(Read Acts 14:8-20)
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing to learn more about the amazing life of the Apostle Paul. We closed out last week by looking at the first documented miracle performed through the hands of Paul. In Lystra Paul and Barnabas came upon a man who had been born with crippled feet and who had been crippled his entire life. While Paul was preaching he looked at the man and the man looked at him, when their eyes locked Paul was led to invoke the miracle. By faith Paul tapped into the Grace of God for healing. Paul called out to the man in a loud voice, saying, “Stand up!” Without hesitation the man jumped to his feet and started walking for the first time in his life. Praise God!
When the crowd saw what happened they shouted in their local dialect, “These men are gods in human form!” They decided that Barnabas was the Greek god Zeus and that Paul was Hermes, since he was the chief speaker. Now the temple of Zeus was located just outside the town. So the priest of the temple and the crowd brought bulls and wreaths of flowers to the town gates, and they prepared to offer sacrifices to the Apostles. This was certainly NOT what Paul and Barnabas expected or wanted. They wanted to the glory to go to God, but the crowd was seeing them as gods.
Apostles Paul and Barnabas tore their clothes in dismay and they shouted to the people,“Friends, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings—just like you! We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things and turn to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. In the past he permitted all the nations to go their own ways, but he never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts.” But even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could scarcely restrain the people from sacrificing to them.
Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and quickly swayed the crowd to their side, and against the Apostles. Before long the crowd turned on Paul and Barnabas. The same men who were extolling them as gods one minute, wanted to kill Paul the next. The crowd stoned Paul severely and dragged him out of town. When the crowd left him they thought he was dead. But a smaller crowd who had received the message, and who had become believers of Christ, gathered around Paul’s body. As they did, Paul amazingly got up and he fearlessly went back into the town. He reunited with Barnabas and the next day the Apostles left for Derbe.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. People crave the Supernatural. When the Lord performed a miracle through Paul the people of Lystra went crazy, they thought Paul and Barnabas were gods, and they worshipped the Apostles. Why? Because there is an innate desire in all of us to find the one true God. People want to acknowledge a higher power. So when they see a miracle (that exceeds human ability), the power attracts them. And our God has no shortage of power. If you will allow Him to, He can perform the Supernatural through you, so that He can get the glory. Just don’t be intimated. Remember, the Supernatural power comes by Grace (so you don’t have to earn it) and it flows from God (so you don’t have to come up with it).
2. People will turn on you in a minute. The same people who were extolling Paul one minute, worshipping him as a god, turned around and stoned him the next, leaving him for dead. People turned on Jesus, they turned on Paul, and they will turn on you. But Paul’s confidence was not in man, but in God. You should learn from Paul. Your confidence cannot be in man, because man will let you down. Your confidence cannot even be in yourself, because you will let yourself down. Your confidence must be in God, because He will never let you down! Even when we are faithless, God remains faithful (2 Tim 2:13).
3. You have the Grace to keep going. The crowd stoned Paul, dragged him out of town, and left him for dead. But Paul got up, dusted himself off, went back into town, reconnected with Barnabas, got a good night’s rest, and left the next morning to continue to preach the Gospel of Grace! Why? Because Paul was on a divine assignment. When you are doing what God called you to do no one can stop you. No man, government, natural or spiritual power can stop you when God is leading you to do something. The only person that can stop you is you. You stop yourself when you throw in the towel quit. The devil knows he CANNOT stop you when God is working through you, but he also knows that God will not force Himself upon you and He will allow you to quit if you choose to. That is why the devil tries so hard to get you frustrated, disillusioned, discouraged and dismayed. The devil wants you to quit. He knows that the only way he can stop you is by getting you to stop yourself. So, my message to you this morning is simple: NEVER GIVE UP! You have the Grace to keep going. No matter how hard things get, if you are still breathing, then God is not through with you, and you should keep going!
Closing Confession: Father, I know the Supernatural is available to me today. It is available directly TO ME, when I need a Supernatural touch from You. And it is available to flow THROUGH ME when You want to use me as a conduit of Your glory. So I am available to You, both to receive and to release Your Supernatural power in the earth. I know Your Supernatural power comes by Grace. It is Your gift and it comes from You. I don’t, in and of myself, have any Supernatural power. But I do have access to You. So, by faith I access Your Grace for the Supernatural and I see signs, wonders and miracles performed through me, before my very eyes. I keep my focus on You. My confidence is in You and not in man, because I know men will let me down. My confidence is in You, and not even in myself, because I have let myself down more times than I want to acknowledge. My confidence is in You, because You have never, nor will You ever, let me down. My life is about You and accomplishing Your Kingdom plans and purposes for me. I know I will face opposition, I know it will not always be easy, but I shall never give up, cave in or quit. The only way I can lose is if I quit, and I refuse to quit. No matter how hard it gets, if I am still breathing, then I know I am not done and I know I have the Grace to keep going. When life knocks me down, I get up, dust myself off, look to You, and keep pressing by faith. I am determined to arrive at Your desired destination for my life and I shall get there by Your Grace. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
