Acts 13:4-13

Right out of the gate, Paul and Barnabas, are faced with a series of difficulties that could have easily sidelined their ministry once and for all and put a decisive end to Christianity’s rapid expansion.  They faced triple jeopardy through strenuous hardship, stinging opposition and demoralizing disappointment.  And those difficulties can steal our dreams and bring us to the edge so that we lose heart.  Authentic ministry is not for the fainthearted. 

Few realize the intense pressure that comes with spiritual leadership

If you are committed Jesus you will face hardships

If God is leading you nothing else is as important

Life is Hard, Ministry is Harder! 4-6a

We must accept hardship as a way of life.

Paul traveled about 13,400 miles over the course of his ministry

They walked through the entire Island of Cyprus

They preached in all the Synagogues

Their endurance was tested as in - 2 Corinthians 11: 23-29

Those are some of the costs of following God’s calling

Spiritual Warfare is Hazardous! 6-12

Paul had to deal with a Pagan magician and his bag of tricks

Spiritual warfare often comes when we are physically drained

BarJesus – means son of Jesus, or son of the savior

BarJesus was no savior, he was a false prophet

He tried to keep the proconsul away from the faith

Paul wasn’t tolerant or passive

God blinded BarJesus to match his spiritual blindness

The only convert we know about was Sergeus Paulus

His conversion came as the result of a spiritual battle

Sometimes we must speak up for the truth or it won’t be told

Ministry is full of Disappointments! 13

After only a month or two and John Mark went home

Paul called it “desertion” & refused to allow him back - 15:38

In every church there will be individuals who leave

Some will leave for the wrong reasons 

It’s hard to serve God when you feel abandoned

If you are to minister you must press on

Authentic ministry is not for the fainthearted.  If you are following God’s leading, press on no matter whether you face good times or bad.  Whether the skies are blue or stormy black.  Whether you are sunning on the sandy white beaches of Cyprus or being chased by a Godzilla sized monster in Perga.