14:1-2 The apostles continue acting. We are studying the Acts of the Apostles and here we see what those actions consist of: constant, devoted teaching and travelling. These "acts" are their actions, their works, their efforts. Their efforts yielded many believers... and a few enemies whose efforts were to turn people away from the apostles and their message of God.
14:3 Therefore they remained. The opposition, the adversity have the apostles all the more reason to remain in Iconium teaching and guiding. They did not want to leave until their message had reached everyone, untainted by the lies of their adversaries (who were the oppressors of the people the apostles were trying to help).
14:4-6 When plans of violence were imminent, the apostles had to move forward. Having gathered those who accepted and absorbed the philosophy of God they brought, it became time for them to travel again. It was their purpose for this philosophy of God to travel region to region and therefore they could not yet die.
14:7 Fulfilling their purpose, the apostles reached a new place: Lycaonia and there they brought and taught the message God has given to His children. The apostles never abandoned their purpose; they never gave into fear or lethargy. With passion and purpose they continued through their lives and through region after region, city after city.
14:8-9 Here is a man who has a serious physical ailment listening to Paul preach. Paul is perceptive. Perception is a gift God encourages us to utilize in everything that we do and observe. It is imperative that Paul notice this man's faith because faith is how we allow God to enter our life. God will not intervene without our permission; ultimate freedom is a gift from Him to us.
14:10 This man's faith stated to God that he believed, agreed and trusted God. When we do this, we receive healing in many forms. When God enters our lives with His divine healing and guidance we do leap and we do walk. Metaphorically speaking, our spirits become invigorated, re-energized, and with that vigor we begin (leap) to fulfill our purpose, our determined and purposeful walk through life.
14:11 The works of God in His faithful children's lives are a testimony. Let humanity see the light and love God has filled your heart, soul, mind and life with. Even without speaking, what you do, say and how you live your life speaks thousands of words to those who we encounter and interact with. Choose a positive, uplifting message to speak.
14:12-13 The people of Lystra make a mistake: they attribute God's blessings to men, to the apostles and then to Greek gods. We must be careful not to wrongly-attribute what God does in our lives to someone or something else. We are grateful for love and support and we do not want to take it for granted or to give ourselves (or someone else) full credit for what He has helped us to do.
14:14 Immediately upon hearing that the crowds have wrongly-identified them as gods, the apostles are quit distressed by their actions, are quick to correct them. The apostles know very well Who has given them the blessing of delivering blessings to others. They love God and they humbly serve with Him, taking no credit.
14:15-17 With humility, the apostles explain our creator and their reverence of Him. They declare that they are humans just like the rest of us, but have been blessed and led by God to teach and heal on His behalf. They proclaim His truth of being the creator of all things and people since before their ancestors were even on earth. They are eager to clarify the mistake; it's crucial to them that they (and we) understand Who deserves all credit for this life around and within us.
14:18 These multitudes were reluctant to listen; they were so astonished by the acts of the apostles that they were not accurately interpreting the message. It is crucial that we listen. We must listen, observe and analyze with perception and thought. Without understanding the true depth of the apostles message, these people's belief would likely die out quickly. They needed to hear the deeper message of our infinite God in order for their faith to be unshakable.
You don't want to have surface-faith, fair-weather faith. Faith some days and not others. There is no such thing as wavering or conditional faith. You cannot half-trust, it's impossible. God will come into your life with gusto when you believe with gusto. If we attribute our good fortune to someone, luck, money or superstition rather than our God who is working directly with us, we have do not know or acknowledge Him properly or truly enough.
Some people completely abandon God when they reach a bump in their lives. We must remain with God during the bumps in our lives, that is when He can help us the most. Rather than blame Him in the bad times, we should remain with Him throughout in order to thank and rejoice with Him after we have made it over those bumps.
I understand it is difficult for many people to conceive of God, of His intervention in our lives. My advice is to examine the impossibility of your even being here without a creator. Some people attribute this life and the universe to science, but who made, calculates and utilizes the science within all of it? Your body itself is a complex, miraculous universe. He has boldly, yet subtly shown us how intelligent His creation is, how abundant His love is; He has given us an environment intimately tailored to our well-being and health. Trust Him to continue to protect and nourish you. Recognize that He is all around you, always has been around you, and always will be. He is your provider; give Him due credit for that.
14:18 These multitudes were reluctant to listen; they were so astonished by the acts of the apostles that they were not accurately interpreting the message. It is crucial that we listen. We must listen, observe and analyze with perception and thought. Without understanding the true depth of the apostles message, these people's belief would likely die out quickly. They needed to hear the deeper message of our infinite God in order for their faith to be unshakable.
You don't want to have surface-faith, fair-weather faith. Faith some days and not others. There is no such thing as wavering or conditional faith. You cannot half-trust, it's impossible. God will come into your life with gusto when you believe with gusto. If we attribute our good fortune to someone, luck, money or superstition rather than our God who is working directly with us, we have do not know or acknowledge Him properly or truly enough.
Some people completely abandon God when they reach a bump in their lives. We must remain with God during the bumps in our lives, that is when He can help us the most. Rather than blame Him in the bad times, we should remain with Him throughout in order to thank and rejoice with Him after we have made it over those bumps.
I understand it is difficult for many people to conceive of God, of His intervention in our lives. My advice is to examine the impossibility of your even being here without a creator. Some people attribute this life and the universe to science, but who made, calculates and utilizes the science within all of it? Your body itself is a complex, miraculous universe. He has boldly, yet subtly shown us how intelligent His creation is, how abundant His love is; He has given us an environment intimately tailored to our well-being and health. Trust Him to continue to protect and nourish you. Recognize that He is all around you, always has been around you, and always will be. He is your provider; give Him due credit for that.
14:19-20 The apostles enemies from Iconium catch up to Paul and they stone him. Sometimes it is quite unfortunate that God has given us complete freedom, some people use their freedom so cruelly. The apostles find Paul and God enables Paul to rise and depart from that place.
14:21 Regardless of enemies and adversity, the apostles' acts continue to garner more students and more disciples. More people who absorb and wish for their purpose in life to be to spread the philosophy that has changed their lives.
14:22 They strengthened and encouraged each other in faith. When our purpose in life is to dismantle corruption and unkindness in the world, we inevitably have to face corruption and unkindness to do so. Therefore we require faith and courage. The apostles had to confront the evil they wished to extinguish in the world. If they let fear control them, no progress would have been made for kindness. These are our tribulations, surviving and defending others against the evil and unkindness others commit. We enter the kingdom of God having acted against evil because if we have not acted against them, we have allowed it. Allowing evil is not the path to the kingdom of God.
14:23-28 The apostles worked. Their work changed the world, even into this day. Let the testimony of their lives, their faith, their courage, humility and purpose inspire you to work. Let the grace of God be the wind in your sails; you are capable of changing the world with Him, too.
14:22 They strengthened and encouraged each other in faith. When our purpose in life is to dismantle corruption and unkindness in the world, we inevitably have to face corruption and unkindness to do so. Therefore we require faith and courage. The apostles had to confront the evil they wished to extinguish in the world. If they let fear control them, no progress would have been made for kindness. These are our tribulations, surviving and defending others against the evil and unkindness others commit. We enter the kingdom of God having acted against evil because if we have not acted against them, we have allowed it. Allowing evil is not the path to the kingdom of God.
14:23-28 The apostles worked. Their work changed the world, even into this day. Let the testimony of their lives, their faith, their courage, humility and purpose inspire you to work. Let the grace of God be the wind in your sails; you are capable of changing the world with Him, too.
