The point of God's power is his praise.

In Lystra, Paul heals a man who has never walked a day in his life. The crowd sees it, calls Paul and Barnabas gods, and shows up with oxen and garlands. They saw real power and completely missed the point. Days later the same crowd picks up stones. This message walks through Acts 14:8-23 and asks what we do when God puts his power on display. God has the power to heal. God has the power to save. And every bit of it exists so that he gets the praise, not us.

In this sermon: God displays his power. Why the miracles in Acts cluster at the big turning points, how to tell the difference between a passage that describes something and a passage that commands it, and what it looks like to pray boldly for healing while still saying not my will but yours. God deserves his praise. Herod took the applause and it destroyed him. Peter refused it. Paul and Barnabas tore their clothes and pointed the crowd to the living God. Living for the approval of people is building your life on shifting sand. God delivers his peace. Paul is stoned and left for dead, gets up, walks back into the same city, and keeps preaching. The safest place to be is in God's will, but that has never meant physically safe. It has always meant eternally safe. Also covered: the parallel with the lame man in Acts 3, Jesus forgiving sins in Mark 2, why church membership is essential and not just nice, and how to be ready to share the good news when the moment comes.

ABOUT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH HAW RIVER At First Baptist Church, we want to encourage you to know Christ, grow in Christ, and go for Christ. The Church is not a building, but a family of born-again believers who commit to loving one another by gathering together regularly for worship and running alongside one another as we know, grow, and go in Christ. We, at FBC, have been a church who loves and lives out the gospel in downtown Haw River, North Carolina, near Burlington, Graham, and Mebane since 1892. We would love to meet you on a Sunday at 11:00 am at 508 E Main St, Haw River, NC 27258.

Website: https://www.fbchawriver.org/

Plan a visit: https://www.fbchawriver.org/plan-a-visit

How can I be saved: https://www.fbchawriver.org/good-news

Give: https://fbchawriver.churchtrac.com/give

Preached by Justin Stevers, Lead Teaching Pastor Series: Looking Back to Look Forward, a study through the book of Acts

Scripture: Acts 14:8-23 (ESV)

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