Acts: The Gospel Unleashed Part 30

Introduction:

How do we deal with life’s troubles and remain faithful?

Acts 18:1 ESV

After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.

When Paul left Athens and arrived at Corinth he was a mess.

1 Corinthians 2:1–3 ESV

1 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling,

Physically

Mentally

Emotionally - The weight of his experiences have taken their toll on him.

He finds himself a broken man limping the 50 mile journey from Athens to Corinth.

He has no gas left in his tank.

Paul is hurting.

How do I handle life’s hurts?

Acts 18:2–3 ESV

2 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, 3 and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.

Draw strength from Christ-Centered community.

Galatians 6:2 ESV

2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV

11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Hebrews 10:25 ESV

25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

God’s people need God’s people.

How do we handel hurts?

Remember God’s calling.

Acts 18:4–8 ESV

4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks. 5 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. 6 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.” 7 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. 8 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.

Listen to God’s voice.

Acts 18:9–11 ESV

9 And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10 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.” 11 And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

Fear Not! Keep Speaking! I am With You!

Some of the sweetest moments with God come from the backdrop of personal struggle and difficulty.

John Ogilvie in his book “Drumbeat of Love”

I have learned this repeatedly in my own life. When my strength is depleted, when my rhetoric is unpolished by human talent, when I am weary, the Lord has a much better tool for empathetic, sensitive communication. The barriers are down. When I know I can do nothing by myself, my poverty becomes a channel of his power.

Sometimes God speaks into your situation in a special way and His Word is so refreshing!

Psalm 23:1–3 ESV

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Paul was so refreshed by God that he just kept serving and ministering.

Acts 18:12–18 ESV

12 But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal, 13 saying, “This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law.” 14 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. 15 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.” 16 And he drove them from the tribunal. 17 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. 18 After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had cut his hair, for he was under a vow.