Live with Courage Through God’s Power

Pray – (1/2 minute)

Read – (2 1/2 minutes) – “Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.” (Acts 14:19-20)
  Passage: Acts 16:16-34 

       One moment, the people of Lystra were calling Paul a god and throwing roses. The next, they decided he was the devil and were throwing stones. After he was saved, Paul knew that he would endure opposition and suffering as he carried the gospel, but I don’t think that he could fathom how much he would endure. In this instance in Lystra, the stoning was so severe that the people throwing the stones thought Paul was dead. Wounded. Bleeding. He showed no sign of life and they dragged him out of the city. However, God miraculously raised him up and then he did something I find amazing. He went back to the city!
       Paul lived a faithful life with courage through the power of God. Those who knew him, saw that he was not a fair-weather preacher. He endured much, yet he boldly carried on. (see 2 Corinthians 11:23-29) You will probably not face the same persecutions, but you have situations that call for you to stand for Christ when the easy road would be to quit or be silent. Have courage in Christ. God will use you as a testimony and others will be encouraged by your living example.

Apply - (2 1/2 minutes)
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Pray - (1 1/2 minutes)