Confusing the message with the Messanger – Acts 14

For years and centuries, the enemy of souls has sought to manipulate the minds of mankind so that they worship and honor creatures more than the Creator. (Romans 1:25) The Apostle John in his first epistle chapter two verses 16 writes to us that the pride of the world does not come from the Father. (1 John 2:16) Today we must be aware that the enemy comes with the same intentions of confusion and manipulation, but with different strategies. When our Lord Jesus Christ was in the wilderness, the enemy came to Him and offered Him the kingdoms of the earth and Jesus. Using the Word “it is written,” confronted Satan and temptations. The moment and time in which we live today is manifested with a generation that moves with shows, lights, and smoke screen. (Luke 4:5; 7) People in their existential need, empty hearts, who are not satisfied with anything, in short, far from God, are continually looking for the next icon to whom to give glory rather than give it to the Creator of all. Through the Word today we will see how Paul and Barnabas focus on their call to share the gospel, how they respond to a need, and see how the apostles handled the situation at the time when the people tried to worship as gods. In other words, how the people confused the messenger with the message.   The question we must answer is why they confused the messenger with the message. Why couldn’t they see it? How does this apply to us when we are the messengers or, when we are the ones who receive the message?