Acts14, When Paul and Barnabas went to Iconium they went to the synagogue and spoke the message of Jesus Christ. Many of the Jews and Gentiles believed. But the Jews that didn't believe and stirred up the Gentiles against them. So Paul and Barnabas spent a lot of time there speaking the message of Salvation and doing miraculous things there. But the city was divided , some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles. There was a plot afoot to stone them and so when they learned of it they fled and went to Lystra and Derbe in Lycaonian and continued to preach the good news.

In Lystra there was a man crippled from birth in his feet and had never walked. He listened to Paul speaking and, Paul looked directly at him and saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, " Stand up on your feet!" At that the man jumped up and began to walk.

When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted, "The gods have come down to us in human form!" Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, the priest of Zeus. The temple of Zeus was just outside the city and so the priest of Zeus brought bulls and wreaths to sacrifice to them.

But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this they were very upset and rushed out to the crowd and told them, we are just men like you. We bring you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the Living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. In the past he let all nations go their own way. But he has not left Himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain for your crops, he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy. They still had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.

Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and turned the crowd against them and they stoned Paul, and dragged him outside the city and left him for dead, but the disciples gathered around him and he got up and returned to the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to stay true to the faith. Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for each church, and with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord in whom that had put their trust.

Then they left and went through Pesedia, and into Pamphylian, they preached in Perga, and went to Attalia.

From there they sailed back to Antioch. On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

In verses 8-10 you notice that the operative word here is 'Faith," Paul saw that faith, and so the man was healed. God said if we had the faith of a mustard seed we could move mountains, I think my faith in Christ is strong and great, but it's not enough to move mountains so I know it's not enough. It humbles me and brings me to my knees. I know that, that kind of faith only grows through Christ our Lord and walking with him everyday. And the word of God and learning what he wants us to learn.

God is my King and Christ is my intercessor, Christ won that place by the shedding of His blood on the cross for my sins. Even though I'm not worthy of touching the hem of his gown, He makes me shine before my King. Praise His name.

MAY YOU ALWAYS WALK IN FAITH AND LOVE WITH CHRIST EVERY DAY.

Your Loving sister in Christ Sharon Rose