Get Stoned - Go Party!
Paul was an amazing evangelist, preacher of the gospel. When he rolled into town - people went nuts! The Jews hated him (He was a traitor) and the gentiles in this case were so amazed they thought he was a God. He didn't let it go to his head - tried to stop it - and then the Jews managed to gather a death mob and stone Paul. Kill the leader - kill the movement!
The drag is lifeless body out of town leaving him for the buzzards and flies. God's not done with Paul. And the city hasn't been won for Christ. So he gets up - and while he could move on and go to another town - he walks right back into the city! We don't know what all he did - he went back in with the believers and the next day left for Derbe with Barnabus to preach to another town. I imagine he taught the people of Lystra what it really meant to life for Christ and they saw the sacrifice he was willing to make in real life. Some got saved too.
Paul headed off for Derbe and a bunch got saved. Then guess where we went next - right back to Lystra where he got stoned. The Jesus party wasnt over! I imagine Paul's commitment to the Gospel and people made quite and impression on the people of Lystra - one in particular. In Chapter 16 we will meet him. His name was Timothy.
If you know anything about Timothy you will begin to understand whats really at stake here. That one live you influence for the gospel could change the world. That one person who come to Christ could be the next missionary to a foreign country - or the next Pastor of a church planting movement (like the one we are going to undertake at Crosspoint when God green lights the next steps and Timothy has been identified)
People might oppose you. Death might be right around the corner. You might get beat to death - or spend a couple nights in the ER. Whatever it is - do whats necessary to take the next steps and boldly proclaim that God is still in the Party business (he celebrates life change) and go preach the gospel!
Created over 2 years ago
