“But some Jews arrived there from Antioch and Iconium; and having persuaded the people and won them over, they stoned Paul and [afterward] dragged him out of the town, thinking that he was dead. But the disciples formed a circle about him, and he got up and went back into the town; and on the morrow he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.“ (Acts 14:19, 20 AMP)
Almost one year ago, I was working for a church as the worship pastor. One night we had a leadership meeting. At the beginning of the meeting the pastor asked for the leadership to come together and he asked me to lead us in one or two worship songs. I picked up my guitar and began playing "revelation song". Almost immediately the Holy Spirit entered the room and began to saturate us with His presence. The people, without intentionally doing so, had formed a circle. God told me if we had someone walk into the middle of the circle, and the rest of us prayed for that person, not for anything specific, that person would receive their breakthrough. That was maybe one of the most powerful times I ever experienced at that church.
I never gave what happened any serious thought. I never wondered why God wanted the person in the middle of the circle.
This morning I woke up and headed out to one of my favorite coffee shops in Syracuse (Cafe 407 for those readers that live in Syracuse.) I was there reading my Bible when I came across these verses. My first thought was "Did God just show me a new way to pray for the sick?" I sat there for a little bit, trying to picture what happened in my mind. I left the coffee shop and began driving home. While I was driving I couldn't help but wonder what other areas of life this could apply to.
So Paul gets stoned and left for dead, his friends or disciples gather around him and and Paul stands up. The Bible doesn't say if the disciples prayed for Paul, it doesn't say they encouraged him, it doesn't say they wiped away the blood and placed bandages on his wounds. It just says they circled around him.
In my mind, I picture them praying for Paul. I picture them caring for Paul's needs. Their help and devotion to Paul along with the healing power of Jesus, gives him the strength to rise and move on.
I believe this example translates into every area of brokenness in our lives, i.e. sickness, pain, loss of a family member, loss of a job, loneliness, fear, exhaustion, etc. Whatever is happening in our lives we should count on our friends to circle around us and help us rise to our feet. The same goes for us as friends. When a friend is hurt or needs help do we run away? Or do we gather together, circle around them, and help them rise to their feet?
If we follow the commandments of Jesus, which the greatest of all is love your neighbor as yourself, then I think this act of circling around our broken friends goes without saying. I believe this applies not just to the people we call "friend" but also to the people we are acquainted with. Is there someone I work with that is in need of help. I may not know them very well but I can certainly circle around them as a support. I can pray for them and help them rise to their feet.
Here are a few questions I think we can all ask ourselves:
1.) Who are the people that have circled around me when I needed help?
2.) How have I thanked them or shown them I appreciated their kindness?
3.) Who do I know that needs a friend to circle around them?
Lord, extend grace to the broken hearted. Release your love and kindness to our hearts and give us a burning desire to share that love with everyone we know. Make your people known as a group that circles around their friends and helps raise them up.
-Cheers
