Text: Acts 18:1-17, Title: Divine Encouragement, Date/Place: NRBC, 11/9/08, AM
A. Opening illustration: Talk about the saints that experienced depression and discouragement: Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Job, Elijah, Jeremiah, Spurgeon, and Luther—talk about his wife telling him God is dead.
B. Background to passage: Having left Athens under his own power and by his own will, Paul is discouraged. We read in 1 Cor 2:3 “I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling.” It had been a rough few weeks for Paul mentally and physically. And now he was alone in his 53 mile walk to Corinth, the Las Vegas of the day in Greece. This largest, most influential, most depraved city sat right on the isthmus between the two parts of Greece. It had a reputation for being immoral and transient. It was synonymous with prostitution. And so this is what he came to after his 53 mile hike alone. But not completely alone, Satan walked with him, accusing him, and bringing about discouragement. But never fear, Christ is near…
C. Main thought: In the text we will see five things that God uses to encourage believers
D. Word from God (v. 9-11)
1. This is probably the most encouraging thing that happened to Paul in this passage. Maybe the Lord knew this is what Paul needed. This is one of six visions in Acts for Paul. But God didn’t want him getting worried or in a hurry, and going to the next city. God had big plans for Corinth, as evidenced from his short message. He said five things: 1) don’t be afraid, 2) speak and don’t be silent, 3) I am with you, 4) no one will attack and hurt you, and 5) I have purchased many in this city. God encouraged him, and gave him a hint at His will for Corinth and the next few months of Paul’s ministry.
2. Josh 1:9, Ezek 2:6-8, Rom 8:31-37, 2 Cor 2:14, 4:13, Matt 28:20, Isa 41:10, Acts 20:23, John 10:16, 11:52
3. Illustration: “What can I fear? Will it be death? But you know that Christ is my life, and that I shall gain by death. Will it be exile? But the earth and all its fullness are the Lord’s. Poverty I do not fear; riches I do not sigh for; and from death I do not shrink.” –Chrysostom when being pursued by Empress Eudoxia, He says he wore “Thou Shalt Not Steal” on his catcher’s chest-protector the time he threw out Ty Cobb trying to steal second.
4. If God spoke a message like this to us, we would be thrilled. Do you listen for God, or simply speak your mind? We have the same command not to be afraid about what we shall eat and drink or what we shall wear. We are commanded not to be afraid of evil men, nor devils. We have been commanded to speak, and not be silent. And even though we have not received a promise of protection we go anyway. For the Apostle went whether he had that promise or not. God is with us if we are going in His name, and we have nothing ultimately to fear. God is working in this city, at your job, in your family, for He has many people there. But it is your responsibility to take them the gospel so they might believe, and repent, and follow Christ. And with promises like these, and a God that is faithful to fulfill them, we (like Paul) should be confidently assailing our city, state, nation, and world with the gospel of Jesus Christ!
E. Circumstance (v. 14-16)
1. The final thing that God uses to encourage Paul and us is circumstances. Paul finally (after a year and a half of ministry) experiences some of the persecution that he had previously experienced. So after being brought to the judgment seat, he was about to speak, when the proconsul (by the way this is another testimony to the accuracy of Luke, distinguishing between kinds of Roman colonies, and using rulers that we have tons of info on) stood up and declared that he didn’t have a dog in that fight, and ran them off. No other ruler had done that before. God had given a favorable response from the leader. Then the Jews beat the new ruler of the synagogue, and he got saved.
2. Pro 21:1, 16:1, Ez 7:27, 1 Cor 1:1,
3. Illustration: Mary had grown up knowing that she was different from the other kids, and she hated it. She was born with a cleft palate and had to bear the jokes and stares of cruel children who teased her non-stop about her misshaped lip, crooked nose, and garbled speech. With all the teasing, Mary grew up hating the fact that she was “different”. She was convinced that no one, outside her family, could ever love her … until she entered Mrs. Leonard’s class. Mrs. Leonard had a warm smile, a round face, and shiny brown hair. While everyone in her class liked her, Mary came to love Mrs. Leonard. In the 1950s, it was common for teachers to give their children an annual hearing test. However, in Mary’s case, in addition to her cleft palate, she was barely able to hear out of one ear. Determined not to let the other children have another “difference” to point out, she would cheat on the test each year. The “whisper test” was given by having a child walk to the classroom door, turn sideways, close one ear with a finger, and then repeat something which the teacher whispered. Mary turned her bad ear towards her teacher and pretended to cover her good ear. She knew that teachers would often say things like, “The sky is blue,” or “What color are your shoes?” But not on that day. Surely, God put seven words in Mrs. Leonard’s mouth that changed Mary’s life forever. When the “Whisper test” came, Mary heard the words: “I wish you were my little girl.”
4. Again, God doesn’t just always work everything out to our liking, but sometimes there is enough mercy, or our hearts have been moved to the will of God that it does. Remember God knows just how much we can take. And God is absolutely sovereign over natural events, weather, disease, and disaster, but he is also sovereign over nations, rulers, peoples, and even individual hearts. And He uses those circumstances in our lives to remind us of His control. But do remember that God is not obligated to work this way in all circumstances. And when He does not, remember that it is not because of lack of care or concern or ability. It is because of His infinite wisdom and inscrutable purposes for you and for the world.
A. Closing illustration: His name is Roger Crawford … he’s about forty years old. He makes his living as a consultant and public speaker. He has written two books and travels all across the country working for Fortune 500 companies, national and state associations, and school districts. Those aren’t bad credentials. But if they don’t impress you, how about this? Before becoming a consultant, he was a varsity tennis player for Loyola Marymount University and later became a professional tennis player certified by the United States Professional Tennis Association. Still not impressed? Would you change your opinion if I told you roger has no hands and only one foot? Roger Crawford was born with a condition called ectrodactylism. When he emerged from his mother’s womb, the doctors saw that he had a thumb like projection extending out of his right forearm, and a thumb and finger growing out of his left forearm. He had no palms. His legs and arms were shortened. And his left leg possessed a shrunken foot with only three toes. (The foot was amputated when he was five). … Roger’s parents were determined to give him the best chance possible for living a normal life. They raised him to feel loved, to be strong, and to develop independence. "You’re only as handicapped as you want to be," his father used to tell him. When he was old enough, they sent him to regular public schools. They involved him in sports. They encouraged him to do everything his heart desired. And they taught him to think positively. "Something my parents never did was to allow me to feel sorry for myself, or to take advantage of people because of my handicap," observes Roger. Roger appreciated the encouragement and training he received from his parents, but I don’t think he really understood the significance or the extent of his achievements until he was in college and he interacted with someone who wanted to meet him. He had received a phone call from a man who had read about his tennis victories, and Roger agreed to meet him at a nearby restaurant. When Roger stood to shake hands with the man, he discovered that the other guy had hands that were almost identical to his. Roger became excited because he thought he had found someone similar to him but older who could act as a mentor. But after talking with the stranger for a few minutes, he realized he was wrong. Roger explains, "Instead, what I found was someone with a bitter, pessimistic attitude who blamed all of life’s disappointments and failures on his anatomy. I soon recognized that our lives and attitudes couldn’t have been more different … He had never held a job for long, and he was sure this was because of ’discrimination’ - certainly no because (as he admitted) he was constantly late, frequently absent, and failed to take any responsibility for his work. His attitude was, "The world owes me," and his problem was that the world disagreed. He was even angry with me because I didn’t share his despair. We kept in touch for several years, until it dawned on me that even if some miracle were suddenly to give him a perfect body, his unhappiness and lack of success wouldn’t change. He would still be at the same place in his life." Roger maintains, "Handicaps can only disable us if we let them. This is true not only of physical challenges, but of emotional and intellectual ones as well … I believe that real and lasting limitations are created in our minds, not our bodies."
B. Recap
C. Invitation to commitment
Additional Notes
• Is Christ Exalted, Magnified, Honored, and Glorified?
