But some Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there, and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But as the disciples stood around him, he rose up, and entered into the city. On the next day he went out with Barnabas to Derbe. Acts 14:19'20 WEB.After Paul and Barnabas healed a crippled man and preached the good news in the city of Lystra, the people were so impressed that they wanted to make sacrifices to them. They shouted, "The gods have come down among us in human form!" They called Barnabas Zeus and Paul Hermes.
Yet later, some Jews who disliked Paul came from other cities and stirred up the crowd against him. They formed a mob, stoned Paul, dragged him outside of the town, and left him believing he was dead. He may have actually been dead, for they knew how to stone people in those days.
When the disciples gathered around Paul's body later to mourn his demise, he suddenly stood up on his feet and went back into the city to spend the night. The next day he traveled to Derbe and continued to preach the good news of Jesus with signs following.
Being stoned at Lystra became a part of Paul's testimony. He added a lot more trials to his list. In 2 Corinthians 11:23, he wrote: "with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea."
Many times in life, we get knocked down. Especially when we are trying our hardest to live right, but trials will not stop us. You will get back up and take the next step. You are not beaten. You will continue on, and what you suffer will become a part of your testimony, just as it did with Paul. Getting back up after being knocked down is a time-honored tradition for the followers of Jesus Christ.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You for being there for me. Please help me pull my life together and turn this test into a testimony. I look to You, Lord, for my help comes from above. Walk with me today and show Yourself strong in my life. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!Note: Ladies, today is Thankful Thursday at the "Ladies in Distress" group (our RHM women's group)! You are welcome to join in our weekly sharing of thankfulness for the Lord's presence and any blessings you may have experienced, big or small! "Ladies in Distress" is a private group, so if you have any problems joining, just post anywhere and we will help you :). Here is the link:
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God gives us strength ❤️
Amen
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Encouraging words as I now face diabetes and cataract diagnosis. God give me fortitude and the wherewithal to deal with it. Nothing compared to what Paul went through. Praise God Praise Jesus Amen
Amen. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Heavenly Father, Thank You for being with me. I could not do this without You. Amen
Amen!!!
Amen Good Morning Everyone
Walk with me today, Lord, and show Yourself strong in my life. AMEN
Amen!!
Amen Walk with me Lord teach me your ways I want to follow you all the rest of my days! God bless you
Holy Spirit walk with us everyday. Lead us unto all righteousness. Help us when we fall. Amen and Amen
Jesus,please walk with us today and show us the right way and we will follow. Amen
Thank You Father for being with me every step of the way, Amen.
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Amen
Heavenly Father my walk is important to me ,to have You always at our side and to follow Your designs. Many times I have failed but also raise up,please Lord almighty help me. In Jesus Christ name I pray, Amen. With the help of our Lord we will succeed, Amen.
As always thank you and Sylvia, great messages. God bless you both. Amen.
Thank for Father for being with me every step that I take and never leaving my side. It's been so very difficult for many of us lately but we will continue on. thank you Pastor Dion and have a great day.
My interaction with others is mostly on the "informal" side of faith. One of the biggest issues for many is the idea that once we become a believer, we can begin to lead a "charmed" life. Though this is true in some respects, it is also a misleading one in other ways. The circumstances within our lives that are "to be", will be just as they were before, HOWEVER, our advantage as Christians is that we have better supports, a deeper understanding, and a higher sense of well-being, even if we don't "show it" on the outside! This idea came to me clearly when a friend said I was "looking concerned and worried" and she hoped I could find some "peace". Well, actually, at that time, I felt very "calm" inside; though my outside persona did not show it! It immediately occurred to me, that God was "helping" me to remain calm "in the midst of storm raging about me"...and I understood how "storms" are not necessarily a sign of weakness, lack of faith, or a sinful action...but that God was "using" them to help me and others to weather whatever comes our way. So, yes, our lives are "charmed" but probably not in the way normally would think.
Amen!
Yes amen Lord
Amen!
Amen! Jesus is always by our side, and he goes before us and he stand behind us!