Encouragement

The Value of a Good Friend

Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. When he didn’t think a city could be any worse than Athens, a city full of idols, he came to Corinth. Corinth was the leading political and commercial city in Greece. Because it was such a well traveled city licentious living was the norm. They even had the temple of Aphrodite at the top of the city. This temple housed a thousand temple prostitutes that would descend on the city in the evening to practice their trade.

You can only imagine how Paul felt when he arrived in the city. If his Spirit was provoked because of the idols of Athens you can only imagine the discouragement he had when he arrived in Corinth. When you couple this with the fact that Paul had been mistreated by the very people he wanted to be saved and sometime even physically harmed, he was probably thinking ,”what’s the use?” Needless to say Paul was probably very discouraged.

When Paul arrived in Corinth the Bible says he met a friend named Aquila. They had a common interest in that they were both tent-makers. Acts tells us that they stayed together and spent time with one another.

We must also understand that Aquila and his wife Priscilla were probably discouraged themselves. They had been driven form their home by Claudius because they were Jews. They had been uprooted from the place they called home and driven to a place that they were unfamiliar with and probably didn’t care for.

Both Paul and Aquila needed each other to lift one another up in their states of discouragement.

Good Friends

Good friends are truly the most valuable part of a person’s life. Their worth is beyond measure. They are certainly hard to come by. So what makes a good friend?

Loyalty and Steadfast Love: A good friend is someone who can be counted on, no matter the circumstance. Proverbs 17:17 says: "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." True friends are there through thick and thin, just like family (perhaps even closer).

Honesty and Wise Counsel: Good friends don't just flatter you; they offer honest guidance, even when it's difficult. Proverbs 27:6 says: "Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses." A friend's truthful criticism is valuable, like a purifying wound that helps you grow.

Support and Encouragement: Friends uplift and strengthen each other. Proverbs 27:17 says: "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." Good friends are companions who help you be your best self.

Shared Values and Faith: The Bible emphasizes the importance of having friends who share your values and faith. Amos 3:3 asks: "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" Ideally, good friends walk alongside you in your faith journey.

Selfless Sacrifice: The ultimate expression of friendship in the Bible is sacrificial love. John 15:13 reads: "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." Jesus himself embodies this ideal, sacrificing himself for humanity.

These are just some of the qualities the Bible highlights in a good friend. Overall, the emphasis is on deep, loyal relationships built on trust, honesty, and shared values.

Paul’s Passion

Though Paul was a tent-maker by trade, his passion was sharing the gospel and leading people to Christ. Aquila and Priscilla shared a passion for Christ as well. Their passion combined propelled Paul through his discouragement that ultimately led to his obedience. We see this displayed by trying to convince the Jews of Corinth that Jesus is the Christ. This is what he really wanted to do.

Acts 18:5 NASB95

But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began devoting himself completely to the word, solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.

When Silas and Timothy came and brought a gift from Macedonia, Paul began to devote himself to the study of God’s word. He no longer had to depend on the income from ten-making, but instead he could fulfill his calling to preach. He was able to hone his knowledge and skills on leading people to Christ. The more he learned the more passionate he became. We see this in his reaction to the Jews for their rejection of the gospel. Acts 18:6

Acts 18:6 NASB95

But when they resisted and blasphemed, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

Resist and Blaspheme

Paul wanted so desperately for the Jews to come to salvation. He could tolerate the rejection of the gospel because it provided another time for him to share. However when the Jews blasphemed the Name of Jesus, this was the breaking point for Paul. He knew that resistance could be a misunderstanding or even an unbelief. However blaspheming is a conscious choice of understanding, rejecting, and discrediting who Christ is.

This is the unpardonable sin. Matt. 12:31-32

Matthew 12:31–32 NASB95

“Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. “Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

When Paul shared the gospel and the Jews not only rejected it but also called the Spirit by which Paul was preaching a liar he shook the dust off of his garments and turned to the Gentiles.

God will also reject us when we blaspheme Him. Romans 1:21-25

Romans 1:21–25 (NASB95)

For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

When God reveals himself to us and we consciously reject Him in order to fulfill our own passions and desires, He will turn us over to those desires to be dishonored.

When this happens a persons devotion to sin gets stronger and they plunge themselves deeper into sin to the point that there is no hope. Romans 1:28-32

Romans 1:28–32 (NASB95)

And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

If you are here this morning and feel the prompting of the Holy Spirit for salvation, don’t reject Him. Receive Salvation today.

God Blesses Obedience

When Paul turned to the Gentiles the Lord blessed Paul. Acts 18:7-8

Acts 18:7–8 (NASB95)

Then he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God, whose house was next to the synagogue. Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his household, and many of the Corinthians when they heard were believing and being baptized.

Paul went straight to a Gentiles house that just happened to be right next to the synagogue. He would share the gospel right next door and was leading many to faith in Christ. Acts 9:15

Acts 9:15 NASB95

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;

Paul’s calling in life was to share the gospel to the Gentiles. Though he wanted so desperately to share with the Jews, his calling was to the Gentiles. When he began to walk in obedience to his calling the Lord blessed him. Many Corinthians believed. Not only that, God gave him another blessing in that the leader of the synagogue next door and his entire family believed in Jesus.

God blesses obedience in our lives. Here are just a few passages of scripture that show this.

Love and Obedience are Connected: John 14:15

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments." (NIV) This verse emphasizes that true love for God is shown through obedience to His commands.

Obedience Brings Blessings: Deuteronomy 28:1: "And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth." (ESV) This verse highlights the blessings that come with obedience to God.

Do Not Just Listen, Do: James 1:22-25: "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself and goes away and immediately forgets what sort of man he was. But the one who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does." (ESV) This passage emphasizes that obedience requires action, not just listening to God's word.

Obedience is Better Than Sacrifice: 1 Samuel 15:22: "But Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams." (ESV) This verse teaches that obedience to God is more important than outward religious rituals.

These are just a few examples, you can find many more verses on obedience throughout the Bible.

God Confirms Paul’s Calling!

Acts 18:9–11 (NASB95)

And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city.” And he settled there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

Paul could keep on preaching without the fear of being harmed. He knew that he had to keep preaching because the Lord had many people in the city that would be saved. He sent Paul there to proclaim the gospels they would be saved.

I believe that God has people that He want to save in our lives today. If we are willing to share the good news of Jesus Christ, He will bless us as well.

He also helps us overcome our fear of sharing with the assurance that he is with us. Matt. 28:19-20

Matthew 28:19–20 (NASB95)

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

I would like to end today by encouraging you to go make disciples. It begins by establishing friendships. Then sharing the gospel. Then living life with those we disciple.