John 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

 

While Paul and Barnabas were in Lystra, they preached the Gospel of Christ to the people and many came to faith in Him. One day while preaching, Paul noticed a crippled man in the crowd. Paul knew in his spirit that God wanted to heal this man so he spoke to him. And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked. The same heard Paul speak who steadfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed. Said with a loud voice, stand upright on your feet, and he leaped and walked. (Acts 14:8-10)

 

The people in Lystra were totally Pagan in nature. They knew nothing of the One True God so they worshiped many gods. Having witnessed this Miracle they thought Paul and Barnabas were gods that had come down from heaven to be with them. They began to worship Paul and Barnabas called them by their god’s names. Then, they set out to bring sacrifices to them at the Pagan temple in their city.

 

Paul and Barnabas would not hear of this! They ran among the people telling them to stop doing this because they were just men like them and worthy of nothing. The Message they preached was intended to draw them away from all the Pagan gods and to the One True Living God Who was the Creator of Heaven and Earth. But when the Apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the Living God, Who made the Heaven, the Earth, the sea and all things that are in them. (Acts 14:14-15)

 

The people wanted to make gods of Paul and Barnabas because of the Miracle they had witnessed. The Apostles knew it was not them who had Healed the crippled man but the Holy Spirit of God in them. They refused to take credit for what the Lord had done and it caused quite a raucous in the streets.

 

Many Ministers of the Gospel today are put on pedestals by the people who worship them more than they do Jesus, Who gave His Life on the Cross of Calvary for them. Some will respond as Paul and Barnabas did, but unfortunately many of them like it up there on the pedestal. They like all the accolades and attention. They want the money that is thrown at them and the publicity and notoriety. These people will answer for this because all Glory, Honor, and Praise should go to Jesus Christ ALONE! As He said, Without Me, you can do nothing.

 

 

Only God can……….turn the tide

 

All Glory to Jesus!         Doreen

 

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