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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Biblical Talks Sermon of the Week.
Sometimes, when we read theBible, we look at people in the
Bible as some kind ofsuperheroes.
In the book of Acts we look atPaul as some kind of Superman.
But Paul was as human as therest of us.
(00:24):
But Paul was as human as therest of us If the Lord had to
tell him not to be fearful.
Apparently Paul struggled withfear.
Think about that.
Listen when you find your istaking the best of us.
(01:11):
Today let's hear from HBCharles Jr as he preaches on the
courage to be, the courage tocontinue in Acts 18, verses 9 to
10.
Here's HB Charles Jr.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
The label, the message, the courage to continue
.
The courage to continue.
Paul's second missionaryjourney was tumultuous.
(01:42):
Before it began, paul andBarnabas sharply disagreed about
whether to bring John Markalong.
Their missionary partnershipdissolved as a result.
Paul, in silence, went one way,barnabas and John Mark went
(02:10):
another way.
Through a vision in the night,paul was led to the region of
Macedonia.
When he arrived there, he wentto the city of Philippi, where
the gospel he proclaimed wasinitially received.
Well, then Paul was arrested,beaten, imprisoned and deported
(02:42):
unceremoniously.
So Paul left Philippi and wentto Thessalonica, but there
jealous men rose up against Pauland drove him out of the city.
(03:02):
So Paul left Thessalonica andwent to Berea.
Acts, chapter 17, verse 11,says that the Jews there in
Berea were more noble than theThessalonians because they
received the word with eagernessand searched the scriptures
(03:24):
daily to see if the things Paulpreached about Christ were
really true.
However, the jealous men fromThessalonica stopped Paul to
Berea, and so Paul had to leaveBerea, where he then went to
(03:45):
Athens.
There, as he preached in thecenter of academia, the
intellectually elite andspiritually superstitious crowd
at Mars Hills largely ignoredPaul's gospel message.
(04:05):
So he left Athens and went toCorinth.
This is where chapter 18 ofActs picks up the story.
Paul had left Athens andtraveled some 50 miles to the
city of Corinth.
When he arrived, he was tired,fearful, lonely, frustrated and
(04:36):
discouraged.
His gospel labors seemed toonly produce envy, persecution
and rejection.
There was little obvioussuccess.
Paul's ministry struggles issuea crucial warning that every
(05:02):
believer here today needs tohear, a crucial warning that
every believer here today needsto hear.
Faithfulness does notnecessarily produce immediate or
automatic success.
Your spiritual devotion to theLord does not guarantee that
(05:24):
things in life will go your way,but the Lord is faithful.
The Lord is faithful.
Over the years, I've receivedwhat I have come to call
postcards from heaven.
With smartphones, email andsocial media, we don't send
(05:50):
postcards anymore, but the Lorddoes.
Have you ever received apostcard from heaven?
We're talking about those smalland subtle ways the Lord
communicates that he loves you,that you're still on his mind
(06:17):
and that he is at work in yoursituation.
I'm a beneficiary of postcardsfrom heaven.
I was a young pastor in my firstchurch.
Some trustees wanted to put meout.
(06:38):
They couldn't get rid of me.
The church loved me.
They couldn't get rid of me, sothey just stopped paying me.
They couldn't get rid of me, sothey just stopped paying me and
thought that I would just leaveif they stopped paying me.
They didn't know that.
There's not a price tag on myministry, so I kept.
I never said nothing, I justkept preaching, kept serving.
(07:03):
One Sunday, a sweet old lady Ican see her face came up to me
after church.
She said, pastor, I know what'sgoing on and I got something
for you.
Put this in your pocket.
And I put it in my pocket.
I was in trouble financially.
I put it in my pocket and Icouldn't wait to get back to my
study.
(07:23):
See what this old lady gave me.
And I got there and pulled itout of my pocket.
It was $10.
That wasn't enough to supersizemy fries at McDonald's after
(07:45):
church, but it was a postcardfrom heaven.
It was a subtle way the Lordwas trying to say I know what
you're going through and I'm atwork in your situation.
I need to move on.
But let me add another part ofthat story Without the church
ever knowing it, I need to moveon.
But let me add another part ofthat story Without the church
(08:09):
ever knowing it, I was able togo for several years without a
salary because, as members foundout what was happening, there
was a group that started meeting.
Hear me at an apartment onMonday night collecting my bills
, distributing them to pay forit, to take care of me through
all the turmoil.
Post cards from heaven.
(08:29):
This is what the Lord did forPaul in Acts, chapter 18, verses
1 through 11.
When the weary apostle arrivedin Corinth, the Lord sent him
postcards from heaven, several.
Let me mention three.
First, he sent godly friends.
(08:52):
Paul arrived at Corinth alone,but once there he met a couple
named Aquila and Priscilla.
They were tent makers by trade,just as Paul was.
The couple had been kicked outof Rome by Claudius, along with
the rest of the Jews, and hadlanded.
(09:13):
They just happened to land inCorinth the same time.
Paul was there and befriendedhim.
Through providentialorchestration of events, the
Lord gave Paul both a job and aset of friends while he was in
(09:33):
Corinth, and then later hispartner Silas and his protege
Timothy arrived from Macedonia.
The Lord, when Paul needed him,sent a postcard from heaven
through godly friends Church.
If you got godly friends, don'tdiscount that as a small
(09:56):
blessing.
The adventure of faith Cannotbe navigated alone.
You need godly people in yourlife who will stir you up to
love and good works.
Not only did the Lord sendgodly friends, the Lord opened
(10:21):
doors.
Look at chapter 18, verses 5and 6.
Paul was a Jew who started hisministry by going to the Jewish
synagogues in every city.
It is in this text where heturns finally to become the
(10:41):
apostle to the Gentiles.
Verse 5 and 6 tells us how ithappened.
When Silas and Timothy arrivedfrom Macedonia, paul was
occupied with the word,testifying to the Jews that the
Christ was Jesus.
And when they opposed andreviled him, he shook off his
garments and said to them yourblood be on your own head.
I am innocent.
From now on, I will go to theGentiles.
(11:04):
Innocent, for now on, I will goto the Gentiles.
Paul was no longer allowed topreach in the synagogue in
Corinth, but a God worshipernamed Titus Justice permitted
Paul to use his house to holdservices so he could preach.
Wait for it, saints.
(11:24):
That house was right next doorto the synagogue.
That just put Paul out.
And verse 8 says Crispus, theruler of the synagogue, believed
in the Lord, together with hisentire household and many of the
Corinthians.
The Lord, together with hisentire household and many of the
(11:48):
Corinthians hearing Paulbelieved and were baptized.
Oh friend, don't be discouragedif it seems like doors are
being closed in your face.
The Lord knows how to opendoors for you that no one can
close, how to open doors for youthat no one can close.
(12:11):
The Lord sent godly friends,open doors and comforting words.
That gets us to our text.
In our text, the Lord speaks toPaul in a vision.
It is one of six recordedvisions Paul received in the New
Testament.
At critical times of his lifeand ministry.
The Lord would give Pauldirection and encouragement and
assurance through visions.
(12:33):
This is what happens in ourtext.
This supernatural experience iscalled by the text a vision,
and yet the emphasis is on whatPaul heard, not what Paul saw.
In difficult times, you, saint,can expect the Lord to provide
(12:57):
support and to open doors.
Don't expect visions in thenight.
Don't expect visions in thenight.
These words were not spoken tous here.
The resurrected Lord made aspecial visit to Paul.
But even though these wordswere not spoken to us, they were
(13:23):
recorded for us In Acts,chapter 18, verses 9 and 10,.
The Lord gives verse 9, commandsto obey, verse 10, promises to
claim.
That's the text.
The text, the courage tocontinue is as a result of the
(13:53):
commands to obey and promises toclaim Notice.
First the Lord gives commandsto obey.
That's verse nine.
The Lord said to Paul one nightin a vision do not be afraid,
but go on speaking and do not besilent.
There are two commands here inverse 9.
Let me lean in to both of themfor a moment.
(14:15):
First, the Lord tells Paul donot be afraid.
Do not be afraid as Paulministered in Ephesus in chapter
19,.
A riot broke out.
(14:35):
Paul's ministry partners werearrested.
And if you look at the nextchapter, acts 19, verse 30 and
31 says but when Paul wished togo in among the crowd, the
disciples would not let him.
Wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples would not let
(14:56):
him.
And even some of the Asiarchs,who were friends of his, sent to
him and were urging him not toventure into the theater.
That's Paul.
He was a man, a real man, acourageous man.
A riot broke out over hispreaching and all his friends
tried to hold him back for hissafety.
He was determined to go rightinto the mob and keep on
preaching.
(15:19):
But in our text we are remindedthat the best of men are still
men at best.
Here we see there were timeswhen this mighty man of God
struggled with fear.
Later he will write back tothese Corinthians, in first
Corinthians, chapter 2, verse 3,that I was among you in
(15:42):
weakness and in fear and in muchtrembling bad experiences in in
Philippi and Thessalonica, andBerea and Athens and Corinth had
taken their toll on Paul.
He now had become fearful.
(16:03):
Can you see him in his bed onenight, tossing and turning,
unable to get to sleep, filledwith fear?
And the Lord said since Paul isup, we might as well talk.
(16:27):
The first thing the Lord said toPaul was do not be afraid.
This is more than a prohibitionagainst fear.
The grammar reads as a ceaseand desist order Stop being
(16:50):
afraid.
This is not just about Paul,this is for you, friend.
I want to ask you what are youafraid of?
Is there something in your life, something in your family,
something in your work?
Is it the results of theelection?
(17:13):
Whatever it is, I got a wordfrom the Lord for you today Do
not be afraid.
Do not be afraid.
(17:38):
Psalm 27, verse 1.
The Lord is my light and mysalvation.
The Lord is the stronghold ofmy life.
Fear not, for I am not dismayed.
I am your God, I willstrengthen you.
I will just right here.
Luke, chapter 12, verse 32,says fear not, little flock.
(18:00):
It is the father's goodpleasure to give you his kingdom
.
2nd Timothy, chapter 1, verse 7.
For God has not given us thespirit of fear, but of power and
of love and of self-control.
Hebrews 13, verse 6, says so wecan confidently say the Lord is
(18:28):
my helper, I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
The old song says what have Ito dread?
What have I to fear?
Leaning on the everlasting arms, I have perfect peace with my
(18:50):
Lord, so near leaning on theeverlasting arms.
Why do Christians fear?
Two reasons?
There are only two reasons whyany Christian in fear.
(19:13):
Number one a guilty consciousproduces fear.
Proverbs 28, verse 1, puts itthis way the wicked flee where
no one pursues.
When your conscience is guilty,it'll make you run, and ain't
nobody chasing you.
George Sewell said it well thatfear is the tax that the
(19:42):
conscious pays to guilt.
If that is your situation,there's only one solution to
that problem Repent, repent.
1.
John, chapter 1, verse 9, saysif we confess our sins, he is
(20:04):
faithful and just to forgive usof our sins and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness.
That doesn't mean that therewon't be consequences, but
there's no reason to be afraid.
Let me tell you why.
Because Psalm 30, verse 5,declares that God's anger is
just for a moment, but his favoris for a lifetime.
(20:24):
Weeping may endure for thenight, but joy comes in the
morning.
Now let's lay that aside.
If you are afraid today, saint,and it is not because of a
(20:44):
guilty conscience, there's onlyone other reason, one other
explanation, and that's a lackof faith.
If it's not a guilty conscience, if you are living in fear, it
just exposes and betrays a lackof your confidence in God.
(21:05):
Or to say it another way, fearand faith can't live in the same
heart.
One always chases the otheraway.
When troubles come, we often askGod to fix the situation or to
remove us from the situation.
Have you noticed the Lorddoesn't often answer that prayer
(21:25):
, usually because he wants toteach us how to trust him in and
through the situation.
Martin Luther said it this wayI know not the way he leads me,
(21:52):
but I know well the guide.
What have I to fear?
I want to say to you, friend,you may not know where God is
leading you, but the where ain'tyour business, the who is your
business.
I wish I had a witness there.
In fact I'm glad I brought myown, just in case.
(22:13):
David says that my life intrusting God is not always green
pastures, still waters andpaths of righteousness.
Sometimes I got to walk throughthe valley of the shadow of
death.
But when I walk through thevalley of the shadow of death
I'm not afraid of any evil thinglurking in the valley because
(22:37):
you are with me, your rod andyour staff.
They comfort me.
Do not be afraid.
Here's the second command Do notbe silent.
(22:57):
Do not be silent.
Fear manifests itself invarious ways, but I commend to
you that fear typically attackswhere you are called to
obedience.
We are afraid of obediencebecause fear tries to make us be
(23:22):
responsible for theconsequences.
You're not responsible for theconsequences, you're just
responsible for the obedience.
God will take care of theconsequences.
You just responsible for theobedience, god will take care of
the consequences.
And so, in this regard, fearbecomes a ready tool of the evil
, one to stop you from doingwhat God has called, commanded
or commissioned you to do.
This was the case with Paul.
(23:43):
Everywhere he preached, troublefollowed him and he was growing
weary.
Fear tempted him to be silent,but the Lord knew what he was
going through.
And in verse 9, he says do notbe afraid, but go on speaking
and do not be silent.
(24:03):
So emphatic is this commandthat the Lord states it in
parallel form, negatively andpositively.
Positively, he says go onspeaking.
Negatively he says do not besilent.
Paul was not to let anything oranyone stop him from
proclaiming Christ, doing God'swill or serving the Lord.
(24:25):
Neither are we.
I hope you're not living withyour head in the sand church.
We living in critical times.
We are living in critical times.
(24:49):
I'm often asked by young men.
They say to me what advicewould you give a young man about
preparing himself a youngpreacher, about preparing
himself to minister in the daysto come?
And then, when I get over thefact that the language of the
(25:10):
question assumes I'm an oldpreacher, I answer I think there
are three things that thepastors and churches need to get
ready to take a stand for inthe days to come.
Not because I have anyparticular prophetic insight
that's not it but it's justobvious if you don't have your
head in the sands.
The culture we live in isattacking the authority of the
(25:35):
word of God so that it canundermine the exclusivity of
Jesus Christ, so that it candismiss the message of the
gospel.
While the church is playinggames with politics, the devil
(25:56):
don't care about who in theWhite House.
He's trying to stop the churchfrom declaring and demonstrating
Christ.
And I declare Shiloh, this isnot a time to be silent.
You may have a difficultassignment, it may be an
(26:18):
unfruitful season, you may beunder spiritual attack, but
don't stop being obedient towhatever God has called you to
do, called you to do.
(26:38):
Do not allow hard times, lowsupport or mean people cause you
to take the path of leastresistance.
Keep trusting God, keep servingthe Lord, keep proclaiming the
gospel, keep giving him yourbest, whatever you are going
through.
I got to move on, but I want toblow your mind.
Could it be that you live bythat nasty neighbor, not because
(27:15):
of the neighbor nastiness, butbecause God wants to use you to
be a witness to that person, tothat person?
(27:39):
Could it be those crazy peoplethat you got to work with?
Could it be that it's not aboutthe job?
Could it be that God wants youto be light and salt in a dark
place and salt in a dark place.
Could it be that your sicknessis not about your sickness, but
(28:01):
that when you show up to thedoctor in the hospital for
treatments and for medication,you can be a witness of what it
looks like to keep trusting inthe Lord, even when your body is
wracked with pain?
Do not be silent, keep praisinghim, keep serving him, keep
(28:40):
loving him, keep obeying him, nomatter what those are the
commands to obey.
Let me move on quickly to showyou the promises to claim.
The Lord, in verse 9, tells Paulwhat to do, verse 10,.
The Lord tells Paul why to doit.
There's exhortation verse 9,.
Explanation verse 10.
For I am with you and no onewill attack you to harm you, for
(29:08):
I have many people in this citywho are my people.
Three assurances, quickly.
Three assurances.
First, there's the assurance ofGod's presence.
Go, therefore, and makedisciples, says Matthew 28,
verses 19 and 20.
Go, therefore, and makedisciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name ofthe Father and of the Son and of
(29:29):
the Holy Spirit, teaching themto observe all that I have
commanded you and, behold, I amwith you always.
To the end of the age, aminister went to visit a sick
member and read to her, matthew28, closing with those words Lo,
(30:10):
I am be with you.
He says I am with you.
Paul's ministry partners werecoming and going.
Paul felt all alone, but theLord gave him this assurance I
(30:31):
am with you.
And I want you to know thatassurance is not unique for Paul
, that divine assurance you cancount on in your life today.
Your friends may leave you,your family may forsake you,
(30:52):
your loved ones may fail you,the church may disappoint you,
those who you trust may betrayyou, but hear Jesus say I'm with
you.
Do you believe that church?
(31:14):
Psalm 46, verse 1, says God isour refuge and strength, a very
present help in trouble.
Literally, that means in theHebrew that God draws near when
you find yourself in tightplaces.
(31:34):
I wish I had a praying church.
You got a lot of people in yourlife.
When you get in a tightsituation, they do the moonwalk
on you and you don't see themanymore.
But the Lord says when you arein a tight place, that's when I
get closer.
But the Lord says when you arein a tight place, that's when I
get closer.
When your body is sick, god isthere.
(31:55):
When your burden is heavy, godis there.
When your faith is tested.
God is there when your heart isbroken.
God is there when your mind isconfused.
God is there when your mind isconfused.
God is there when your money isgone.
God is there when your strengthis low.
(32:24):
God is still there.
But not only is there assuranceof God's presence, there's
assurance of God's protection,presence and protection.
Verse 10 says I am with you.
That's presence, here'sprotection.
No one will attack you to harmyou.
Now, this is not a blanketpromise.
(32:45):
Now, this is not a blanketpromise.
Don't put this verse on yourmirror and run around.
Is a guarantee that no one willever attack you to harm you.
It's not a blanket promise.
Paul suffered harmful attackspreviously and he will suffer
(33:11):
harmless attacks again.
The promise specificallyapplied to Paul's missionary
work in Corinth.
Verse 10 indicates that therewere many people in the city
that God planned to reach and hewas going to use Paul as his
(33:32):
agent in Corinth.
Verse 11 says that Paul spent ayear and six months in Corinth
teaching the word of God amongthem, and the Lord gives Paul
this assurance for his entirestay in Corinth.
No one will attack you to harmyou.
Amen, to harm you.
(33:57):
You got work to do here and noone will attack you to harm you.
Did God keep that promise?
Well, look at verse 12 through17.
I just want to read it to you.
You don't think I'm making itup.
When Galileo was pro-consul, thegovernor in Acadia, the Jews
made a united attack on Paul andbrought him before the tribunal
.
It took him to court and theysaid this man is persuading
(34:20):
people to worship God, contraryto the law.
But when Paul was about to openup his mouth to defend himself,
the judge Galileo said to theJews if this was a matter of
wrongdoing or vicious crime, oh,jews, I'd listen.
I have reason to accept yourcomplaint.
But since this is a matter ofquestions about words and names
(34:43):
and your law, this ain't mybusiness.
I refuse to be a judge aboutthese things".
And he drove them out of court.
And when he drove them out ofcourt, they grabbed Sassanese,
the ruler of the synagogue, andbeat him up in front of the
(35:05):
judge.
And the judge said huh, thatain't my business.
Y'all not listening to me.
All of Paul's enemies gottogether and took him to court
so that the judge will condemnhim.
(35:25):
So he would be beaten.
Not only did he not get beaten,but the one that led the crowd
y'all not hearing me here gotbeaten in front of the judge who
did nothing to help.
(35:47):
Oh church, what I'm trying tosay.
This is not just a pause, thisis for you.
Hear me.
The servant of God isindestructible until his work is
done.
How long will you live?
I know how long you will live.
(36:10):
Ephesians 2.10 says for we arehis workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus for good works thatGod preordained that he should
walk in them.
You know what that means.
As a Christian, you will livelong enough to walk out all the
good works that God has plannedfor your life.
You don't have time to waste.
(36:34):
You got to be busy doing whatthe Lord would have you to do,
but the text is saying you cando so with confidence.
This is his promise to Paulwhile he did his work no one
will attack you to harm you.
Notice how carefully thispromise is worded.
He didn't say that Paulwouldn't be attacked.
(37:03):
He just said when they attack,I'll make sure they don't harm
you.
Isaiah 54 says this way.
Isaiah 54, 17,.
No weapon that is fashionedagainst you shall prosper and
you shall confute every tonguethat rises up against you in
(37:26):
judgment.
It doesn't mean the enemy won'tfashion weapons, but is there a
witness?
God is able to keep you whenyou can't keep yourself.
There is assurance of God'spresence, assurance of God's
protection.
Finally, assurance of God'spurpose, of God's protection.
(38:03):
Finally, assurance of God'spurpose.
I am with you.
No one will attack you to harmyou, for because I have many in
this city who are my people.
James Montgomery Boyce commentshere that of all the things the
Lord said to Paul in this vision, undoubtedly this is the most
(38:25):
important.
I don't know if you catch thetension of the text, but what
the Lord is saying here is thatwhat he was doing in and for and
through Paul was not about Paul.
It was about the glory of God,the salvation of the lost and
the edification of the church InGod's eternal purpose.
(38:46):
He chose to save many people inCorinth and in his sovereign
grace he chose Paul to be hismessenger and promises I'll
protect you while you ownassignment.
Here's the point.
I don't know if you're gettingit.
Here's the point.
It's not about you, it's notabout me.
(39:13):
You got to hang in there forChrist's sake.
This final assurance isencouragement for the church as
we carry out the GreatCommission.
I have many people in this citywho are my people.
What city, corinth?
(39:36):
Corinth was one of the mostwicked cities in Asia Minor of
the ancient world.
To call a woman a Corinthianwoman was slang for calling her
(40:03):
a prostitute.
That's how debased and corruptand wicked the city was.
Yet the Lord said I got manypeople in this city Church.
This is why, if you are aChristian, you can't get all
(40:30):
preoccupied with the electionstuff.
It may look like the devil iswinning, but God knows how to
infiltrate his people in placesyou can't imagine.
(40:53):
Now let me be quick to say thatthis assurance refutes the
heresy of universalism.
The Lord had many in Corinth,but they would not be saved
automatically.
Someone had to preach thegospel to them.
Someone had to tell them thatwe are sinners who are in
rebellion against God and willgive an account to him for our
(41:13):
lives.
We cannot save ourselves ormake ourselves right with God,
but God sent his son Jesus, wholived a righteous life, died at
the cross for our sins and rosefrom the dead.
And if you turn from your sinand trust in Christ, you will be
saved.
Someone had to tell them that,and and the Lord assigned Paul
(41:36):
to be his messenger to the lostpeople in Corinth and he
promised to be with them and toprotect him for the sake of the
people who needed to hear thegospel.
Romans 10, 13 is one of thegreatest promises in the Bible
Whoever calls on the name of theLord will be saved.
But then verses 14 and 15 ofRomans 10 gives a series of
(42:00):
dilemmas that prevent lostpeople from calling on the Lord
for salvation.
How can you call on somebodyyou don't believe in?
And how can you believe insomebody you've never heard of?
And how shall they hear withouta preacher?
And how shall they preachunless they be sent?
The Lord sent Paul to preach inCorinth and gives him this
(42:26):
assurance as he preaches, andgives him this assurance as he
preaches.
I have many people in this citywho are my people.
This is a subtle but powerfulconfirmation of the doctrine of
election.
Ephesians, chapter 1, verse 4,says we are saved, believer,
because we are chosen in Christbefore the foundation of the
(42:50):
world.
We don't say it that way.
When we testify, we're saying Iwas down and I was looking for
an answer and I didn't have anyhope in my life, and then one
day I found the Lord.
You didn't find the Lord.
The Lord wasn't lost, you were,and any of us that are saved.
(43:14):
Ultimately, we are not savedbecause we chose the Lord.
We are saved because his gracechose us when we hated him, when
we didn't know who he was, whenwe could not find ourselves.
We were gripped by his amazinggrace and this is why we
(43:39):
proclaim the gospel withboldness.
This is why, friend, you don'thave to be discouraged.
You don't have to manipulatepeople, you don't have to
pervert the message.
You can just proclaim Christwith confidence that God will
draw to himself those who shouldbe saved.
(44:04):
I got one more paragraph hangingthere.
I got one more paragraphhanging there.
I imagine Paul is laying there,fearful, discouraged, wanting
to quit, and the Lord says sincePaul's up, we might as well
talk.
Paul, I know what you're goingthrough, don't be afraid.
Yes, lord, keep on speaking,don't be silent.
(44:28):
I will, lord, for I am with you, praise you, lord, no one will
attack you to harm you.
I thank you, lord, for I havemany in this city who are my
(44:48):
people.
Huh, lord, I don't mean anydisrespect, disrespect, but have
you been outside lately?
It's just wickedness.
On parade in the streets, thelord says I've been outside,
I've seen, but I also see, notjust what you see.
(45:14):
I see what you can't see andwhat I see.
You see the wicked and theunbelievers and the prostitute
and the hateful and the racistand the unbelievers and the
prostitutes and the hateful andthe racist and the corrupt.
But I see that there are manyin this city who are my people.
(45:37):
Here's a devotional thought Iwant to close with.
That I hope will be good newsto somebody here.
Hang in there, friend.
Things are not always what theyseem.
It may seem like your work isnot making a difference.
(46:00):
It may seem that the word isnot being received.
It may seem there is no fruitfrom your labor.
It may seem like no lives arebeing changed.
It may seem like you keeprunning into closed doors, but
(46:22):
what they see, god is at workbehind the scenes and God has
many in your place that belongto him.
(46:44):
And Romans 8, 28 is still true,and we know that all things
work together for good to thosewho love God and are the called
(47:08):
according to his purpose.
I'm finished.
God be praised for his.
Speaker 3 (47:13):
Hello, my name is Michelle Tolliver and Biblical
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Thank you for listening toBiblical Talks.
Welcome to Biblical Talks Sermon of the Week.
Sometimes, when we read theBible, we look at people in the
Bible as some kind ofsuperheroes.
In the book of Acts we look atPaul as some kind of Superman.
But Paul was as human as therest of us.
(00:24):
But Paul was as human as therest of us If the Lord had to
tell him not to be fearful.
Apparently Paul struggled withfear.
Think about that.
Listen when you find your istaking the best of us.
(01:11):
Today let's hear from HBCharles Jr as he preaches on the
courage to be, the courage tocontinue in Acts 18, verses 9 to
10.
Here's HB Charles Jr.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
The label, the message, the courage to continue
.
The courage to continue.
Paul's second missionaryjourney was tumultuous.
(01:42):
Before it began, paul andBarnabas sharply disagreed about
whether to bring John Markalong.
Their missionary partnershipdissolved as a result.
Paul, in silence, went one way,barnabas and John Mark went
(02:10):
another way.
Through a vision in the night,paul was led to the region of
Macedonia.
When he arrived there, he wentto the city of Philippi, where
the gospel he proclaimed wasinitially received.
Well, then Paul was arrested,beaten, imprisoned and deported
(02:42):
unceremoniously.
So Paul left Philippi and wentto Thessalonica, but there
jealous men rose up against Pauland drove him out of the city.
(03:02):
So Paul left Thessalonica andwent to Berea.
Acts, chapter 17, verse 11,says that the Jews there in
Berea were more noble than theThessalonians because they
received the word with eagernessand searched the scriptures
(03:24):
daily to see if the things Paulpreached about Christ were
really true.
However, the jealous men fromThessalonica stopped Paul to
Berea, and so Paul had to leaveBerea, where he then went to
(03:45):
Athens.
There, as he preached in thecenter of academia, the
intellectually elite andspiritually superstitious crowd
at Mars Hills largely ignoredPaul's gospel message.
(04:05):
So he left Athens and went toCorinth.
This is where chapter 18 ofActs picks up the story.
Paul had left Athens andtraveled some 50 miles to the
city of Corinth.
When he arrived, he was tired,fearful, lonely, frustrated and
(04:36):
discouraged.
His gospel labors seemed toonly produce envy, persecution
and rejection.
There was little obvioussuccess.
Paul's ministry struggles issuea crucial warning that every
(05:02):
believer here today needs tohear, a crucial warning that
every believer here today needsto hear.
Faithfulness does notnecessarily produce immediate or
automatic success.
Your spiritual devotion to theLord does not guarantee that
(05:24):
things in life will go your way,but the Lord is faithful.
The Lord is faithful.
Over the years, I've receivedwhat I have come to call
postcards from heaven.
With smartphones, email andsocial media, we don't send
(05:50):
postcards anymore, but the Lorddoes.
Have you ever received apostcard from heaven?
We're talking about those smalland subtle ways the Lord
communicates that he loves you,that you're still on his mind
(06:17):
and that he is at work in yoursituation.
I'm a beneficiary of postcardsfrom heaven.
I was a young pastor in my firstchurch.
Some trustees wanted to put meout.
(06:38):
They couldn't get rid of me.
The church loved me.
They couldn't get rid of me, sothey just stopped paying me.
They couldn't get rid of me, sothey just stopped paying me and
thought that I would just leaveif they stopped paying me.
They didn't know that.
There's not a price tag on myministry, so I kept.
I never said nothing, I justkept preaching, kept serving.
(07:03):
One Sunday, a sweet old lady Ican see her face came up to me
after church.
She said, pastor, I know what'sgoing on and I got something
for you.
Put this in your pocket.
And I put it in my pocket.
I was in trouble financially.
I put it in my pocket and Icouldn't wait to get back to my
study.
(07:23):
See what this old lady gave me.
And I got there and pulled itout of my pocket.
It was $10.
That wasn't enough to supersizemy fries at McDonald's after
(07:45):
church, but it was a postcardfrom heaven.
It was a subtle way the Lordwas trying to say I know what
you're going through and I'm atwork in your situation.
I need to move on.
But let me add another part ofthat story Without the church
ever knowing it, I need to moveon.
But let me add another part ofthat story Without the church
(08:09):
ever knowing it, I was able togo for several years without a
salary because, as members foundout what was happening, there
was a group that started meeting.
Hear me at an apartment onMonday night collecting my bills
, distributing them to pay forit, to take care of me through
all the turmoil.
Post cards from heaven.
(08:29):
This is what the Lord did forPaul in Acts, chapter 18, verses
1 through 11.
When the weary apostle arrivedin Corinth, the Lord sent him
postcards from heaven, several.
Let me mention three.
First, he sent godly friends.
(08:52):
Paul arrived at Corinth alone,but once there he met a couple
named Aquila and Priscilla.
They were tent makers by trade,just as Paul was.
The couple had been kicked outof Rome by Claudius, along with
the rest of the Jews, and hadlanded.
(09:13):
They just happened to land inCorinth the same time.
Paul was there and befriendedhim.
Through providentialorchestration of events, the
Lord gave Paul both a job and aset of friends while he was in
(09:33):
Corinth, and then later hispartner Silas and his protege
Timothy arrived from Macedonia.
The Lord, when Paul needed him,sent a postcard from heaven
through godly friends Church.
If you got godly friends, don'tdiscount that as a small
(09:56):
blessing.
The adventure of faith Cannotbe navigated alone.
You need godly people in yourlife who will stir you up to
love and good works.
Not only did the Lord sendgodly friends, the Lord opened
(10:21):
doors.
Look at chapter 18, verses 5and 6.
Paul was a Jew who started hisministry by going to the Jewish
synagogues in every city.
It is in this text where heturns finally to become the
(10:41):
apostle to the Gentiles.
Verse 5 and 6 tells us how ithappened.
When Silas and Timothy arrivedfrom Macedonia, paul was
occupied with the word,testifying to the Jews that the
Christ was Jesus.
And when they opposed andreviled him, he shook off his
garments and said to them yourblood be on your own head.
I am innocent.
From now on, I will go to theGentiles.
(11:04):
Innocent, for now on, I will goto the Gentiles.
Paul was no longer allowed topreach in the synagogue in
Corinth, but a God worshipernamed Titus Justice permitted
Paul to use his house to holdservices so he could preach.
Wait for it, saints.
(11:24):
That house was right next doorto the synagogue.
That just put Paul out.
And verse 8 says Crispus, theruler of the synagogue, believed
in the Lord, together with hisentire household and many of the
Corinthians.
The Lord, together with hisentire household and many of the
(11:48):
Corinthians hearing Paulbelieved and were baptized.
Oh friend, don't be discouragedif it seems like doors are
being closed in your face.
The Lord knows how to opendoors for you that no one can
close, how to open doors for youthat no one can close.
(12:11):
The Lord sent godly friends,open doors and comforting words.
That gets us to our text.
In our text, the Lord speaks toPaul in a vision.
It is one of six recordedvisions Paul received in the New
Testament.
At critical times of his lifeand ministry.
The Lord would give Pauldirection and encouragement and
assurance through visions.
(12:33):
This is what happens in ourtext.
This supernatural experience iscalled by the text a vision,
and yet the emphasis is on whatPaul heard, not what Paul saw.
In difficult times, you, saint,can expect the Lord to provide
(12:57):
support and to open doors.
Don't expect visions in thenight.
Don't expect visions in thenight.
These words were not spoken tous here.
The resurrected Lord made aspecial visit to Paul.
But even though these wordswere not spoken to us, they were
(13:23):
recorded for us In Acts,chapter 18, verses 9 and 10,.
The Lord gives verse 9, commandsto obey, verse 10, promises to
claim.
That's the text.
The text, the courage tocontinue is as a result of the
(13:53):
commands to obey and promises toclaim Notice.
First the Lord gives commandsto obey.
That's verse nine.
The Lord said to Paul one nightin a vision do not be afraid,
but go on speaking and do not besilent.
There are two commands here inverse 9.
Let me lean in to both of themfor a moment.
(14:15):
First, the Lord tells Paul donot be afraid.
Do not be afraid as Paulministered in Ephesus in chapter
19,.
A riot broke out.
(14:35):
Paul's ministry partners werearrested.
And if you look at the nextchapter, acts 19, verse 30 and
31 says but when Paul wished togo in among the crowd, the
disciples would not let him.
Wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples would not let
(14:56):
him.
And even some of the Asiarchs,who were friends of his, sent to
him and were urging him not toventure into the theater.
That's Paul.
He was a man, a real man, acourageous man.
A riot broke out over hispreaching and all his friends
tried to hold him back for hissafety.
He was determined to go rightinto the mob and keep on
preaching.
(15:19):
But in our text we are remindedthat the best of men are still
men at best.
Here we see there were timeswhen this mighty man of God
struggled with fear.
Later he will write back tothese Corinthians, in first
Corinthians, chapter 2, verse 3,that I was among you in
(15:42):
weakness and in fear and in muchtrembling bad experiences in in
Philippi and Thessalonica, andBerea and Athens and Corinth had
taken their toll on Paul.
He now had become fearful.
(16:03):
Can you see him in his bed onenight, tossing and turning,
unable to get to sleep, filledwith fear?
And the Lord said since Paul isup, we might as well talk.
(16:27):
The first thing the Lord said toPaul was do not be afraid.
This is more than a prohibitionagainst fear.
The grammar reads as a ceaseand desist order Stop being
(16:50):
afraid.
This is not just about Paul,this is for you, friend.
I want to ask you what are youafraid of?
Is there something in your life, something in your family,
something in your work?
Is it the results of theelection?
(17:13):
Whatever it is, I got a wordfrom the Lord for you today Do
not be afraid.
Do not be afraid.
(17:38):
Psalm 27, verse 1.
The Lord is my light and mysalvation.
The Lord is the stronghold ofmy life.
Fear not, for I am not dismayed.
I am your God, I willstrengthen you.
I will just right here.
Luke, chapter 12, verse 32,says fear not, little flock.
(18:00):
It is the father's goodpleasure to give you his kingdom
.
2nd Timothy, chapter 1, verse 7.
For God has not given us thespirit of fear, but of power and
of love and of self-control.
Hebrews 13, verse 6, says so wecan confidently say the Lord is
(18:28):
my helper, I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
The old song says what have Ito dread?
What have I to fear?
Leaning on the everlasting arms, I have perfect peace with my
(18:50):
Lord, so near leaning on theeverlasting arms.
Why do Christians fear?
Two reasons?
There are only two reasons whyany Christian in fear.
(19:13):
Number one a guilty consciousproduces fear.
Proverbs 28, verse 1, puts itthis way the wicked flee where
no one pursues.
When your conscience is guilty,it'll make you run, and ain't
nobody chasing you.
George Sewell said it well thatfear is the tax that the
(19:42):
conscious pays to guilt.
If that is your situation,there's only one solution to
that problem Repent, repent.
1.
John, chapter 1, verse 9, saysif we confess our sins, he is
(20:04):
faithful and just to forgive usof our sins and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness.
That doesn't mean that therewon't be consequences, but
there's no reason to be afraid.
Let me tell you why.
Because Psalm 30, verse 5,declares that God's anger is
just for a moment, but his favoris for a lifetime.
(20:24):
Weeping may endure for thenight, but joy comes in the
morning.
Now let's lay that aside.
If you are afraid today, saint,and it is not because of a
(20:44):
guilty conscience, there's onlyone other reason, one other
explanation, and that's a lackof faith.
If it's not a guilty conscience, if you are living in fear, it
just exposes and betrays a lackof your confidence in God.
(21:05):
Or to say it another way, fearand faith can't live in the same
heart.
One always chases the otheraway.
When troubles come, we often askGod to fix the situation or to
remove us from the situation.
Have you noticed the Lorddoesn't often answer that prayer
(21:25):
, usually because he wants toteach us how to trust him in and
through the situation.
Martin Luther said it this wayI know not the way he leads me,
(21:52):
but I know well the guide.
What have I to fear?
I want to say to you, friend,you may not know where God is
leading you, but the where ain'tyour business, the who is your
business.
I wish I had a witness there.
In fact I'm glad I brought myown, just in case.
(22:13):
David says that my life intrusting God is not always green
pastures, still waters andpaths of righteousness.
Sometimes I got to walk throughthe valley of the shadow of
death.
But when I walk through thevalley of the shadow of death
I'm not afraid of any evil thinglurking in the valley because
(22:37):
you are with me, your rod andyour staff.
They comfort me.
Do not be afraid.
Here's the second command Do notbe silent.
(22:57):
Do not be silent.
Fear manifests itself invarious ways, but I commend to
you that fear typically attackswhere you are called to
obedience.
We are afraid of obediencebecause fear tries to make us be
(23:22):
responsible for theconsequences.
You're not responsible for theconsequences, you're just
responsible for the obedience.
God will take care of theconsequences.
You just responsible for theobedience, god will take care of
the consequences.
And so, in this regard, fearbecomes a ready tool of the evil
, one to stop you from doingwhat God has called, commanded
or commissioned you to do.
This was the case with Paul.
(23:43):
Everywhere he preached, troublefollowed him and he was growing
weary.
Fear tempted him to be silent,but the Lord knew what he was
going through.
And in verse 9, he says do notbe afraid, but go on speaking
and do not be silent.
(24:03):
So emphatic is this commandthat the Lord states it in
parallel form, negatively andpositively.
Positively, he says go onspeaking.
Negatively he says do not besilent.
Paul was not to let anything oranyone stop him from
proclaiming Christ, doing God'swill or serving the Lord.
(24:25):
Neither are we.
I hope you're not living withyour head in the sand church.
We living in critical times.
We are living in critical times.
(24:49):
I'm often asked by young men.
They say to me what advicewould you give a young man about
preparing himself a youngpreacher, about preparing
himself to minister in the daysto come?
And then, when I get over thefact that the language of the
(25:10):
question assumes I'm an oldpreacher, I answer I think there
are three things that thepastors and churches need to get
ready to take a stand for inthe days to come.
Not because I have anyparticular prophetic insight
that's not it but it's justobvious if you don't have your
head in the sands.
The culture we live in isattacking the authority of the
(25:35):
word of God so that it canundermine the exclusivity of
Jesus Christ, so that it candismiss the message of the
gospel.
While the church is playinggames with politics, the devil
(25:56):
don't care about who in theWhite House.
He's trying to stop the churchfrom declaring and demonstrating
Christ.
And I declare Shiloh, this isnot a time to be silent.
You may have a difficultassignment, it may be an
(26:18):
unfruitful season, you may beunder spiritual attack, but
don't stop being obedient towhatever God has called you to
do, called you to do.
(26:38):
Do not allow hard times, lowsupport or mean people cause you
to take the path of leastresistance.
Keep trusting God, keep servingthe Lord, keep proclaiming the
gospel, keep giving him yourbest, whatever you are going
through.
I got to move on, but I want toblow your mind.
Could it be that you live bythat nasty neighbor, not because
(27:15):
of the neighbor nastiness, butbecause God wants to use you to
be a witness to that person, tothat person?
(27:39):
Could it be those crazy peoplethat you got to work with?
Could it be that it's not aboutthe job?
Could it be that God wants youto be light and salt in a dark
place and salt in a dark place.
Could it be that your sicknessis not about your sickness, but
(28:01):
that when you show up to thedoctor in the hospital for
treatments and for medication,you can be a witness of what it
looks like to keep trusting inthe Lord, even when your body is
wracked with pain?
Do not be silent, keep praisinghim, keep serving him, keep
(28:40):
loving him, keep obeying him, nomatter what those are the
commands to obey.
Let me move on quickly to showyou the promises to claim.
The Lord, in verse 9, tells Paulwhat to do, verse 10,.
The Lord tells Paul why to doit.
There's exhortation verse 9,.
Explanation verse 10.
For I am with you and no onewill attack you to harm you, for
(29:08):
I have many people in this citywho are my people.
Three assurances, quickly.
Three assurances.
First, there's the assurance ofGod's presence.
Go, therefore, and makedisciples, says Matthew 28,
verses 19 and 20.
Go, therefore, and makedisciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name ofthe Father and of the Son and of
(29:29):
the Holy Spirit, teaching themto observe all that I have
commanded you and, behold, I amwith you always.
To the end of the age, aminister went to visit a sick
member and read to her, matthew28, closing with those words Lo,
(30:10):
I am be with you.
He says I am with you.
Paul's ministry partners werecoming and going.
Paul felt all alone, but theLord gave him this assurance I
(30:31):
am with you.
And I want you to know thatassurance is not unique for Paul
, that divine assurance you cancount on in your life today.
Your friends may leave you,your family may forsake you,
(30:52):
your loved ones may fail you,the church may disappoint you,
those who you trust may betrayyou, but hear Jesus say I'm with
you.
Do you believe that church?
(31:14):
Psalm 46, verse 1, says God isour refuge and strength, a very
present help in trouble.
Literally, that means in theHebrew that God draws near when
you find yourself in tightplaces.
(31:34):
I wish I had a praying church.
You got a lot of people in yourlife.
When you get in a tightsituation, they do the moonwalk
on you and you don't see themanymore.
But the Lord says when you arein a tight place, that's when I
get closer.
But the Lord says when you arein a tight place, that's when I
get closer.
When your body is sick, god isthere.
(31:55):
When your burden is heavy, godis there.
When your faith is tested.
God is there when your heart isbroken.
God is there when your mind isconfused.
God is there when your mind isconfused.
God is there when your money isgone.
God is there when your strengthis low.
(32:24):
God is still there.
But not only is there assuranceof God's presence, there's
assurance of God's protection,presence and protection.
Verse 10 says I am with you.
That's presence, here'sprotection.
No one will attack you to harmyou.
Now, this is not a blanketpromise.
(32:45):
Now, this is not a blanketpromise.
Don't put this verse on yourmirror and run around.
Is a guarantee that no one willever attack you to harm you.
It's not a blanket promise.
Paul suffered harmful attackspreviously and he will suffer
(33:11):
harmless attacks again.
The promise specificallyapplied to Paul's missionary
work in Corinth.
Verse 10 indicates that therewere many people in the city
that God planned to reach and hewas going to use Paul as his
(33:32):
agent in Corinth.
Verse 11 says that Paul spent ayear and six months in Corinth
teaching the word of God amongthem, and the Lord gives Paul
this assurance for his entirestay in Corinth.
No one will attack you to harmyou.
Amen, to harm you.
(33:57):
You got work to do here and noone will attack you to harm you.
Did God keep that promise?
Well, look at verse 12 through17.
I just want to read it to you.
You don't think I'm making itup.
When Galileo was pro-consul, thegovernor in Acadia, the Jews
made a united attack on Paul andbrought him before the tribunal
.
It took him to court and theysaid this man is persuading
(34:20):
people to worship God, contraryto the law.
But when Paul was about to openup his mouth to defend himself,
the judge Galileo said to theJews if this was a matter of
wrongdoing or vicious crime, oh,jews, I'd listen.
I have reason to accept yourcomplaint.
But since this is a matter ofquestions about words and names
(34:43):
and your law, this ain't mybusiness.
I refuse to be a judge aboutthese things".
And he drove them out of court.
And when he drove them out ofcourt, they grabbed Sassanese,
the ruler of the synagogue, andbeat him up in front of the
(35:05):
judge.
And the judge said huh, thatain't my business.
Y'all not listening to me.
All of Paul's enemies gottogether and took him to court
so that the judge will condemnhim.
(35:25):
So he would be beaten.
Not only did he not get beaten,but the one that led the crowd
y'all not hearing me here gotbeaten in front of the judge who
did nothing to help.
(35:47):
Oh church, what I'm trying tosay.
This is not just a pause, thisis for you.
Hear me.
The servant of God isindestructible until his work is
done.
How long will you live?
I know how long you will live.
(36:10):
Ephesians 2.10 says for we arehis workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus for good works thatGod preordained that he should
walk in them.
You know what that means.
As a Christian, you will livelong enough to walk out all the
good works that God has plannedfor your life.
You don't have time to waste.
(36:34):
You got to be busy doing whatthe Lord would have you to do,
but the text is saying you cando so with confidence.
This is his promise to Paulwhile he did his work no one
will attack you to harm you.
Notice how carefully thispromise is worded.
He didn't say that Paulwouldn't be attacked.
(37:03):
He just said when they attack,I'll make sure they don't harm
you.
Isaiah 54 says this way.
Isaiah 54, 17,.
No weapon that is fashionedagainst you shall prosper and
you shall confute every tonguethat rises up against you in
(37:26):
judgment.
It doesn't mean the enemy won'tfashion weapons, but is there a
witness?
God is able to keep you whenyou can't keep yourself.
There is assurance of God'spresence, assurance of God's
protection.
Finally, assurance of God'spurpose, of God's protection.
(38:03):
Finally, assurance of God'spurpose.
I am with you.
No one will attack you to harmyou, for because I have many in
this city who are my people.
James Montgomery Boyce commentshere that of all the things the
Lord said to Paul in this vision, undoubtedly this is the most
(38:25):
important.
I don't know if you catch thetension of the text, but what
the Lord is saying here is thatwhat he was doing in and for and
through Paul was not about Paul.
It was about the glory of God,the salvation of the lost and
the edification of the church InGod's eternal purpose.
(38:46):
He chose to save many people inCorinth and in his sovereign
grace he chose Paul to be hismessenger and promises I'll
protect you while you ownassignment.
Here's the point.
I don't know if you're gettingit.
Here's the point.
It's not about you, it's notabout me.
(39:13):
You got to hang in there forChrist's sake.
This final assurance isencouragement for the church as
we carry out the GreatCommission.
I have many people in this citywho are my people.
What city, corinth?
(39:36):
Corinth was one of the mostwicked cities in Asia Minor of
the ancient world.
To call a woman a Corinthianwoman was slang for calling her
(40:03):
a prostitute.
That's how debased and corruptand wicked the city was.
Yet the Lord said I got manypeople in this city Church.
This is why, if you are aChristian, you can't get all
(40:30):
preoccupied with the electionstuff.
It may look like the devil iswinning, but God knows how to
infiltrate his people in placesyou can't imagine.
(40:53):
Now let me be quick to say thatthis assurance refutes the
heresy of universalism.
The Lord had many in Corinth,but they would not be saved
automatically.
Someone had to preach thegospel to them.
Someone had to tell them thatwe are sinners who are in
rebellion against God and willgive an account to him for our
(41:13):
lives.
We cannot save ourselves ormake ourselves right with God,
but God sent his son Jesus, wholived a righteous life, died at
the cross for our sins and rosefrom the dead.
And if you turn from your sinand trust in Christ, you will be
saved.
Someone had to tell them that,and and the Lord assigned Paul
(41:36):
to be his messenger to the lostpeople in Corinth and he
promised to be with them and toprotect him for the sake of the
people who needed to hear thegospel.
Romans 10, 13 is one of thegreatest promises in the Bible
Whoever calls on the name of theLord will be saved.
But then verses 14 and 15 ofRomans 10 gives a series of
(42:00):
dilemmas that prevent lostpeople from calling on the Lord
for salvation.
How can you call on somebodyyou don't believe in?
And how can you believe insomebody you've never heard of?
And how shall they hear withouta preacher?
And how shall they preachunless they be sent?
The Lord sent Paul to preach inCorinth and gives him this
(42:26):
assurance as he preaches, andgives him this assurance as he
preaches.
I have many people in this citywho are my people.
This is a subtle but powerfulconfirmation of the doctrine of
election.
Ephesians, chapter 1, verse 4,says we are saved, believer,
because we are chosen in Christbefore the foundation of the
(42:50):
world.
We don't say it that way.
When we testify, we're saying Iwas down and I was looking for
an answer and I didn't have anyhope in my life, and then one
day I found the Lord.
You didn't find the Lord.
The Lord wasn't lost, you were,and any of us that are saved.
(43:14):
Ultimately, we are not savedbecause we chose the Lord.
We are saved because his gracechose us when we hated him, when
we didn't know who he was, whenwe could not find ourselves.
We were gripped by his amazinggrace and this is why we
(43:39):
proclaim the gospel withboldness.
This is why, friend, you don'thave to be discouraged.
You don't have to manipulatepeople, you don't have to
pervert the message.
You can just proclaim Christwith confidence that God will
draw to himself those who shouldbe saved.
(44:04):
I got one more paragraph hangingthere.
I got one more paragraphhanging there.
I imagine Paul is laying there,fearful, discouraged, wanting
to quit, and the Lord says sincePaul's up, we might as well
talk.
Paul, I know what you're goingthrough, don't be afraid.
Yes, lord, keep on speaking,don't be silent.
(44:28):
I will, lord, for I am with you, praise you, lord, no one will
attack you to harm you.
I thank you, lord, for I havemany in this city who are my
(44:48):
people.
Huh, lord, I don't mean anydisrespect, disrespect, but have
you been outside lately?
It's just wickedness.
On parade in the streets, thelord says I've been outside,
I've seen, but I also see, notjust what you see.
(45:14):
I see what you can't see andwhat I see.
You see the wicked and theunbelievers and the prostitute
and the hateful and the racistand the unbelievers and the
prostitutes and the hateful andthe racist and the corrupt.
But I see that there are manyin this city who are my people.
(45:37):
Here's a devotional thought Iwant to close with.
That I hope will be good newsto somebody here.
Hang in there, friend.
Things are not always what theyseem.
It may seem like your work isnot making a difference.
(46:00):
It may seem that the word isnot being received.
It may seem there is no fruitfrom your labor.
It may seem like no lives arebeing changed.
It may seem like you keeprunning into closed doors, but
(46:22):
what they see, god is at workbehind the scenes and God has
many in your place that belongto him.
(46:44):
And Romans 8, 28 is still true,and we know that all things
work together for good to thosewho love God and are the called
(47:08):
according to his purpose.
I'm finished.
God be praised for his.
Speaker 3 (47:13):
Hello, my name is Michelle Tolliver and Biblical
Talks book offer for the monthof October is Free.
At Last.
The Gospel and theAfrican-American Experience by
Dr Carl Ellis.
The words of Martin Luther KingJr's I have a Dream speech have
become enshrined in US history.
But after the end of King'sgeneration of leadership, what
happened to the African Americanstruggle for freedom?
(47:34):
Like the ancient Israelites,the.
African American community hassurvived a 400-year collective
trauma.
What will it take for them toreach the promised land that
King foresaw to be truly free atlast?
In this classic historical andcultural study, dr Carl Ellis
offers an in-depth assessment ofthe state of the African
American freedom and dignity,stressing how important it is
(47:57):
for African Americans to reflecton their roots.
He traces the growth of theblack consciousness from days of
slavery to the 1990s, notingespecially the contributions of
King and Malcolm X.
Ellis examines elements ofblack culture and offers a
distinctive perspective on howGod is active in culture more
broadly.
Free at Last.
Concludes with a call for a newgeneration of jazz theologians
(48:18):
and cultural prophets torevitalize the African American
church and expand its culturalrange.
The book also includes ahelpful glossary of people,
events and terms.
Ellis writes it is my prayerthat the principles contained in
this book will play a role inbuilding bridges of
understanding and facilitatingreconciliation where there has
been alienation.
For any amount of donation toBiblical Talks, we will send you
(48:40):
the book.
Please go to BiblicalTalkscomand click the Donate here tab.
Thank you for listening toBiblical Talks.
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