Walking With Christ

⚓ Floatie:  A New Identity

Acts 11:19–26  (19)Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews.  (20)But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus.  (21)And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.  (22)The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.  (23)When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, (24)for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.  And a great many people were added to the Lord.  (25)So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, (26)and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch.  For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people.  And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.(ESV)

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✒️ Forge:  Scattered but Not Silent

Persecution scattered the church, but scattering only spread the seed.  What men meant for harm, God used for mission (Genesis 50:20).  Those who fled Jerusalem carried the gospel with them, and in Antioch, the walls between Jew and Gentile continued to fall.

Antioch became a hub of mission.  Here the disciples gained a new name:  Christians.  Not a political party, not a regional sect, but followers of Christ.  This fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy:  “You shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will give” (Isaiah 62:2)(ESV).

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⚒️ Anvil:  The Challenge of Bearing the Name

Names carry weight.  To be called “Christian” was both a badge of honor and a mark for persecution.  The challenge is not just to wear the name, but to live worthy of it:  “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity” (2 Timothy 2:19)(ESV).

Barnabas encouraged them to remain faithful with steadfast purpose.  Faith is not a one-time profession—it is endurance in the name we bear.

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🔥 Ember:  A Word for Today

In a world quick to twist or dilute the word “Christian,” our calling is to reclaim its meaning.  Not merely a label, but a life.  Not cultural association, but covenant allegiance.  The world should see Christ in us and recognize the name for what it truly means.

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🌿 Covenant Triumph:  Added to the Lord

Antioch was not just about numbers—it was about identity.  To be added to the Lord is greater than to be added to a church roll.  The covenant triumph is that scattered people became a gathered people, known by a new name, united under one Lord.

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[⚓ Floatie] [✒️ Forge] [⚒️ Anvil] [🔥 Ember] [🌿 Covenant Triumph]
This post follows the Forge Baseline Rule—layered truth for the discerning remnant.