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But some Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there, and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But as the disciples stood around him, he rose up, and entered into the city. On the next day he went out with Barnabas to Derbe. Acts 14:19 WEB

After healing a crippled man and preaching the good news in the city of Lystra, the people loved Paul and Barnabas so much that they wanted to make sacrifices to them. They said 'The gods have come down among us in human form!' Later, some Jews came and stirred up the crowd, and Paul was stoned, dragged outside of the city and left for dead. He may have actually been dead as they were really good at stoning in those days. When the disciples gathered around him, Paul rose up and went back into the city, then onto Derbe, still preaching the good news of Jesus, with signs following.

The stoning became a part of his testimony. Paul added a lot more to his list and in 2 Corinthians 11:23 wrote 'with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea.'

Many times in life we get knocked down, especially when we are trying to spread the good news of Jesus, but it will not stop us. You will get back up and take the next step. You are not beaten. You will continue to spread the gospel and this will all become a part of your testimony. Bouncing back after a knockdown is a time-honored tradition for followers of Jesus.

Prayer: Father, I thank You for being there for me. Help me pull my life together and turn this test, into a testimony. I look to You Lord, for my help comes from above. Walk with me today and show Yourself strong in my life, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.

Note: Good morning! Don''t forget that we will be having a live service tomorrow at 11am EST. The message, titled "Talk to Me", an in-depth teaching on the power of prayer (click on the Watch link on the site menu tomorrow to join - the room will open about 15 mins before the start of the service). In line with that message, the Healthy Living group is hosting a prayer challenge for July. The challenge will focus on our spiritual health, specifically to pray for others each day. We encourage you would post your prayer on the event page, which would allow others to join in with you there! We pray you all have a very blessed, safe and peaceful Independence Day weekend!