27th Mar 26 | 16:08
Studies by Book
02 Acts 14 08-20 THE MINISTRY AT LYSTRA 30 Acts 14 15-17 Obedience to God
📖 Acts 14:08-20
30 – Thu, 20 Nov 2025 – *Obedience to God*- _Acts 14:08-20_ – THE MINISTRY AT LYSTRA – _Matthew 07:21-23_
_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."_
Barnabas and Paul’s deep concern and longing were that these people in Lystra should place their faith in Jesus. The people, by preparing to worship them, were placing their faith in the apostles. This had to be stopped.
*The apostles were just messengers who were leading people to place their faith in Jesus.* Miracles were only a means by which people would place their faith in God. We see this being communicated also through the healing of the lame man in Jerusalem.
_Acts 3:12-16 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or *why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?* (13) *The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus*, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. (14) But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, (15) and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. (16) And *His name, through faith in His name*, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. *Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all*._
*Life in its fullness is the knowledge of God.* This is the reason why the Lord planted the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the garden and commanded the man not to eat its fruit.
_Genesis 2:16-17 And *the LORD God commanded the man*, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; (17) but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil *you shall not eat*, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."_
Man (Man and Woman) had to exercise their free will in submitting to the will of God, willingly, and choose not to eat the fruit of this particular tree. There were several reasons for God to establish this primary relationship between Man and God.
It is only in choosing to obey God that we would be in a relationship with God. _I John 2:3-5 Now *by this we know that we know Him*, if we keep His commandments. (4) He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (5) But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him._
It is only by being disciplined, chastened and in obeying a command that we are in a relationship. _Hebrews 12:7-8 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? (8) But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons._
*What was the substance of this relationship with God?*
If we do not obey God's command, we do not know God.
In this relationship with God, which is founded in obedience, the love of God is perfected in us. _John 15:10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love._
This relationship with God, based on obedience to Him, is a relationship of faith and trust in God. _James 2:21-22 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? (22) Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?_
Many claim to know God or have a relationship with Him since they placed their faith in God, and a miracle took place in their life. Yes, we can trust God and experience a miracle, but a relationship with God is based on obedience to Him, not an experience of a miracle.
_Matthew 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but *he who does the will of My Father in heaven*. (22) Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' (23) And then I will declare to them, '*I never knew you*; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'_
Barnabas and Paul were leading the people to faith in Jesus. We have understood that *faith in Jesus requires the submission of our will to His*. The commands of God are not burdensome. _I John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And *His commandments are not burdensome*._
```The people were being led to a life of obedience to the will of God.```