We considered yesterday that in Paul’s day and ours some people respond positively to the Gospel, some don’t, and some actively oppose it. What keeps us going? We have perspective on that question in Acts 18, Paul’s visit to Corinth, which starts the usual way:
After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks. When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. 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.” …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. (Acts 18.1, 4 – 6, 8, ESV)
Some believe, some don’t, some oppose.
Probably discouraged and maybe a bit fearful, the Lord appears to Paul:
One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For 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 in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God. (Acts 18.9 – 11, NIV)
Paul, keep doing your job. Why? “Because I have many people in this city.” A pastor friend of mine who was a very effective personal evangelist used to say, “God has a people out there. It’s our job to find them!”
Vision can keep us going. The Los Angeles Rams won Super Bowl 56 (I’m taking the liberty of using non-Roman numerals if you don’t mind!) on February 13 after losing Super Bowl 53 back in 2019. After that game little-known and underrated wide receiver Cooper Kupp had a vision:
I think we’ll take another look at Kupp tomorrow along with two other underrated people, but for now, let’s remember:
Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city. – The Lord to Paul, Acts 18.9, 10