Don't be Afraid

Acts 18
One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him,"Don't be
afraid! Speak out! Don't be silent! For I am with you, and no one will
attack and harm you, for many  people in this city belong to me."
Acts 18:9-10  NLT

Background:
Corinth was a wealthy city in Greece. It was a pleasure-mad city. People
conducted their business by day and frequented the night clubs by night. It
had temples for the goddess of fertility, Aphrodite. It was a sports minded
city with games second only to the Olympics. The people were proud
intellectuals, busy, and immoral. Paul was discouraged and alone.
(from The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible)

LET IT GLOW

A few times I have been afraid-confronted with a snake, water over my head,
a cow with horns, a big bull. Even while I was in South America and Asia on
mission trips, I didn't feel my life threatened. I can't say that I have ever
experienced being afraid for my life, as Paul had. He must have felt that way
in chapter 18. This is the man who endured threats, beatings, and stoning.
Paul was human like us and had his down times. Why else did the Lord speak
reassuringly to him? (verses 9-10)

Paul met two believers, Aquila and his wife Priscilla, who were tent makers,
also. He stayed with the couple and either led them to the Lord, or in a
deeper walk of faith in Jesus. Silas and Timothy arrived in Corinth with
financial support from the Philippian church. So the preaching, teaching, and
witnessing continued.

Paul lived by faith, continuing to share Jesus, while the Jews tried to stop him.
A man named Sosthenes took Paul to court before Gallio. He released Paul,
since he didn't get involved in religious disputes. Sosthenes beat Paul right
there in the judgement hall. Sosthenes later became a convert to Christ and a
minister of the gospel with Paul. This sounds like a reversal of destiny.
(Beth Moore) What a turn around the Lord made in Sosthenes. It sounds like
what happened when Paul was involved in the stoning death of Stephen and
later was converted and became a minister of the gospel. (If Paul had given
up and left earlier, this would not have happened.)

Does the Lord need to tell us to not be afraid, speak out, trust Him? He told
Joshua that many times. David found encouragement and wrote may Psalms
for us.

LET IT GROW

Then Paul's journey took him 1,500 miles to his home church. Before
reaching Antioch, he sailed to Ephesus with Aquilla and Priscilla coming, too.
Ephesus was a great trade center of Asia. Silversmiths made money as they
sold idols and relics of the goddess of fertility, Diana or Artemis as she's call in
Greek.

They meet Apollos there. He is preaching repentance and the promises of the
Savior, as John the Baptist did. Aquilla and Priscilla brought Apollos to faith
in Jesus and taught him the Chrisitan ways of faith. Then Apollos preached
Jesus. The church at Ephesus only had 12 believers. Paul stayed there for
three years.

If we disciple only one person during our life, and that person  has a special
calling of the Lord, doing great things for the kingdom. Then our life is not
wasted.
Who knows, a "Billy Graham" or a "Beth Moore"  may be waiting? Only Jesus
 knows what others  will do for Him.


LET IT GO

Don't be afraid to share Jesus with others. Trust Him for wisdom and strength.

Share His love, encouragement, and Word wherever I am this week.