Pastor Barry's "Chapter & Verse" Day 47

Posted by Pastor Barry Fredericks on

Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 47

February 16;   Acts 13:52;   102/260(VI);   ‘Filled With Joy’ 

Acts 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Paul and Barnabas went to Antioch and preached powerfully in the synagogue.  So much so, that on the next Sabbath, almost the whole city turned out to hear the Word.  Just like with Jesus, when the Jews saw how many turned out to hear Paul, they were jealous.  The religious leaders could not stand to think that anyone was more popular with the people than they were.  Religion is cruel and deadly.  Hatred, jealousy and strife, through religious leaders, is fuel used by the devil to cause the unsaved to wrongly judge the things of the Lord Jesus.  Facing the Jewish opposition, Paul told them that the Word should be spoken to the Jews first, but since the Jews rejected, out of envy, Paul and Barnabas, they would now turn to the gentiles and preach to them.  Then the Jewish leaders stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them from their region.  How did Paul and Barnabas react?  They were filled with joy, joyful that they were able to share God’s Word with so many.  The overriding joy of doing the Lord’s work, more than compensated them, when the opposition reared their ugly head.  Remember Paul and Silas were filled with the Holy Spirit.  A Spirit filled Christian is greatly blessed by the ministry of the Holy Spirit to them.  The Holy Spirit comforted them and strengthened them, helping them to face the persecution without complaint.   Much had been accomplished and now Paul and Barnabas were heading off to share the Gospel with others, wherever the Holy Spirit led them.  Serving the Lord, what an adventure.