
My word, and have not denied My name.

7. God Opens Doors
Paul & Barnabas go home:
Act 14:27 NKJV Now when they had come and gathered the church
together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He
had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
The door to man’s heart is opened by the Gospel; Romans 1:16
Col 4:3 NKJV meanwhile praying also for us, that
God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the
mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains,
God's door is open to all who obey and only God can shut it;
Rev 3:8 NKJV "I know your works. See, I have set before you an open
door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept
My word, and have not denied My name.

8. God wants us to enter the Door
Rev 3:20 NKJV Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone
hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine
with him, and he with Me.
One day it will be too late!!!
2Th 1:7-9 NKJV and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the
Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, (8) in
flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on
those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. (9) These
shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the
Lord and from the glory of His power,
But We Know the Terror of the Lord!

9. God wants all to be saved
1Ti 2:3-6 NKJV For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God
our Savior, (4) who desires all men to be saved and to come to the
knowledge of the truth. (5) For there is one God and one Mediator
between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, (6) who gave Himself
a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,
2Co 5:10-11 NKJV For we must all appear before the
judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things
done in the body, according to what he has done, whether
good or bad. (11) Knowing, therefore, the terror of the
Lord, we persuade men…