09-04-2008, 07:27 PM
We must enter into the kingdom of God through many tribulations.--acts 14:22
And no wonder Paul would feel this way. What Alot he and Barnabus went through. They were on a missionary tour together and much was happening..... :rose:
...''As they were publicly ministering to Jehovah,
and fasting, the holy spirit said: ''Of all persons
set Barnabus and Saul apart for me for the work to
which I have called them.''They preached in Antioch,
Iconium, and Lystra. In each city they found some who became
believers and there were others who became hostile opposers....
''But Elymas the sorcerer (the way his name is translated)
began opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away
from the faith.'' Acts 13: 8 ... :rose:
In Lystra an enraged mob stoned Paul and left him for dead but he was not deterred and kept true to his mission--even returning to the city later to continue with his work. :rose: :rose:
''But Jews arrived from Antioch and I-co'ni-um and pursuaded the crowds, and they stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, imagining he was dead.'' However, when the disciples surrounded him, he rose up and entered into the city. And on the next day he left with Bar'na-bus for Der'be. And after declaring the good news to that city
and making quite a few disciples, they returned to Lystra and to I-co' ni-um and to Antioch....Acts 14: 19-21 ..what courage and commitment :love: :rose: :rose: :rose:
the next few verses reveal their motive :heartbeat: :rose:
''they strengthened the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to remain in the faith and saying: We must enter into the kingdom of God through many tribulations.'' (22) :rose: :rose:
''Moreover, they appointed older men for them in each congregations and, offering prayer with fastings, they committed them to Jehovah in whom they had become believers.'' (23) :rose:
What an example of self-sacrificing love..... :rose: :rose:
''When, now, they had breakfasted, Jesus said to Simon Peter: ''Simon son of John, do you love me?'' He said to him:
''yes, Lord, you know I have affection for you.''
he said to him: ''Shepherd my little sheep.'' :rose:
He said to him the third time: ''Simon son of John, do you have
affection for me?'' Peter became grieved that he had said to him the third time: ''Do you have affection for me?'' So he said to him:
''Lord, you know all things: you are aware that I have affection for you.'' Jesus said to him: ''Feed my little sheep.'' John 21: 15-17.... :rose: :rose:
what an assignment--to care for new ones in the faith and to be brave and full of courage while doing so--courage born of Love--Love for Christ and for his ''little sheep.'' :rose: :rose:
I found this to be a very tender and heart-warming account but also very faith strengthening also. It is a very dramatic account of the boldness and the love of the early apostles with an emphasis that the love we have to cultivate is the love of putting others first and seeking their best interests ahead of our own --as Jesus did--as he taught and inspired his apostles to do. That is one thing I take away from this account... :rose: :rose:
''Cre'tans and arabians, we hear them speaking in our tongues about the magnificent things of God.''Acts 2:11 ....what a time this must have been for all involved....well worth reading and studying and marveling ourselves over the 'magnificent things of God.'' .... :love: :rose: :rose: :rose:
Any additional thoughts and scriptures more than welcome for this discussion :heartbeat: :rose:
And no wonder Paul would feel this way. What Alot he and Barnabus went through. They were on a missionary tour together and much was happening..... :rose:
...''As they were publicly ministering to Jehovah,
and fasting, the holy spirit said: ''Of all persons
set Barnabus and Saul apart for me for the work to
which I have called them.''They preached in Antioch,
Iconium, and Lystra. In each city they found some who became
believers and there were others who became hostile opposers....
''But Elymas the sorcerer (the way his name is translated)
began opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away
from the faith.'' Acts 13: 8 ... :rose:
In Lystra an enraged mob stoned Paul and left him for dead but he was not deterred and kept true to his mission--even returning to the city later to continue with his work. :rose: :rose:
''But Jews arrived from Antioch and I-co'ni-um and pursuaded the crowds, and they stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, imagining he was dead.'' However, when the disciples surrounded him, he rose up and entered into the city. And on the next day he left with Bar'na-bus for Der'be. And after declaring the good news to that city
and making quite a few disciples, they returned to Lystra and to I-co' ni-um and to Antioch....Acts 14: 19-21 ..what courage and commitment :love: :rose: :rose: :rose:
the next few verses reveal their motive :heartbeat: :rose:
''they strengthened the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to remain in the faith and saying: We must enter into the kingdom of God through many tribulations.'' (22) :rose: :rose:
''Moreover, they appointed older men for them in each congregations and, offering prayer with fastings, they committed them to Jehovah in whom they had become believers.'' (23) :rose:
What an example of self-sacrificing love..... :rose: :rose:
''When, now, they had breakfasted, Jesus said to Simon Peter: ''Simon son of John, do you love me?'' He said to him:
''yes, Lord, you know I have affection for you.''
he said to him: ''Shepherd my little sheep.'' :rose:
He said to him the third time: ''Simon son of John, do you have
affection for me?'' Peter became grieved that he had said to him the third time: ''Do you have affection for me?'' So he said to him:
''Lord, you know all things: you are aware that I have affection for you.'' Jesus said to him: ''Feed my little sheep.'' John 21: 15-17.... :rose: :rose:
what an assignment--to care for new ones in the faith and to be brave and full of courage while doing so--courage born of Love--Love for Christ and for his ''little sheep.'' :rose: :rose:
I found this to be a very tender and heart-warming account but also very faith strengthening also. It is a very dramatic account of the boldness and the love of the early apostles with an emphasis that the love we have to cultivate is the love of putting others first and seeking their best interests ahead of our own --as Jesus did--as he taught and inspired his apostles to do. That is one thing I take away from this account... :rose: :rose:
''Cre'tans and arabians, we hear them speaking in our tongues about the magnificent things of God.''Acts 2:11 ....what a time this must have been for all involved....well worth reading and studying and marveling ourselves over the 'magnificent things of God.'' .... :love: :rose: :rose: :rose:
Any additional thoughts and scriptures more than welcome for this discussion :heartbeat: :rose: