Unveiling True Worship

A. W Tozer wrote, “Idolatry is of all sins the most hateful to God because it is in essence a defamation of the divine character … We should beware of the comfortable habit of assuming that idolatry is found only in heathen lands and that civilized people are free from it. This is an error and results from pride and superficial thinking. The truth is that idolatry is found wherever mankind is found. Whoever entertains an unworthy conception of God is throwing his or her heart wide open to the sin of idolatry … It is vitally important that we think soundly about God. Since He is the foundation of all our religious beliefs, it follows that if we err in our ideas of God, we will go astray on everything else.”

Paul and Barnabas had been expelled from Pisidian Antioch, plotted against in Iconium, they had to flee from Iconium. After they left Iconium they came to the city of Lystra.

Luke tells us of the idolatrous city of Lystra.

It was a city of strange gods.

Let’s take a look at what Paul and Barnabas have gotten themselves into.

They are mistaken for gods after performing a miraculous healing. The Big Idea of this section is:

In our pursuit of the divine, we often misplace our worship onto the seen rather than the unseen God who is the true source of all power and goodness.

The Miracle at Lystra (8-10)

V. 8 - In the cultural and historical context of Lystra, a city steeped in Greco-Roman beliefs and practices, being crippled from birth would have not only limited one's physical abilities but also significantly shaped one's social and emotional life.

Physical limitations

Social stigma

Economic impact

Religious and cultural implications

V. 9-10 – This man heard Paul’s words. But they weren’t just heard, they were felt.

The text suggests that as he listened to Paul, something within him stirred—a response of faith, not merely in Paul's words, but in the power behind them. Paul, who was perceptive and spiritually attuned, noticed this man's faith.

How did Paul discern his faith? It wasn't through overt gestures but possibly through the man’s intense focus, a look of expectancy, or maybe a subtle, non-verbal communication of hope and belief. Paul saw what others might have overlooked—a heart ready for God’s touch.

What followed was an instantaneous and public healing.

Paul called out to the man in a loud voice, “Stand up on your feet!” This command was not just for the man but for all present. The response was immediate and miraculous.

The miracle served multiple purposes. It was a sign of God's kingdom breaking into human suffering, it was a testament to the authority given to Paul and Barnabas, and a demonstration of God’s personal interest in the lives of His creation.

The crippled man responded in faith.

Responding to faith means taking action based on our belief. Just as the crippled man responded to Paul’s command, we are called to respond to God's prompts in our lives.

This might look like taking a step of faith in starting a new ministry, changing careers based on a conviction, reaching out to mend a strained relationship, or simply sharing your faith story with someone in need of encouragement.

Responding to faith requires courage and the willingness to step out of our comfort zones.

Central to our faith is the belief in God's power to bring about change. This belief must be more than theoretical—it should be a living, breathing part of how we view our circumstances and our world.

The same power that raised Christ from the dead is at work in us (Ephesians 1:19-20). This power can heal, transform, and renew.

God often works in ways that defy our expectations. Just as the healing of the crippled man was unexpected and dramatic, God can intervene in our lives in sudden and surprising ways.

We need to remain open to these divine interruptions that might come disguised as challenges or opportunities, trusting that God is sovereign and works all things for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28).

The healing was not a quiet affair; it was public, meant to be seen by all, confirming the message Paul was preaching. The crowd's astonishment was immediate, leading them to draw conclusions steeped in their cultural myths, mistaking the apostles for gods.

Next we see…

The Misplaced Worship (11-13)

What was the crowd’s reaction?

Lystra was a city deeply entrenched in Greek culture and mythology, which shaped the worldview and expectations of its inhabitants. When Paul and Barnabas performed the miraculous healing, the people of Lystra, influenced by their mythological framework, immediately interpreted this divine act through the lens of their familiar stories.

Hermes (the messenger god) and Zeus (the chief god) were central figures in their mythology, and the miraculous nature of the healing led them to believe that these gods had visited them in human form.

I believe this underscores how cultural and religious beliefs can influence our interpretation of extraordinary events.

The Danger of Misinterpretation:

The incident in Lystra serves as a powerful example of how cultural expectations and desires can skew our understanding of God's work.

Just as the Lystrans projected their mythology onto Paul and Barnabas, people today can also misinterpret divine action through the lens of their personal or cultural expectations.

This misinterpretation can lead to misplaced worship or wrong beliefs.

It shows that without a correct understanding of God and His ways, even the most well-intentioned actions can lead us astray.

In today's context, similar errors can occur in various forms:

Celebrity Culture: Just as the Lystrans mistakenly deified human figures, modern society often elevates celebrities or public figures to lofty statuses, sometimes attributing them qualities or roles they can’t fulfill. This can lead to disappointment and disillusionment when these figures fail to meet the divine-like expectations placed upon them.

Idolizing Human Leaders: In politics, business, or even in religious communities, there can be a tendency to view leaders as infallible or as ultimate authorities. This is like the mistake of the Lystrans, replacing a healthy respect for leadership with an undue elevation of human figures.

Conforming God to Our Wishes: Modern believers might also fall into the trap of expecting God to act according to their desires or scripts, much like expecting Him to behave as a character from their personal narrative rather than seeking to understand and align with His will. This can lead to a "consumer Christianity" where faith is more about personal benefit than true discipleship. Or fitting God into our own belief structure based on our convictions.

To counter these tendencies, we need to cultivate a biblically grounded understanding of God's nature and His ways.

Next we see…

Paul and Barnabas’ Healthy Response (14-18)

When Paul and Barnabas realized that the crowd in Lystra was misinterpreting their miracle as the work of gods and began treating them as such, they responded with a dramatic cultural gesture of humility and distress: they tore their clothes.

This act was a traditional Jewish expression of grief, horror, or vehement protest.

They emphatically rejected being put on a pedestal and treated as gods.

I think their reaction underscores a fundamental principle in Christian leadership and witness: the refusal to take credit for God’s work.

How easy it would have been to accept this worship and try to use the honor as a basis for teaching the people the truth, but that’s not the way God’s true servants minister.

Paul’s message was not based on the Old Testament, because this was a pagan Gentile audience. He started with the witness of God in creation (see Acts 17:22ff).

He made it clear that there is but one God who is the living God, the giving God, and the forgiving God. And He has been patient with the sinning nations (Acts 17:30) and has not judged them for their sins as they deserve.

They proclaimed God as the creator of heaven and earth, the seas, and everything in them.

They emphasized that unlike the capricious gods of Greek mythology, the true God does not dwell in temples made by human hands and is not served by human hands as if He needed anything.

Instead, He gives everyone life and breath and all things. They pointed out that God's goodness is evident in the "rain from heaven and fruitful seasons," providing food and joy to humanity.

This message was not only theological but deeply relational, presenting God as actively involved in the welfare of His creation. Unlike the Lystran’s so-called gods.

Application:

The humility of Paul and Barnabas serves as a powerful example for believers today. In a world where individuals often seek credit for successes and achievements, Paul and Barnabas’ reaction teaches the importance of redirecting any praise or adulation we receive to God.

It emphasizes that our roles, whether in ministry, work, or community, are opportunities to point back to God, the source of all goodness and ability.

Followers of Jesus are called to be stewards of the gifts and opportunities God provides, using them to glorify Him rather than ourselves.

This means living with integrity, acknowledging that every good thing we have comes from above, and resisting the cultural temptation to seek glory for ourselves.

In addition, we have a role in helping others see beyond the immediate and tangible to the eternal and divine.

Just as Paul and Barnabas redirected misplaced worship to the One who truly deserves it, we too are tasked with helping our communities focus on the living God, encouraging worship that is grounded in truth and humility.

This not only aligns us more closely with God’s purposes but also provides a witness to the world that is both countercultural and profoundly transformative.

By living lives that consistently give credit to God, we demonstrate the character of the Kingdom He is building—a kingdom where God alone is exalted and His goodness and sovereignty are recognized by all.

This week, let’s commit to true worship. The one who deserves it, God.

And let’s live a life of gratitude, as you recognize God as the source of all blessings.

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