How much more, Lord? How much longer, Lord? Most of us go through periods when we feel that we have almost reached our limit. We cannot handle much more pressure; much more pain; much more loneliness or disappointment. We feel we cannot wait much longer; we cannot press on much longer. (Listen on YouTube to Selah singing "Press On" - an encouraging song.)
I think the Apostle Paul reached that point when God spoke to him. (Acts 18:9 - 11) He was on a difficult assignment - the second missionary journey. Sure he enjoyed some wonderful spiritual fruit, but he also faced terrific opposition. I list the events briefly, but to empathize you have to pause and think about the experiences he endured. (Acts 16:11 - 18:8)
1. Philippi - Attacked by a crowd, stripped and beaten. Thrown in prison; then asked to leave the city.
2. Thessalonica - Paul's preaching caused a riot; so the new Christian converts helped Paul and Silas sneak out of town at night.
3. Berea - Paul was not there long before he had strong opposition. He was escorted out of town again.
4. Athens - Paul witnessed, preached and a few became believers. Apparently he did not find spiritual openness; all we read is that Paul left Athens no escort this time.
5. Corinth - He joined up with Priscilla and Aquila; his teammates Silas and Timothy caught up with him. However after several weeks of preaching in the synagogue, he again met with strong opposition.
I am guessing by this time he was deeply discouraged by so much opposition, in spite of the fact that people were coming to faith. Emotionally, spiritually and physically he was likely feeling that "enough is enough"; in fact it was almost too much. At that point God lovingly came to Paul and spoke directly to him one night.
"Do not be afraid. Keep on speaking, do not be silent. 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 - 11.
Paul in Acts and in his writings often seems fearless. But he was just as human as you and me. God knew that he was struggling and needy, so at just the right time (why not three cities before??) God provided the supernatural encouragement that Paul needed.
God's timing is not ours. His thoughts and ways are not like ours. But He knows you and loves you. God knows your circumstances and knows better than you exactly how much you can bear.
Right now, I would love to have a direct word from God telling me about the future. A word just like Paul received. Yet God rarely speaks a special, audible, direct word to us as he did that night to Paul in Corinth. In fact God has never spoken an audible word directly to me.
However He has given to you and me, 27 books of truth and encouragement in the NT - very special words from God - that Paul did not have. Those inspired words assure us that we can press on; that God does provide all we need; that we can and must be patient; that we must keep our eternal perspective.
"Thank you God for your sensitive, loving words to Paul that must have come at just the right time. Thank you for all of the wonderful, wise, encouraging words available to us through Paul and other authors of Scripture. We will press on."
I think the Apostle Paul reached that point when God spoke to him. (Acts 18:9 - 11) He was on a difficult assignment - the second missionary journey. Sure he enjoyed some wonderful spiritual fruit, but he also faced terrific opposition. I list the events briefly, but to empathize you have to pause and think about the experiences he endured. (Acts 16:11 - 18:8)
1. Philippi - Attacked by a crowd, stripped and beaten. Thrown in prison; then asked to leave the city.
2. Thessalonica - Paul's preaching caused a riot; so the new Christian converts helped Paul and Silas sneak out of town at night.
3. Berea - Paul was not there long before he had strong opposition. He was escorted out of town again.
4. Athens - Paul witnessed, preached and a few became believers. Apparently he did not find spiritual openness; all we read is that Paul left Athens no escort this time.
5. Corinth - He joined up with Priscilla and Aquila; his teammates Silas and Timothy caught up with him. However after several weeks of preaching in the synagogue, he again met with strong opposition.
I am guessing by this time he was deeply discouraged by so much opposition, in spite of the fact that people were coming to faith. Emotionally, spiritually and physically he was likely feeling that "enough is enough"; in fact it was almost too much. At that point God lovingly came to Paul and spoke directly to him one night.
"Do not be afraid. Keep on speaking, do not be silent. 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 - 11.
Paul in Acts and in his writings often seems fearless. But he was just as human as you and me. God knew that he was struggling and needy, so at just the right time (why not three cities before??) God provided the supernatural encouragement that Paul needed.
God's timing is not ours. His thoughts and ways are not like ours. But He knows you and loves you. God knows your circumstances and knows better than you exactly how much you can bear.
Right now, I would love to have a direct word from God telling me about the future. A word just like Paul received. Yet God rarely speaks a special, audible, direct word to us as he did that night to Paul in Corinth. In fact God has never spoken an audible word directly to me.
However He has given to you and me, 27 books of truth and encouragement in the NT - very special words from God - that Paul did not have. Those inspired words assure us that we can press on; that God does provide all we need; that we can and must be patient; that we must keep our eternal perspective.
"Thank you God for your sensitive, loving words to Paul that must have come at just the right time. Thank you for all of the wonderful, wise, encouraging words available to us through Paul and other authors of Scripture. We will press on."
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