Holy Spirit Boldness. From Iconium To Lystra And Derby. Acts 14:1-20.

Pause for thought

Wherever Paul and Barnabas went they caused a stir. Their Gospel was either loved and accepted or hated and rejected. The true gospel will always cause division. In Lystra because of the miracles they were even mistaken for gods, and then at the instigation of some jealous Jews Paul was stoned and dragged outside the town and left for dead. When Paul and Barnabas visited a place the Holy Spirit working through them always stirred things up. In fact whenever God is at work in the lives of his disciples today it is always by the Holy Spirit. The opposition to Paul and Barnabas seemed no doubt quite reasonable to those who opposed them. However the Jews from Antioch and Iconium were not only resisting Paul’s testimony, it was God the Holy Spirit they were resisting. As in Paul’s day the devil will always try to make opposing the work of the Spirit seem reasonable. It seems that when the Holy Spirit is working the flesh displays itself as it did when some in Lystra tried to make gods of Barnabas and Paul. The Jews from Antioch probably felt they were proved right by this spectacle. When the Holy Spirit is at work there are often fleshly excesses, but we must not throw out the baby with the bath water or call Spirit flesh or flesh Spirit 14: 19-20

I think sometimes one of the reasons that we have limited success in our churches is because we play it too safe, I wonder if some of the early church leaders considered Paul well balanced? I’m certain he was, but perhaps what they considered balanced “being full of the Holy Spirit” some would struggle with in 2024.

A verse to think about

This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, “Stand up strait on your feet” And he leaped and walked. Acts 14:9-10, N.K.J.V.

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