Lessons on Acts 18. Disclaimer: I don't own any of the photos in these slides.

1. Did you ever feel like giving up?

2. Divine Encouragement
02 Aug 2015
Church of Singapore – Filipino Service

7. 18 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2
There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native
of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had
ordered all Jews to leave Rome.

8. Paul went to see them, 3
and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked
with them.

9. 4
Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

10. 5
When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching,
testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.

11. 6
But when they opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said
to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the
Gentiles.”

12. 7
Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of
God.

13. 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.

14. 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.”

15. 11
So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.

16. 12
While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and
brought him to the place of judgment. 13
“This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to
worship God in ways contrary to the law.”

17. 14
Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to them, “If you Jews were making a complaint about some
misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. 15
But since it involves questions
about words and names and your own law—settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.”

18. 16
So he drove them off. 17
Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes the synagogue leader and
beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever.

19. 19
They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the
synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.

20. 1) What is the condition of Paul’s
location?
Corinth
economically thriving
rebellious, religious pursuit
very mixed up
rough place to live
Las Vegas of the olden times

21. 2) What is the condition of Paul’s heart?
 He did was he was supposed to do.
 worked and ministered at the same time (“tent”)
 lots of action and passion
 He had his fill from all his journeys. Persecution after
persecution
 Got encouraged when reunited with Timothy and Silas

22. 3) How did he act?
 Kind of “Gave up” on the Jews for a
while and planned to go to the
Gentiles
 Grabbed the next opportunity

23. 4) How did God intervene?
Acts 18:9-10
“
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.”

24. 4) How did God intervene?
a. He dealt with his fear.
b. He encouraged him to persevere.
c. He told him what NOT to do.
d. He reassured him,
e. He gave him a promise.

25. 5) How did Paul respond?
 He obeyed (1.5yrs).
 He did not feel fear.
 He kept on speaking.
 He trusted God is with him.
 He was assured that no one will hurt him.
 He anticipated that there will be a great
harvest.
JESUS was enough for him!

26. 6) What was the result?
 A situation happened to prove of
what God has spoken to him is true.
 Fruit of his labor: Birth of Corinthian
church (1 Cor 1)

27. How will your next 1 year
and a half look like?

28. What should we do
amidst difficult situations?

29. 1. Recognise we are human 
 It is normal to feel discouraged/fear.
 We have the ability to persevere. Ask
the Holy Spirit!
 Wait for the next opportunity. (can be
next door, near.)

30. 2. Recognise He is God ^_^
Get His vision/know His will and align with Him!
Listen
Capture
Align/obey
Expect it to happen
He speaks to us in many ways and in odd times!
God will provide people to help you.
God himself will encourage you.

32. 3. Get encouraged by others/Be an
encourager
 E.g. Timothy and Silas (Thessalonians)
 Bros and sis can be source of
encouragement
 You can inspire just by being faithful
to God and with what you do

33. 4. In sharing Christ to others
 Find common ground – market place
 Earthly tent vs Kingdom
 “Cut your hair” (v18.)

34. How are we?
Maybe our Heart-titude
needs some fine-tuning? ^_^

35. What are our earthly tents?
2 Cor 5:1 ”For we know that if the
earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we
have a building from God, an eternal
house in heaven, not built by human
hands.”
Let go of our earthly tents!
God can give us something better.

36.  “He who comforts us in all our
troubles, so that we can comfort
those in any trouble with the
comfort we ourselves receive
from God.” ~ 2 Corinthians 1:4

37. When we feel like giving up…
When situations are difficult…
Divine Encourager!
Turn to the

38. “Isang gabi, sinabi ng Panginoon kay Pablo sa
pamamagitan ng isang pangitain,
“Huwag kang matakot!
Ipagpatuloy mo ang iyong pangangaral!
Anuman ang mangyari'y huwag kang titigil
sapagkat ako'y nasa iyo.
Hindi ka maaano sapagkat marami akong
tagasunod sa lunsod na ito.”
Mga Gawa 18:9-10