When I need a little boost a good ole PB and J does the trick to give me that little bit of energy and power. When reading in Acts 13 we see the power and effect of a biblical PB and J! The earthly pb and j is peanut butter and jelly, but the spiritual PB and J is Paul Barnabas, and Jesus. Acts 14: 8 While they were at Lystra, Paul and Barnabas came upon a man with crippled feet. He had been that way from birth, so he had never walked. He was sitting 9 and listening as Paul preached. Looking straight at him, Paul realized he had faith to be healed. 10 So Paul called to him in a loud voice, “Stand up!” And the man jumped to his feet and started walking. This did not go over well with the religious Jews and they stoned Paul and dragged him out of town and left him for dead. But like the line in the movie where the guy is knocked out and stands back up and they say "he's ok!" Paul was dead and he speaks to this experience in 2 Corinthians 12: 1This boasting will do no good, but I must go on. I will reluctantly tell about visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don’t know—only God knows.3 Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know4 that I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell.
Where Paul says this event happened fourteen years earlier would have been in the first missionary journey and the place was Lystra where he was stoned and dragged out of the city. When God shows up He shows up in power and his plan for Paul was going to happend so the power of God was evident then and throughout all Paul' travels. In Lystra God's' power was evident and the message was so strong that the whole city was affected. THE WHOLE CITY!! Plus more and in Acts 13: 48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for his message; and all who were chosen for eternal life became believers. 49 So the Lord’s message spread throughout that region.
When God's people follow God's call and present God's message of hope, the world is changed. So why do we doubt God's power? I don't know, but we shouldn't and the spiritual PB and J is the proof God will move through His called people and He will change a great number of people. Keep in mind that Paul wa boasting about one thing. The power of God. If you don't believe in the power of God you don't have anything else to boast about. Like church programs, or theological prowress, or educational heights in careers. We are nothing without the power of God and when God releases it lives are changed and we have nothing to do with it but present the message. Acts 14:3 But the apostles stayed there a long time, preaching boldly about the grace of the Lord. And the Lord proved their message was true by giving them power to do miraculous signs and wonders.
God proved His power to the people through miraculous signs and wonders and His power became evident. Do you believe in the power of God? Then pray for your life. your church, your city, and your nation and see what God will do when we are faithful and once again, believe in the Power of God. The new PB and J becomes you with other believers and Jesus! That sandwich, based on the power of God has a sweet taste because God is "in the mix" and He is working. Psalm 34:Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! Get you some o dat joy and see how it tastes. You won't be disappointed!!
Vesselogical Out,
David Warren
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