God’s Word of Encouragement

God’s Word of Encouragement to the Apostle Paul Acts 18. 9 One night the LORD spoke to Paul in a vision: “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.” 11 So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the Word of God. In this time we need a word of encouragement from the LORD. The coronavirus and the after affects are taking it’s toll on all of us. Some people are struggling with depression. Some people have become shaky in their faith. One out of three people in the United States that were active are no longer attending church or viewing the services online. Others are trying their best but it seems as if everything’s against them. When Paul was going through a difficult time in his ministry God came to him and spoke to him about the work that he was doing. The LORD speaks to us in our times of struggle and uncertainty. We wonder what is going on today. We want life to be predictable, to even go back to the way things were. We forget that reality does not repeat. In this “End of the World As We Knew It” the LORD has not changed. He and His Word remain the same. Paul, the apostle needed this Word. Paul had to escape several times. He still bore the scars from the beating he had received in Philippi for being falsely accused. God knew that coming to a new area, he would need help and encouragement. We are in a new time. This Word to Paul is for us today. The LORD speaks to us personally! *From His Word The more we are in the Word, the more we will hear Him. Problems in believers’ lives happen when they do things contrary to the Word. *To Our Hearts Hebrews 1. 1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, Whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom also He made the universe. *In Our Hearts The still small voice I Kings 19. 11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 13 So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Do not be afraid One of 365 times One for everyday Keep on speaking Don’t stop doing what you have been doing. Don’t be silent Don’t quit Don’t give up Hebrews 10.39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. I am with you His Presence Exodus 33.15 Then Moses said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. I will protect you. No one is going to oppress or harm you. I have many people on Long Island God has people in your life people that love him and love you. Paul didn’t even know who these people were. And we may not either. But He has many people around you and he’s going to protect you and he’s going to be with you always. When going through a stressful time, a difficult time we can easily forget that. Elijah was a man just like us. I Kings 19. 3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” 15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.” “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.”