Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city (Acts 18:9-10).
In the previous blog I offered the reminder that the Apostle Paul, as bold and courageous as he was, experienced normal emotions just like us – even fear.
While ministering in Corinth, Paul’s fear prompted the Lord to visit him in a vision, the results of which enabled Paul to overcome his fear and continue his ministry there for an extended period.
In the first blog I mentioned how: 1. The Vision Encouraged Peace, and 2. The Vision Commanded Proclamation.
Those could be viewed as the Lord’s directives to Paul: Don’t be afraid. Don’t be silent. Do speak up.
The second portion of the vision could be viewed as the Lord’s way of revealing to Paul how he could accomplish what the Lord had directed him to do.
3. The Vision Reminded Paul of God’s Presence
For I am with thee … (Acts 18:10).
How could Paul overcome his fear?
How could he find the courage and strength to continue to preach, despite the very real possibility that the Jews would attempt to undermine his efforts?
How? Because God was with him, and would be working through him.
God reminded Paul of a profound truth that we all need to be reminded of: When we come to the realization that within ourselves, we don’t possess the ability to do what He calls us to do, and we realize that it is only by His presence and His power in our lives that we can accomplish anything worthwhile for Him, that is the moment God can truly use us.
Paul would later write to the Corinthians and tell them in 1 Corinthians 2:3-4,
And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching [was] not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power…
He was confessing to them that his ministry and preaching and teaching were not done in his own strength, but through the power of the Holy Spirit.
He said in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10,
… My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
The Lord came to Paul in a time of his weakness, and because Paul allowed the Lord to use him despite that weakness, he would go on to have one of his most productive times of ministry in that wicked city.
In Paul’s weakness, the Lord’s strength was shown in Corinth.
You may feel weak today. You may feel fearful in light of the road before you. You may feel like you have nothing left and nothing to offer the Lord.
If that’s where you are, you are in a better place for God’s strength to show in your life than you are if you think you have it all together.
Praise God that He doesn’t depend on us to accomplish His will in our strength. What failures we would be.
Whatever he calls us to do, He equips us to do, and then He is with us empowering us as we do it.
He called Paul to stand up and keep preaching despite the potential outcomes, but He promised His presence in the midst of it.
4. The Vision Informed Paul of God’s Protection
For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city (Acts 18:10).
The Lord informed Paul that during his time in Corinth he would enjoy special protection.
What a promise that was at a time when Paul greatly needed it.
He suffered terribly during his first couple of missionary journeys.
He would endure great suffering later and ultimately give his life for the gospel. But in this moment, for a window of time, the Lord told him he would be protected.
God further explained to Paul that the special protection he would enjoy was because He had many people in the city of Corinth who would come to know Him through his preaching.
And how true that was. If you read Paul’s letters to the Corinthians, you see just how faithful God was to Paul there, and how He blessed that remaining time in Corinth.
As an example, in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Paul speaks of those who will not inherit the kingdom of God.
It’s there he rattles off that list of “… fornicators, … idolaters, … adulterers, … effeminate, … abusers of themselves with mankind, … thieves, … covetous, … drunkards, … revilers, … extortioners …”
And to the Corinthians, Paul said “… such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
In that wicked city of iniquity, some of the most vile, vicious, and sinful people one could ever imagine came to the Lord and were saved through Paul’s preaching.
Imagine the wonderful ministry Paul would have missed out on if he had allowed his fear to keep him silent or cause him to move on prematurely.
The Lord had a work for him to do, and He came to Paul at just the right moment, to steel his spine and strengthen him for the work with the promise of His presence, power, and protection.
Kent Hughes said,
“In the midst of Paul’s despondency, God ministered to him through a vision bearing words of refreshment – great words for those who are beginning to wonder if they should give up the battle.”
Hughes goes on to say,
“When we feel the unrelenting persistence of evil, when we sense that the forces of darkness are sending troops to defeat us, when we feel that our finest hour is about to give way to our lowest, there is an antidote for our hopelessness.”
What is that antidote Hughes speaks of?
Vs 9-10: “… Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee …”
The same God that strengthened Paul, helped him overcome his fears, and used him in a mighty way will do the same for us if we will only allow Him.
