Do not [your sin here]. Future joy coming. Jesus reigns.

What We Already Knew

and

What We Did Not Know

(Acts 18:4-11 (again), Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, December 30, 2012)

[4] And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks. [5] When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. [6] 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.” [7] And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue. [8] 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.

We had an opportunity to consider the first part of this passage on December 9th. We now continue with this same text after a most unusual Christmas season in New England and in many of our lives personally.

[9] And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid,

The words of Luke 2:10-11 have been playing in my mind over these days. God gave the shepherds a command that was identical to the one he gave to Paul in verse 9 of this passage. “Fear not” or “Do not be afraid.”

The angel spoke to the shepherds about good news of a future joy that would be for all the people. That same future joy will fully come to us by the work of the One who was born that day in the city of David, our Savior, Christ, the Lord.

Paul preached in Corinth that the Christ was Jesus. He demonstrated this from the Hebrew Scriptures, but not everyone believed. Those in the synagogue who ultimately rejected his message became hostile and violent. That led to Paul's withdrawal from that place with Jews and Gentiles who believed that the Christ was Jesus. Where did they worship? At the house next door to the synagogue. The potential for further resentment and violence was substantial.

So when the Lord appeared to Paul in a dream, he began with the same words that were spoken to the shepherds. “Fear not.” The shepherds' fears would have been from God Himself. What would the Almighty do to them? Like Isaiah of old, they knew that they were sinful men who dwelt among sinful people, and they feared a message from heaven brought by an angel.

Paul's fear was from a different source. He had faced persecution that had forced him out of town before. What would happen now? Would he be able to complete his ministry?

but go on speaking and do not be silent, [10] for I am with you,

The Lord Jesus himself told the Apostle Paul to “go on speaking,” and then reinforced this command with the words, “do not be silent.” Paul was a messenger of good news. The Messiah had come. The proclamation of good news did not mean that the new heavens and the new earth would come immediately. Paul was very clear in his letters and preaching that the church could expect persecution and suffering. But Paul needed divine encouragement, a personal word for him containing information that he already knew, and some information that was news to him.

First, what did Paul already know? He knew that he needed to do the ministry that God had given to him, testifying to Jews and Greeks about Christ, the cross, and the resurrection. There are times when we should be silent. James tells us that we should be slow to speak and that not many should be teachers. But those who are called to preach the Word need to be ready to bring the message of Christ to the world with boldness and sincerity. Paul knew this.

Paul also knew that Jesus was with him. We have been celebrating the coming of the Christ. One of the names that the prophets gave for the Messiah was “Immanuel,” God with us. Paul knew about the indwelling power of God in him and in the other believers.

and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” What Paul did not know was the specific plan of God regarding Corinth and the suffering that the apostle would face in that city. Would Paul have to leave Corinth quickly as he had in other places? Only God knew, and Paul would not know unless the Lord showed Him.

The ascended Jesus, the King and Head of the church revealed to Paul that no one would attack him to harm him, at least not immediately. This was unexpected. The controversy in Corinth had been very heated. The two sides in the ongoing debate among Jews concerning Jesus were right next door to each other. Could it have been reasonably expected that there would have been a lengthy period of peace? There would be peace, and knowing that he would be safe would help Paul to proclaim the Word boldly.

It would also be a great encouragement to Paul to know that the Lord had many people in this city whom He counted as His people. This detail could never have been known unless God revealed it.

[11] And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

This amazing revelation was a great help to Paul. He stayed in Corinth for a very lengthy time. He was able to teach the Word there, just as he would later in Ephesus.

Why would we need God to tell us things that we already know? Why would we need to know the details of His providence yet to come? The Lord knows the weakness of even His strongest servants. When the familiar truths of the Scriptures are proclaimed to us, it is not enough for us to know that the propositions are true. We need to know that they come to us from a God who knows us and who wants us to remember the central truths of Christian faith and life. There are also occasions when the Lord's apostolic servants needed to have new information granted to them in their weakness. The Lord knows our needs, and He will provide for us as He sees fit.

We will face opposition, but God will be with us. He will protect us in our trials. We can trust Him for His sustaining grace. But will our ministries touch the lives of many people in our region? Paul needed to have hope. God knows how to lead us forward in hope.

Whether it is through his personal reassurance to us that the foundational truths of the faith are still true, or in His special way of encouraging us about the days ahead, we need God. We need to know that His Word is for us.

Just as God said in Bethlehem and in Corinth, “Do not be afraid,” or “Do not [your sin here].” Here is a Word that you have already heard, but today it is just for you: Christ has won for you and for many others the rich resurrection blessings of eternal life through His life and His death on the cross, and he is reigning in heaven. This you know, but today it is spoken especially for you. And may the Lord lead you personally through every trial, granting you the encouragements and wisdom necessary to persevere in faith, hope, and love.