I don't know if you are like
me, but there are times where I become afraid to share Jesus and His Gospel
with people that I meet. I become
fearful of how my testimony might be received; fearful that I might be seen as
preachy or pushy; even fearful that I will not "get it right."
Even the Apostle Paul must
have been subject to this same fear. In
Acts 18, Paul is in Corinth. He had been
beaten and imprisoned in Philippi; left Thessalonica under duress; fled
"agitated" crowds in Berea and testified in Athens. Despite the anger of those who opposed Paul's
message of salvation through Jesus, a fledgling group of disciples in a new
church was formed in each of those cities.
In Corinth, Paul connects
with Aquila and Priscilla. He preaches
both in the synagogue and to the Gentiles with numerous new disciples being
made. Challenges from influential Jewish
leaders are about to come down on Paul.
God knew that Paul would be afraid so He spoke to him in a vision.
Acts 18:9-10 ESV 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.”
There are four learnings that
I gain for my own witness from Paul's vision.
First, the
Lord exhorts Paul "Do not be afraid".
That phrase or some version of it (e.g. "fear not") appears
365 times in the Bible. When I think of
the fact that God gives me the opportunity to witness for him every day, I find
it awesome that there are 365 "do not be afraids" in the
Scriptures. If Paul needed it, so do I.
Second, Paul
is given an imperative "but go on speaking" and a prohibition
"and do not be silent." The
Lord gives the same instruction both positively and negatively. Confessing the truth about Jesus and His love
is something we are privileged to do at all times. There is never a wrong time to share the
Savior King with another person or group.
Third, the
Lord gives the reason why Paul can proceed fearlessly speaking the truth and
testifying to the Savior. God assures Paul "for
I am with you." Paul was not
alone. Neither are you or I when we
witness. The Holy Spirit has been given
to us for this very reason.
Fourth, the
Lord assures Paul "no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in
this city who are my people."
Despite the mounting opposition and the trial before a Roman Proconsul
that Paul will soon face, the Lord promises that no one will lay a hand on
Paul. It is sometimes tempting to think
that when we witness and share the love of Jesus, that no one is listening or
moved by the Holy Spirit. Paul is
assured that God's Word has had its effect.
It has done exactly what God intended to do with it. God will do the
same through you or I when we confess His truth.
So…reminder to self:
Don't be afraid (365 days a
year); Go on speaking; Do not be silent; Trust God is with me; Be confident
that He has many who are His people and even when I don't recognize it, they
are all around me.
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