ENCOURAGEMENT IN DARK TIMES (2)

ENCOURAGEMENT IN DARK TIMES

Acts 23:11

“The Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome” (Acts 23:11).

The Apostle Paul was in a very discouraging situation. He was in bonds in the custody of Roman soldiers in a fortress. He had been very falsely accused. It looked like evil had won and his ministry for God was over. But God comes in the darkest of hours to give us encouragement and He told Paul the game was not over yet. Four things are involved in this encouragement.

FIRST—THE PRESENCE OF GOD

“The Lord stood by him.” Nothing so encourages the godly as the presence of God. Not many would stand with Paul at this time. When all forsake us, God will not. When Moses was leading Israel and they came to a time when God threatened to remove his presence from them because of their great sin, Moses pleaded with God to stay, Moses so valued the presence of God that he would not go on without it (Exodus 33:15). The key to Joseph’s success in spite of his mistreatment was the presence of God (Genesis 39:21). When God is with you, you can endure any difficulty. It matters not who stands with you or against you as long as the Lord stands with you. Seek his abiding presence in your life.

SECOND—THE PRECEPT FROM GOD

“Be of good cheer.” We may be very surprised that encouragement comes from precepts as well as promises. We understand well how promises are encouragers but precepts? God’s commands are given to bless us not burden us. Commandments are avenues of blessing. They may be very hard to obey, as this one certainly was—how do you be cheerful when things are as dark as they were here for Paul? But though hard to obey, yet obey the commands (Paul did, for there is no record of his pouting and complaining). One wonders if this experience inspired the exhortation he made in Philippians 4:4. Paul was in prison when he made the exhortation. Prison did not stop his cheer.

THIRD—THE PRAISE FROM GOD

“Thou has testified of me in Jerusalem.” When we are in tough circumstances, we tend to conclude that we have been a failure. But that is when God pats Paul on the back and says he had been doing well and he was going to keep doing well. God gives us praise when we need it the most. Men may be speaking ill of us and that will cause us to be greatly discouraged, but get in the Word of God and let God encourage you in His service.

FOURTH—THE PROMISE FROM GOD

“So must thou bear witness also at Rome.” This had to really encourage Paul. Being bound in the army fortress would cause him to think his ministry was over. But God encouraged him with the promise of further service. Man may not want Paul but God does.[1]

[1] Butler, J. G. (2014). Sermon Starters (Vol. 1, p. 152). Clinton, IA: LBC Publications.