05/30/18 - Acts 18

May 30, 2018

The Lord spoke to Paul: "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..." Acts 18:9-10

The safest place to be is fully in the will of God---He is our might & protection.

Fear has a way of making us take cover.  When faced with uncomfortable odds, the logical answer is to retreat to safety and regroup. 

Elisha and the city were outnumbered by an enemy force, and the whole town was in fear.  Even the king was losing hope, and trying to figure out an escape strategy.  The only person who wasn’t retreating was Elisha.  He had confidence in God to rescue them, in spite of the odds.  Elisha’s servant was trying to convince his master to retreat, when Elisha prayed that the servant’s eyes would be opened and see all of God’s angels prepared for battle.  Even being the only one willing to stand against the enemy, Elisha was safe from danger.  (Read the rest of that story- and see how God put fear into the enemy’s minds, scaring them away without a single sword being drawn!)

Often our eyes and our minds can play tricks on us.  We think we are safe because of our numbers.  Or we think we’re unsafe because of risks we imagine.  Both are incorrect.  The safest place to be is not based on our surroundings or circumstances.  The safest place to be is in the will of God.  For it’s in His Will that we find the Lord of the Universe fighting for us!

Obedience is often considered negative and restrictive, but obedience is all about SAFETY!  When we obey God, His Will continues to operate and His plans are executed flawlessly.  We find ourselves fighting God when we disobey, and even the safest house or car or career is no match for the God of the universe when we oppose Him. 

Listen to the instructions of God to Paul – you are safe when you do His Will.  You are protected when He is with you.  Don’t be afraid to speak God’s Word.  Don’t hesitate to display your faith.  Don’t back down when an enemy fights against you and you are doing the right thing.  Our God is an AWESOME GOD!  Trust in Him and stay the course with His Will.

That will not be easy.  The rest of the world will be bailing out.  But the believers will be in the foxhole with you.  Trust Him to overcome.  He’s been doing it for millions of years.