Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living - WordAction - The Nazarene Publishing House [The Foundry Publishing House] in Kansas city, Missouri, United States - The Global Church of the Nazarene for Wednesday, 19 July 2017 - True To The Faith by Cynthia Stiverson - Acts 14:19-28Acts 14:19 Then some unbelieving Jews came from Antioch and Iconium. They won over the crowds, stoned Sha’ul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. 20 But as the talmidim gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. The next day, he left with Bar-Nabba for Derbe.
21 After proclaiming the Good News in that city and making many people into talmidim, they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22 strengthening the talmidim, encouraging them to remain true to the faith, and reminding them that it is through many hardships that we must enter the Kingdom of God. 23 After appointing elders for them in every congregation, Sha’ul and Bar-Nabba, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord in whom they had put their trust.
24 Passing through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25 After speaking the message in Perga, they came down to Attalia; and from there, they sailed back to Antioch, 26 the place where they had been handed over to the care of God for the work which they had now completed.
27 When they arrived, they gathered the Messianic community together and reported what God had done through them, that he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they stayed for some time there with the talmidim.
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Life changing “Damascus moments” became the norm as Paul and the disciples preached. God increased their faith as they put it into action, revealing Himself as a miracle-working God. In Lystra a man who had never walked, jumped up and started walking! (Acts 14:8-10). Not everyone was convinced. Some conspired, started rumors, and created division. Still others put their faith in the flesh, glorifying God’s messengers rather than allowing His message to penetrate their hearts.
In one moment, they were worshipping Paul and Barnabas as gods. In the next, Paul was stoned and left as dead. The disciples encouraged one another to stay true to the faith, "We must go through many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22b). They prayed and fasted. They appointed elders in the churches and "committed them to the Lord, in whom they put their trust" (Acts 14:23b).
I’m sure these new pastors had their work cut out for them. As leaders, they would have followers. Some would put their trust in the messenger. Some would experience life-changing Damascus moments. Others would cause division. Yet, the message was handed down to us through the steadfast Christians who trusted the Lord and remained true to the faith.
"A Charge to Keep I Have" by Charle Wesley
Life changing “Damascus moments” became the norm as Paul and the disciples preached. God increased their faith as they put it into action, revealing Himself as a miracle-working God. In Lystra a man who had never walked, jumped up and started walking! (Acts 14:8-10). Not everyone was convinced. Some conspired, started rumors, and created division. Still others put their faith in the flesh, glorifying God’s messengers rather than allowing His message to penetrate their hearts.
In one moment, they were worshipping Paul and Barnabas as gods. In the next, Paul was stoned and left as dead. The disciples encouraged one another to stay true to the faith, "We must go through many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22b). They prayed and fasted. They appointed elders in the churches and "committed them to the Lord, in whom they put their trust" (Acts 14:23b).
I’m sure these new pastors had their work cut out for them. As leaders, they would have followers. Some would put their trust in the messenger. Some would experience life-changing Damascus moments. Others would cause division. Yet, the message was handed down to us through the steadfast Christians who trusted the Lord and remained true to the faith.
"A Charge to Keep I Have" by Charle Wesley
1. A charge to keep I have,
a God to glorify,
a never-dying soul to save,
and fit it for the sky.
2. To serve the present age,
my calling to fulfill;
O may it all my powers engage
to do my Master's will!
3. Arm me with jealous care,
as in thy sight to live,
and oh, thy servant, Lord,
prepare a strict account to give!
4. Help me to watch and pray,
and on thyself rely,
assured, if I my trust betray,
I shall forever die.
Thought for Today:
Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the Adversary is going to have some of you thrown in prison, in order to put you to the test; and you will face an ordeal for ten days. Remain faithful, even to the point of death; and I will give you life as your crown.(Revelation 2:10b).
Please pray:
Please pray:
For the development of Christian leaders in Namibia.
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