Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Saturday November 14, 2009 and we are continuing our studies in the book of Acts, please read chapters 14-16 in your Bible or Click Here to read them

Today's Message: In Faith
While we are eager to share the good news and live our lives for Jesus, there are times when we just wonder why we have to go through so much. However, no matter what we are facing we can keep going in faith knowing that all things will come to pass and we will be glorified through Jesus Christ.

As Christian's we rejoice at the fact that we are saved, cleansed, and set free through the blood of Jesus Christ. As we grow closer to Jesus we learn of and begin to understand that the miraculous things that take place in our lives are in fact acts of God. However, it can be very hard to keep a positive outlook when faced with difficulties.

As missionaries, I am sure that Paul and Barnabas may have questioned a few times why they had to suffer so many things in their quest to teach the Gospel to the Gentile nations, but regardless of what he went through they did not stop. It seemed as though every city they went into they had to face beatings, were thrown in jail, or escaped death, this time they were in a town called Iconium, many of the people Jew and Gentile believed and were saved, but the unbelieving Jews created havoc so they left and headed for Lystra and Derbe. While in Lystra 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. And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.” - Acts 14:8-13. Now, it was Paul's intention to prove to these people that God healed this man, instead they believed him to be a god. The people of Lycaonia worshiped strange gods, so they automatically thought Barnabas was their god of Jupiter, and Paul was their god Mercurius and they began to worship them. These people had never seen a miracle take place, so as far as they knew it had to be their gods because it was what they had been taught.

When people do not know God and see a miracle take place before their eyes, they become confused. They have no idea how such a wonderful thing can happen and of course if they had been taught something other than the truth they are going to believe that over God. There is coming a time, very soon in fact, when Satan is going to come here, known as the Antichrist, preforming many miracles and wonders to the point that even Christian's will be confused and worship him, believing him to be Christ.

As soon as Paul and Barnabas saw 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 telling the people 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 those miracles or what they see as luck, comes from God, those whom have been healed, those whom have escaped death, those whom have received things out of the blue were given all these things from God. Yes, there may be doctors and lawyers, and businesses that unknowingly serve God in making these things happen, but it is all God.

Later, Paul made a brief reference to his sufferings for Christ, “Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” - Acts 14:22. Whenever there is a true spiritual awakening and people are being saved, without exception, Satan will seek to disrupt, discourage, and destroy the results. So, we too should not be surprised that, following our best efforts to serve the Lord, Satan will seek to discourage us through hardships and even disappointments from those of whom we may have expected encouragement. No matter what we are facing, we can continue as Paul did, in faith.“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” - Romans 5:1-5.

Have a wonderful and blessed day/night
God Bless You,
Christina

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