Paul's first missionary journey with Barnabas proved to be both effective and dangerous. Wherever they preached about Jesus, people were saved but militant religionists stirred up public dissent; expelling them from cities, plotting to kill them and almost stoning Paul to death. Despite all the opposition, the apostles were filled with joy in the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:52) and refused to give up proclaiming the message. They were totally unashamed of the gospel (Romans 1:16) and they trusted the Lord to protect and provide.

Having preached in Derbe, and seen the Lord save many people, Paul and Barnabas retraced their route to visit the new believers in Lystra, Iconuim and Antioch in Pisidia. It was potentially dangerous but the Holy Spirit led them. The new churches in those cities had seen how badly Paul was treated, and so they would have been greatly encouraged that he wanted to go back to the places where he had been so shamefully treated.

It was not enough for Paul and Barnabas to evangelise; they needed to make disciples (Matthew 28:19) and so they were compelled by the Holy Spirit (Acts 20:22) to return to the danger zones so that the new believers might become more informed and firm in their faith. They were unafraid to go back to continue the work.

Opposition is not a reason to stop trusting Jesus, Paul said. All sorts of trials will come to the believer but Paul's example showed that problems should be the reason to strengthen faith rather than defeat it (1 Peter 4:12-14). Like Paul, James knew that opposition should be a cause of joy as, through it, God builds maturity into the believers (James 1:2-4). Jesus had said that hardships would come to His disciples because the world refused to submit to Him (John 15:18-21). Jesus was bruised because of you (Isaiah 53:5) … so, if you have been bruised because of Jesus, do not let fear keep you back from completing what He has given you to do.