Acts 14:19-28
English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible
19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. 20 But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. 23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
24 Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. 25 And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia, 26 and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled. 27 And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they remained no little time with the disciples.
When we think of our own faith in the LORD, we see - usually - a much quieter faith. And even though I've experienced and seen miracles in life, I wonder sometimes about a faith looking more like Acts 14. Jesus' disciples went through great times with Jesus, fearful times, disappointment with God for not being the power on earth they'd hoped Him to be and then fear for their lives. These men are new disciples, who've experienced Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit and not seeing Jesus physically.
We have a tool available to us today, we don't often think of. How many times God has helped us. Without a grateful heart, when we gather, how will we be able to Praise Him and rejoice in the actions we have 'a hunch' God blessed us with? These men drew together to give thanks. We quench the Spirit of God when we don't look, actively, for His blessings. An attitude of gratitude. These men expected God to act and expected to gather in awe and reverence. Even in the supreme trouble of experiencing Jesus, they wanted to give Him thanks.
Hebrews 12:28-29
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.
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