27th Mar 26 | 16:08
Studies by Book
02 Acts 14 08-20 THE MINISTRY AT LYSTRA 44 Acts 14 15-17 God is restoring all nations
📖 Acts 14:08-20
44 – Thu, 04 Dec 2025 – *God is restoring all nations*- _Acts 14:08-20_ – THE MINISTRY AT LYSTRA – _Ephesians 02:11-13_
_Acts 14:15-17 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*. (17) Nevertheless 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."_
After the fall of man into sin, we see how quickly humanity corrupted itself. God was grieved in His heart for creating man on the earth. _Genesis 6:5-6 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (6) And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart._
Though Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord, the Lord’s grief over humanity continued. _Genesis 8:21 And the LORD smelled a soothing aroma. Then the LORD said in His heart, "I will never again curse the ground for man's sake, *although the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth*; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done._
The Lord longs and searches for those whose hearts are inclined towards Him. He is also grieved over the evil and wickedness of man. _II Chronicles 16:9a For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. …_
After the flood, during the time of Noah, people were scattered throughout the face of the earth. _Genesis 11:7-9 Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another's speech." (8) So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. (9) Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth._
The Gentiles have since been worshipping gods of their own imagination. _Jeremiah 10:2-5 Thus says the LORD: "*Do not learn the way of the Gentiles;* Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, For the Gentiles are dismayed at them. (3) For the customs of the peoples are futile; For one cuts a tree from the forest, The work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. (4) They decorate it with silver and gold; They fasten it with nails and hammers So that it will not topple. (5) They are upright, like a palm tree, And they cannot speak; They must be carried, Because they cannot go by themselves. Do not be afraid of them, For they cannot do evil, Nor can they do any good."_
It is in this context that God chose Abraham and, through him, a nation that would be the light of God to the Gentiles. _Genesis 12:1-3 Now the LORD had said to Abram: "*Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house*, To a land that I will show you. (2) I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. (3) I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."_
We can see the love of God that He has not given up on the Gentiles, though they are worshipping the creatures, not the Creator.
Israel, as a nation, was set apart to be a light to the Gentiles. _Deuteronomy 4:6-8 Therefore be careful to observe them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding *in the sight of the peoples* who will hear all these statutes, and say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.' (7) "For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the LORD our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him? (8) And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day?_
Although the Gentiles were going further into paganism, some turned to the living God. Rahab, Ruth, and the people of the city of Nineveh are such examples in the Old Testament.
The Lord did not leave Himself without a witness, but now has provided the way through Jesus Christ for both Jews and Gentiles to be reconciled with Him. _Ephesians 2:11-13 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— (12) that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. (13) But *now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ*._
The Lord is now calling all nations to repent and return to Him. _Acts 17:30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but *now commands all men everywhere to repent*,_