In Acts 14 Paul was stoned and left for dead outside the city of Lystra. He had been chased down from some opposing Jews from Antioch and Iconium. Why? B/c he and Barnabas had "spent a long time there and were speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord".
After being stoned and left for dead, Paul arose and entered that same city and on the next day left the city of Lystra and went to Derbe (just outside of Lystra). While in Derbe Paul and Barnabas once again "preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples", even after almost being stoned to death days before. They then returned yet again to Lystra (where he was stoned), and there began "strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith".
When I read Acts 14 and consider just some of the basic elements of how Paul and Barnabas lived the Christian life with one another and the disciples, God really keeps things very simple for us to understand. Things like...
* spending a long time there
* speaking boldly the Word of God to the city
* with reliance upon the Lord
* preaching the gospel
* making disciples
* strengthening the souls of the disciples
* encouraging them to continue in the faith
Although this seems like a very simple approach to Christianity...the truth is, it is rather difficult to fulfill b/c we often times do not think biblically about ministry nor do we have the patience to endure. I must honestly say that it is a challenge at times to patiently trust in the 'slow work of God'.
* Time seems to fly by so fast, yet we must spend a long time here planting ourselves as a means of God's grace to the people.
* People naturally do not want to hear the truth of God and the truth of their sinfulness, but we must speak boldly the Word of God to the people.
* Naturally I have the tendency to rely upon myself, but I must rely upon the Lord to use His people in His way.
* Regardless of what people think they need to hear from preachers, we must preach the true gospel of faith and repentance unto the Lord.
* As difficult as it is to impart our lives to people and wait patiently for them to be saved, grow, and mature in Christ, we must make disciples who will reproduce themselves into others and make disciples.
* Because of life, circumstances, and sin, it is difficult at times to consistently strengthen the souls of the disciples, nevertheless, we must strengthen the souls of the disciples with the Word of God.
* All of God's people are being torn between love for the world and their love for God, so we must encourage one another to continue strongly in the faith that God has called us to.
This sure seems simple to read and for some possibly too simple to actually be ministry worthy. But I think when we actually consider what our early brothers and sisters were engaged in, it quickly becomes the best possible means of living the Christian life in real life.
After being stoned and left for dead, Paul arose and entered that same city and on the next day left the city of Lystra and went to Derbe (just outside of Lystra). While in Derbe Paul and Barnabas once again "preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples", even after almost being stoned to death days before. They then returned yet again to Lystra (where he was stoned), and there began "strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith".
When I read Acts 14 and consider just some of the basic elements of how Paul and Barnabas lived the Christian life with one another and the disciples, God really keeps things very simple for us to understand. Things like...
* spending a long time there
* speaking boldly the Word of God to the city
* with reliance upon the Lord
* preaching the gospel
* making disciples
* strengthening the souls of the disciples
* encouraging them to continue in the faith
Although this seems like a very simple approach to Christianity...the truth is, it is rather difficult to fulfill b/c we often times do not think biblically about ministry nor do we have the patience to endure. I must honestly say that it is a challenge at times to patiently trust in the 'slow work of God'.
* Time seems to fly by so fast, yet we must spend a long time here planting ourselves as a means of God's grace to the people.
* People naturally do not want to hear the truth of God and the truth of their sinfulness, but we must speak boldly the Word of God to the people.
* Naturally I have the tendency to rely upon myself, but I must rely upon the Lord to use His people in His way.
* Regardless of what people think they need to hear from preachers, we must preach the true gospel of faith and repentance unto the Lord.
* As difficult as it is to impart our lives to people and wait patiently for them to be saved, grow, and mature in Christ, we must make disciples who will reproduce themselves into others and make disciples.
* Because of life, circumstances, and sin, it is difficult at times to consistently strengthen the souls of the disciples, nevertheless, we must strengthen the souls of the disciples with the Word of God.
* All of God's people are being torn between love for the world and their love for God, so we must encourage one another to continue strongly in the faith that God has called us to.
This sure seems simple to read and for some possibly too simple to actually be ministry worthy. But I think when we actually consider what our early brothers and sisters were engaged in, it quickly becomes the best possible means of living the Christian life in real life.
That's an encouraging word to keep sticking to it.
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