Acts 14:9-20 KJV 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. 1 Corinthians 4:14-17 KJV 14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. 15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. 17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church. In I Corinthians 4:15-16, Paul writes the Corinthian church to follow him. Now anyone in Christ might say why should we follow Paul and who is Paul for us to follow. In truth Paul is man and this is not is general tone to the people. Paul did this to encourage people to follow the imitators in faith. Explaining he was like a father to Timothy, who he gave instruction to and also was like a son to him. No matter whether you are a Christian or not there are people in life you might feel close to has if they were family. In a since you might even idolize them a little, but not in the since of bowing and worshipping them as one would the God and Lord Jesus Christ. Is it important to have brethren of faith and sisters of faith in one's life, perhaps so. Yet one needs to choose wisely who they look up to. Paul was taking about the church as being like a family, encouraging one another in faith. No one should take the place of Christ's leadership, but Christ leadership is chief position as followers of Christ, for He is Lord. No one else is Lord beyond the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We must remember our position and not be lord over God's heritage, but only example to the believers and to those we lead to Christ and educate on the things of Christ. We all are teachers of faith that believe in Christ. Yet when we lead a person to Christ they are his children first and your children second. Meaning they are people you pray and minister too that you encourage and build up in faith. Today if you look at Acts story in chapter 14: 9-20 Paul and Baranabas is put on a petal stool after a healing. The fact is someone able to heal someone must be God to these people in Lycaonia. They thought Baranabas was probably Jupiter and Paul Mercury. These were Roman gods they worshipped. Paul was the one doing most of the speaking and thought to be the messenger of Baranabas. Baranabas being Jupiter the a god of lightening and chief among the male gods of they worshipped had come to visit them. Think if Christ had walked into this town for a moment, their right to bow to Jesus would of been correct. Some areas were easy to get coverts of faith in Christ too and others were not This would of been a town if it had not been for the Jews to stone Paul that would have thrived under Paul's leadership. A church was started in Lycaonia, there were people of faith that prayed and Paul rose from the dead to go to the next city. Paul was quick to tell them about Jesus and that he and Barnabas was not God's It is important to understand our place in God's kingdom and know our brethren place in God's kingdom. If you see to many healing or miracles you head going to be swimming for a time. Meaning pride, honor, boasting in God at his works just might occur for a time in your life that will last you a life time. The wow of faith perhaps it should be called when God interworking manifest itself into visibility. That wow, God did this. God healed this man in the name of Jesus. The Wow. In truth when we see God work whether it be us that prayed or someone else that prayed we need to realize God is working so other's too might believe. It our opportunity to share Christ just like Paul and Barnabas did. They shared and it started a church that prayed for Paul to rise from the earth after being stoned. Another Wow moment. Yet people that witness not understanding thought Paul and Barnabas was someone they were not. It is important to understand Paul and Barnabas was not God or even a magician. Paul was quick in ministry to stop the lies of who they were, but I am sure there were some confusion among some people. Then we read in the Continual Scripture Study I Corinthians 3 and begin to see who we are in Christ but builders of faith. One of us might water and another plants, but God is the one that gives the increase. The listener must be convicted by the Holy Spirit and not by our teaching necessarily. We do not what cause the conviction was it the water or the planting or how God's Spirit used it in the life of the unbeliever. The new believer might be able to tell you the begining point of faith of what caused the conviction, but it is the words given by the Spirit that convicted the person. Fact is the foundation must be laid on Christ the salvation of our faith. God's church is built on Christ, God being the master builder of faith. We are God's building. We are just one stone or block in the building of Christ church. He is the only that can place us on the foundation of Christ. The teachers just hand over the blocks for God to place in the wall. God is the builder, we are just the workmen. Yet we are not slaves for God is a rewarder and that which is not part of God building. Those things in our life that has no value is destroyed by fire and those things that be God we are involve with will last forever. Dear Heavenly Father, help us to understand we are not God, we are only part of the building block of faith. We are leaders and teacher of Christ of what we know, and lead by your Spirit has we trust in you and share with others. In Jesus precious name, Amen. Continual Scripture Study for Devotion: 1 Corinthians 3:1-15 KJV 1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? 5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. 10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. http://www.turtle30cshell.com