Rise Up with Jesus’ Strength - Acts 14

I was reading Acts 14 this morning and found myself captivated by what happened to Paul. He and Barnabas were preaching the word of God and scripture says, Paul was stoned to the point where they supposed him to be dead (Acts 14:19).

But the next sentences really made me pause and think on this situation.

Scripture says after this, "But when the disciples gathered about him, he ROSE UP and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas and they returned to Lystra and Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, and encouraging them to continue in the faith and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22).

This stood out to me because Paul ROSE UP from his suffering, stoned to the point of being assumed dead, and then his situation was used as a tool to bring strength and encouragement to those around him.

Including us.

We are still impacted by his experiences and sufferings when we read through the Word of God. Especially in the epistles like 2 Corinthians 11-12, where Paul gives the secret antidote for surviving and rising up after experiencing the suffering he endured for the sake of the gospel.

What was the secret antidote? Where did the massive strength and healing balm come from that enabled Paul to endure things like shipwrecks, being beaten with rods and receiving lashes, and having a thorn in his side (2 Corinthians 11-12)?

What enabled Paul to rise up and keep going despite experiencing situations where he was almost stoned to death? Or carrying on, despite the likely guilt of his past sins, like approving the stoning of Stephen and murdering Christians?

Where did the strength come from?

Well. It wasn’t from his own strength. It wasn’t from reaching his highest potential, or highest vibration, succeeding in his career, or furthering his education and having a fancy preaching degree (2 Corinthians 11:6) or whatever else the world tries to convince us will bring true strength.

Nah, Paul says people who preach those types of things as being saving, are actually false prophets, deceitful workers, a lot like Satan who masquerades himself as an of light (2 Corinthians 11:12-14).

So what is his secret?

He tells us where his strength is found as we keep reading in his letter to the Corinthians when he described his thorn in the flesh:

"Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:8-10.

This is much different than the worlds formula for rising up, right?

"Become your best self, rely on your self, be independent, etc, then you will rise up."

While those things are not always bad, we cannot forget that often true strength comes from embracing our weaknesses and admitting we actually cannot be self sufficient without God.

It was Charles Spurgeon who once said,

“Great tribulation brings out the great strength of God. If you never feel inward conflicts and sinking of soul, you do not know much of the upholding power of God; but if you go down, down, into the depths of soul-anguish till the deep threatens to shut her mouth upon you, and then the Lord rides upon a cherub and does fly, yea, rides upon the wings of the wind and delivers your soul, and catches you away to the third heaven of delight, then you perceive the majesty of divine grace. Oh, there must be the weakness of man, felt, recognized, and mourned over, or else the strength of the Son of God will never be perfected in us.” (Spurgeon)

It is in the depths of pain and weakness, where we realize the only saving Grace and strength is the one that stems from the One who meets us in our weaknesses.

Some of us are afraid of visiting those inward conflicts or sinking of the soul. We are terrified of feeling those feelings so we often numb them out with the antidotes the world offers.

But it is in those moments, when we soberly realize we cannot face this world alone, that the fog is cleared and we are able to see clearly: that true strength emerges from weakness because it brings us to the foot of the cross. And in order to rise up with the strength, we must be willing to turn to the One who meets us there: Jesus.

It is there, where I imagine Him lifting my chin and saying:

"Sweet Megan, rise up with MY strength. Stop trying to carry the heavy burden of self sufficiency. Instead, "Take my yoke, for My yoke is easy and my burden is light. Then, rise up and go and tell what has been done for you by my strength. I am with you always."

And can I just say, the strength isn't just for Paul. Or for me. Sweet friend, it is for you too.

He gives new strength and changes our stories when we are willing to come to Him in obedience and loosen our white knuckle grips from self sufficiency.

If on this Sunday, Christianity feels like too much, and you feel as though you are beaten to a pulp with the heavy stones of life and hanging on by a thread. Remember where true Strength comes from, reach for the hem of His garment, seek Him, and then rise up and go and tell what has been done for you.

Don’t miss the part where the scriptures mention that Paul was surrounded by the disciples when he rose up. This shows us the strength God provides is also found by meeting with His people. Which is why having a local church family you meet with on Sundays is also a formula for true strength. The entire New Testament is filled with examples of this and even the life of Paul exemplifies this truth.

I hope this encourages you to not only rise up and seek Him, but also become intentional about meeting with a body of Christ near you this Sunday