BLESSINGS AFTER PERSECUTIONS GUARANTEED

My Dear Precious Child,
    In the city of Iconium Paul and Barnabas taught with such an anointing of the Holy Spirit that a great number of both Jews and Gentiles believed on Jesus Christ and My kingdom of God having come into the earth.  As was in most previous instances, the unbelieving Jews incorporated unbelieving Gentiles in their bitterness toward Christian people.  Paul and Barnabas stayed on there for a long time, determined to freely and boldly preach in the Lord.  They continued to bear witness with testimonies to the Word of Grace, even allowing signs and wonders to be performed by their hands.  The town was divided, some siding with the Jews and some supporting the apostles. (Acts 13:1-5)  
    There became a group of both Gentiles and Jews alike. along with their rulers, to insult, abuse and molest Paul and Barnabas along with stoning them, fulfilling the prophesy of Jesus Christ that they would be persecuted.  The apostles escaped to other regions where they continued to spread the Good News.  At one place there was a man whose feet were useless since birth.  He had never walked.  He was listening to Paul and Paul fixed his stare upon the man and discerned that he had faith to be healed.   Paul shouted to the man to stand up and walk.  The man stood up and walked. The people began to shout in their native language that their gods had come down in human form.   They called Barnabas Zeus and called Paul Hermes, the god of speech, since he led the discourse. (Acts 13:12-14)
    There were priests of Zeus at the city gates and they brought bulls and garlands in order to join the apostles in sacrifices.  When Paul and Barnabas heard of their plans, they tore their clothing and dashed out into the crowd telling them that they were only human beings, like them, and that Paul and Barnabas brought them Good News but they must turn from their foolish and vain things to Me, the living God who made heaven and earth and the sea and everything that they contain.  They told the people that in the past that I had allowed people to do that they wanted, yet I did leave some things as a witness to Myself because I had done kindness to them by sending to them rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying their years with nourishment which made them happy. (Acts 13:15-17)
    Even with Paul speaking such enticing words, the people continued to want to sacrifice things to both him and Barnabas as gods. Some Jews arrived from other towns and won the crowd over so they stoned Paul and, thinking he was dead, they dragged him out of town.  The disciples formed a circle around him and he later went back to town.  The next day he went with Barnabas to a different town where they made disciples of people.  They strengthened the souls and hearts of the disciples, encouraging them to stand firm in the faith.  The apostles assured the people that it is with many tribulations that people must enter into My kingdom of God.  (Acts 13:18-27)
     Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in that city and then moved on to another city after being assured that those elders were well established in Christ Jesus.  Upon arriving in Antioch, they gathered together the church there and told them about all of the events that had happened to them. proclaiming the Good News that the door had been open to the Gentiles for them, a door of faith in Jesus Christ through whom they could gain salvation from the works of the devil for themselves in My kingdom of God.  (Acts 14:23-28)
     Those apostles needed to rest and recuperate because in their future was a spiritual  battle between themselves and some other believers about whether the new converts needed to incorporate the Jewish laws into their newly found freedom from the curses of the Law and their freedom that they found by having faith in Jesus Christ.  It would be a heated disagreement.  False prophets had already gained entry into My church of Jesus Christ and they had enticed some of the Christians to return to the old covenant laws of sin and death instead of their only being loyal and devoted to My new covenant of Life in Christ Jesus.
    You must be attentive to My Holy Spirit who enables you to discern good from evil.
     Your Father of Faith, Peace and Freedom from the Curses of the Law