Ware Indeed

Acts 14:6

They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:

As explained before, Lystra and Iconium are both territories of the ancient region of Lycaonia. Maybe that is why some of you cannot put things where they should, because you are looking under the wrong places. See, the gospel story might have been completely different had Paul been sent to modern-day Turkey as opposed to Lycaonia. You might be inclined to say to yourself, 'what is the big deal; it is the same region.' But it is not. See, what the region later would birth was home to the Ottoman Empire. Here was found the birthplace of all the much civil unrest and world wars that followed. See, God can save even from that. But do you really want him to be responsible. Why have a situation just so that God can deliver you from it later. See, Paul went to all the region and cities of Lycaonia, not just the ones he wanted. The word Lycaonia is a conception of the Greek word Cornea. In modern day medicine and other company, like that of Eve in the garden of Eden, this word has become associated with the eye. Genesis 3:6 says she was tempted upon seeing the tree "was good for food" and would make one wise. But it had another ancient meaning even that of the horn of blessing or of exaltation. It is this region that once boasted of God's blessings to the early church of 1 Corinthians 3. Even so Paul would later write of this church, that they are exalted in every way above the apostles. He prayed to God often for their blessing, yet in so doing, he knew that God would visit upon him a blessing also. Herein is seen the situation of asking in faith, believing, that we will receive. How many times does Paul face certain danger in this region, only for God to deliver him. That is why you cannot always depend on what you see; instead, you must trust God to bring you out.

In 1 Corinthians 4 we see that in all this, Paul is a faithful steward of God. Just as both Paul and Apollos have taught the church, so they also walk therein. This is primarily to avoid being puffed up as the early church there soon became. For the church there is seen in much richness, reigning also as kings of the land. Albeit they have not the apostles, so that they might also be made complete with the other believers. For this cause have they been made as helpless fools for Christ's sake. They are a picture of the despised church made honorable. Being apostles set forth last, yet are they appointed unto death. So also have they been made as spectacles for the world, the angels, and man. Some of you just might need to adjust your viewpoint a little. Paul says he has hungered, thirsted, lacked clothes, buffeted, reviled, blessed, suffered persecution, defamed, and intreated. So also, he has had no certain dwelling place; for a while has he labored with his hands in working much. For such has he been counted the filth of the world, even for the saving of all things. See, Paul wrote thus to warn them as would a father unto his sons of all he suffered. Soon he will send unto them Timotheus, his own beloved son of faith, to help them remember the true teaching of Christ. Because of his situation, Paul will not now come unto them. But when he does, it will be with the rod, love, and in meekness. As funny as it may be to some of you, this is why the wise men with their clever teachings just could not understand it. Some of you really ought to shut the door before some wise guys get into the house and rob the cradle.