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They Chose To Intentionally Seek God In Making Wise Decisions
Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. Acts 14:23, NIV When Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, they made sure that someone would take good care and administer to the followers there. They didn’t leave them empty-handed. Instead, they properly arranged and prepared everything they could in order for them to be guided. One of the notable things they did was pray and fast. The moment they appointed the elders, they acknowledged the truth that they needed God’s guidance in doing it. Prayer and fasting were the…
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We Must Go Through Many Hardships To Enter The Kingdom Of God
Strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. Acts 14:22, NIV After Paul was stoned by the Jews, he went to Derbe. Then, he returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch to strengthen and encourage the people there. Even though he was physically in pain, he still chose to serve God and His people. He remained true to his faith and encouraged others to do the same thing. Paul, in his wisdom, shared with them, “We must endure many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.” He and the early disciples understood…
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Don’t Allow The Disappointments Or Fear To Reign
Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe. Acts 14:19-20, NIV Paul went through pain and persecution to preach the gospel. The Jews who came from Antioch and Iconium chased, stoned, and dragged him outside the city. Since they were thinking that he was dead, then it’s possible that the stoning Paul experienced was not an ordinary one. Perhaps his body was in pain, and his…
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Let’s Fix Our Gaze On The Source Of Miracles And Blessings
“Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. Acts 14: 15, NIV This is what Paul said when the people in Lystra tried to worship him and Barnabas after witnessing a miracle. Because they saw a supernatural thing, they thought that the god they believed in appeared to them in human form. They thought that Paul was Hermes and Barnabas was Zeus. They bowed down to them and attempted to offer sacrifices. Because…
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The Man Was Healed Not Because Of His Own Effort, But Because He Listened And Kept His Faith
In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, “Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk. Acts 14:8-10, NIV There was this man who knew how it felt like to lack something. Perhaps, all throughout his life, he was looking for hope and healing. And here comes Paul, trying to present him the possible answers to his prayers. He listened to his message and received the hope…
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Fulfilling God’s Purpose
Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed. Acts 13:36, NIV This verse was part of what Paul preached to the people in Pisidian Antioch. He highlighted how Jesus fulfilled the promise of God to His people, and that He was raised to life. Then, he mentioned about David who was buried and whose body decayed, after he had served God’s purpose in His own generation. There are two things that we can learn from this part of the scripture. First, God planted a purpose in David’s heart. He didn’t just create him for…
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God is a Promise-Keeper
From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised. Acts 13:23, NIV Paul was preaching about the gospel to the people in Pisidian Antioch. He started by sharing the story of the Israelites and how God gave Him His promise. And it was Jesus, the savior of the world. In Acts 13:23, Paul emphasized that sending Jesus Christ here on earth was a promise fulfilled by God. He gave His only begotten Son to save and set us free. That’s who He is. The Israelites were waiting for the Messiah to come, and it may have taken a long time, but God still fulfilled…
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When You Choose To Listen And Care
But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. Acts 9:27, NIV When Saul went to Jerusalem, the disciples didn’t wholeheartedly accept him at first. They were hesitant to welcome him, perhaps because, in the past, he persecuted many Christians. But a man named Barnabas brought him to the apostles. He was the one who shared with them what Saul experienced and how the Lord had spoken to him. Barnabas chose to listen to him despite…
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Paul Patiently Dealt With The Disciples According To God’s Ways
When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. Acts 9:26, NIV When Saul went to Jerusalem years after encountering Jesus in Damascus, the disciples were hesitant to welcome him. Before Saul met Jesus, he persecuted Christians and threatened their lives. He put them in prison, and many of them suffered because of him. This must’ve been why the disciples in Jerusalem found it hard to accept him. I would have probably felt the same way if I had worn their shoes. Fear would possibly dominate my heart, especially when I recall the…
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Obeying God’s Will Won’t Always Be Easy
After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. But his followers took him and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall. Acts 9: 23-25, NIV Saul, also known as Paul, was not a stranger to persecution. When he started to preach the gospel, he slowly experienced the things that he used to do to the early Christians. He was once the persecutor, but now he was persecuted. Following Jesus wasn’t easy for him. He went through…
