I apologize for getting this out late.

Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Sunday November 14, 2010 and we are continuing our reading through the Bible. Today's message comes from the Book of Acts, chapters 14-16. In these chapters we will read about, Paul and Barnabas at Iconium, the stoning of Paul at Lystra, the return to Antioch, Paul on a second missionary journey, Paul's Macedonian vision, the conversion of Lydia, and the Philippian jailer. If you would like to read today's chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-november-14 All Scripture quoted comes from the King James Version.

Today's Message: An Opportunity
While many Christian's are eager to share the good news and live their lives for Jesus, there are times when they just wonder why they have to go through so much. No matter what we are facing we can keep going by faith knowing that all things will come to pass. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose...For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 8:28, 38, 39.

As missionaries, I am sure that Paul and Barnabas may have questioned a few times why they had to suffer so many things on their quest to teach the Gospel throughout the Gentile nations, but regardless of what they went through they did not stop. It seemed as though every city they went into they had to face being beaten, thrown in jail, or escaped death, this time they were in a town called Iconium, many of the people, both Jew and Gentile, believed and were saved, but the unbelieving Jews created havoc so Paul and Barnabas headed for Lystra and Derbe. Paul's attention was drawn to a crippled man who had not walked from birth. Seeing the mans faith and compassion for God, he asked him to stand up and the man began to walk. “And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked: The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.”- Acts 14:8-11.

Now, it was Paul's intention to prove to these people that it was God healed this man, instead they believed them to be gods. The people of Lycaonia were custom to worshiped strange gods, these people had never seen a miracle take place, so as far as they knew it had to be their gods because that was what they had been taught. As soon as Paul and Barnabas saw that this beautiful miracle of God and the working of the Holy Spirit was being turned into idol worship, they both ran throughout the crowd, tearing at their clothes and crying out to stop worshiping them. “Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.” - Acts 14:14-18.

Paul stressed that he and Barnabas were the same flesh just like they were and instead of worshiping their false gods they needed to worship the Living God, whom was the Creator of all things. Those who live in the world will never be able to understand that all the miracles or what they see as fate, comes from God, those whom have been healed, those whom have escaped death, those whom have received things out of the blue were given them from someone serving God. Yes, there may be doctors and lawyers, and businesses that unknowingly serve God in making these things happen, but every miracle or act of fate comes directly from God. “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” - John 1:3.

Now, as the tensions along their journey increased you can imagine that Paul and Barnabas may not have always seen eye to eye, so, when Barnabas wanted to bring Mark along with them it caused problems and they went their separate ways. Later on Paul met up with a man name Silas, they were in a city called Thyatira. “And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:..And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.” - Acts 16:16,19-21.

Soothsayers were fortune tellers, and divination means fortune telling, and these men were making money off of this woman who was telling fortunes to people. When she met Paul she wanted to be removed from this curse and when she was the men were furious and had Paul and Silas arrested. The amazing thing about Paul is that he never gave up, he used every situation he faced as an opportunity to serve God. While in prison, Paul and Silas were singing, praising God, and getting people saved. “And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” - Acts 16:26-31.
God uses every situation in our lives as an opportunity to grow closer to Him and serve Him. If we are faithful and just to Him during the circumstances we face and receive His blessing imagine how much more we will be blessed by being faithful and just to Him when everything is going well? God does not want us to trust in Him only during the trials, but always and when we do we not only become stronger for the next one, we become a blessing and a testimony for others. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy...Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf...Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.” -I Peter 4:12,13,16,19. Praise God!

Be blessed, enjoy the rest of your day/night and have a great week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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