How To Handle A Tko

“How to Handle A TKO”

Acts 14:19

One of the most devastating experiences one can suffer in the sport of boxing is to suffer a knockout. A knockout is when one is unable to rise from the canvas within a specific period of time. But, there is another term often used in the sport of boxing called a TKO. A TKO, which is a technical knock out is often declared when someone else decides that a fighter can no longer continue. It’s here that we find the Paul suffering from a technical knockout. My brothers and sisters, I must inform you that all of us, at some point in our ministry, will suffer a TKO.

As we focus on out text tonight, we find Paul & Barnabas doing in the work of the ministry. Here in the city of Lystra we observe 3 things: Cripple, Command, and Confusion. Notice the Cripple. Paul sees a man with a need; he’s a cripple man; he’s a man born with defected bones; he’s a man who never walked. Paul gives this man a Command. Paul sees the faith of this man and he speaks a word over his life. Paul tells him to stand up and walk. The bible says that the man not only walked, but he leaped as well. Imagine this, weak legs; deformed bones; unable to move; immobilized. Imagine this man now standing before the congregation; he’s not just walking, but he’s leaping and prancing and praising God.

The people are excited and the crowd is amazed and dazzled. They have just seen with their own eyes a miracle! No medicine and no doctor, just the Word of God producing results. Notice that the Cripple caused a Command, but now that same Command has now caused Confusion. For the text says, they began to shout in their own language that they must be gods. … (preach unto you to turn from you wicked ways)

Now look at verse 19:

And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.

Note that a man had just got delivered and the religious leaders are upset. The text says, they persuaded the crowd to stone Paul. It didn’t matter that a man had been delivered; it didn’t matter that he was leaping for joy; praises was going forth; preacher had preached the word;

The leaders wanted to kill the man of God. Listen at what they did to Paul. The bible says that they stoned him. Imagine Paul being stone! Imagine the crowd taking stones and rocks hitting him power and precision; Can’t you here the crowd? I can see them as they picked up the stones and started hurling them at Paul. Look at the stones coming from every direction. The first stone hit, and Paul just threw up his hand to protect his face. The second stone came, and it hit him in his body; His guard is up, but it’s too many stones. He’s was trying to duck and maneuver, but was burden by the weight of the stones. Have you ever been hit by the stones of lies, the stones of controversy, the stones of misunderstanding or the stones of gossip?

I can feel Paul’s anguish in the ring. As blood is guising out and his bones are being fractured. I can feel his pain as Paul looks around for his corner, but there’s no one in his corner. Paul is on the ground. They considered him to be dead. They declared that he had suffered a TKO. They dragged him to the outside of the city and counted him out. But verse 19 says “Nevertheless, as the disciples stood round about him, Paul demonstrates to us, how to handle a TKO.

The first thing Paul does in verse 20b, He RISES UP

My brothers and sisters, when you’ve suffered a TKO, It may look bad, and your situation may look hopeless, but you got know how get up!

Somebody once said that if you can look up, you can get up!

The second thing Paul does in verse 22, He RESTORED their faith.

“Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God” (vs. 22)

Paul became an example for them by encouraging them. Paul had experienced much in his own life through tribulation. Paul wanted them to continue in the faith in spite of the trials and tribulation.

When Paul finished encouraging them:, the text says, “And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them…” (vs. 27)

The third thing Paul does in verse 27, He REHEARSED all that the Lord had done for him.