KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 15:3 “And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.”

Paul and Barnabas, along with some Jewish Christians, left for Jerusalem. On their way, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, which were towns close to Jerusalem.

They made sure that they stopped over to visit the churches in these places and shared testimonies of the conversions among the Gentiles. This brought great joy to them. Paul was on a mission, going to Jerusalem to receive the verdict of the Apostles about whether Christians should observe the laws of Moses before one could be saved or not. I believe this assignment should have kept his attention and not diverted him. Paul, a lover of all Christians and the spiritual and natural welfare of the churches, was so important to him. He stopped over in these two cities to visit the brethren to share testimonies of what God has been doing through them. This was a selfless man. Please note that neither Paul nor Barnabas established these Churches, which were Jewish, yet they found it very necessary to visit them and strengthen them.

In our modern times, most of us are so denominationally inclined that we are almost careless about what happens to “those of the other churches”. Every Christian is in the big family of the household of faith. Whether Pentecostals, Orthodox, or Charismatics, we are one big family with one Lord, one Holy Spirit, and one Father. Just consider Paul’s passion for Christians as a whole is seen in this statement; 2nd Corinthians 11:28,29 “Beside those things that are without that comes on me, the care of all churches. Who is weak and I am not weak, who is offended and I burn not”?  His life epitomised God’s wishes for his children. This was a man who had a care for every Christian on the face of the earth. The prayers he made or said in his epistles to the Christians speak volumes.

It is a big error to find Christians backbiting each other. Some brethren rejoice at the fall, failure, or the shame of other brethren. Some of our brethren find themselves in crises and become isolated, such that it seems they are on an island. No one seems to care or notice what is happening to them. Hebrews 10:24 admonishes us that “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works”. We must take steps that would encourage others to express trust and love among the brethren. To provoke means to incite or motivate. We must share with our brethren their burdens.

Some brethren became a symbol of ridicule because their weakness or shortcoming got to the domain of the public through one person, he or she might have confided in. How can such a brother be inspired to love others if treated this way? Well, we do not respond to evil and wickedness in the same vein. We overcome evil with good. If a brother disappointed you, do not generalise and say everybody is like that.

Do not allow bitterness to consume you. Hebrews 12:15. Forgive and release the brother or sister from your heart. The church is one body, called the body of Christ. We are all members of each other, and we must care for all irrespective of his or her denomination

NOTE: There are some sects, or better described as cults, that do not hold the fundamental tenets of faith of the Christian Church, like the Jehovah’s Witnesses. We have to love them as God’s creation, yet we can’t fellowship with them.

 PRAYER

Father, I pray for all Christians to walk in love. Strengthening one another by our kind deeds that we demonstrate to one another.

FURTHER STUDIES.

John 13:34 “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”

Romans 12:21 “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 15:2. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

After Paul and Barnabas had disputed over the legalistic teaching brought in by the Jewish brethren, they finally decided to take the case to the Apostles in Jerusalem, who would finally decide on what to do.

Paul had had an encounter with the resurrected Christ, who taught him all that he was teaching the people. (Galatians 1:11). The Lord had used him to do so many miracles, which could have caused him to feel proud, yet he acknowledged the Apostles in Jerusalem were superiors who were the ultimate authority of the church on the earth. God always has human authorities that he has set on the earth. Romans 13:1 “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God, the powers that be are ordained by God”. No matter how powerful you may be, or how much you may be lifted in life, you need to give honour to the authorities that are over you.

In Jerusalem, there were apostles and elders. We would remember that Peter, speaking in his letter to the Jewish believers scattered in the gentle region in 1st Peter 5::1, acknowledged that he was an elder. This implied there were elders who held special ministerial offices and those who had no specific office. A ministerial office includes Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers. An elder holds governing roles as well as teaching.

In our churches, we may have certain elders who may also operate in a ministerial office and others who don’t.

 Please understand that governing does not mean dominance. It is service unto God and His people. The Lord said in Mark 9:5 as follows: And he sat down and called the twelve and said unto them, if any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all”. This word servant has the idea of a waiter, one who runs errands. He is at the command of his master. From our Lord’s teaching, every leader, elder is a servant. It is a big error for any elder to Lord it over the members. If you have been gifted in any way, then you must open up to bless the brethren with the gifts. Many gifted men of God allow the praises of men to inflame their pride. They want every other member to bow to them. They declare that miracles are their doing. This is wrong. Whatever you are and have comes from God and must be used to glorify His name and to bless men. Do not attract attention to yourself.

PRAYER.

Father, in these last days pending your coming, may the church be committed to walking humbly towards one another.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Proverbs 29:23. A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

Proverbs 16:19 “Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 14:26 “And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.”

Shall we consider a phrase in our key scripture, Acts 14:26 “……for the work which they fulfilled”. In Acts 13, after the brethren had ministered unto the Lord with fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Separate me, Barnabas and Saul for the work whereto I have called them”.

Apostle Paul and Barnabas did not delay in any way. They quickly set off to do the work. They went on a missionary journey, combing through most of the cities of the gentile world.

We learn the following from the experience of Paul and Barnabas.

1. That the work of missions is one that early engaged the attention of the Christians. Make up your mind to leave your comfort zone to step out into the missionary field.

2. It entered into their plans, and the church was deeply interested. This call for missions should become the interest of every Christian organization.

3. The work of missions is attended with danger. People are now no less hostile to the gospel than they were in Lystra and Iconium. You should not be scared about it, for it pleases the Father to stand for Him.

4. Missionaries should be sustained by the prayers of the church. Make it your duty to pray for all missionaries daily on the mission field.

5. The experience of Paul and Barnabas gives us an example for missionaries in founding churches. 

(Some of these thoughts are from the Barnes commentary)

One other important thing we learn from Apostle Paul and Barnabas is that they fulfilled their mission. The discomfort of the voyages, the hostilities of the Jews and Gentiles, and even stoning did not stop them. They went through every city, raised churches, and established elders to oversee the affairs of the churches. What made them so successful? They denied themselves and took up their cross. Matthew 16:24 “……if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me”. THE THREAT OF PERSECUTIONS IN HOSTILE NATIONS IS NOT THE REAL HINDRANCE TO THE SPREAD OF THE GOSPEL IN SUCH PLACES, BUT UNWILLINGNESS OF CHRISTIANS TO DENY THEMSELVES AND TAKE UP THEIR CROSS”. Paul and Barnabas conquered in their time, we can also conquer no matter the challenge or opposition, for the grace of God that saw them through is also available to see us through.

PRAYER

Father, may the experiences of Paul inspire this modern church to take the challenge of missions aggressively to fulfil our Lord’s commission.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Matthew 16:24-27 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his deed.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 14:23 ” And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.”

Apostle Paul and Barnabas, after ministering to the churches and strengthening them, made sure that the church would remain running by ordaining elders to take care of these churches.

An elder is not necessarily an older person, but one called into a leadership role in the house of God. They were the main leaders who saw the teaching of the brethren, as well as other governing functions, that kept the church together and sustained. In 1st Peter 5:1-4, Apostle Peter elaborated on who these elders were and their functions. In 1st Peter 5:1, he said, “the elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed.”

Apostle Peter says he is an elder. Peter was an apostle, which is a leading governing role in the body of Christ. This implies that prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers are all elders. The term “elder” is an important role. In 1st Peter 5:2, he says, “feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly, not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind”. One of their roles is to teach the flock of God. They must willingly do it. They should not use their role to extort money.

There is a great deal of sacrifice required from an elder, for he is an example to the brethren in every Christian discipline. (1st Peter 5:3). Acts 14:23 says they were ordained with prayer and fasting. This practice should be observed anywhere Christian leaders are being ordained. Any leader who cannot discipline himself to fast is not worthy of being a leader (except on medical grounds). Fasting is an act of sacrifice. Food is a primary necessity for every person. The urge for it is so strong. To abstain from food for the demands of the task ahead is very important. One main demand for Christian leadership is sacrifice and self-discipline. No leader would amount to anything without sacrifice and self-discipline. One of Paul’s reasons for employing such discipline is revealed in 1st Corinthians 9:27: “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection lest that by any means, when I have preached to others I myself should be a castaway.

Fasting also has great spiritual significance. It isolates us from all the carnal cravings and attention to give proper attention to God. This allows us to better communicate and receive from the Spirit of God.

  PRAYER

Oh, Lord, raise leaders for your body who are selfless and committed to pleasing you in all they do. May they be examples to your flock through their discipline and sacrifice, exhibiting a great ability to teach the flock

FURTHER STUDIES

Matthew 9:15. “And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.”

1 Timothy 3:2  “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 14:22  “Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulations enter into the kingdom of God.”

Apostle Paul confirmed or strengthened the souls of the brethren in various cities by teaching them the truth. He taught them that through many tribulations, we must enter into the kingdom of God.

Many Christians have not been taught about the necessity to suffer for Jesus. This makes very weak Christians. This also makes them converts. The word “church” is from the Greek word ‘Ekklesia’. It is coined from two Greek words. These are:

1. ‘Ek’, which means “out of”, and the second word is “Kaleo”, which means ‘to call’. The word “church” as used in the scriptures means the ‘called out ones. We have been called out of the world. This implies our lifestyle should not be like the world is, but rather opposite to the pattern and way of the world (Rom 12:2). This would make the world hate us. The prince or god of this world, who is Satan, would instigate the world to hate and oppose us. This is the essence of persecution. It is very normal for every Christian to suffer for Christ. This should be taught to all Christians. If the church majors on the teachings of comfort, wealth, and pleasure, then we are in for big trouble. Most Christians would not make it to heaven if they continue this way. Persecutions and tribulations are definite, and the Christian must be aware and prepared for them. The Lord taught the following in John 15:20: “Remember the word that I said unto you, the servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also”.

The Lord admonishes the church to know that if he was persecuted, then we, his servants, would also be treated likewise, for the servant is not greater than his master. Apostle Paul taught in Romans 8:17 that “And if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together”. There is glory for the Christian and suffering as well.

Now, living right involves not engaging in certain things. A Christian youth must delay sex before marriage. The Christian must not cheat in exams when everyone is doing so. The Christian must sacrifice his money for God’s work. He must speak the truth even at the peril of his life. The Christian lady must reject sex for favours from bosses. Those who oppose the message of the cross would surely attack us who project it. All these are sufferings that we must endure for the course of Christ. As Apostle Paul said, we must pass through many tribulations to enter into the kingdom of God.

PRAYER

Father, open the eyes of all Christians, especially Christian leaders, to prepare their members to stand for Christ in times of opposition and tribulation.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Romans 12:2” And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Revelation 2:10” Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 14:22” Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”

Apostle Paul and Barnabas moved from town to town, confirming the souls of the brethren. They reestablished or strengthened the souls of the disciples. The soul is the self-conscious part of a man. The soul comprises the mind, the emotions, and the will.

When the mind of one is filled with error, the enemy will have a field day in the life of that individual. One of Paul’s greatest passions was to see every convert he won standing strong and making it to heaven. This must be our passion and pursuit. We must not win them and leave them to chance. This is what Apostle Paul says in 2nd Corinthians 11:3: “But I fear lest by any means as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ”. Satan is aggressively at war against the minds of every Christian. He has raised people who go about and teach all kinds of things that are not biblical. Some spirits also speak directly to the minds of people, deceiving them (Eph 2:2)

Every new Christian needs to be made strong in the mind. A strong mind means a strong emotion and, subsequently, a strong will.

The following verse teaches us the principles Satan uses to deceive or take Christians captive. Colossians 2:8 “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of this world and not after Christ”. Satan deceives Christians through two main sources:

1. Philosophy

2. Vain deceit.

He said these things have their roots either from traditions of men, which are belief patterns passed on from generation to generation, or through the rudiments of this world, that is, the physical principles around, basically called science. Philosophy is coined from two Greek words, namely “Phileo” and “Sophia”. Phileo is to love, and Sophia is wisdom. It means love, wisdom, or lover of wisdom. This is worldly wisdom. It is carnal wisdom.

We must establish the brethren with sound biblical truths, not any worldly philosophies. This is what would make them strong, so Satan would not be able to corrupt their minds to fall away from the simplicity that is in Christ.

PRAYER

I pray for all Christian workers to have a great love for every convert and to teach them diligently so they will stand strong for Christ. In Jesus’ name, I have prayed. Amen

FURTHER STUDIES.

2 Corinthians 11:2” For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ”.

Philippians 4:1” Therefore, my brethren, dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved”.

many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,”

In 1st Corinthians 15:58, Apostle Paul admonished us as follows: ” Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” The above admonishment is exactly what he exhibited in the following write-up.

After Paul rose from the stoning, he went with Barnabas to Derbe. Paul did not go to rest in a home. He continued with his mission. He saw how urgent the work of God was.

The Lord Jesus said I must work the works of him that sent me while it is day, for the night comes when no man can work”. John. 9:4. There is a night for everybody. We are supposed to give our best shots when we are strong and youthful. Our work will be rewarded. We will be rewarded according to how effectively and diligently we work. The Lord will definitely come, yet as humans, we are not going to live forever. We have a period to complete his mission. During the Lord Jesus’ days on the earth, he used to wake up early, and after his prayer time, he set off to preach the word. He goes from town to town speaking to groups and, in some instances, speaks to individuals. He comes back late to rest. In some moments, He went into prayer. The Lord really worked hard. How are you working for Him?

Please let’s consider what Apostle Paul did. Acts 14:21 “And when they had preached the gospel to that city and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra and to Iconium and Antioch”. This is amazing. Paul was attacked in Iconium and stoned in Lystra. Apostle Paul was simply a fearless man. He says in Philippians 1:20-21 “According to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed but that with all boldness as always so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death; for me to live is Christ and to die is gain”. He says his earnest expectation is that he would not be ashamed of anything. Most humans are scared of shame. He is given totally to Christ; therefore, he is careless about what comes to him. He says his concern and desire is that Jesus Christ would be magnified in his body, whether it be by life or by death. This is the best way to live. The essence of living is living for Jesus. This made Paul fearless. Fearlessness is true liberty. Fear has torment and makes a man a slave in his body. Live for Christ and magnify him in everything you do. Talk about him to all men. Do not let anyone intimidate you. He is worth living for, for he is the beginning and the end. He is the life, and all things are subject to Him. Living for him is having every evil power subjected to you. O, what a life!

CONFESSION

I do not live for myself or anything carnal. I live for Jesus. He is the only real one who abides forever. I have perfect peace and joy every day of my life. I have the power to reign in this life. Oh, what a life.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Galatians 6:14, 17” But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world”.

From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.”

Galatians 2:20” I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 14:19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.

(Read Acts 14:18-25)

Apostle Paul and Barnabas, after healing the man in Lystra who was born impotent in his legs, were nearly worshipped by the people as gods come in human form. Paul and Barnabas had to do everything to prevent them from doing such an abominable thing. These days, some pastors allow their members to treat them as demigods. The way they have presented themselves makes them worship them. This is rather unfortunate. You are a man and must not allow anyone to do that.

Members should not be too familiar as to disrespect the grace that is upon the man of God, yet be careful when they treat you as God. Let them understand it is the grace of God that has made you what you are and that, as a man, you are of like passions as they.

On the flip side, these people who wanted to worship Paul and Barnabas were convinced by some Jews who came around to turn against them and stoned Paul, almost to death. How could people who were ready to make sacrifices and worship them become instant enemies and try to kill them? Indeed, the heart of man is deceitful and desperately wicked, who can tell? (Jeremiah 17:9). The bible says in John 2:24 that “But Jesus did not commit himself unto them because he knew all men”. Dear man of God, do not yield yourself to men. Do not live for their praises; live only to please God.

In life, certain people who have received help may become hostile, often through a third party’s influence. Paul never became bitter, but rather focused on his course of fulfilling the great commission. You would hardly see the unfaithfulness of men if you committed yourself to please the master. Too many people are feeling very bitter about the unfaithfulness of those they helped in one way or the other. Please, you are now in the wrong if you permit that hurt or bitterness to linger in you. Forgive them and live for the master.

“THE ONLY WAY YOU TRULY BLESS MEN IS TO PLEASE GOD ALWAYS”.

The Lord Jesus knew what was in men, and so he did not allow men to control Him.

These people stoned Paul and dragged him to the next city. Please picture it. They supposed him to have died. I believe they held him after stoning him and were satisfied that he had died. I believe he died, and they dragged him on the floor to the next city. This should complicate his condition. The scripture said in Acts 14:20, “Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up and came into the city, and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.” This man, Paul, after such a traumatic experience, did not reside to rest a while but immediately continued working for the master.

Paul was not living for himself; he lived to please Christ. What are you living for.?

 PRAYER

Oh, Father, may you open the understanding of all children of God to know that the true essence of living is to live for Jesus.

FURTHER STUDIES.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15: For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”

Philippians 1:20-21” According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 14:13” Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.”

Paul and Barnabas went to Lystra and preached there, too. They had been persecuted wherever they went, yet they never gave up preaching the word. No challenge must make us stop doing what God has asked us to do.

In Lystra, he had an open-air preaching. He saw a man impotent in his feet. This man listened attentively to Paul, and he had faith to be healed. Apostle Paul knew by insight that this man had faith to be healed. What did this man hear? I believe Paul was talking about the grace of our Lord Jesus that brings healing to all the sick. I believe he spoke about the Lord’s atoning work on the cross by carrying away our sicknesses and pains (Isaiah 53:4,5). The man heard and so had faith to be healed. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. (Rom 10:17) What does it mean for him to have faith to be healed? It meant that out of what he heard, he was settled in his heart that the Lord Jesus Christ had taken away his sicknesses, and therefore, he was healed.

Apostle Paul commanded him to get up. He had received the word of healing, but he did not know what to do to experience his healing, so Paul had to tell him. He got up and was well. When you believe any message from God, act on it, and you will realise the impact of the word.

From our key scripture, when the people saw what Paul had done, they came to them shouting that the gods had come to them in human flesh. Apostle Paul and Barnabas ran through the people after tearing their garments and saying, “We are men of like passions, so don’t do these things.”

These people were right and wrong in a sense. They were right because according to the Bible, every child of God is a partaker of the divine nature and has divinity working in him (2nd Peter 1:4). Psalm 82:6 “I have said ye are gods and all of you are children of the Most High”.

Conversely, they were wrong because they thought they were the gods they worshipped, who had come in human flesh. They were going to perpetuate their idolatry. They were not in any way going to see this as the glory of God through his son Jesus Christ. As much as they acted to prevent them from perpetuating idolatry, they would not take God’s glory. He said, ‘Do not do it, for we are men like you’. Please never take God’s glory. Let all glory be unto Him who does all miracles.

Apostle Paul acted to prevent them from perpetuating any idolatrous activities that would have hidden or drawn the very intention for which they came there. They came to project Christ and not themselves .. We must never seek attention for ourselves as we preach God’s word. No matter how powerful or glorious God uses us, every glory must always go to Him.

CONFESSION

I am one with Christ. He is alive in me, and I can do all things through Christ, which strengthens me. It is Christ who does these things through me, and all glory belongs to him.

FURTHER STUDIES

2 Peter 1:3-4 ” According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us their great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world6 through lust.”

Philippians 4:13 ” I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 14:1” And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.”

Apostle Paul and Barnabas maintained their missionary journey. These men were committed to the instruction of the Holy Spirit. They spoke with a sense of urgency to satisfy their master. Dear child of God, would you resolve to please Him alone? No wonder they obtained so many positive results. Anytime the Holy Spirit is involved in the work of evangelism, good results are inevitable. Their preaching in Iconium brought salvation to a great multitude, both Jews and Greeks alike.

From Apostle Paul’s experience, we see that one’s passion to get the message across is a vital ingredient to make the Holy Spirit confirm the message with great impact. When anyone preaches to the lost as if he or she has been hired to do so, the impact and result will not be encouraging.

Despite the impact of their work and the success achieved, the Jews raised an opposition against Paul and Barnabas. Persecutions normally arise when we obtain success in ministry. Satan would not sit idly by when people are getting saved. He would hit back, but don’t yield to his threats, Paul and his team did not stop. They kept ministering the word.

Acts 14:3 says they abode in Iconium for a long time and spoke boldly, while the Lord granted signs and wonders to be performed by their hands. One virtue that every Christian needs to be effective and to see signs and wonders happening in his or her life is boldness. Every Christian is a storehouse of power ready to do, just like our master Jesus did. Do you remember the master said, “Greater works than he did will we do because He goes to the Father? (John 14:12). The implication of going to the Father is the coming of the Holy Spirit. John 16:7b “……but if I depart, I will send him unto you”. Every child of God has the Holy Spirit. Why is everyone not exhibiting the miraculous signs the Lord talked about? The answer is a lack of boldness.

In Acts 4:29, after the disciples had gathered for prayer, they said, “And now, Lord, behold their threatening; and grant unto thy servants that with all boldness they may speak thy word. BOLDNESS is the vital virtue every child of God needs to do the exploits the Lord talked about. Pray and receive boldness to do His works.

Once again, they were persecuted, and so they left Iconium and went to Lystra and Debbie, which were cities of Lycaonia, and to the regions that lay about. May the life and experiences of Paul inspire in us a commitment to spread the gospel with all diligence and a stubbornness to any opposition that may show its head. PREACH THE WORD.

 PRAYER

Oh, Father, fill me with divine boldness, so I will do your work with so much impact in my days.

FURTHER STUDIES.

1 John 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Proverbs 28:1” The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.”