Be Not Afraid
Acts 18:1-17
I love to study the life of Paul.
I believe him to be the greatest Christian to ever live.
We have in Christ a perfect example to follow.
But we as sinful men will never attain this example.
But we have in Paul an attainable example to follow.
He was a man greatly used by God, but he was just a man.
He made mistakes.
He got angry.
He got discouraged.
We can all relate to Paul, usually when things do not seem to be going well for him.
But Paul never quit.
He had an inner drive and an iron resolve to press forward in proclaiming the Gospel.
Did he ever want to quit?
Absolutely!
How do I know that?
Because there are times God has to intervene and directly encourage him!
The most famous example of this is in II Corinthians 12 when Paul prayed that the “thorn in his flesh” be removed.
Christ’s response was to encourage him – “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”
Paul found comfort in those words, and so do I.
God’s grace and strength will never not be enough to get me through the troubles and trials of life.
Our text this morning is another time that Christ spoke directly to Paul to encourage him.
He is in the middle of his second missionary journey.
That started in Asia Minor, but God closed the door there and led him to go to Macedonia.
He sailed to Philippi, were he saw one of the greatest churches in history established.
Of course he also was beaten and spent a half a night in jail too.
He walked to Thessalonica where another church was established.
He was basically run of town after the Jews caused problems there.
He walked to Berea and saw many saved there.
But again he was basically run out of town after Jews from Thessalonica caused problem.
He sailed down to Athens, where his heart was grieved at the ignorance and idolatry of that legendary city.
He had the opportunity there to present the Gospel to the philosophers gathered on Mar’s Hill.
He departs from Athens and came to Corinth.
Corinth is a fascinating town.
It is located on an isthmus – a narrow strip of land connecting to larger land masses.
There were ports on either side where ships would come and unload their cargo to be transported overland to the opposite side.
It was a vital strategic and economic location.
But it was also one of the most wicked cities the world has ever known.
Even the pagan writers of ancient times comment on the debauchery that took place here.
You had all those sailors coming into port looking to have a good time.
You had rich elite satisfying ever vile appetite imaginable.
The Greek religion was there, but it failed to rein in the morals of the masses.
Paul meets Aquila and Priscilla, a husband and wife team that are among his most capable colaborers.
They practice the same trade that Paul had been trained in – tentmaking – and Paul works in their business.
He preaches in the synagogue and proclaims the Gospel to Jew and Greek alike.
He pushed the Jews to a tipping point, but instead of embracing Christ they violently and vehemently rejected Him.
Paul ceases working with them and turned his attention to the Gentiles.
Paul being Paul, he does so by preaching in the house of Justus which was literally next door to the synagogue.
Paul had a rascally streak to him.
The work was hard, and, if you have ever read the two letters we have the Paul wrote to the church established here, you will know it was a difficult place and a difficult people.
We do not know why exactly why Paul became so discouraged, but I am certain from personal experience that the weight of the ministry had grow too heavy for him to bear.
Someone said once that God will not give us more than we can bear.
I do not believe that.
We are not strong enough to do what we need to do as Christians.
But it is not our strength that we must rely on.
It is the strength of our Great Shepherd that holds us up.
Sometimes we need to be reminded of that.
Sometimes we need a little encouragement to carry on.
Sometimes we need God to grab us and shake us and say, “WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH YOU!!!” to get us back on our feet.
You ever been there?
I have, many times!
Christ tells Paul – “Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:”
Get busy in the work that God had called him to do.
I think we can apply the principles here to us.
We need to not be afraid at the storms and the stony hearts.
We need to not be afraid of the fears and fainthearted.
We need to get up and get back to work!
Now is not the time to give up and quit!
As Christians, we need to press forward in our own walks with God.
As a parent, we need to press forward in shepherding our families.
As a church, we need to press forward in reaching the lost and edifying our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Be not afraid!
Get busy!
The devil may have knocked you down this morning.
Get up, rub some dirt on it, and get back in the fight!
The weight of our anxiety and cares may be crushing you this morning.
Get up, cast them on the Lord, and keep pressing on.
The emptiness of loss and grief might have caused you to stall or falter.
Get up, cling to the loving arms of our loving Savior, and keep putting one foot in front of another.
Maybe the weight of past mistakes and the chains of memories have pulled you down.
Get up, let Christ break those chains and free you as only He can, and press onward!
Be not afraid this morning.
Get up and get going this morning.
I’ve got three reasons right here from this passage why we must.
I. The Lord’s Presence – For I am with thee
Is there anything sweeter than knowing that Christ is with us?
David said it this way in Psalm 23:4
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
Isaiah said it this way in Isaiah 43:1-2
Isa 43:1 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
Isa 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Isaiah is also the one that said that He would be called Immanual – “GOD WITH US”
Christ Himself promised it to us in Matthew 28:20
lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
We have all seen that little child be hurt or get scared.
They cry out in despair, but all it takes to make everything right is mommy or daddy to pick them up in their arms and hold them tight.
Christ is with us, to care and comfort us.
He is also with us in power.
Listen, I want nothing to do with the devil or his imps.
They scare me.
But as a believer, I have got a big brother that makes them tremble.
Remember that the One that walks with us is the One that can part seas or calm seas.
He can speak peace or He can declare victory.
Be not afraid this morning, for Christ is with us.
II. The Lord’s Protection – “no man shall set on thee to hurt thee”
The child of God is protected by the greatest security system imaginable.
Isaiah put it this way:
Isa 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
Paul put it this way:
Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Rom 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
Rom 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Notice in these that the protection of God does not mean an absence of danger.
There are still weapons and enemies and trials and tribulations.
Even in our text immediately after this, Paul is hauled before the Roman governor and was in trouble.
But God brought him through.
The three Hebrew boys still had to go in the fiery furnace, but God was with them and brought them through.
Rest assured that anything that happens to us is known by God and approved by God and ultimately is aligned with God’s plan for our lives.
III. The Lord’s Purpose – “for I have much people in this city.”
How can I be afraid when there is so much work that needs to be done?
How can I give up when I have so much to do?
I wonder if when Christ said this if Paul might have had a follow up question:
“Um, Lord, I’ve been here for months now. The going is hard. The people aren’t exactly receptive to me. So, where is the ‘much people’ anyway?”
You see, I do not think that much people is past or present tense.
I think it is God’s foreknowledge on display.
He knows that many people will come to Christ even if they have not yet.
The was work that was done and there was work to do.
God needed Paul there and was going to stay by him to see His will accomplished.
I am reminded here of when Elijah was discouraged and ran from Jezebel.
God had to encourage His prophet and one of the ways was to let him know that even though he may have felt alone in serving God, he was not truly alone.
1Ki 19:18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
One of the greatest lies Satan foists upon us is that we are alone in our service.
Second to that is that our labors are in vain, that no one cares, and no one listens.
I do not think I am exaggerating when I say that I struggle with those on daily basis.
But I know these things to be true:
The God who calls me and you has a purpose for us.
His truth – His Gospel – will always be true and will produce fruit when spread.
We are never alone in the work – Christ and fellow Christians labor beside us.
We are never wasting our time
Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Conclusion:
- Be faithful – do not quit
- Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
- Walk with Christ – hold to His unchanging hand
- Our hearts may fail, our strength may fail, but Jesus never fails.
1 Once from my poor sin-sick soul
Christ did ev’ry burden roll,
Now I walk redeemed and whole,
Hand in hand with Jesus.
2 In my night of dark despair,
Jesus heard and answered prayer,
Now I’m walking free as air,
Hand in hand with Jesus. [Chorus]
3 From the strait and narrow way,
Praise the Lord, I cannot stray,
For I’m walking ev’ry day,
Hand in hand with Jesus. [Chorus]
4 When the stars are backward rolled,
And His Home I shall behold,
I will walk those streets of gold,
Hand in hand with Jesus. [Chorus]
Chorus:
Hand in hand we walk each day,
Hand in hand along the way;
Walking thus I cannot stray,
Hand in hand with Jesus.
- There is no need to fear death – Christ conquered it.
- 1Co 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
- 1Co 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
- 1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.