Isnt it amazing how things always seem to happen right when you are feeling good. Within a few moments you go from on top of the world to crashing down to the floor. Life tends to catch up with us and hardships come. These difficult times often take the form of temptations, trials or even persecution or opposition to our faith. As you know, I have been preaching through the book of Acts and for the past two weeks have focused on the end of Acts 14 as I prepare to take a side trip and focus on the Christmas story. The end of Acts 14 depicts the conclusion of Pauls first missionary journey. While in the town of Lystra Paul had just finished preaching the word; something he did, of course, in every town he had visited. Paul was doing exactly what God had called him to do. Paul was fulfilling his calling as a minister of the Lord. And then verses 19 and 20 took place which say, But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe. Paul was stoned nearly to death. He was doing what God had commanded him to do and delivering a message of great importance to the people of Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra yet these people attempted to kill him. Praise God that Paul was protected. I do not think that he was miraculously healed and feel quite strongly that Paul faced pretty server injures. Yet God protected him and saved his life by preventing life threatening injuries. Let me tell you something, if this was me and the people I was ministering to attempted to kill, I would have a very hard time continuing in the ministry. It would be easy just to call it quits and go into hiding. But guess what? That’s not what Paul did. As verse 20 tells us, Paul left Lystra the next morning and went to the town of Derbe. Verse 21 then tells us that After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch. Not only did Paul get up and continue in his ministry of proclaiming salvation through Christ but he actually returned to the towns where the people who tried to stone him were from! Why? Because the most important thing in Pauls life was Jesus. Paul would have gladly given his life, and eventually did, for the spread of the Gospel. So here is my point: whenever times get difficult, turn to Jesus and He will make them better. Also, known that your sufferings and trials are not in vain because, as James tells us in James 1:2-4, Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. Continue to pray for First Baptist Church of Westwood, Yours in Christ, Dan Squezello Pastor, FBCW fbcwonline.info LIKE US ON FACEBOOK! SHARE THIS WITH YOUR FRIENDS!
Posted on: Sat, 20 Dec 2014 22:40:36 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015