Acts 13:50-52

This chapter of Acts records some of Paul’s first missionary trips to tell the Gospel to the non-Jewish people aka “Gentiles”. Starting in verse 44, almost an entire city turned out to hear Paul and Barnabas teach. The Jewish leaders who still did not believe Jesus was the Messiah, did what we call in the south “stirred the pot”. They convinced some women to start trouble. This trouble ran the missionaries out of town. As it was taught to the disciples by Jesus, Paul and Barnabas shook the dust off their feet, as a sign of rejecting that town.

Iconium was a town that is in modern day Turkey. There were already believers of Jesus there. When the missionaries got there, the town's people were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. What a great combination to be filled with!

Thankfully, as we have discussed all month, we have the Holy Spirit and joy already in us as believers. Sometimes we just need a reminder and faith to exercise what we have. The Holy Spirit is there 24/7 wanting to help us. If you need JOY, ask Him for help.