LIFE Church Sermons

 Normal or Supernatural – 12

Subject – Caution About Becoming What the Crowd Wants

by Rick Welborne

Acts 14:8-15 (NKJV)
⁸  And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother's womb, who had never walked.
⁹  This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed,
¹⁰  said with a loud voice, "Stand up straight on your feet!" And he leaped and walked.
¹¹  Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!"
¹²  And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.
¹³  Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes.
¹⁴  But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out
¹⁵  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, 

--I started to skip Acts 14 in discussing going from normal to supernatural but Holy Spirit would not allow me. There is a message here especially for those of us who believe in the supernatural. 

--Lystra was a pagan city where the people worshipped a host of false gods. When Paul and Barnabas show up, things get real in a hurry.

--God knew these religious people needed a reason to receive the message that Paul was preaching, thus the man who had never walked. Paul saw his faith to be healed. Wonder what he saw.

--Paul, under the authority of Holy Spirit, commands the man to stand up straight on his feet and he does so. He begins leaping and walking. The people are amazed!

--Let me reiterate that these people were pagan who witnessed this man go from normal (crippled) to supernatural (walking and leaping). His faith in what Paul was preaching (the gospel) changed his life.

--The reason for pointing out these people were pagan was to show how far we have drifted as the body of Christ because we basically have the same reaction they did.

--There first response to the healing was not to give glory and honor to Jesus but to make Paul and Barnabas into gods to be worshipped. They called Barnabas Zeus and Paul Hermes.

Zeus - Zeus was the first of the gods and a very imposing figure. Often referred to as the “Father of Gods and men”, he is a sky god who controls lightning (often using it as a weapon) and thunder. Zeus is king of Mount Olympus, the home of Greek gods, where he rules the world and imposes his will onto gods and mortals alike.

Hermes - Hermes is a deity in ancient Greek religion and mythology. Hermes is considered the herald of the gods, as well as the protector of human heralds, travelers, thieves, merchants, and orators. He is able to move quickly and freely between the worlds of the mortal and the divine, aided by his winged sandals.

--Before we think these people have completely gone off the deep end, the church may need to take a look at how we react to the latest hot preacher or worship group. 

--You would think the church would have learned by now that when you look to men, you will be disappointed but when you keep your eyes on Jesus, you’ll never be disillusioned.  

--When I came to Jesus, Marvin Gorman and Jimmy Swaggart were the two superstars in Louisiana. Most people were a Swaggartite or a Gormanite. I was a Jesusite.

--Both of these men’s ministries impacted me as a young believer. Pastor Gorman prayed with me at the altar during a youth rally for about 30 minutes to confirm my call. I received my license at Swaggart’s church.

--My pastor back then was a Swaggart man. Many of you know the fall of these two guys and great was the fall. So many hurt. Both have repented. Be careful not to repeat the same sin.

--Many of our churches and people followed Todd Bentley down in Lakeland. Many were touched but that also ended tragically. Brownsville was great but ended negatively. The point…stop looking to man. 

--I have pastor friends who are struggling in their churches because they are either following someone who was a superstar and that’s what their people want. Some pastors want to be Zeus or Hermes. 

--Our goal should not be any of this but to be good and faithful servants of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 25:21 (NKJV)
²¹  His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'

1. Going from Normal to Supernatural Will Require us to Glorify God.   

--What kind of revival could Lystra been blessed with if they had not tried to make Paul and Barnabas into gods? People tend to want gods to follow with flesh on them.

--Years ago there was a pastor in this area who openly said his church would be the fastest growing and the most happening place to be. It will be the largest church in the area.

--He was a gifted person. He could preach, sing, play instruments, and he had the power to sway people to follow him. Sadly, people who wanted to be a part of something that was cool flocked to him.

--This was when I knew something was really wrong…past all the arrogance and pride, which was bad enough, the young men in the church wanted to be him. Dressed like him, talked like him. He loved it.

Romans 8:29 (NIV)
²⁹  For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

--When you are willing to stay in the same area for almost 32 years, you see many of these people come and go. People call or contact me…this person is starting a new church and will take our people. Really?

--Have we lost people? Of course, but we have found if we lift up Jesus, glorify Him, and make His Great Commission a priority, He will take care of us. Sadly, many of these people are no longer in the ministry. 

--Paul and Barnabas quickly ran to the people who were trying to make them into gods, tore their clothes (sign of humility), and told them what they did not want to hear. We are men just like you with the same nature.

--When I first became the lead pastor here (I had been the youth pastor for two years) people, all of a sudden, were treating me differently. People wanted to serve me and treat me as if everything had changed.

--We had a fellowship shortly after I became pastor and when it was done, I started picking up chairs and cleaning up like I had always done. No, you are the lead pastor you can’t do that stuff anymore. What?

--I had business men who took me to lunch and told me the church and my family would never lack for anything if I would be the pastor they wanted. I was shocked!

--People wanted a human god who could be conformed to their image. The thought terrified me. I declined. They said they would leave the church. I shook their hands good bye! I still pick up chairs too.

--Because we have access to almost every preacher in the country thru podcast you can literally listen to preaching 24/7. Many do. I listen to some. Any hint of arrogance or coolness, I cannot handle it.

--I have always been a student of revival and lately I have been reading about Azusa Street (the beginning place of the Pentecostal movement in the US) again. What we call revival is not what they considered revival.

--We imagine large gatherings with exciting worship where the atmosphere is so high charged, the human body can hardly stand it. The evangelist is a charismatic figure who sways a crowd. 

--The Azusa revival was more about being on your face seeking God, repentance of sin, sensitivity to Holy Spirit, where men and women, blacks and whites came together seeking God’s face. Glorifying God.

2 Chronicles 7:14-15 (NIV)
¹⁴  if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
¹⁵  Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.

2. Going from Normal to Supernatural Will Require Us to be Contrite.

--Paul and Barnabas humbled themselves before the people but they would not hear of it. They wanted something to worship that they could see and touch.

--The people of Azusa knew that revival was a time of soul searching, repentance, and humility.

BEWARE OF REVIVAL BY MICHAEL AMICO

There is nothing soothing about revival. Revival is not a season to be jolly. It’s not celebration or festivity. The church in revival is faced with the anguish of unforgiven sin. Like Isaiah of old the church cries out “Undone”.  Revival often takes the church in its grasp and refuses to let go until every last ounce of sin and self has been squeezed out. There is nothing soothing about revival.

           *   Revival often scorches before it soothes!

           *   Revival burns before it blesses!

           *   Revival eliminates before it edifies!

           *   Revival hurts before it heals!

           *   Revival empties before it fills!

*   Revival breaks before it builds. Revival breaks everything in its path.

*   Revival breaks pride, programs, prejudices, and platforms.

*   Revival makes demands, real demands.

*   Revival demands painful repentance!

*   Revival demands painful sacrifice!

*   Revival demands painful commitment!

*   Revival demands ambitious evangelism!

Beware of revival!  Revival is not all preachers and teachers have made it out to be.  Let me suggest that the next time you pray for revival, you first of all count the cost.

--Paul and Barnabas decided to be contrite. What did their humility get them? Suffering with and for Christ.

Acts 14:19 (NIV)
¹⁹  Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead.

--I see in this chapter that their humble spirit also got them something else. Resurrection power!

3. Going from Normal to Supernatural Will Bring Resurrection Power.

Acts 14:20 (NIV)
²⁰  But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

--I am sure they gathered around Paul and prayed. What happened? He got up and went back into the city! Surprise! They really thought he was a god after this! We see normal going to supernatural.

Romans 8:11 (NIV)
¹¹  And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. 

--God raised up Paul with resurrection power. You don’t get stoned and get back up (the same day) and go preach unless you have experienced the supernatural.

Acts 14:21-22 (NKJV)
²¹  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."