Encouraging The Servant Of God Series

Introduction

“The Christian’s chief occupational hazards are depression and discouragement” (John Blanchard, The Complete Gathered Gold: A Treasury of Quotations for Christians [Webster, New York; Darlington, England: Evangelical Press, 2006], 145).

So writes the Rev. Dr. John R. W. Stott, my favorite Bible commentator.

While all Christians face discouragement, discouragement is especially widespread among ministers and missionaries.

William Carey is known as the “Father of Modern Missions.”

He left England in 1793 and sailed to India to proclaim the gospel.

He set up his base in Serampore, India.

Carey encountered immense cultural and language barriers, hostile attitudes, and personal tragedies, including the death of his young son and the mental illness of his wife, Dorothy.

He began developing dictionaries, grammars, and translations of the Bible, in addition to proclaiming the good news about Jesus.

For seven years, Carey labored without seeing a single convert, which deeply tested his faith and perseverance.

Yet, Carey clung to God’s promises and found encouragement in the truth of Scripture, primarily through verses like Galatians 6:9: "Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."

Eventually, in 1800, he witnessed the first Indian believer baptized—a moment that marked the beginning of a spiritual harvest.

Twelve years later, in 1812, a devastating fire broke out at the Serampore Mission in India, destroying years of his work.

The flames consumed his translations of the Bible, dictionaries, grammars, and printing materials.

Carey was deeply affected but remained steadfast.

Instead of giving in to discouragement, he thanked God for the strength to start over and immediately began rebuilding what was lost.

His perseverance led to even more significant Bible translation and missionary work achievements.

Many commentators believe that Paul was discouraged when he arrived in Corinth.

Years later, Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church, “And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling” (1 Corinthians 2:3).

The city of Corinth was at the heart of an important trade route in the ancient world.

Like many cities that thrived on trade, Corinth had a reputation for sexual immorality, religious diversity, and corruption.

It seems that everywhere Paul went, he encountered significant opposition to the gospel that sometimes included stoning and beating.

But Paul was no half-heart.

He was zealously committed to making Jesus known.

Today, we will learn how God encouraged the servant of God in the city of Corinth.

Scripture

Let’s read Acts 18:1-17:

1 After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 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. 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. 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.

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.