When You Feel Like Giving Up - Acts 18:1-17

“When You Feel Like Giving Up”

Acts 18:1-17

©Copyright 2003 by Rev. Bruce Goettsche, October 12, 2003

I love being a Pastor. There are, however, days when I wish I could get a job where I could go to work and leave the job behind me when the day is over. I don’t share this with you because I want to complain. I think there are times when all of us get discouraged about what we are called to do. I believe in Acts 18 we see the apostle Paul at a time when he was discouraged.

Paul had been in Antioch and now moved to Corinth. Corinth was a unique and very secular city. Because of its location, it was a hub of activity. People went through Corinth to go North and they went through Corinth to go West. Corinth was a very cosmopolitan city due to their shipping and transport industry. There were people of all races and all income levels. There were wealthy tycoons and laborers who were just making ends meet.

Corinth was also a moral cesspool. Corinth was the center of the cult of the love goddess Aphrodite (Venus). The temple of Aphrodite was one of the architectural wonders of the world. One record says that at one time there were ten thousand temple prostitutes at the temple of Aphrodite! In those days to call a person a “Corinthian” was the equivalent of calling someone a “pervert” today.

I believe when Paul arrived in Corinth he was discouraged and worn out.

A WEARY SERVANT

Trying Times. There is nothing that specifically tells us that Paul was discouraged but all the signs are there. Paul had been in prison, stoned and left for dead, brought before judges and faced abuse of all kinds. These kinds of things wear on you after awhile. Paul may have been physically weary.

Notice in verse 11 God speaks to Paul. He tells him not to be afraid or to stop preaching. I think this command tips us off to the fact that Paul was weary, afraid of more hostilities, and he was discouraged.

Frustrating Results. In chapter 17:33 we are told that as a result of Paul’s ministry in Athens “A few men believed, a woman, and a number of others.” It is reasonable to conclude that Paul was discouraged with the poor response to his ministry in Athens. He preached, he taught, he reasoned and saw little result. The fact that Paul left Athens before Silas and Timothy caught up with him may be another indicator of his discouragement.

If you give your heart to something and it doesn’t go as well as you hoped, it is easy to be discouraged. If you put hours into preparing for something and no one shows up, it’s discouraging. If you are excited about a particular program but no one shares your excitement, it is discouraging. If you look forward to a big event but it doesn’t go as you had hoped, it’s easy to be discouraged.

When we are discouraged we tend to draw false conclusions. We believe we are a failure. We may feel that we are “obviously” the wrong person for a job. We wonder, “What is wrong with me?” We become confused, embarrassed and defeated. Discouraged people are drained of life and energy.

Personal Loneliness. Paul had been in Athens alone. Timothy and Silas were finishing the work in Philippi. Discouragement mixed with loneliness can be a lethal combination. This is the kind of thing sometimes leads to suicide. When you are alone you have a tendency to lose perspective and issues become bigger than they really are.

Financial Pressures. It is possible that Paul is also facing financial pressures. In 2 Corinthians 11:9 Paul wrote, “And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.” When Paul came into Corinth it was before Timothy and Silas arrived from Macedonia with the offering from the church in Phillippi.

Notice the first thing Paul did when he came into Corinth; he found a job. He worked with Aquila and Pricilla in their tent making business. Paul never complained about money, but we all know what a strain financial stress can be on your life.

Rejection. Our text tells us Paul spent every Sabbath in the synagogue trying to reason with the people. In verse 6 we are told the people in the synagogue opposed Paul and became abusive. Once again, Paul was rejected by his own people. There was an article in the paper just this last week that reported that scientists have discovered that rejection registers as physical pain in our brain.

If you add all of these things together, it is easy to see why Paul may have been discouraged. I wonder if Paul was beginning to question if he should get out of ministry? Frankly, there are many Pastors and Christian workers who are just like Paul. They face constant criticism, even from the people they serve; they own little but everyone thinks they are getting paid too much; they find it difficult to have any true friends; they work tirelessly and seem to be getting nowhere.

It is not only those in Christian service who feel this way. Maybe you feel you’ve been trying to conduct your business with honesty and integrity, yet it is the other guy who seems to get all the jobs. Maybe you have been working hard doing all the things no one else does, but you get passed over for a promotion. Maybe you have put your heart and soul into a business or project but it just doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. Maybe you are discouraged because you are alone. Maybe you are discouraged that you can don’t the things others can do financially. Perhaps you are wondering why God doesn’t bless you. If so, you understand how Paul felt.

A FAITHFUL FATHER

In response to the discouragement of the apostle Paul, God provides.

Good Friends. God not only brings Silas and Timothy to Paul in Corinth, he also provides him with great new friends, Aquila and Priscilla. They became dear friends and co-workers with Paul. When Paul felt he couldn’t carry the burden by himself any more, God provided friends to help him carry the load. We cannot underestimate the strength that comes from a good friend.

A Timely Offering. When Silas and Timothy came from Philippi they brought with them a generous offering from the church. This gift lifted some of the burden from Paul’s shoulders. The gift made it possible for Paul to devote his time to preaching and teaching without having to worry about how God would provide for his needs.

Encouraging Fruit. Verse eight tells us, “Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.” Paul’s ministry in Corinth began to bear fruit. The synagogue ruler himself came to faith in Christ. There is nothing that energizes quite as effectively as seeing positive results from your labors.

A Personal Message. God also spoke to Paul in a dream.

“Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” [ Acts 18:9,10]

Do not be afraid. This is the one of the most common commands in Scripture. Seventy nine times in the Bible there are commands to not be afraid. Let’s be honest. Most of the time we aren’t particularly helped by those who say, “Don’t worry” or “don’t be afraid”. The words seem hollow and empty. When other people say this to us we believe they don’t understand the situation. If they did, they would worry and be afraid too!

But it’s different when God says these words. When God tells us not to worry He is saying, “Don’t worry because I’ve got it under control”. When He says, “Don’t be afraid” He is telling us that He will protect us.

Keep on Speaking, do not be silent God tells Paul not to give up. I think it is interesting that even though Paul was discouraged he kept doing what he was supposed to do. He continued to speak and reason in the synagogue. He was obedient even when his heart wasn’t fully in the work. Paul remained faithful even when he felt like quitting.

I am With You, No one will harm you. These are great words. We can face anything if God is by our side. There is no opponent who can defeat the Lord. When we are walking with Him, we are safe, even if the storm is fierce around us.

God can’t always tell us that no one will harm us. Sometimes they do. Ultimately, however, no one can harm us. No one can separate us from His love. They can kill the body but they cannot take life from us, for we are hidden in Christ. God has promised that He is using every situation for His purpose. We are safe in His hands.

You are not as alone as you think. God told Paul that there were many of God’s people in the city. Perhaps these were people who already believed. Perhaps God was referring to those who would come to faith under Paul’s ministry. Either way, Corinth was not Athens. This ministry was going to bear fruit. The gospel would take hold even in this morally bankrupt city.

CONCLUSIONS

There are a number of lessons we can take from this text. First, we should not be surprised if we get discouraged. Throughout the Bible you will see that many of God’s people were discouraged. David was discouraged, Elijah was discouraged, and Paul was discouraged. Think about it. Don’t you think there were days when Noah wanted to stop building the Ark? Surely there were days wandering in the wilderness when Moses and Aaron wanted to say, “We quit!” Do you really think Ezekiel and Jeremiah were always thrilled about their jobs? Do you think the disciples were never discouraged at the lack of response from the people?

· It’s discouraging when people always focus on the problems rather than the gains

· It’s discouraging when people insist on keeping their Christianity at arms length

· It’s discouraging to do your best and feel unappreciated

· It’s discouraging when you pray and you don’t get the answer you want

· It’s discouraging when for ever positive comment there seems to be three negative comments.

Life has discouraging moments. It is not a sin to be discouraged.

Second, we must remember that the Lord provides for His people. God never lost sight of Paul. God has not lost sight of you either.

One tribe of native Americans had a unique practice for training young braves. On the night of a boy's thirteenth birthday, he was placed in a dense forest to spend the entire night alone. Until then he had never been away from the security of his family and tribe. But on this night he was blindfolded and taken miles away. When he took off the blindfold, he was in the middle of thick woods. By himself. All night long.

Every time a twig snapped, he probably visualized a wild animal ready to pounce. Every time an animal howled, he imagined a wolf leaping out of the darkness. Every time the wind blew, he wondered what more sinister sound it masked. No doubt it was a terrifying night for many.

After what seemed like an eternity, the first rays of sunlight entered the interior of the forest. Looking around, the boy saw flowers, trees, and the outline of the path. Then, to his utter astonishment, he beheld the figure of a man standing just a few feet away, armed with a bow and arrow. It was the boy's father. He had been there all night long.

It’s possible that your sense of discouragement today is because you are in the dark. You hear the sounds of discouragement and your heart is weary. My friends, the Father stands guard over your life and your soul. Take courage, He has not deserted you.

Third, we are reminded that our greatest need in the times of discouragement is a new perspective. We need to remind ourselves of what is true.

· We are not a failure simply because something doesn’t go well.

· We are not poor because we don’t have as much as someone else (we have much more than most people in the world).

· We are not worthless simply because others don’t see our gifts and treasures.

· God has not stopped working in us just because we don’t know what He is doing.

· Rejection doesn’t always mean you’ve done something wrong—it may mean you are doing what is right. People may not be rejecting you . . . they may be rejecting the Lord you represent.

Fourth, this passage reminds us en-courage others. Paul knew in his heart that the Lord was with him, but he also needed the help of those who have flesh and blood. We need to help each other. When you see someone who is doing a good job . . . tell them. Look for ways to express appreciation for those who serve faithfully. Be attentive as a friend. Be careful with your criticisms. Sometimes we criticize as a way of challenging a person to do better, but remember that constant criticism doesn’t build a person’s spirit . . . it’s breaks their spirit. They start to believe they can never do anything right and it probably foolish to keep trying.

Finally, we need to keep focused on our blessings. I read a legend of a man who found the barn where Satan kept his seeds ready to be sown in the human heart, and on finding the seeds of discouragement more numerous than others, he learned that those seeds could be made to grow almost anywhere. When Satan was questioned, he reluctantly admitted that there was one place in which he could never get them to thrive. "And where is that?" asked the man. Satan replied sadly, "In the heart of a grateful man."

The best way to put off discouragement is to continually remind yourself of your many blessings. Maybe you don’t have many material blessings. Perhaps the world does not think of you as a success. Perhaps you are working hard and nobody seems to notice or care. It’s easy to get discouraged. My friend, instead of dwelling on these things, maybe there are better things to think about. Do you have a bed to sleep in? Are you sufficiently nourished? Do you have a family? Can you see, hear, taste, touch and savor life?

Here’s an even better set of questions: Are you a child of the King? Is there a mansion in Heaven being prepared for you? Is your sin forgiven? Is there a Savior who loves you so much that He died in your place? Does God’s Spirit live in you and fill you with life? Has God promised that He will reward you for your faithfulness even if the world rejects you?

If you are not sure about the answers to these questions it is possible that the real source of your problem is your alienation from God. The Bible tells us that we cannot be right with God until we recognize our rebellion and receive the gift of forgiveness and new life that comes through Christ alone. We cannot and will not be able to earn eternal life. Our only hope is Jesus. Perhaps you have been running from Him. Perhaps it is time to stop running and come home to the arms of the Father. I encourage you to receive Christ’s gift for forgiveness and new life today. In simple faith say, “Lord, I’m sorry for running away. I want to come home. Today, I put my trust and confidence in Jesus, and in Him alone. Make me new. Make me yours. Help me to follow you forever.” If you will pray a prayer like this, and mean it, you will be a new creature in Christ. It doesn’t mean that you will never be discouraged, but you will have a new perspective.

I hate to say it, but I am encouraged by the fact that Paul became discouraged. I am encouraged because it means I am not alone in being overwhelmed on occasion. I am not alone when I want to toss in the towel. I am not deficient when I wish I had the resources to do what others do. Discouragement is a part of life. The way to battle discouragement is to draw close to the Lord, to dwell on ultimate issues, and to look for a few friends who will travel with you.

©Copyright 2003 by Rev. Bruce Goettsche, October 12, 2003