Are you sure? What are you passing through?
Crowd psychology has always amazed me. Individuals have the potential to demonstrate great intellect and social savvy, but I cannot think of a time that a crowd is depicted in a positive light. Typically, in crowds you witness people operating at the bottom. Think about the crowds all though scripture and then think about the crowds in recent history...it is not a pretty picture.
At one moment the crowd in Lystra wants to worship Paul and Barnabus; because the rejected them and then the Jews turned the crowd against them they actually stoned Paul. It is a little, no a lot schizophrenic..."we want to worship you...no we want to kill you."
Act 14:14-28 The apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their robes when they heard this and rushed into the crowd, shouting: 15 “Men! Why are you doing these things? We are men also, with the same nature as you, and we are proclaiming good news to you, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them. 16 In past generations He allowed all the nations to go their own way, 17 although He did not leave Himself without a witness, since He did good: giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, and satisfying your hearts with food and happiness.” 18 Even though they said these things, they barely stopped the crowds from sacrificing to them.
Paul and Barnabus stopped the crowd from sacrificing to them by the skin of their teeth. It was close! However, Paul paid dearly with many cuts, scrapes and bruises by being stoned.
19 Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and when they had won over the crowds and stoned Paul, they dragged him out of the city, thinking he was dead. 20 After the disciples surrounded him, he got up and went into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.
This is amazing, Paul is the same guy that God used to heal the lame guy, he is the same guy they were ready to sacrifice to and now they attempt to kill him. I don't know about you but I would not be excited about an opportunity to preach in that church:) Try to imagine what Paul must have witnessed of Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus to be this bold, persistent and relentless. Often times I hear preachers brag on Paul, I believe that they have missed it and Paul would be mad at them for not bragging on Jesus and proclaiming Christ alone, boasting in the cross alone!
After a short trip to Derby he returns to Lystra where they tried to stone him for the purpose of encouraging the disciples...Paul is not great, his GOD IS!
Acts 14:21 After they had evangelized that town and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the hearts of the disciples by encouraging them to continue in the faith, and by telling them, “It is necessary to pass through many troubles on our way into the kingdom of God.”
Most that claim to follow Christ in America do not like to hear this...“It is necessary to pass through many troubles on our way into the kingdom of God.” They want to hear of the health, wealth and prosperity and many will tell them if you do not have all that you want to have something is wrong with your faith! That is a lie out of the pit of hell. YOU CANNOT BE A TRUE FOLLOWER OF CHRIST AND BELIEVE THAT! IF YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE ON THE BROAD ROAD WITH THE MANY...BE AFRAID, BE VERY AFRAID! IF THIS OFFENDS YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHAT TO DO WITH THE FOLLOWING VERSES.
Mark 10:30 who will not receive 100 times more, now at this time —houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions —and eternal life in the age to come.
John 15:18 “If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me before it hated you.
John 15:20 Remember the word I spoke to you: ‘A slave is not greater than his master. ’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will also keep yours.
John 16:33 I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”
Acts 9:16 I will certainly show him how much he must suffer for My name!”
1 Thess 3:3 so that no one will be shaken by these persecutions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.
2 Tim 3:12 In fact, all those who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
1 Peter 2:21 For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in His steps.
Rev 1:9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation, kingdom, and perseverance in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of God’s word and the testimony about Jesus.
Paul and Barnabus proclaimed the gospel to the crowd but they hung out and spent considerable time with the disciples. They poured their lives into the lives of those that would build the church in that city.
23 When they had appointed elders in every church and prayed with fasting, they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. 24 Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. 25 After they spoke the message in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 From there they sailed back to Antioch where they had been entrusted to the grace of God for the work they had completed. 27 After they arrived and gathered the church together, they reported everything God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they spent a considerable time with the disciples.
I have to ask my self regularly...who am I pouring my life into? The only way I have anything worth pouring is if as a branch in Christ I am remaining, resting, and residing in HIM. I am only useful to the point that what is being poured is Jesus.
Father in heaven accomplish this for your glory and our joy in YOU.
love,
m