Page 1 of 10 Encouragement for the Discouraged Saint Acts 18:1-17 I don't suppose there's any Christian who could say, "I've never been discouraged,. I think we all get weary in doing good or ministering to others. Just try to find volunteers to help with the nursery, children s ministry, building and grounds, or something else. You hear responses like, I ve done that, it s someone else s turn. I would like to help, but I am just overwhelmed. Discouragement is just a part of life because you have hopes and dreams and desires for people that you love and also for your own life, and they don't all come true. Or maybe you are ministering to someone that has an ungrateful heart. It can discourage you and make you weary! But God is in the business of encouraging His weary saints, and we're going to see in Acts 18 how God encourages His weary saints. God is a God of encouragement. 2 Corinthians 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. NIV
Page 2 of 10 Read Acts 18:1-17 Paul arrived alone in the city of Corinth and was very weary and discouraged and he may have even been physically ill. He had traveled from Antioch of Syria through Turkey to Corinth, Greece. He had been stripped and beaten and then thrown into prison in Philippi. He was forced to leave Thessalonica, was followed by the Jews from Thessalonica and persecuted by them, and then had to run for his life. He was alone in the city of Athens and the people there were not very receptive to the Good News. We find out how Paul was feeling when we read his letter to the Corinthian church. In it, he reflected on his condition when he first arrived in the city. 1Corinthians 2:3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. NIV We also find out some more of how Paul was feeling from the two letters he wrote to the Thessalonians during this time in Corinth. 1 Thessalonians 3:7 says, Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. NIV There are some words in these two passages that let us know how Paul was feeling; weakness, fear, much
Page 3 of 10 trembling, distress, and persecution. Now that tells us that he was hurting. On top of all of that, Corinth was a tough place to minister in. It was a very sinful city. It was one of the most immoral cities in that world at that time. In fact, the actual name "Corinthian" was a common term used to refer to an immoral person. To say that a woman was a Corinthian meant she was a prostitute. Corinth was located on a narrow isthmus between the northern part of Greece and the southern part. It was called The Bridge of Greece, not only because of its north-south traffic, but also because of its east-west traffic. If ships wanted to go from the western shore of Greece to the eastern shore, they would not sail clear around the tip of Greece extending into the Mediterranean Sea which was a very treacherous journey. Instead, they would take the shortcut across the isthmus that Corinth was located on. It was a 200-mile shortcut to go across the 5 mile isthmus. They would unload the ship s cargo and carry it across the land on the backs of slaves, or they would pull the whole ship out of the water and place it on rollers, and roll the whole ship five miles across the land, and dump it back in the water. So, Corinth was a center for trade and travel, and a large number of sailors and merchants passed through that city.
Page 4 of 10 There was a massive temple to the goddess Aphrodite on top of the Acropolis of Corinth overseeing the city. The temple housed hundreds of women who were slaves and who were forced to be prostitutes in the name of the goddess Aphrodite. The city received great profit from prostitution. That is where God sent Paul to tell people about the Good News of Jesus. You think we have it bad! But it was at this point that God moved in to encourage Paul in three ways and He wants to encourage you in those same 3 ways. How does God encourage His Weary Saints? 1. God encourages you through fellowship with believers. God wants to lift your spirits and encourage your heart through close relationships with Christian friends. Let s look at how He did it in Paul s life. Paul came to Corinth alone and he didn't know anybody. But God encouraged Paul by bringing some Christian friends into Paul s life. God brought two people into his life that he mentions again and again, throughout his life because he loved them so much. Look at Acts 18:1 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native
Page 5 of 10 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. NIV Pontus was a province just on the southern edge of the Black Sea in what is now Turkey. Aquila, and his wife Priscilla, became two of Paul s closest friends. More than likely they were already Christians when they came to Corinth. Luke does not mention that they got saved or were baptized. They must have invited Paul to live with them and work with them as a tent maker. Can you imagine what a great encouragement this was to Paul? Their hospitality must have meant a lot to Paul and it was the beginning of a great friendship. Hospitality is a great Christian virtue and God wants every believer to practice it. We can be such an encouragement to so many through hospitality and it is a tremendous way to lead people to Jesus. If new friends are wonderful, old friends are even better. Look at Acts18:5, When Silas and Timothy came to Corinth from Macedonia, that was a great day and I m sure there was a lot of joy! God used Silas and Timothy to encourage Paul.
Page 6 of 10 We are told in 1 Thessalonians 3:1-6 that Paul sent Timothy from Athens back to the church they had started in the city of Thessalonica to strengthen and encourage the believers in their faith and Paul was left alone in Athens. When Timothy returned, he brought good news that the Thessalonians were faithfully living for Christ and that was an encouragement to Paul. 1 Thessalonians 3:7 Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. 8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. 9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? NIV Now all of that brought great joy and encouragement to Paul! Look at Acts 18:5 When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. NIV Somehow Paul was able financially to give up tent making and go back to teaching and proclaiming Christ full time after Silas and Timothy arrived. It may have been that they brought an offering from a church in Macedonia.
Page 7 of 10 Philippians 4:16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. NIV Proverbs 27:9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel. NIV Now you see how God comforts a discouraged believer through the fellowship of believers. He will do the same in your life if you let Him. How does God provide you with Christian friends to have fellowship with? It is through being actively involved in a local church and by being a part of a small fellowship group that ministers together. T. S. God Encourages His Weary Saints through fellowship with believers and 2. God encourages you through fruitfulness in ministry. God uses fruitfulness in your ministry to encourage you. That is what God did in Paul s life just when he really needed it. But first, Paul went through another discouraging event. The Jews became abusive and he had to stop going to the synagogue. But after that came the encouragement of fruitfulness.
Page 8 of 10 Look at Acts 18:8, I am sure this was absolutely thrilling for Paul. Acts 18:8 Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized. NIV He didn't see just one person saved, but a whole household, and then many more. Many people were saved! That was fabulous. Did you know that God promises you fruitfulness in your ministry? John 15:16 chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit fruit that will last. NIV Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. NIV All Christians bear fruit. That's a promise. When God sets out to encourage His saints, He does it with the miracle of salvation. There is nothing like people being saved to encourage the heart of a believer. T. S. God Encourages His Weary Saints through fellowship with believers, through fruitfulness in ministry and...
Page 9 of 10 3. God encourages you through divine communion. God came and spoke to Paul personally. Look at Acts 18:9 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." NIV This seems to imply that Paul may have become discouraged by all the persecution he was receiving from proclaiming Christ. God encourages Paul with three tremendous promises. (1.) His presence, "I am with you." God promised Paul that He was with him. Wouldn t that be great if God said that to you. Oh, but wait a minute, He did. Jesus said in Matthew 28:20 I am with you always, to the very end of the age." NIV Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. NIV (2.) His protection, "Acts 18:10 no one is going to attack and harm you NIV."
Page 10 of 10 If you're in the center of God s will, no weapon in the world can touch you until God allows it. You are under His protection. Isaiah 54:17 no weapon forged against you will prevail, NIV (3.) Productivity, " Acts 18:10 I have many people in this city." NIV There were many yet to be saved in that city. Would you like for God to speak to you like this. He will when you spend time in His word and in prayer. God will speak with you just like He did to Paul and you will be encouraged by divine communion.