Ministering under pressure - Acts 14

One can not but admire the tenacity with which Paul and Barnabas pursued their calling in the face of challenging circumstances.
1.    Opposition was stirred up for them at 1conium (v2.)
2.    Threat to their lives followed (v5)
3.    Then the threat from flattery - temptation to assume praises due to God (v8-18). - after all that was why Herod died in chapter 12.
4.    Actual physical attack with intention to kill (v19).

In the face of the above and more,
i.    Paul and Barnabas as usual went into the synagogue to preach (v1).
ii.    They spent considerable time speaking BOLDLY for the Lord (v3).
iii.    They never wasted time  fighting opposition - when the Lord revealed possible threat to their lives, they moved on to another location to preach the good news( v6-7).
iv.    They used every opportunity to preach the good news (v8-18).  The carnal man would have relished in the adulation of the people of Lystra.

v.    They kept going back to the cities were they were earlier  persecuted to minister to the believers (shepherding) (v22-25).
Later in life, Paul now in prison wrote to encourage the Corinthians “Therefore my brothers, stand firm (be steadfast) immovable (let nothing move you), Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.  (1 Cor 15v58).
To minister under pressure, one must:
i)    Be focused - Paul and Barnabas knew why they were called and no difficulties would divert them from their mission.
ii)    Have the right motivation - they were set apart by the Holy Spirit.  They were doing the work of the Lord.  Their motivation was not self or selfish.
iii)    Have his eyes on the goal.  They were sure a day of rewarding was coming.  Their labour was not in vain.
iv)    Be contented being vessels in the hands of the Holy Spirit.  The Lord’s work done, the Lord’s way would always meet with success.
Father, help me to always keep my focus clear with regard to the commission you have entrusted into my hands and let me be steadfast in pursuing the assignments through Jesus Christ my Lord.  AMEN.