Good morning and a blessed New Year to all of you!
• As we step into the new year, we give thanks to God for our health, our family and our work.
• God has been good and will continue to be good in 2021. We trust in His presence with us and in His sustaining grace for us, whatever the circumstances.
PRAYER:
Dear God, we thank you that you make all things new. Thank you for all that you've allowed into our lives this past year, the good as well as the difficult things, which have reminded us how much we need you.
We rely on you to lead us each step of this New Year. We ask that you will guide our decisions and turn our hearts toward you, that we may seek you above all else.
We ask for your wisdom and for your strength to make us strong for the road ahead. May 2021 be another year of learning to trust you, to depend on you, and to walk in obedience to your ways. May you be honoured and may others be drawn to you.
We pray for your protection over our families and loved ones. Keep us from temptations and deliver us from evil. Help us stay faithful and true to you. Forgive us for the times we have turned self-sufficient and forgetting our need of you.
We confess our need for you for 2021. We ask that you will plant your truth firmly within us and bless us with faith, hope and your peace. We ask that you would provide for our needs. Let the fruit of the Spirit be seen in us. Let your light shines through us.
To you be the glory and honour in this New Year, and always.
Bless our time now as we look into Your holy Word. Enlighten us again. Strengthen us, for this we pray, in Jesus’ Name! AMEN.
We see God’s sustaining grace in Paul’s ministry as he moves from city to city preaching the Gospel of Christ.
• Despite the oppositions, persecutions and rejections, Paul continued undeterred.
• He did not give up. He kept moving from place to place, many times fleeing by force rather than leaving by choice.
• But the Lord was with him and working through him. We see many coming to faith in Christ, both the Jews and Greeks.
• Churches were established as Paul travelled from city to city.
Paul was in Athens in Acts 17. He moved on to Corinth in Acts 18.
• Corinth can be considered one of the most difficult city to preach the Gospel.
• If Athens was known for its intellectual pride, then Corinth for its sensual lust.
It was the capital of Achaia (Roman province of Greece), located on a narrow neck of land between the Adriatic Sea and Aegean Sea.
• The good location made it a wealthy city of commerce and trade.
• Sadly, it was also a city known for its licentious living and sexual immorality.
• Near the city stood a temple dedicated to Aphrodite (afro die tee), the goddess of love or sex and many prostitutes, both male and female, plied their trade in the streets of Corinth under the banner of religion.
Paul came to this pagan and godless city alone. Let’s read Acts 18:1-5.
1 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
5 When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.
We see how God provided the SUPPORT Paul needed.
By this time, Paul needed to support himself. He has been separated from Silas and Timothy since he left Berea.
• By God’s providence, he met a Jewish couple Aquila and Priscilla who were tentmakers. Paul was able to find a place to stay and work at his trade as a leather worker.
• And the couple came to Corinth only not long ago, when they were forced to leave because of the decree of Roman Emperor Claudius, asking all Jews to leave Rome.
The Lord provided for Paul while he waited for Silas and Timothy to join him.
• And they turned out to be not just co-workers in the trade but co-workers in the ministry.
• Paul mentioned in 1 Cor 16:19 “Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.”
• Later the couple joined Paul on the next part of his trip to Ephesus and assisted in the work there (cf. Acts 18:18-28).
They had become Paul’s faithful co-workers in the ministry.
• Rom 16:3-5 “3Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. 4They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. 5 Greet also the church that meets at their house.”
• Apparently, they returned to Rome later on and hosted a church there.
Throughout the journey, we saw how the Lord provided the supporters Paul needed, beginning from Barnabas, to Silas, Timothy, Luke and now Aquila and Priscilla.
• And in his letters, we know of many other lesser-known believers. God provides.
• I thank the Lord for the supporters I have in the ministry, who have been faithfully serving the Lord together.
The Lord provided the FUNDS Paul needed.
18:5 “When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.”
• They came back with news of the churches in Macedonia as well as a financial gift from the church at Philippi.
• Phil 4:14-17 “14Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. 17Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account.”
Remember the church at Philippi, the church at meets at Lydia’s house, the first convert in Macedonia (Europe)?
• She was a dealer in purple cloth; the Lord blessed her and the church gave generously to support Paul in his work, at Thessalonica and now in Corinth.
• With the aid, Paul was able to devote his time fully to preaching the Gospel.
We thank God for the many faithful and generous givers throughout the years.
• Paul says, “Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account.” In order words, God blesses them.
• Those who sow (give) bountifully will also reap (receive) bountifully (2 Cor 9:6).
Paul lived by faith in God, trusting God to provide for him, and that includes him working as a tentmaker for his own needs.
• Paul wrote in 2 Cor 11:9 “And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.”
• He wrote to the Philippians, in Phil 4:11-13: “11…for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
We live by faith in God. When we are put into situations of need, we trust God to provide, and that includes working with our hands.
• Hudson Taylor: “God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supply.”
Let’s move on - Acts 18:5-8.
5 When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. 6 But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles."
7 Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. 8 Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.
The Lord provided the OPEN DOOR, literally next door.
• He did not go very far. You can sense Luke’s humour here. Paul went next door.
Paul was strongly opposed and abused by the unbelieving Jews.
• He did two things, shook out his clothes in protest and declared “Your blood be on your own heads!”…
• Meaning, “I am cleared of my responsibility. I’ve done what I needed to do, telling you the Gospel of Christ. You are responsible now for the choice you made.”
We are not responsible for how people respond to the Gospel, but we are responsible for telling them about Christ. We are commissioned by the Lord to tell the Gospel.
• We do not need to be discouraged by oppositions or rejections; we just move on.
By God’s providence, Paul left and went next door, to the Gentiles as he said.
• He went the Gentile next door, to the house of Titius Justus, a worshipper of God.
• What seemed like a setback turned out to be an OPEN DOOR and an impactful one.
• Everyone who comes to the synagogue would likely have a chance to hear the Gospel right next door.
• That had its effect because the first thing we read about after his move is that Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, was won to Christ.
The Gospel was proclaimed freely right next door to the synagogue!
• And the one who manages the synagogue was among the first to be converted, together with his entire family. And many Corinthians believed and were baptised.
• Who were these Corinthians? Take a look at what Paul said in 1 Cor 6:9-11.
“9Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
• Paul did not mince his words; that’s who they were before they knew Christ.
• The city was filled with sin but the light of Christ could still shine through.
The Lord provided the ASSURANCE Paul needed.
Acts 18:9-11
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." 11So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.
Luke did not give us the details. It looked like there was a time when the situation was intense and Paul was intimidated, and he might be forced to flee again.
• But the Lord came to him in a vision and assured him: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." So Paul stayed.
• If you have a bible that shows the words of Jesus in red, then you can see these red words standing out from the text in black.
The Word from the Lord was significant. He does not do this often; only when necessary.
• Paul needed assurance and encouragement, and the Lord spoke.
• Even though he was a giant of faith, Paul faced the same struggles and emotions like the rest of us.
• In 1 Cor 2:3 he said, “I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.”
• The Lord knew what he needed and provided him with assurance.
• When we are afraid and discouraged, we need to hear from God again.
God assured him of His presence, His protection and His purpose for him to stay and keep on speaking.
• “For I have many people in this city,” the Lord said. God was referring to those who belong to Him, His elect.
• Many in this city need to hear the Gospel and be saved. Paul did not know them (until they put their trust in Christ) but the Lord knows His sheep.
• God would protect Paul so that he could continue to preach freely in Corinth.
Let’s see what the Lord did. Luke shared with us one incident when the Jews sought to get rid of Paul by accusing him before the new Roman proconsul Gallio.
Acts 18:12-17
12 While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him into court. 13 "This man," they charged, "is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law."
14 Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, "If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanour or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. 15 But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law-settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things." 16 So he had them ejected from the court. 17 Then they all turned on Sosthenes the synagogue ruler and beat him in front of the court. But Gallio showed no concern whatever.
This tribunal has been excavated and if you visit Corinth you can see it. It is called in Greek, the bema, the scale, meaning the judgment seat (above the white sign).
• Gallio is mentioned in history. He is the older brother of the philosopher, Seneca, who at this time was tutoring the young Nero - who would become the next emperor after Claudius.
• He was an influential man, said to be just and impartial.
The Jews hoped to get the Roman proconsul Gallio to declare this Christian sect has violated the Roman law in starting a new religion and therefore illegal.
• Paul was prepared to defend himself but this turned out to be unnecessary because Gallio defended Paul.
• He brushed it aside as an internal Jewish squabble and refused to be dragged into it. To him, this was about the Jewish religion and not a civil matter.
His decision was significant. It meant that Paul was free to preach the Gospel in the Roman Empire without being charged with breaking the Roman law.
• Gallio, in effect, affirmed that Christianity, in the eyes of the Romans, was officially a Jewish sect, part of Judaism.
• This made it possible for Paul to preach in many Roman cities without any difficulty with the officials.
• If Gallio had decided against Paul, other provincial governors would have had a precedent, and the spread of the Gospel would have been severely restricted.
The mob angrily attacked the synagogue leader Sosthenes, probably for his failure in this plot, but Gallio ignored them.
• Sosthenes has become the ruler of the synagogue in place of Crispus, who had been converted (v.8).
Interestingly, Sosthennes was mentioned in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians.
• 1 Cor 1:1-2 “1Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, 2To the church of God in Corinth…”
• If they were the same person, then this synagogue ruler was eventually converted too. We have two synagogue rulers Crispus and Sosthenes coming to faith in Christ.
• God is calling His elect home; He said, “I have many people in this city”!
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We thank God for His sustaining grace, in Paul’s life and in our life today.
• God provided Paul with the support, the funds, the open door and the assurance he needs.
• God protected His work. God protected His servant. Christianity continued to grow.
We can trust God for His sustaining grace today.
The Lord is with us in His work.
• We do not know who will be saved, but the Lord knows His elect. We share the Gospel and leave the rest to God.
• 1 Cor 3:6-9 “6I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labour. 9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.”
Our labour in the Lord is not in vain.
• He worked through Paul and He continues to work through us today.
• His promise to us is not that everything will be fine, but that amid the difficulties and setbacks, the Gospel will be preached and people will still be saved.
Paul wrote to the Corinthians, 1 Cor 15:58
“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.”
Let us serve the Lord faithfully.
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, thank you for your presence in our lives and ministries. Help us keep our eyes focused on you and persevere in the work that you have called us.
May we continue to shine for you. May your Name be lifted high and people be drawn to you. Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
May our lives count for you this 2021.
May the grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all, now and forevermore, AMEN.
