Christ's command to his followers before his ascension to heaven was for them to be his witnesses in Jerusalem, all Judea, in Samaria, and to the uttermost part of the earth.

Our Lord did not intend for the good news of his death and resurrection to stay local, but

instead it was to be taken globally.

In this third section of Acts, the adventure continues as the gospel is taken to the ends

of the earth.

Let's join Scott Pauli now for today's study.

When I was a very young Christian starting out, I had in my mind that someday it was going to get

easier. Surely it's going to get easier, right? Then I think as a young man, I looked at our world and thought, well, if we can just work through this problem, if we can just sort through this season, it will get easier. But I'm discovering that instead of getting easier, the struggle oftentimes intensifies. And even in our world right now, evil men and seducers are waxing worse and worse,

deceiving and being deceived, exactly like the Bible says.

If you're not careful, you can get almost disillusioned with the fact that there is this struggle,

there is this conflict.

But, friend, don't be disillusioned. The Lord predicted this. He told us this is exactly what it was going to be like. And it is time for God's people to be God's people in the midst of what's going on in this world. That's why the closing verses of Acts chapter 14 to me are so insightful. I want to read them to you. And I want you to listen to what

Paul and Barnabas endured. You know, yes, we're enjoying the journey, but we must endure some

tribulations while we're enjoying the Lord on this journey. If you're not careful, you can start

thinking that the Christian life is supposed to just

be health and wealth and this comfortable Western prosperity we've grown accustomed to. No, no,

friend. Listen to New Testament Christianity in action. Acts 14 beginning in verse 19, and there

came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Econium who persuaded the people and having stoned Paul drew him out of the city

supposing he had been dead now remember a minute ago they wanted to call him a god and now

they're stoning him and leaving him outside the city walls to die verse 20 howbeit as the

disciples stood round about him he rose up and came into the city walls to die. Verse 20, howbeit as the disciples stood around about him, he rose up and came into the city,

and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derby.

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