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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
Acts 13:50. Paul and Barnabas have been preaching and speaking with people in Antioch in modern Turkey. We have the content of his message as he spoke about Israel, Jesus and then directly to those individuals present. Some warmed to The Word and came to believe.
But opposition arose. Paul and Barnabas have only been there for ten days or so and opposition arises, not because of what was preached but on this occasion, because of jealousy, and the popularity of Barnabas and Paul. Persecution was stirred up, and Paul and Barnabas are expelled from this region.
Remember the word for missionary and missile comes from the same source. These two Christian missiles had hit targets in more ways than one, but with no thought whatsoever of giving up, they move on.
This Word of God frequently causes division. That is just a fact we have to live with. Paul's preaching divided that community and divided that congregation.
But they left behind them a group of disciples who were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Now that is what is important. These people would just have to get on with it, having had Barnabas and Paul among them for only a very short time. You can imagine how some would have frowned upon the new vibrant faith of these people, as they believed in the risen and living and ascended Lord Jesus Christ and were filled with the Spirit of the Living God.
Whenever Jesus Christ presents us with opportunities, we are to take them. Paul and Barnabas did. Use such occasions as gifts from God.
There were those who welcomed the men who brought the message of Jesus Christ, and there were those who planned to persecute the messengers.
Revival and riot frequently go hand in hand.
Ten days or so had transformed that city. What a legacy they left behind. Study the detail, which God gives us in Chapter 13, and learn the lessons.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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