Scarified for Fruitfulness: Navigating Opposition, Weakness, and Riverbanks in Acts 14
Acts 14:1-2
"Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers."
Now Paul and Barnabas are traveling through Asia Minor (modern Turkey). And though they were successful in some ways, their evangelism efforts were facing a lot of opposition. They made a good effort and ultimately were pushed out by many who tried to mistreat them. The "unbelieving Jew" (those who rejected the message about Jesus as Messiah) don’t just disagree, they actively "stir up" the Gentiles, poisoning minds with misinformation or hostility. This opposition isn’t passive; it’s strategic, aiming to isolate and undermine the apostles. Eventually, Paul and Barnabas flee to Lystra and Derbe.
And so we see that the gospel advances not despite opposition, but often through it. It’s like a seed that sprouts under pressure. Some seed requires nothing but a connection to the soil and a little dampness to germinate, but other seeds need "scarification" (mechanical removal of a seedcoat).
In the natural world, seeds like those of certain wildflowers or legumes (think lupines or acacias) have tough outer coats that evolved to protect them from harsh environments, but that very protection can prevent germination until fire, abrasion, or even animal digestion breaks through that seed coat. It’s as if the pressure isn’t just incidental; it’s essential for life to burst forth.
The unbelieving Jews’ agitation doesn’t crush the mission; it scatters the apostles outward (to Lystra, Derbe, and beyond), much like how wind or animals disperse scarified seeds to fertile ground. The ultimate opposition, becomes the seed of resurrection and global redemption.
John 12:24
"Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit."
In our lives, those "scarifying" moments; criticism, rejection, or trials, might feel like setbacks, but they often crack open our complacency, deepen our reliance on God, and prepare us for greater fruitfulness. Every time I join a Kairos prison ministry team on a mission inside those places, though I ultimately love those experiences, I have to do battle with myself. My weak lazy selfish self. I have to convince and sometimes convict myself to join them. And so, I realize that my own will, my spirit, is willing but my flesh is weak. And I really don't know why this happens. Weak thoughts creep in, questioning thoughts, doubtful thoughts, thoughts that provoke me into thinking I'm not ready. And so, every time I have to give it up to prayer and trust in Christ's Spirit to energize my love. In those moments I realize my joy does not come naturally. Without Christ I'm a miserable person. Everything wicked would override my spirit and happiness without Jesus. It's the fear of God and the desire to keep his commandments that makes me happy in this world. All the other things are vanity as far as I'm concerned.
Paul himself wrestled with this issue in Romans 7, lamenting how he does what he doesn’t want to do. Christ’s Spirit turns that weakness into a conduit for His strength.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
The world’s pursuits do ring hollow. But in those prison ministry moments, when you push past the flesh and step into service, you’re living out John 12:24 firsthand. And every time it's a blessing. I witness the Spirit in action and come away feeling like I'm alive again. So by dying to self, it bears fruit, not just in the lives we touch, but in our own joy and reliance on Him. Every conversation with the team afterwards reflects this effect in each of us. Great joy and a lot of personal happiness and gratitude. It’s beautiful how you recognize that true happiness flows from that alignment with God, overriding the misery that sneaks in otherwise.
Okay, now for a caution:
When we obey the Spirit, and follow the path of evangelism, we must obey the riverbanks. In our Kairos training we are instructed in "the riverbanks", guiding principles that are meant to ensure effective management of the ministry and keep evil from creeping in. It's meant to do battle against the very human tendency to redefine the mission according to our culture or vain natures.
Now look what happened when Paul and Barnabas come to Lystra.
Acts 14:1-18
Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, said in a loud voice, "Stand upright on your feet." And he sprang up and began walking. And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!" Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, "Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness." Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.
Friends, I'm here to tell you that these things absolutely happen in these evangelism missions. Amazing moves of the Spirit come and hearts are softened, minds are renewed, and spirits are awakening. And sometimes they'll be so overwhelmed by these things, and the feelings of joyful praise, that they'll unwittingly tempt you as well with praise and appreciation.
I recall one of the residents telling me I'm his pastor. I of course insisted I wasn't and even went so far as to explain that I'm not even interested in ever being a pastor. But he just smiled and continued to call me pastor Mike. I began to see it as a temptation from the devil, I really tried to avoid this guy as a result.
I learned in that experience that the riverbanks exist for a reason. Temptations will come at you. Playing on your pride. Enticing you with enthusiasm and love. Complementary attention and Spirit-filled energy are inherent in our ministry. Human nature requires delight to drive a revelation home. This is why we include music and activities designed to produce fellowship among the groups as a part of what we do. It's critical for transforming minds to celebrate when they have experienced a breakthrough. And so we encourage brotherhood, team formation, family groups, intimate listening, and collaboration on social projects. These things are intentional, they build up a sense of community, it's like church building really. And so, also inherent in that dynamic is a risk that some among the residents will try to take advantage of the vulnerabilities of those efforts. But among the outside team, we too have risks, we too might get sucked into a situation where our love in Christ gets outside the riverbanks. When we start thinking our feelings are the guide, our emotions and love is our guide, in that weakness is a risk. We might get to thinking we're doing good but in truth we're putting ourselves and everything at risk.
And so now we see Paul and Barnabas trying to stay within the riverbanks. Paul and Barnabas shift from opposition in Iconium to this wild misunderstanding, where a genuine miracle spirals into idolatry. The healing of the crippled man is straightforward faith in action: Paul discerns the man’s belief, commands him to stand, and boom, transformation. But the crowd’s response? They default to their pagan framework, hailing the apostles as gods incarnate, complete with sacrifices. It’s a stark reminder that even God’s power, when witnessed, can get twisted through cultural lenses or unchecked enthusiasm. Paul and Barnabas don’t bask in it; they tear their clothes (a sign of horror and humility in Jewish tradition) and pivot hard to evangelism.
Well-intentioned praise always risks elevating the messenger over the message. That's why as part of our ministry we often instruct the participants that they should not thank the outside team. They can thank God, but not us. Those "riverbanks" are essential safeguards, boundaries rooted in Scripture, accountability, and humility to channel the Spirit’s flow without flooding into ego or exploitation, keeping the current directed toward Christ, not self.
Proverbs 4:23
"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."
Friends, God has placed one ultimate condition on every believer. Each of us must confess Jesus Christ as our Lord and God. And for good reason. It's His riverbank principle. He established this to prevent the kinds of things we've been discussing earlier. It alleviates the risk of idolatry and false equivalence, and prevents us from making any thing into something like a god. Strict obedience to Christ is imperative for genuine love, faith, and friendship with God. And today's scripture lesson shows us why this is true.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the ultimate riverbank of confessing Jesus Christ as our Lord and God. Guard our hearts from idolatry and false paths, and help us walk in strict obedience to Your Son, so that our love, faith, and friendship with You may flourish. As in Acts 14, turn every opposition into opportunity for Your glory.
In Jesus’ Holy name, Amen.