Introduction

Good morning, beloved family of God. Today, we gather once again, not as mere acquaintances, but as brothers and sisters united under the banner of Christ's love. Today, we're going to open our hearts and minds to the wisdom of God's word, allowing it to shape us, mould us, and guide us on our path towards spiritual growth and understanding.

Our scripture today is from the Book of Acts, chapter 14, verses 8 to 20. Let's read together: "In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, 'Stand up on your feet!' At that, the man jumped up and began to walk. When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, 'The gods have come down to us in human form!' Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: 'Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.' Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them. Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe."

Challenging Contemporary Superstitions

In the scripture we read today, we find Paul and Barnabas in the city of Lystra. They were faced with a crowd that quickly turned to idolatry, mistaking them for gods. This is a clear example of superstition, a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, or trust in magic or chance. It's a phenomenon that isn't exclusive to the ancient world. Even today, we see superstitions in various forms around us.

Superstitions can be as simple as avoiding the number 13 or as complex as certain rituals or practices believed to bring good luck or ward off evil. They often stem from a desire for control in a world that can seem chaotic and unpredictable. By following these superstitions, people feel they can influence outcomes in their favor.

But as followers of Christ, we know that our lives are not governed by chance or arbitrary rules, but by the loving hand of our Heavenly Father. He has a plan and purpose for each one of us, and nothing can thwart His will.

Christ as our Central Focus

As we continue to reflect on the scripture from Acts 14, we find ourselves drawn to the figure of Paul ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO