Acts 18:7-11 – Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. 8 Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized. 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.” 11 So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.
“Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God.” After the Jews had abused the name of God and also abused Paul, we saw him stop his ministry to them and said he would from then on be ministering to the gentiles. We should always remember that God always knows the future and prepares the path for us to walk on. The Lord had prepared the heart of Titius Justus so that he would receive Paul into his house. The Lord had put it into Titius Justus’ heart to make his house available to God. He had joyously agreed for his house to be God’s house. In a Friday Life Group (Small Group) which I attend, the hosts of where we meet refer to their house as God’s house. They often say “Welcome to God’s house!” (I love that!) They mean that they are blessed to have the house and that God has gifted to them that their house would be a house to meet and praise and glorify God. This is a blessing to them and us and it requires sacrifice from them. We all have countless “things” that come up and would keep us from attending Life Group. Kid’s games or performances, people visiting, work (not hard scheduled) and many other things and reasons, good and not good. So being the hosts requires extreme commitment. Sometimes in order for the house to be available when they have something that must be attended to, they split duties and one attends other necessities and the other greets the group and welcomes them in. Not that they never miss, but it is rare and we know that is a good reason and we bless them and pray God’s blessing for them. They show a great commitment that can sometimes be hard to achieve, but if all possible they do. That is great leadership and a great example of how we are to live with a “Jesus First” goal in our lives. It is an example for us, and an example for their children. Titius Justus set himself, his home, and his family at the feet of Jesus in full faith and trusted in Him. He, like our Life Group hosts, did it and do it because they were and are, “worshippers of God.” As a result, God blessed that home, and He blesses where we meet.
“Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.” Those of the synagogue did not like Paul or the Gospel message he preached. They chased him out of the synagogue. However, God had prepared a place next door. God is so funny sometimes, so good and so awesome! Then Crispus, the synagogue leader believed the Gospel and was baptized as a sign of his faith. Then, many of the Jews and Gentiles who had been attending the synagogue also moved their attendance next door to the house of Titius Justus. Oh, the jealousy and anger that arose of those at the synagogue who saw their leader and much of their congregation leave to be at service Paul led to hear the message they rejected.
“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.”” Do not be afraid, do not be fainthearted, do not be panicked or terrified have all been directions and assurances from the Lord. But God does not just tell us to not be afraid without giving us the reason that for us to be brave, He says to be brave and not afraid because He is with us. Family, He has always told His people to not be afraid. It is even those who seem most courageous who also sometimes are tempted to fear. Yet God tells us not to succumb to the temptation, but strive in peace because He has said He is with us and because He the Almighty and All-Knowing One is with us we need not fear. He is able, at all times and in all situations to protect us and bring about His will. Family, if we are reading our Bibles and have faith in the Lord then we should know, and believe this. God tells us this same message over and over again. In Genesis 15:1 God tells Abraham not to fear because He is Abram’s protection and will be the reward of his heart. Genesis 21:7 – Hagar was a deserted mother with a son. She, alone with her son, was sent from her home into the desert. Her being placed in God’s hands sounded to her so hollow and insufficient. Yet when she called out to Him God spoke to her heart and mind and told her not to be afraid. He was with her, and her son. He told her not to worry, He has been with her all along. Isn’t God so good! Family we need to read our Bibles, we don’t need to worried and afraid, God is with us. Of whom or what shall we be afraid? (Romans 8:31-39).
A married sister in the Lord is in the midst of troubled seas in her marriage. She has alternated between being afraid of divorce and desiring it. She wants the Lord’s will to work out her marriage and yet she, while knowing that God can do all things, still has a hard time seeing the sun beyond the surrounding and growing angry swells of the ocean. She has strong faith, but can too often feel beat down and frightened and confused about the future. It all makes one want to cry. And that’s okay, but we will not give up on God. She was feeling very helpless when God revealed His love and care for her in a supernatural way. One of her friends had a dream from God. The dream puzzled her and she told the dream to me. She wondered what it meant. The dream was a dream that was meant for the woman in the troubled marriage. After praying about it, while not telling the troubled wife about the dream, I told her to contact her friend. She did and the dream was about a woman who perceived herself in the same way that the wife saw her circumstances. The troubled wife immediately understood that God was letting her know that He was with her, He knows her situation, and He will be her reward and help. Don’t fear, God is on the job. Both women cried that they would see God’s mighty hand being used in an intimate and tender way to bless both of the ladies. Praise God!
“For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” 11 So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.” Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Jesus spoke to Paul in a vision and told him to not be afraid, keep on ministering as he had been called, to not stop. Then, like in Old Testament times, the Lord told Paul the reason why he shouldn’t worry and to keep doing as Jesus had called him to, it was because the Lord Jesus was with Him. It was all Paul needed and He kept going forward as He was led by the Lord. As a result Paul stayed with them for one and half years and saw many come to the Lord.
God also sent a dream to a lady whom the wife knew. The lady shared her dream with the wife who was then assured and was blessed. The lady with the dream, the wife and I can attest to what God supernaturally did. Family, God did it for them, He did it for Paul, He did it for Abram, He did it for Hagar and He still does it for many others, perhaps us? God is good and He loves us. Nothing is changed. Trust God! Stay strong! Be brave! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”