You can do it, I can do it -- But not Alone

It would seem that Paul was a wanted man. After discovering a plot to stone them, Paul and Barnabas they fled Iconium and went to Lystra and Derbe. Some of the dissenters from Iconium followed and began to stir up more trouble for the duo.

"They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. But after the disciples had gathered around him, he go up and went back into the city." (Acts 14:19-20)

Did you catch it, the part about the disciples gathering around him? What do you think the gathered disciples did? I think they prayed for Paul and laid hands on him. Then they helped bandage his cuts and scrapes and got him to his feet. If Paul had been left for dead, we can assume he was in pretty rough shape and needed some physical tending as well as spiritual intercession.

Paul must have taught his disciples the power of prayer; after all, that is what Jesus did for His disciples and Paul was imitating Jesus. Then Paul went back into the city before moving on to the next town and starting all over again.

I can't even imagine being sold out so totally to Jesus - to the point of death. To be so filled with love

for my fellow man that I would go where I was not wanted. I am too timid and unsure of myself to be so bold. Or am I?

The call to Discipleship is not for the faint of heart, but it is for the weak and ill-equipped. The only way God will get all the glory is when I am relying on the Holy Spirit for my next move.


Acts 14:19-28

A SEAL before his time ...

“I will never quit. I persevere and thrive on adversity.... If knocked down, I will get back up, every time. I will draw on every remaining ounce of strength to protect my teammates and to accomplish our mission. I am never out of the fight.”

You’re right!  This quote is not from the Bible.  It is part of the U.S. Navy SEAL creed. And it describes the Apostle Paul to a T!

Consider his history of SEAL-like resolve ... 

“I will never quit.”  In today’s text, Acts 19:8-10 (to read this passage, click here), Paul argued in the Ephesian synagogue about the kingdom of God for three months, but when his audience there became obstinate, he moved to a new venue in the same city, the lecture hall of Tyrannus, where he taught for two years, “so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of The Lord."

“I persevere and thrive on adversity.”  In fact, he had come to Ephesus directly from Corinth, where he had persevered in persuasion and, in the face of opposition, doubled-down in intensity.  When the Jews there became abusive, he devoted his attention entirely to the Corinthian Gentiles among whom there emerged much spiritual life and fruit. And prior to that, when Paul was in Lystra, some agitators came from out of town, won over the crowd, stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, leaving him for dead. Astonishingly, “he got up and went back into the city."

“If knocked down, I will get back up, every time.”  He was imprisoned repeatedly ... lashed five times by the Jews ... flogged severely ... beaten with rods ... stoned ... shipwrecked three times ... exposed to death “again and again” ... endangered from bandits, Jews, Gentiles, on land and at sea ... and sometimes without sleep, without food, and without adequate clothing.

“I will draw on every remaining ounce of strength to protect my teammates and to accomplish our mission.”  Paul’s mission focus was clear: “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13b-14”

“I am never out of the fight.”  For conditioning, Paul lost weight – shed flesh – laying aside any confidence he might otherwise have placed in his lineal heritage, misguided Pharisaical zeal and legalistic righteousness. (They are, after all, of no use to “special forces.”)  His equipment was Christ and only Christ. On his head he put on Christ, his salvation. Over his heart, he put on Christ, his righteousness. Around his waist, he put on Christ, the Truth. On his feet, he wore the good news of Christ – peace with God through him. In one hand, he held Christ, the Word who was with God from the beginning. His other hand clutched firmly to his faith in Christ – a faith not of his own making, but a gift given to him in grace.

So what ever came of this spiritual SEAL’s unrelenting resolve and perseverance?  This highly trained and superbly skilled Jew who was sent out among the Gentiles, did he accomplish his mission?  Was it really worth such sacrifice? 

We find our answer in the mirror. Paul’s message of salvation in Christ has spoken life to generation upon generation, eventually making its way to us.

And so it falls now to us to pass along to those who follow, the message of life in Christ. For it is only in his strength that we can say, "I will never quit.  I persevere and thrive ..."

Acts 19:23-41

Is Jesus good for business?  The scripture story today tells us of a business man whose trade was making statues and shrines of the local and popular gods.  Evidently it was a lucrative trade, as he and others were very upset with Jesus' followers because they were putting a damper on their business.

About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there....There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.” (Acts 19:23-24,27)

According to The Life Application Commentary Demetrius and his fellow craftsman had not quarreled with Paul's doctrine.  They only became concerned when his preaching threatened their profits.  How often do I do the same thing, go along with Jesus' teaching and encourage others to do the same, until that practice gets in the way of my checkbook; then you better watch out.

This lesson points out to me that Jesus wants to be part of our entire life, every waking minute of every day of our life.  He requires us to include Him in our work life, our home life and our social life.  So, is Jesus good for business?  Without Him, without the Holy Spirit to call upon in life, including my work life, I would have no business.

Read Acts 19:23-41 here.