The Encouragement to move forward

Intro. The devil has a lot of tools in tools in his tools box. I believe one of his greatest tools to use against followers of Jesus is the discouragement.

One of the things we use tools for is to build things. (Steel fabrication)

If the devil can use the tool of discouragement aginst us, he can do what he wants with us.

Tools are used to build things, but they are also to tear things down.

And that is what the devil likes to do with us. Discourage us to tear us down. Discouragement causes to be depressed. Then you don’t want to do anything, you want to just give up.

Everyone at sometime has gone through discouragement. We see people in the bible that have gone through discouragement.

• Moses

The Greatest leader, handpicked by God!

Had God’s power on his life, but in he said to God, “if thou deal thus w/ me, kill me, I pray thee!”

Numbers 11:15 KJV 1900

And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.

• Joshua

Greatest General, handpicked by God to lead Israel into the Promised Land…but in

Joshua 7:7 KJV 1900

And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord God, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!

He felt like quitting! He got over it, thankfully!

• Elijah

Greatest prophet of OT/willing to challenge the idolatry of his day/called fire down from heaven/won a face off w/ prophets of Baal, but in after it was all over, he requested for himself that he might die, and said, it is enough now, O Lord, take away my life!

1 Kings 19:4 KJV 1900

But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

• Jonah

He wanted God to kill him, and was spiritually depressed and not even happy for the all the souls that just got saved in Nineveh!

In we find Paul in his 2nd missionary journey, arriving from Athens to Corinth experiencing a low time in his life (of depression)

In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians he would tell them what was going in his life

1 Corinthians 2:3 KJV 1900

And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

I Corinthians

1 Corinthians 2:3 NASB95

I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling,

AT this point when Paul arrives in Corinth, he had traveled over 50 miles. He was alone, Silas and Timothy were in Macedonia and would catch with Paul later.

He may have even felt a since of failure. In Athens when he preached their, he was called a babbler. (Seed picker) It was as a bird that just picked up peoples scraps.

Paul was stressed, VS 5 “pressed in the spirit.

In Thessalonica, his great success was followed by being forced out of town, and he fled to Berea. There he was persecuted.

At this point on this trip alone, he’s been beaten and jailed at Philippi, persecuted at Thessalonica and Berea, ridiculed in Athens, and now he has to face Corinth! He was at a low point, a crossroads in his ministry, and he was just about to quit!

But God was about to give him some much needed encouragement.

I. Fellow believers to help us move forward.

VS 1-5a

VS 1-3

Paul finds someone that he had something in common with. A Jew named Aquila and his wife Priscilla.

a. Jews had had been forced to leave Rome. They would become missionaries that would travel with Paul. Paul called then “Follow workers in Christ Jesus”

b. Like Paul they were tent makers, this a trade of Paul’s and it helped him make money needed in ministry.

c. One of the greatest God given encouragements are friends. It is always tougher if you have to bear it alone. Remember Silas and Timothy are still in Macedonia. So God knew that Paul needed someone to help him shoulder the burdens of the work.

d.So what does God do? God stirs up a little trouble in Rome. God puts it on the heart of the Roman Emperor Claudius to expel all Jews from Rome. Given eviction papers Aqulia and his wife Priscilla come to Corinth. It seems that Aquila and Priscilla had a tent making business that they set up in Corinth. Paul just so happened to be a tentmaker and so he began to work with Aquila and Priscilla in their business.

d. This gave him the funds for his support so that he could go into the synagogue every Sabbath and reason with the Jews and Greeks for Jesus Christ. What a blessing Aquila and Priscilla were to Paul. They became his best and closest friends.

e. It’s good for us to have friends. Someone you have things in common with. Good christian friends. Someone you can share your burdens with.

f. Just like God put Aquila and Priscilla in Paul’s life, he has someone for you too. And you may be the one God puts in someone else’s life.

else’s life.

VS 4

Paul would go to the synagogue on the Sabbath and reason (discuss) with them out of the scriptures (not he N.T, but out the O.T and show them Jesus)

a. Paul was doing what he loved to do, what he was called to do. It was the encouragement that helped him along. Helped him to get back on tracked.

b. Question for you. Are on on track, or off? Are you doing what you love to do? Spiritually speaking.

VS 5a

One of the greatest God given encouragements are friends. And Paul now has two of his best friends back with him.

One of the greatest God given encouragements are friends.

Encouragement bring positive results

VS 6

1. Paul’s preaching finally stirred the opposition of the Jews. The opposed Paul and his preaching, they accused him off blasphemy.

b. Paul shook his raiment. Jesus told His disciples when he sent them 2x2. If they don’t want to hear you, “dust off your feet as a warning to them”

c. Paul had poured out his soul to them. He had warned them of their wicked ways, and they had rejected his message.

d. This could have caused discouragement, but the encouragement Paul had received kept him moving forward.

e. Paul had preached, he warned them and they would not listen.

f. “I am clean” Paul had been faithful to declare the message of the gospel. Their blood was on their own hands.

Ezekiel 3:17–19 KJV 1900

17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. 18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

1. Paul had warned. We must do the same. Elab

“I will go unto the Gentiles”

b. While Paul never ceased witnessing to the Jews, his primary calling was to evangelize the Gentiles.

c. He was disappointed, which could have turned to being discouraged

g. He was disappointed, which could have turned to being discouraged

VS 7

1. Not much is known about Justus. He was possibly one of Paul’s first converts in Corinth. All we know is that his house was near the synagogue. He went to his house because he was a gentile.

a. From there Paul would carry on his ministry to the Gentiles.

VS 8

1. Crispus: The chief ruler of the synagogue. He would have been in charge if the affairs of the synagogue, including regulating the service.

a. He had heard Paul preach before. Elab. Now he believed. It would have been nice to have seen the reaction of the Jews when Crispus became a believer.

“faith cometh by hearing, and by the word of God”

2. The Corinthians heard Paul’s message, the opened their hearts and they believed unto salvation.

a. What an encouragement for Paul, converts in the work. He preached in the synagogue, they rejected the word. Crispus, the chief ruler saved, along with all in his house.

b. Now many people were being saved. What an encouragement.

3. If we are faithful to share the gospel we will see people saved. You will be encouraged.

III. God’s promises will Encourage us.

VS 9

1. From time to time Paul received visions, given to him by God to strengthen, assure, and encourage him.

a. Paul had to have been feeling some pressure in Corinth. Everywhere he had been so far the Jews stirred up problems against him. Paul was probably thinking it will happen here soon.

b. Paul was human, he didn’t like being imprisoned, beating, hated, ran out of town. No of like it when people are against us.

c. The Lord had plans for Paul to hang around Corinth for awhile so He gives him some encouraging words.

d. “be not afraid”

a. Paul had fears, but God would help him overcome them. Later Pau would write in

“If God be for us, who can be against us?”

b. Fears can turn into discouragement. If it’s fear of some kind, or whatever may cause you to be discouraged, God will help you overcome whatever it may be.

VS 10

1. “For I am with thee”

a. The Lord giving Paul a reminder. I’m with you. He received a word from God.

b. This should be an encouragement for us. God is always with us. VBS this week. “When you are lonely “Jesus reuses you”

When your lonely “Jesus reuses you”

When you worry “Jesus reuses you”

When you struggle “Jesus reuses you”

When you do wrong “Jesus reuses you”

When you’re powerless “Jesus reuses you”

2. “no man shall set on to hurt thee”

a. There would be attacks against Paul but God would protect him from harm.

“Fear not for I am with thee”

“Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee

“for I have much people in the city”

a. There were many people in this sinful city that needed to hear the message of the gospel of Jesus. God was going to use Paul.

b.Paul came into town alone and down and out. Now God is letting know, the thing you love to do the most, share the gospel. There is plenty of work to do.

VS 11

1. For the next year and a half Paul would preach and teach God’s word to the people of Corinth.

a. Paul that great Christian had been encouraged, by companions in the work, converts in the work, and communion in the work.