by George | May 20, 2021 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
What To Do When You Get Stoned
“But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe.”
Acts 14:19-20
Paul and Barnabas were in a city called Lystra. According to Wikipedia, it “was a city in central Anatolia, now part of present-day Turkey.“
They were having success in that lives were being changed through salvation and healing.
In fact, they were so successful that the locals thought that Paul and Barnabas were gods, and began to worship them. Paul and Barnabas tore their clothes and vehemently tried to tell the people that they were human, just like them.
To make matters worse, the Jews came and influenced the crowd to turn against Paul and Barnabas.
It got so ugly that they stoned Paul and left him for dead.
The other disciples gathered around Paul and wondered if Paul was dead. He wasn’t.
The Bible says that he got up and went into the city.
If this had happened to you or me, I think we would be tempted to quit. What’s the use? We might say: “I tried to preach the gospel and help people, and what do they do, stone me? Forget it!”
But Paul didn’t quit. Scripture says that the next day, he and Barnabas went to Derbe.
So what do you do when you get stoned?
- Get up. Don’t stay down.
- Get some rest. Paul and Barnabas didn’t leave until the next morning.
- Get going. Ask God to direct you. What’s the next city to go to?
- Keep moving.
Life may knock us down, but with God’s help we can get back up.
Meditate on these verses:
“For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, But the wicked stumble in time of calamity.”
Proverbs 24:16
“we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;”
2 Corinthians 4:8-9
“but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 15:57
by George | May 19, 2021 | Community News, Newsletter
May Community Church Ministry Newsletter
“And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.”
I Chronicles 4:10
Part of the prayer of Jabez was for God to enlarge his territory.
Community Church Ministry is praying that God will enlarge our territory. Our desire is to expand the work to other neighborhoods. There are several places in Floyd County and surrounding counties that we want to bring God’s love to.
Please pray with us for wisdom to know where to go, for open doors, resources and volunteers.
We would love to work with you to reach your neighborhood.
Please contact me if you are interested!
Thanks for your time, prayers and support. —
Blessings!Pastor George Nix
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by George | May 11, 2021 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
Don’t Forget to Plug Into the Charger
“However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.”
Luke 5:15-16
I forgot to plug my work tablet into a charger last night. Fortunately, it has enough “juice” to get me through this work day.
What if I forget to do it tonight, and for the next 3 or 4 days? You’re right. It will eventually run out of battery and I won’t be able to use it.
Sometimes we get so busy and distracted that we forget to plug ourselves into the charger. I’m talking about our “Spiritual charger,” our time alone with God in prayer.
Have you noticed that there are some quick battery chargers, and some that charge slowly?
Certainly quick prayers help, especially in time of need, but we also need to slow down, take a deep breath, and listen for the still small voice of God.
Jesus made a priority of spending time in prayer with the Father. He did this in spite of being so busy teaching and healing folks.
Jesus said He does what the Father tells Him to do.
“But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do….”
John 14:31
I’m sure that this guidance took place when He spent time alone with the Father.
Jesus once spent the whole night in prayer, and the next morning, chose the 12 apostles.
Important decisions need to be made only after spending time in prayer.
Prayer helps us to abide in Jesus:
“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.”
John 15:5
We can do nothing without being “plugged into”/ abiding in Him.
Also, our minds need to be rebooted, refreshed and renewed by God.
Paul tells us:
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Romans 12:2
This renewal can occur as we spend time alone with the Father.
So, don’t forget to plug into your “Spiritual charger.”
