Text:
Acts 18:1-11
May 17, 2009.
INTRODUCTION:
1) This is what Jesus promised: When Jesus sent His
disciples to spread the gospel message to the end of the world, He gave them
this promise: “I will be with you always.” (Matt. 28:20) As the word “all”
means “each one” or “everyone” in English, the 3 words in Greek, pasas tas nemiras,
we simply translated “always”, they mean “all the days” or “everyday” or “each
day.” He did not just give them a job, a responsibility, He also gave them a
promise: He will go with them, be there with them, help them and sustain them
each day and every moment of each day.
2) This is what Jesus meant: When Jesus promised to be with
them each day and everyday, that included all the various activities, the good
and the bad circumstances, the various responsibilities they might have through
the course of their days, or life. This includes the sunny days, the cloudy day
and the stormy days. No matter what each day might bring, Jesus promised His
presence, power, sustenance and comfort. In the same way, He promised to be
with us through the course of our life. No matter if it is a day of joy or
sadness, success or failure, good health or illness, riches or poor, each day
and everyday, He promised to walk with us, fill us with faith, support us with
strength and provide us with hope.
WHAT DOES THE PROMISE MEAN:
1) It means Jesus is personal: Jesus treated his
disciples very personal. He did not just ask them to do the commission, He
promised to go and do it with them. We have a God who takes it personal on
things happen in our life. Unlike the gods in other religions
who are far away from their believers, our God stays with us each day and all
the days of our life.
2) It means Jesus wants
success:
When Jesus promised to be with the disciples, it means He wanted to make sure
that the job He gave them will be accomplished as He wanted it to. This is a
very comforting thought. Jesus knew that to do what God wants us to do, it takes more than human ability, human wisdom or human
methods. It took the life of Jesus to start the gospel movement and it will
take much more than human strength to continue the greatest movement in human
history. He will go with them to make sure they will succeed in what they do.
3) It means Jesus cares about
them:
Through the 33 years He lived in this world, Jesus knew life was full of
problems, setbacks, opposition, even betrayal and agony. He wants to stay with
us, to go through life with us, to hold us up when we got stricken down, to
help us go through any and all difficult situations and provides us with
necessary strength to the end. Our God is a caring God who will never leave us
or forsake us.
4) It means Jesus will never
quit: After
He promised to be with us each and every day, He continued to promise that He
will be with us all the way through the end of the world: He will never stop, never leave, never quit and never fail. The most
scary scenario is when we are in deep trouble, God is no where to be found. But
Jesus promises that this will never happen to us.
WHY IS THIS PROMISE IMPORTANT?
1) Because Jesus wants to love: The most assuring way to
show a parent’s love to his/her child is his/her promise not to ever leave the
child regardless of what had or may happen. This is exactly why Jesus promised
his disciples: He may ascent to heaven, but He will be with them every moment
of everyday. There may be many ways to show love. But the best way is to be
with those you love. He loves us to promise us he will never leave us or
forsake us. (John 6:37; Hebrews 13:5)
2) Because Jesus wants to save: This promise was given
right after Jesus gave the Great Commission to His disciples to make disciples
of the whole world and to teach them His words. He did all these because He
wanted to save all the sinners in the whole world. He wants to see all are
saved and no one is lost. (2 Peter 3:9) His presence in our life has a bigger
purpose: for the good of others, for their salvation and eternal life. Even
though if you are not preachers or missionaries, you should use His abiding
presence, love and strength to help saving souls because this is God’s purpose
of being with us.
3) Because life is never easy: If you are 5 and older, you
learn from experience that life is not as easy as you used to think when you
were 2 or 3 and the level of difficulty grows every year after that. All of us
need someone at one time or another and the best one we need is the Lord Jesus.
Only crazy people may believe that they are all able and will never need any
one or God. This promise of Jesus gives us such an assuring faith just like a
small child has faith in his father.
4) Because it’s a lasting
promise:
Before Jesus was crucified, He talked to his disciples about his coming
departure. He promised to bring them to be with him forever. He said, “I will
come back to take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (John
14:3) Jesus promised to be with us before He died. He promised to be with us
after He died and was resurrected. And He promised Paul after He ascent to
heaven. (Acts 18:10) Jesus has never failed in keeping His promises.
JESUS IS WITH YOU: How do we know Jesus is with us? See how He
was with Paul in his journey of life. (Acts 18:1-11)
1) Jesus opens new doors: “After this, Paul left
Athens and went to Corinth.” (Acts 18:1) Even though Paul articulated the
gospel message so well in Athens, he was confronted with sneering and
opposition with little success. (17:32) It is in such a situation, Jesus opened
a new door in Corinth where Paul stayed for 18 months and had very fruitful
ministry. When one door in your life is closed, Jesus will open another one, a
better one where you may be more fruitful.
2) Jesus brings new partners: “There he met a Jew named
Aquila who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla. Paul went to
see them.” (18:2)History proved that this couple became diehard supporters of
Paul’s gospel ministry both in finance and teaching of the truth. (18:3, 24-28)
3) Jesus provides a new pulpit: “Every Sabbath Paul
reasoned in the synagogue trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.” (18:4) In Athens
Paul reasoned the gospel in the meeting hall of the Greek scholars, here in
Corinth, Jesus provided a new pulpit, the synagogue of the Jews. This may be
applied in your service at the church or career opportunities, new place or
position.
4) Jesus blessed your labor: “When Silas and Timothy
came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively preaching and testifying
to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.....Crispus, the synagogue ruler and his
entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard
him believed and were baptized.” (18:5-8)With Jesus on your side, with His
blessing on your work, you can be assured of fruitful results for His glory.
5) Jesus promised courage: “One night, the Lord spoke
to Paul in a vision: Do not be afraid, keep on preach, do not be silent.”
(18:9)One of most fearful weapons Satan always like to use to defeat us is
fear. It is very easy to be discouraged when things go wrong, when no visible
results is seen, when supporters become traitors and all the walls are
crumbling. But in every circumstance, Jesus is always there to give us courage.
6) Jesus promises his
protection:
“For I am with you and no one is going to attack or harm you.” (18:10)The no
one includes Satan. Jesus will not allow Satan or anyone else to attack you or
harm you as long as you stay close with Him. Rumors may be many, Situation may
seem terrifying and danger may be around, but Jesus promised His presence with
you to protect you.
7) Jesus surrounds you with
faithful:
“Because I have many people in this city.” (18:10b) Jesus will never leave you
alone, isolated or abandoned. He will provide human shields of His faithful to
surround you, help you, love you, support you to keep you safe.
8) Jesus loves to see you stay: “So Paul stayed for a year
and a half, teaching them the word of God.” (18:11)According to a survey among
pastors of the most fruitful ministry in Baptist churches, the shortest of their
stay at one church is 22 years. You just can’t have a fruitful ministry if you
are moving around every few years. Being a traveling missionary, Paul’s stay in
Corinth was the second longest, 18 months. The longest of his stay was in
Ephesus, 3 years. Each ministry has its ups and downs. Jesus loves to see our
staying power. Continue to stay and be faithful. “Rolling stones gather no
moss” is very true.
CONCLUSION:
1) Jesus is with you in the
family:
This is most important and basic place you need Jesus stay with you. Every
family has its own unique situation, joy and challenges. Ask the Lord to stay
with you to go through each and every challenge. He is there to advise you,
give you wisdom and strength. Do not manage you family and marriage by your own
strength. Allow Jesus to help you.
2) Jesus is with you in the
church:
Feeling helpless, tired or even frustrated is a normal process in serving the
Lord in His church. Not all service in church is excited, applauded or happy
feeling. But faithfully staying and dedicating will eventually bring results.
Allow Jesus to serve with you, to provide you courage and give you wisdom. It
is not how you feel that matters. It is how faithful you are that matters. Just
stay and you will see results.
3) Jesus is with you in your life: The journey of life is
never simple or easy. We all need Jesus to be with us each and every step of
the way. Ask Jesus to become the pilot of your life to give you direction and
meaning. Confess your sins to Jesus, ask Him to forgive you, and allow Him to
hold your hand in every decision you make. He will give you a better life today
and eternal life in heaven later.