Matthew 16:18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

 

Paul and Barnabas were preaching in Lystra. People were accepting Christ and Miracles were being performed. There was no Jewish opposition there because there weren’t any Jews living in Lystra. These people were Gentile Pagans who worshiped many gods. They actually believed Paul and Barnabas to be gods but the Apostles refused their accolades.

 

Somehow, the Jews in Antioch and Iconium got word of what was happening in Lystra because the Bible tells us that some Jews traveled from there to Lystra to have Paul stoned. Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. (Acts 14:19)

 

It is interesting to note that there was not a single Jew living in Lystra at that time. They didn’t care if the people worshiped all types of false gods but they did not want them to hear the Message of the Gospel of Christ and come to faith in the One True Living God.

 

Once again, it was organized religion that came against Jesus and the operation of the Holy Spirit. Nothing has changed to this day. Whole denominations come against the moving and operation of the Holy Spirit today. They do everything they can to shut down ministries that are led by the Spirit while they continue with their weekly ritualistic services where nothing supernatural of God ever occurs.

 

Everywhere Jesus went, He Taught, Preached, cast out demons, and performed Miracles. And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen. (John 21:15) Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there will be supernatural happenings. The greatest Miracle is when a person truly feels the drawing of the Holy Spirit and gives their life to the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

The Message of the Gospel of Christ is as effective today as it was 2,000 years ago. The Holy Spirit still draws people to Salvation, Heals the sick, Delivers people from the bondage of sin, and do so many other things we cannot begin to list them here.

 

Organized religion is still trying to shut the Gospel down but as it was with Paul on the day he was stoned, he appeared dead, but he was alive! However, when the Disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. (Acts 14:20)

 

Jesus spoke to His Disciples And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18) The enemy will continue to fight to destroy the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ but he will not succeed. Greater is He that is within me than he that is in the world. (1 John 4:4) Hallelujah!

 

The Gospel of Christ will still……….turn the tide

 

It is not dead. It’s ALIVE!         Doreen

 

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