Acts 14:6-23 KJV
6 They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:
7 And there they preached the gospel.
8 And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:
9 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.
11 And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.
12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.
13 Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.
14 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,
15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
16 Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.
17 Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
18 And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.
19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.
20 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.
21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,
22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

One major event in faith by healing in the town of Lystra. Then the crowd tried to exalt Paul and Barnabas calling them Paul Mercurius and Barnabas Jupiter. For Paul to stop them and speak of God their creator, not yet speaking about Jesus, only to have Jews from Antioch and Iconium to persuade the crowd to stone them. Yet Paul would rise again and walk to the next city.

Faith and miracles are a strange thing. A man literal crippled from the womb, is now healed and jumping and walking. Enough for the crowd to consider Paul and Barnabas were some type of god they worshipped, even the Priest of Jupiter believed it. Confusion? Devil wants to bring confusion to the believer, and the crowd around them. Paul would begin to explain truth of who they were and who the God was that they served. Yet there were Jews there that were from a place Paul had been who began to speak against Paul and Barnabas that it caused them to be stoned. The faith of the people destroyed by the lies spread from those that believe not Christ was risen and was their Messiah. Yet Paul rose again to walk to the next city the next day. Did Paul do all he could do? If we look close there were disciples that surrounded him and Paul then rose up as Christ rose from the grave by the power of God, Paul stood up by the power of God and went back into that city and preached the Gospel where many got saved. The city name was Lystra, and Paul went the next day to Derbe.

I in times passed had missed the part where he went back into the city, yet I am lost to the fact why did I miss it. We often get taken by the miracles and forget to look close to whatelse happened. How does the enemy get defeated here, the miracle of Paul's resurrection. How far are you willing to go in faith. How much persecution are you willing to take.

In recent years school children have been afraid to go to school because of persecution, only for our congress to now share the fear, but they go anyway. Now they go not because of the new variant of Cov 19 virus called omiron. After being stoned, what did Paul have to loose by returning into the city to testify about the Gospel of Jesus? Can you imagine the event, or only want to ask, why did Paul not stay longer. My only rational thought is those other believers that surround Paul had faith and the ability to teach the people in Lystra as a Sunday school teacher or minister, and Paul and Barnabas left knowing those left behind would help the people there learn more about faith, for they continued elsewhere to preach.

How are we covered by Jesus, not with persecution, not without pain, and not without hope. One of things seen in the difference between Old Testament of faith and New Testament of faith, is the spreading of the word of God in areas that know God of the Bible, and the response of these people and how our physical bodies are often persecuted, before victory in Christ can come. Old Testament wars would break out in testimony of God, and God would win, sending a message of victory to the people. Even Rehab was saved by the testimony and stories she heard about the God of the Hebrew people, from those visiting her village, that she protect their Israel spies, and in return they protected her.

The testimony of the believer is not the story of endless victory of war, but the word of God being destroyed by the persecuter, only to then rise up and show that one is not defeated? This is only dangerous doctorine too, because in truth Christians die like everyone else, it does not mean they rise again for evidence of their power. They have no power of their own and they can not control God. Perhaps the reason Paul only remained a day, was because with is resurrection it provide God's power in his life, but he did not need the rumor he was a god once more, so those of faith testified of the works of God and of Christ Jesus. Perhaps the idea of Paul walking to the next city is told and the first part often over looked because of easy misunderstanding.

Though man will rise again at the word of God, we have to understand God has a time for it to come to pass. It will all be according to the will of God and the will of man. The day of Christ coming will prove not only God's power to raise the dead, but that there were those already in the sky coming with Christ in full uniform of being the bride of Christ. When we see a miracle is is a manifestation of God's word in our life, but it is a testimony of Jesus. The person that needs the minister to pray for them without just receiving God's word themselves is only testing God on his ability to provide faith to stand. If God spoke it to your heart, his ability is clear, but where is our faith when we can not receive God's word on the matter? It is like Gideon called to go into battle and have to test his calling by putting a cloth out to be dry with dew on the ground and the next day no dew on the ground with the cloth wet. The need for the miracle to walk by faith. To be like Moses and take his rod and obey the Lord, only to disobey in anger and hit the rock twice, and loose entrance of the earthly blessing, but not his heavenly blessing.

How much faith do you have? To rise up and obey the Lord, to rise up and to speak God's word despite the persecution of unbelievers, that God wants to turn to be believers. Are we going to stand in truth. If we are like sheep for the slaughter, and yet many have gone before us with the same mentality of faith that God's word will stand, then what do we have to fear. We might not stand until the coming of Christ, but if we know the word if true, because gives us evidence in our daily walk with him, what do we have to fear?

Paul could run his race because he knew the power of God's word to change lives, to do miracles and to demonstrate God's power in the life of the people. Our problem begins when we have no faith in which to stand on. When we receive not the word of God and receive Christ the solid rock. If we receive the rock of faith, and receive the word of God then we will stand on the day of Judgment and Christ will say this one is mine to his Father in Heaven. This one is covered by His Son, protected by faith in Christ Jesus, the lamb of God.

Dear Heavenly Father as we read in today's scripture about miracle and one resurrection, we can understand your word and power was proven to a city. You planted a seed there of faith. That in our own hearts you plant the seed of your word that in anyone believes, that your word will be shown time and time again to be true in their heart and soul. You will grow our faith, so that on the day of Christ coming there will be many testifiers to the heathen standing before them. That those that did not believe will know why they are judged with unbelief, why they are condemn already by their works, is because they believed not that Jesus was your Son. Help us to be testimony of faith in you. Our testimony built by you and for your glory, and not of dead works. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: Revelation 20:11-15 KJV
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.