Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
October 21, 2022: SOAP #4705: Job 9-10; Acts 13-14

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 14:19 Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. 20 But after the disciples had gathered round him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.
21 They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

OBSERVATION:  To me this is amazing.  In verse 19 we read about Paul being stoned to the point he was considered dead.  His body was drug outside the city, probably to some cemetery or garbage dump.
In the next verse, we see the disciples of Lystra gathering around Paul, probably praying, and God worked a miracle.  God restored Paul and he was able to go back into the city.
One would think that he would take a few days to recover from the stoning, but that is not what we read.  The next day he and Barnabas left for Derby.  They were not traveling in some comfortable coach, but walking!  The distance I read in Robinson Word Pictures was 40 miles!
Paul and his traveling companions returned to Lystra, (verse 21) preaching, “we must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” Paul was living what he was preaching! 

APPLICATION: Enduring ridicule, suffering, and/or persecution for the sake of Jesus strengthens our testimony.  We demonstrate that it is well worth the sacrifice to follow Jesus.  Our testimony while suffering exalts Jesus.  It shows people, earthly principalities, and heavenly principalities that Jesus has worth in our estimation.  He is too valuable to turn away. 

PRAYER:   Lord, an old song comes to mind:  Keep me true. Lord Jesus, keep me true.  There’s a race that I must run; there are victories to be won.  Give me power every hour to be true. Amen

Pastor Leon
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