When the Work Feels Too Hard
Notes
Transcript
Intro: Theme/Topic (What’s the problem, the question, etc.)
We’re in the middle of football season, so let me ask you… Have you ever seen a game when you’ve watched a quarterback take hit after hit. Every time he drops back, he gets knocked down — sometimes hard. Then you hear the commentators start saying things like, “He’s getting up a little slower each time.”
Eventually, even the toughest player starts to wonder, How many more hits can I take?
Ministry can feel like that sometimes. You do the right things — you stay faithful, you keep speaking truth, you keep showing up — and yet the hits keep coming. Criticism. Discouragement. Spiritual, emotional, mental, and even physical fatigue.
You start to wonder, How much longer can I keep this up?
The apostle Paul knew that feeling. By the time we find him in Acts 18, he’s taken hit after hit on the field of gospel ministry — beaten in Philippi, chased out of Thessalonica and Berea, ridiculed in Athens. And now he’s in Corinth — bruised, tired, and fearful.
The big question for us today is this — “What does God do for His servants when the mission feels too hard?”
So, let’s look at our text now and see how God cares for His servants when the mission feels too hard.
Scripture
Grab your Bibles and turn with me to Acts 18:1-17. If you need to use a pew Bible, you’ll find today’s text on page 1102. Once you’re there, please stand with me if you are able and follow along with me as I read...
After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.
And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them,
and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.
And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.
When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus.
And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue.
Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized.
And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent,
for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.”
And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal,
saying, “This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law.”
But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint.
But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things.”
And he drove them from the tribunal.
And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this.
This God’s Word!
Prayer
Father, may Your Word, revive our souls this morning as we get a fresh look at Your love for us through Your Son, Jesus Christ. — We ask this in His merciful name — AMEN!
Intro: Formal (give context to passage, setting the scene, big idea)
When we meet Paul here in Acts 18, he’s in the middle of his second missionary journey—doing what he always does: reasoning with Jews and God-fearing Greeks in the synagogue every Sabbath.
But something’s different this time. Paul is running low on funds. He has to take up tent-making again to provide for his needs. Yet even in that, we see God’s gracious hand at work—He provides a strategic partnership through a godly couple named Aquila and Priscilla. So, Paul works by day stitching tents and preaches the gospel whenever he can— most likely on the Sabbaths.
Then in verse 5, things start to look up. Silas and Timothy finally arrive. And we know from Paul’s letter that they brought with them both a good report from the Macedonian churches and a generous financial gift. This gift allows Paul to return full-time to preaching. Luke says Paul was “occupied with the Word,” meaning he was completely absorbed—engrossed—in proclaiming that Jesus is the Christ. No more tent making right now for Paul!
And the results were remarkable. Verse 8 tells us that “many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized,” including Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, and his whole household. Everything seems to be going right!
But then, in verse 9, something surprising happens:
“The Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, ‘Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent.’”
Why would the Lord need to say that to Paul? What’s going on here? Why was Paul afraid? Why was he tempted to stay quiet?
What we see here is a very human, very fragile picture of the Apostle Paul—not the fearless missionary we sometimes imagine. Paul himself admits this in his first letter to the Corinthians:
And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom.
For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling,
Why so weak? Why so afraid? Luke doesn’t tell us directly, but I think we can make a good guess.
Yes, Paul has seen incredible gospel fruit—new believers, baptisms, churches planted—but this has also been a long stretch of rejection and hostility. In Philippi, he was beaten and jailed. In Thessalonica and Berea, he was driven out by angry mobs. In Athens, the intellectuals mostly mocked him.
And now, he arrives in Corinth—a city full of pride, wealth, and moral corruption—tired, alone, and perhaps wondering how much more he can take.
It reminds me of something from the world of football. When a team scores a touchdown, the ball gets spiked into the ground in celebration, and then—on the very next play—it gets kicked hard down the field on the kickoff. Imagine that football had feelings. Every time there’s success, it gets spiked and then sent flying again.
That’s kind of what ministry has been like for Paul. Every time the gospel scores a touchdown—every time there’s fruit, conversions, or joy—he gets spiked and punted by persecution. The pattern has been the same: proclaim the gospel, some believe, a church is planted... and then comes rejection, hostility, and suffering.
So I think what Paul’s afraid of here is more success—because he knows that with success comes more suffering. And he’s weary, worn down, and maybe even wondering if it’s time to lay low, make tents, and keep his mouth shut for a while.
And it’s right there—in that moment of weakness and fear—that the Lord Himself meets Paul in a vision and speaks the words His weary servant most needs to hear. Words that remind Paul—and us—that God doesn’t abandon His servants when they’re weak and fearful. He comes close. He strengthens. He restores.
And what we see in this passage is that God cares for His weak and fearful servants so that they can keep going in His mission.
We see that through three things the Lord says to Paul in verses 9–10:
God’s Gentle Rebuke
God’s Strong Mandate
God’s Sovereign Promises
God’s Gentle Rebuke
God’s Gentle Rebuke
Let’s begin by looking first at God’s gentle rebuke.
It’s right at the moment when Paul is tempted to pull back and go quiet that Jesus breaks through the darkness—not with a command to perform, but with a word to comfort: “Do not be afraid.”
That’s the gentle rebuke.
Not a harsh correction, but a compassionate reminder.
Like a boxer slumped in the corner between rounds, bloodied and breathing heavy, Paul gets a hand on the shoulder from his corner man—the Lord Himself—saying, “Don’t quit, Paul. Get back in there. I’m with you.”
And Paul isn’t the first servant of God who’s needed to hear those words.
To Joshua, stepping into the shoes of Moses, God said:
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
To Jeremiah, a young prophet facing fierce opposition:
Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.”
And to Israel, trembling in exile:
fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
This is the same God who now speaks to Paul—and to us.
And the fact that God takes the initiative here shows the depth of His care. He doesn’t wait for His servants to pull themselves together. Like Paul, He draws near to us in love to drive out our fear.
That’s what 1 John 4:18 says so beautifully:
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.
It was the nearness of the Lord that quieted Paul’s heart—the awareness that he was still loved, and seen. And the same is true for us.
I don’t know what your fear might be in ministry. Maybe it’s fear of criticism, or rejection. Maybe it’s fear of losing your job, or your reputation, or a friendship. Maybe it’s fear of failure—or just that deep, nagging sense that you’re not enough.
But the Lord says to you the same thing He said to Paul: “Do not be afraid.”
Not because the threats aren’t real, but because His love is greater!
So when you feel that fear creeping in, remember these words of David from Psalm 56:9-11
This I know, that God is for me.
In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?
That’s God’s gentle rebuke—not meant to shame us, but to steady us.
Not to push us down, but to lift us up so we can keep going.
You see, when God meets us in our fear, He doesn’t just pat us on the back and say, “It’ll be okay.” He restores our purpose. The Lord told Paul, “Don’t be afraid,” then followed it with these words, “keep on speaking, don’t be silent.”
This is the second way God cares for His weak and fearful servants — by giving them a strong mandate to keep proclaiming His Word.
God’s Strong Mandate
God’s Strong Mandate
Now, this is an area where many followers of Christ struggle.
We know we’re supposed to speak for Jesus, but we don’t feel confident doing it. We tell ourselves, “I’ll just let my life speak for me.”
But notice—God doesn’t tell Paul, “Just live a good life and they’ll notice.” He says, “Go on speaking and do not be silent.”
And here’s what’s important: God doesn’t command Paul to speak because he’s good at it. He commands Paul to speak because He has many in this city who are His people (v. 10).
That’s the key. The success of the mission doesn’t depend on the skill of the messenger—it depends on the sovereignty of the Sender.
Paul’s speaking mattered, not because of Paul’s eloquence, but because God had chosen people in Corinth who would hear and believe when the gospel was proclaimed.
That’s exactly what Paul would later write in Romans 10:17
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
In other words—no one can believe if no one speaks.
The gospel must be heard to be received, and it must be spoken to be heard. And Paul was God’s chosen instrument—the tool God would use to awaken faith in His people.
Now, yes, Paul was an extraordinary communicator. Just think back to his brilliant address in Athens. But when he arrived in Corinth, Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:3–4
And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling,
and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
Do you see it? Paul’s confidence wasn’t in his ability to persuade—it was in God’s power to save.
And later, when he reflected on this, he wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:9–10
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
…For when I am weak, then I am strong.
So here’s the truth, church: If you feel weak, fearful, and inadequate, that’s the perfect time to speak!
Because that’s when it’s unmistakably clear that the strength is not yours—it’s God’s. And when God works through our weakness, He gets the glory.
I’ll never forget one Sunday when I finished preaching and thought, “That one didn’t go so well.” I felt flat, scattered, like I hadn’t delivered what I hoped. But afterward someone came up to me to share how deeply God had used that sermon to speak into their life.
And I was reminded again: The power was never mine. God delights to work through weak servants.
Paul captured this idea beautifully in 2 Corinthians 4:7
But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
So church—if you’re feeling weak, that’s not your cue to be silent. That’s your invitation to speak. Because when fragile, ordinary people open their mouths to share Christ, the power of God shines all the more brightly.
Remember Moses—when God called him to confront Pharaoh, Moses protested, “I’m not good with words.”
And what did God say? “Who made your mouth? … Now go, and I will be with your mouth.” (Exod. 4:10–12)
So don’t wait until you feel strong to speak. Weakness is the secret strength of God’s most effective servants.
When you feel weak—that’s the time to speak.
But even when we obedient to speak, there’s still that lingering question: What if things don’t go well for me? For this God gives Paul and us His sovereign promises
Gods’ Sovereign Promises
Gods’ Sovereign Promises
In verse 10, God gives Paul three promises — each one designed to quiet his fear and strengthen his faith.
First, God promises His presence.
He says, “For I am with you.”
That’s the anchor for Paul’s courage — and it’s still the anchor for ours. Jesus gave the same promise when He sent us out on His mission:
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…
…And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
This is the same assurance God gave to Moses, to Joshua, to Jeremiah — and now to Paul.
The truth is, we don’t endure for God because we’re strong.
We endure because God is with us.
His presence doesn’t remove our weakness, but it sustains us in it.
Second, God promises Paul His protection.
He says, “No one will attack you to harm you.”
Now, that’s a promise specific to Paul in Corinth — not one we can claim for ourselves today. But notice what happens in verses 12–17: the Jews drag Paul before the authorities, just as he feared. It looks like déjà vu — another beating, another prison cell — but this time God intervenes. Gallio, the Roman proconsul, dismisses the case completely!
And once again, God proves sovereign — even over the decisions of pagan rulers.
And while this promise isn’t ours in its details, the truth behind it is.
No one can touch the servant of God apart from His permission — and if He allows it, it’s always for His glory and our good.
That’s the unshakable hope of Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
So whether God delivers us from suffering or sustains us through it, His sovereign goodness remains our comfort.
Third, God promises Paul a fruitful ministry.
He says, “For I have many in this city who are my people.”
This is amazing because it means that before a single person believed, God already knew those who would.
There were hearts in Corinth ready to respond — they just needed to hear the gospel!
That would be like going fishing with a guarantee that you will catch something. I’ve never been much of a fisherman — probably because I never caught anything! But if I knew the fish were waiting, and all I had to do was cast my line into the water — I’d go every day!
Paul stayed because he believed God’s promise of fruitfulness.
He stayed a year and a half — longer than anywhere else — because God’s promises turned his fear into faithfulness.
And the same can happen for us.
We don’t know how many God plans to save in our community, but I believe He has people here — people He intends to reach through the faithful witness of His church.
Our job is simply to stay and speak the gospel — trusting that God’s promises never fail.
God’s promises are a powerful remedy for our weakness and fears…
Charles Spurgeon, who battled deep seasons of fear and depression, once wrote,
“I am the subject of depressions of spirit so fearful that I hope none of you ever get to such extremes of wretchedness as I go to.”
But then he said this — and it’s gold for weary servants:
“An ointment for every wound, a cordial for every faintness, and a remedy for every disease. Blessed is he who is skilled in the heavenly pharmacy and knows how to lay hold on the healing virtues of the promises of God.”
O church, let us learn that skill.
Because it’s by clinging to the promises of God that fear gives way to faith, and weak, trembling servants become steadfast and fruitful in the mission of Christ.
Conclusion/Response (Gospel & Repent/Believe)
Now let’s step back and remember where we’ve been this morning.
We began by asking:
“What does God do for His servants when the mission feels too hard?”
And through Paul’s time in Corinth, we’ve seen the answer —
God refreshes His discouraged and fearful servants.
He does it through His gentle rebuke — reminding us not to fear.
He does it through His strong mandate — calling us to keep speaking and not grow silent.
And He does it through His sovereign promises — assuring us that His presence, His purposes, and His plans will never fail.
And that brings us back to where we started — the image of that quarterback who keeps getting knocked down. Hit after hit, play after play, wondering how much more he can take.
But what happens when the play clock is ticking down, and he hears the coach’s voice through the headset saying,
“Get back up. You’re not finished. I’m right here with you.”
Something changes.
The pain doesn’t disappear, but courage returns.
That’s exactly what the Lord did for Paul — and what He still does for us.
Maybe you’re here today, and you’re one of those weary players on the field.
You’ve been serving, praying, giving, showing up — but lately, you’re tired.
You feel the bruises of ministry. You’ve been spiked and punted more times than you can count.
If this is you — hear the Lord’s gentle voice to you today:
“Do not be afraid… for I am with you.”
Don’t quit. Stay faithful. The God who called you hasn’t left you.
Or maybe you’ve been sitting on the sidelines — watching others labor, thinking the mission is for someone else.
If this is you, God is calling you to get back in the game.
Not because you’re strong, but because He is.
There are people in this Dutchess County, in your neighborhood, at your workplace — whom God intends to reach through your witness.
Don’t let fear or fatigue keep you from opening your mouth for Jesus.
And maybe you’re here today and, like those who heard Paul in Corinth, you’ve been listening to the message of Christ but haven’t yet responded.
Paul reasoned, persuaded, and pleaded — but when some rejected the gospel, he warned them that they were accountable before God for their unbelief.
That same message comes to you today.
God, in mercy, has brought you here to hear the good news that His Son Jesus died for your sins and rose again.
But hearing is not enough — you must respond.
If you turn away, your blood is on your own head.
But if you turn to Christ in faith, His blood covers your sin and makes you clean.
Don’t walk away as those did in Corinth — walk toward the Savior who says,
“I will never leave you or forsake you.”
————————————————-
Now church, let’s be a people who cling to the promises of God.
Because when we do, our fear gives way to faith and our weakness becomes strength.
And the next time you feel like that quarterback — knocked down again — remember this:
God hasn’t benched you.
He’s right there with you, in the huddle, saying,
“Get back up. Keep speaking. Don’t be afraid.
Because I am with you.”
Prayer
Closing Song: O Church Arise
Closing Words:
Church, what a fitting way to end our service — O Church, arise and put your armor on; hear the call of Christ our Captain.
That’s exactly what we’ve seen in God’s Word this morning. When Paul was weary and afraid, the Lord met him with His promises and gave him strength to keep going.
And that same faithful God still meets His servants today — He meets us in our weakness, refreshes our courage, and sends us out with His strength.
Has God been stirring in your heart today? — Maybe you sense Him calling you to take a next step in your faith — we’d love to walk alongside you. To engage with us in this way just fill out one of our Next Steps cards and drop it in the box at the welcome counter in the foyer.
And if you’re here this morning and you’ve never trusted Christ as your Savior — you’ve heard today the same gospel Paul preached in Corinth: that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God who died for sinners and rose again.
If you sense the Lord calling you to believe, please don’t leave without responding. Some people will be right here at the front after the service. They would love to talk with you and pray with you about beginning a relationship with Christ.
Now, for all of us who belong to Christ, let’s go from here with renewed boldness — not in our own strength, but in His.
You may feel weak, but remember, that’s when God’s power shines brightest.
So, church — arise! Go into your week as His ambassadors — ready to speak of Jesus with courage, compassion, and confidence that He is with you every step of the way.
Benediction
Adapted from Ephesians 6:10, 19–20
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might…and pray that words my be given to you, to boldly proclaim the mystery of the gospel.
