Take Courage

Acts 23. 11 The following night the LORD stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” I remember when I had to give a speech in class when I was in junior high school. We came up to a weekend and they would be 10 minutes left in the class and I was next. The teacher said let’s pick up on Monday. I breathed a huge sigh of relief. I had the whole weekend. I was off the hook until Sunday night when I began to become nervous about the speech again. What a relief after it was over! The number one fear of Americans is speaking in public. For the apostle Paul it was more than just a public speech. His testimony that he was going to give in front of courts was a life and death matter. If he said the wrong words, if those passing judgment didn’t agree he could face the death penalty. More than that he had a desire to proclaim the Gospel. Ephesians 6.19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. It was during this time, at night, the LORD came and stood by him and spoke to him. This is the Word the LORD gave Paul in a very trying time: Take courage. We go through difficult times in our lives. Sometimes we are overwhelmed. Sometimes the LORD gives us more than we can handle. It is beyond our ability to bear. Grief can do that to us. In the loss of a loved one we can feel so out of it we wonder if we can go on. One of the reasons that David wrote that when he goes through the valley of the shadow of death he will not fear any evil. Dealing with the effects of the current worldwide crisis has put people in fear. It has changed our lives. It has disrupted plans. The economic effects are yet to be fully felt. Great Depression and suicidal thoughts are in the psyches of Americans today, even among pastors as our District Superintendent Dr. Sam Vassal shared a few weeks ago in Brentwood. We need courage today. The good news is that the LORD is here to give it to us. He is with us in all of life. At the points when we may be tempted to think I can do this on my own. I am OK. Those are the very moment where we need Him the most. We feel the need of Him when we’re going through a crisis but often when things are going well, that was the warning for Israel, when you get into the land it flows with milk and honey be careful not to forget the LORD your God brought you into this place. These are the times that try men’s souls. The message of Thomas Paine's pamphlet The Crisis was to remind Americans during the battle for Independence that real patriots hold onto their beliefs, even in hard times. Real Christians hold onto the LORD and their faith in Him in hard times. God is purifying His Church today. We are in the fires of testing. Stand firm. The LORD Stands Near His Servants in Their Times of Great Need. II Timothy 4.16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17 But the LORD stood at my side and gave me strength... Standing with us. To cause or make to stand. To make firm to establish To cause a person to keep his place To keep intact, uphold or sustain To stand near To keep safe and sound Interestingly the word used for standing in the 15th verse of II Timothy 4 simply means to come together or to come to one’s help. Human help is good. Help from the LORD is out of this world. Sometimes the sky looks dark With not a ray of light; We’re tossed and driven on no human help in sight but there is One in heaven Who knows our deepest care; Let Jesus solve your problem Just go to Him in prayer. Strength To be bold The LORD speaks Light and Life into Our Hearts in the Darkest of Times The power of one Word, the Word of God Take Courage Confidence Often the LORD just tells us He is with us. He doesn’t usually give the details of how He will work all things together for our good, how He will deliver us. Here is where our faith comes in. Daniel 3. 16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and He will deliver from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if He does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Overcoming faith. We are given this by the LORD. I John 5.4 For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. God Gives Us Courage Not Just To Be But To Do All seemed lost. How could the apostle work being a prisoner?! How? In many ways. Paul became a letter writer. Paul went on to testify before Caesar! Even the palace employees were touched! Philippians 1. 12 Now I want you to know, brothers that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers have become confident in the LORD and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. The LORD give us courage for the days ahead Joshua 1. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. 7 “Be strong and very courageous. Days of Challenge Israel was about to go in and possess the land. Joshua was leading them. For 40 years they wandered. This is their time. Days of Uncertainty They sent the spies in. They gave a bad report. They all died except for Joshua and Caleb. In fact that whole generation that came out of Egypt, except for these two died in the Desert. They were not sure what they were going to face only that God was with them. And we as we approach this Presidential Election, Thanksgiving and Christmas and 2021 face great uncertainty. We have the LORD. Days of Conquest God was with them. Romans 8.31 If God is for us who can be against us? Back to that Prison holding cell in Jerusalem that night. Paul took the Courage offered to him by Jesus that night in the prison. Take the courage God is offering you this morning. II Chronicles 20. 12 ...For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” I Chronicles 12.32 Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do. Don’t despair Don’t fret Don’t worry God is with us, standing beside us. Take courage. 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The Turnaround in Saul of Tarsus’ Life

The Turnaround In Saul of Tarsus’ Life Acts 22.1-16 Think of the person you know who would be the most unlikely to become a follower of Jesus Christ. Then think of them after coming to Christ becoming one of the people God uses to bring a whole group of nations to Him. Saul of Tarsus was such a man. Galatians 1. 13 For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when God, Who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any man. 17 I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus. If you or I were responsible to choose someone to be an apostle to the Gentiles, in the middle of the first century, Saul of Tarsus would be our last choice. So often God chooses people to serve who would not be ones we would choose. This morning God is speaking to hearts. You may be listening online. God has been speaking to you about something unusual, highly unusual that He wants you to be a part of. The call of God doesn’t usually come like this one. For years I sat on boards and listened to prospective ministers describe their call. Most of them spoke of a still small voice, a quiet but definitely calling. Saul to become Paul was as far away from the Gentiles as one could be. He was persecuting Jewish Believers. His world was Judaism. Philippians 2.4 If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. *A persecutor of the church Paul’s words: I Timothy 1.21 I thank Christ Jesus our LORD, Who has given me strength, that He considered me trustworthy, appointing me to His service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our LORD was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Acts 22.2 Then Paul said: 3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. 4 I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, 5 as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.” We see the grace of God here. We see the patience of God. We also see the plan of God which is often different then our thoughts. His thoughts are not our thoughts. He took the most unlikely person, one who was persecuting and killing the church to be a follower and one sent to bring the Gospel all over the world at the time. *A Determined and Stubborn Soul Acts 9.1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 26.14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ “It is hard for you to kick against the goads” was a Greek proverb, but it was also familiar to the Jews and anyone who made a living in agriculture. An ox goad was a stick with a pointed piece of iron on its tip used to prod the oxen when plowing. The farmer would use it on the animal to steer it in the right direction. Sometimes the animal would rebel by kicking out at the goad, and this would result in the goad being driven even further into its flesh. In essence, the more an ox rebelled, the more it suffered. Saul of Tarsus was a headstrong Pharisee who came to the LORD. He was one of many whom Jesus spoke about. They shall put you out of the synagogues, and the hour will even come when whosoever kills you will think that he does God service. John 16.2 He acted in ignorance. God showed him mercy. *A Life that submitted to God Immediately Paul called Jesus, “LORD” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. So he submitted to the LORD before He knew it was Jesus. We all need to come to a place of this kind of submission to Jesus of Nazareth. Bowing at His Feet (John 11. 32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at His feet and said, “LORD, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”) There is no better time than right now, this moment to submit to the LORD. Isaiah’s words, 6. 8 Then I heard the voice of the LORD saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Here I am LORD. Help Yourself. The Apostle of the Heart Set Free *An Apostle of the LORD Jesus Christ I Corinthians 1. 1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God apostle= a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders God had a plan to reach the Gentiles. Like we have said He picked an unlikely person, the most unlikely person. You may feel you are unlikely to be used by God. Submit yourself to Him, tell Him you will do whatever He tells you. Mary to the servants at the wedding feast in Cana of Galilee: John 2.5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.” That is what I say to you today. The conversion (turn around) of Saul is quite significant as it was the turning point in his life. Paul later wrote nearly half of the books of the New Testament. What can happen in your life as you make a total surrender to Him? Sent from my iPad