INTRODUCTION
• Today I want to speak on this subject of discouragement.
• I entitled it “Encouraged to Advance.”
• Discouragement can be something that stop people from moving and achieving what they’re supposedly able to achieve.
• Discouragement can cause a great athlete to give up even before he reach the point of his best potential.
• Discouragement can cause people to be blinded with hopelessness and thinking it is a waste of time.
• Discouragement can come in many forms, maybe fear, or from rejection, or even the feeling of no one understands you, you feel lonely.
• Especially given the effort you put in, the time you put in, the strength you put it, the brain juice you invested in,
• and yet, the result is not what you expected.
• It can be discouraging.
Oxford Dictionary: Discouraged - having lost confidence or enthusiasm; disheartened.
• All of us go through a season of discouragement in our lives.
• No one can be immune to discouragement in life.
• How do I know everyone experienced or will experienced discouragement?
• Some of you shared your discouragement with me, and I experienced it before too.
• Great man like Elijah was discouraged to the extend of giving up because of the opposition, “Jezebel”
• After great spiritual victories over the prophets of Baal
• Elijah ran for his life, far away from the threats of Jezebel.
• And there in the desert, he sat down and prayed, feeling defeated and worn.
1 Kings 19:4 (NKJV)
4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, "It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!"
That was really a great discouragement and fear that he experienced.
Moses was discouraged when the people of Israel he led sin against God.
Exodus 32:31-32 (NKJV)
31 Then Moses returned to the Lord and said, "Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold! 32 Yet now, if You will forgive their sin--but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written."
• Also known as the weeping prophet, Jeremiah suffered from constant rejection by the people he loved and reached out to.
• He lived alone, he ministered alone, he was poor, ridiculed, and rejected by his people.
• In the midst of it, he displayed great spiritual faith and strength, and yet we also see his honesty as he wrestled with despair and a great sense of failure:
Jeremiah 20:14a & 18
“Cursed be the day I was born…why did I ever come out of the womb to see trouble and sorrow and to end my days in shame?”
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• If you still remember Acts 16 and 17,
• you will see how difficult it was for Paul even in that few pages words.
• It may look like a short story, but it was long and tough experience for Paul.
• Paul, one of the New Testament heroes many churches often preach about.
• He too has his moment of discouragement because of all the great challenges he faces.
• To put ourselves in Paul’s shoe, it was not easy at all.
• When we read it and hear it as a story, it may appear lighter compared to truly experience what he went through.
• But it was like really really tough.
• Apart from the physical hurt, he still faces emotional hurt by the mocking and intimidation by the Athenians.
• Today we want to look at Acts 18, but before we read Acts 18,
• let’s read the last few verses from Acts 17 to have a clearer picture.
Acts 17:32-34 (HCSB)
32 When they heard about resurrection of the dead, some began to ridicule him. But others said, “We will hear you about this again.” 33 So Paul went out from their presence. 34 However, some men joined him and believed, among whom were Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
Acts 18:1 (HCSB)
1 After this, he left from Athens and went to Corinth,
• Most of the cities before this,
• he left due to persecution.
• But when he left Athens,
• it seems like he left it on his own will.
Let’s look at Paul’s experience in Athens, before Corinth.
It appears to be a:
A. LONELY SERVICE
• Last time he was with Barnabas, after that, they separated.
• Often time he was with Silas and then Timothy, but when he went to Athens, Silas and Timothy stayed back at Berea.
Acts 17:14 (HCSB)
14 Then the brothers immediately sent Paul away to go to the sea, but Silas and Timothy stayed on there.
• So, he was alone, and he face the Athenians by himself.
B. LITTLE SUCCESS
Thessalonica:
Acts 17:4 (NKJV)
4 And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.
Berea:
Acts 17:12 (NKJV)
12 Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.
Athens:
Acts 17:34 (NIV)
34 A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.
• So compared to the few cities that persecuted him and yet large number believed.
• But in Athens, the philosophers - worldly wisdom and intellect resulted lesser converts.
• But it doesn’t mean that one or two souls is not important,
• And we shouldn’t measure success that way either. Each one matters to God.
• But it sometimes appears to be not successful with our culture of measuring achievements all the time.
C. LARGE SCOPE
• Doing something that feels like never ending.
• City after city, synagogue after synagogue, it’s a demanding and large scope of ministry.
• It’s like sweeping the water away at the beach.
• He faces the people in Athens, having all kinds of beliefs, the epicurean, and the stoic.
• They worship a god they don’t even know and yet they laughed at Paul who’s preaching to them the God that he knows.
• Athens was an ignorant city.
• And when comes to Corinth, about 80KM away from Athens.
• Corinth was the greatest city of pleasure in the ancient world, it was an immoral city.
• They worshipped Aphrodite, the goddess of love, pleasure and procreation.
• According to Bible history, they have more than 1000 sacred prostitutes in the temple to serve Aphrodite and have immoral life with the people.
• And because of that, Corinth was crowded with many people.
• For Athens and Corinth, I think even the greatest missionary will still feel the pressure.
• For Athens and Corinth combined, it’s very much like the world we are living in.
• Power, possession, pleasure, philosophy/intellect.
So Paul experienced what seems to be a lonely service,
little success, large scope of work.
• Paul was discouraged in the midst of advancing the gospel.
• His letter to Corinthians gave us some hint regarding his state of mind at that time.
1 Corinthians 2:1-3 (HCSB)
1 When I came to you, brothers, announcing the testimony of God to you, I did not come with brilliance of speech or wisdom. 2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
3 And I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
• Paul was reminding his Corinthian readers of his first encounters with them.
• He was acknowledging his weakness and great fear.
• And later part of Acts 18, we will also see that God spoke to him in a vision to encourage him to continue to advance for him in that city.
Paul’s Weakness
• So we see the human side of Paul, sometimes we forget and thinking that, everything Paul face is nothing to him.
• But I’m glad that we can see his weakness and fear, because we can relate to that and learn from him too.
• Anyone of you who are serving in the midst of advancing for the Gospel feels discouragement?
• Maybe a lonely service, maybe the little success that you see, or even the large scope of the unending work.
• I pray that today’s Word will be the divine encouragement to you.
1. GOD’S PROVISION
Acts 18:2 (HCSB)
2 where he found a Jewish man 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 came to them,
Just at the right moment, God provided him some practical help:
a. Friends/believers
Acts 18:3-4 (HCSB)
3 and being of the same occupation, stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.
4 He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and tried to persuade both Jews and Greeks.
• Just after his lonely journey from Athens, here we see God provided him a couple who open their home for him.
• Paul was working and self-support.
• But thank God Aquila and Priscilla house him in so that when he was not working, he went to the synagogue every Sabbath to reasoned with the Jews and Greeks.
• And later in verse 5
Acts 18:5 (NASB)
5 But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began devoting himself completely to the word, solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.
After Silas and Timothy met Paul, he began to go all out for the word and testify about Jesus.
They brought financial help to Paul.
b. Financial support
2 Corinthians 11:9 (NLT)
9 And when I was with you and didn't have enough to live on, I did not ask you to help me. For the brothers who came from Macedonia brought me another gift. I have never yet asked you for any support, and I never will.
Philippians 4:15 (NLT)
15 As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this.
• We are not meant to walk alone.
• We have the privilege to advance together.
• Take Alpha ministry for example,
• sometimes it can be tough especially when it appears to be a lonely service, little success or even a large scope of work required.
• Don’t be discourage but rise up to be a friend who partner together.
• Join the Alpha Training and join the invitation effort too.
• Last Alpha, when we are running it on-site, a different level of preparation.
• But I thank God for the team who contributed and even asked me again somewhere during the 7th session “do we still need more support, I can contribute”
• God is Good, let me encourage you to be a friend, to be a ministry partner, to be the Alpha team, to advance together with someone.
Let’s continue:
Acts 18:6 (HCSB)
6 But when they resisted and blasphemed, he shook out his clothes and told them, “Your blood is on your own heads! I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
Paul was discouraged by their resistance.
That expression symbolized “I have done my part, now it’s all yours” “I’m no longer responsible to the matter.”
"Your blood is on your own heads. I'm clean. Why? I fulfilled my responsibility. I delivered the Gospel. I presented it clearly. You are responsible for what you do."
a. Field of harvest
Acts 18:7-8 (HCSB)
7 So he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God, whose house was next door to the synagogue. 8 Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed the Lord, along with his whole household; and many of the Corinthians, when they heard, believed and were baptized.
• There will be many who reject the Good News, but if you’re faithful, along the way.
• There will still be field that are ready for harvest.
• After this great success, you may think that Paul will regain his confidence, but it the vision and the words God spoke to him gave us the implication of emotional stat.
Acts 18:9-10 (NKJV)
9 Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent;
10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city."
2. GOD’S PRESENCE
“Do not be afraid… for I am with you”
• Why God told Paul not to be afraid? Because God knows he was afraid.
• Even if he can hide it from the people, or even from us as the future reader of his biography.
• God knows everything. Paul was afraid, why?
• Whether it was all the threat he faced combined since his first missionary journey or the recent incident at Athens & Corinth.
• It didn’t really spell out clearly, but no doubt our great apostle Paul was afraid.
• And God comforted him by assuring him that He is with him.
• Knowing that the God is with you in whatever you are going through is an unspeakable comfort!
When Jesus gave the Great Commission, Jesus promised, “I will be with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20).
• God didn’t promise him no more opposition, but he promised His presence.
• The comfort of knowing God is with us, it gives us the divine courage to advance.
• There were times that I brought my kids to the kids playhouse.
• It’s like the indoor playground. I noticed some kids will enjoy.
• Some kids a bit more shy and afraid to play alone.
• Then those kid will drag the father or the mother to slide together, jump together, just stay beside.
• When the parent was with them, they no longer fearful.
• God’s presence gave us unexplainable strength to move on.
Isaiah 41:10 (NCV)
10 So don't worry, because I am with you. Don't be afraid, because I am your God. I will make you strong and will help you; I will support you with my right hand that saves you.
• Knowing, understand and really embrace the truth that God is with you.
• Dispel fear, release faith.
3. GOD’S PERSUASION
“but speak, and do not keep silent”
• God knows he plans to stop speaking.
• Do you know Paul experience this?
• He wanted to give up, just keep quiet and stop speaking.
• Probably go back to live a normal life and just go to church on Sabbath day will do.
• This maybe a reminder or an encouragement for you.
• Continue to speak, don’t keep silent, don’t stop sharing, don’t stop inviting.
Mark 16:15 (NLT)
15 And then he told them, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere.
4. GOD’S PROTECTION
“no one will attack you to hurt you”
• God assured Paul that no one will harm him and attack him, in fact we see how God kept his promise when the Jews unite together and brought him to the judge – Gallio.
• Hoping the judge will issue some punishment towards Paul.
Acts 18:12-17 (NCV)
12 When Gallio was the governor of the country of Southern Greece, some of the Jews came together against Paul and took him to the court. 13 They said, "This man is teaching people to worship God in a way that is against our law." 14 Paul was about to say something, but Gallio spoke to the Jews, saying, "I would listen to you Jews if you were complaining about a crime or some wrong. 15 But the things you are saying are only questions about words and names--arguments about your own law. So you must solve this problem yourselves. I don't want to be a judge of these things." 16 And Gallio made them leave the court. 17 Then they all grabbed Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and beat him there before the court. But this did not bother Gallio.
• God will have his way to protect us.
• If it is not time for us to leave, no one able to do that.
• God’s promised to the redeemed.
Isaiah 43:1-2 (NCV)
1 Now this is what the Lord says. He created you, people of Jacob; he formed you, people of Israel. He says, "Don't be afraid, because I have saved you. I have called you by name, and you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you cross rivers, you will not drown. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned, nor will the flames hurt you.
• When hardship and trials threaten us,
• the Lord’s presence and power will protect us.
• No matter how tough is the trial or hardship and no matter how fiery the oppression or persecution, the Lord promises to be with His people.
5. GOD’S PEOPLE
“for I have many people in this city.”
• In God’s foreknowledge – omniscience.
• He knew there will be people who are ready to turn to him.
• Paul needs to know that and be encouraged to go on.
• “what you are doing it will not be a waste of time”
• Let’s be encourage too, that God have many people in this city of Penang who still haven’t hear the Good News of Jesus.
• They may heard of Jesus, but not the Good News.
• And because of the encouragement Paul received, who advance, and later on we see the fruit/result even in such wicked city like Corinth.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (HCSB)
9 Do you not know that the unjust will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be deceived: no sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals,
10 thieves, greedy people, drunkards, revilers, or swindlers will inherit God’s kingdom.
11 Some of you were like this; 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.
BLIND LADY
A missionary to Africa told the story of an elderly woman who was reached with the gospel. Though she was blind and could neither read nor write, she wanted to share her new found faith with others. She went to the missionary and asked for a copy of the Bible in French. When she got it, she asked the missionary to underline John 3:16 in red and mark the page it was on so she could find it. The missionary wanted to see what she would do, so one day he followed her.
In the afternoon, just before school let out, she made her way to the front door. As the boys came out when school was dismissed, she would stop one and ask if he knew how to read French. When he said “Yes” she would ask him to read the verse that was marked in red. Then she would ask, “Do you know what this means?” and tell him about Christ.
The missionary said that twenty-four of the school boys that lady led to the Lord became pastors.
CLOSING
• The lady can choose to be discourage and blame her blindness, no guest, time demanding.
• Paul can stay discouraged, for all the bad treatment he receives.
• But they chose to do what they can and leave the rest to the Lord.
• We can choose to be discouraged too,
• but let us be encouraged by the Word and assurance that God is with you, Don’t be silent, keep on sharing for Him.
