A Great Encouragement!

A GREAT ENCOURAGEMENT!

“Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city. And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them “ ( Acts of the Apostles 18:9-11 ). The words of verse nine are literally, “Stop being afraid.” It is evident from verse six that there was a storm of opposition brewing against Paul. The apostle, apparently fearing for his very life, gave some consideration to removing himself from the city of Corinth. The Lord, however, spoke comforting words to His servant assuring him of two things: his personal safety and that there were many of the Lord’s elect in that area who would be effectually brought to a saving knowledge of the Redeemer through Paul’s preaching of the gospel. It is a great incentive to keep preaching the gospel since we know that God has a chosen people appointed to salvation. These must be confronted with the gospel of Christ and quickened by the power of the Holy Spirit. Election unto salvation is certainly not a discouraging truth; on the contrary, this is our great encouragement that there are people chosen out of every nation and tongue who will, by the regenerating power of the Spirit, receive the gospel that we proclaim. The Lord has promised, concerning His Word, “it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it “ ( Isaiah 55:11 ).

- Jim Byrd, pastor of Thirteenth Street Baptist Church in Ashland, Kentucky