Faithbase

Hey faith-based friends and family blessings to you today. Hey, I'm gonna do a two-part series on What I considered neglected aspects of Paul Do the first one right now, but I've been studying Acts and I was just hit by this part in Acts 18 Where the Lord gives Paul a vision now We know Paul is like this incredible orator and the theological scholar But what we miss is that Paul was human like us, of course in Romans 7 He says things like he he does what he doesn't want to do and he doesn't do what he wants to do but but we don't really see Paul like discouraged right and I don't know about you, but I get discouraged and In Acts 18, the Lord gives him this vision and he says don't be afraid. I'll be with you. The Lord says to him keep on Speaking you'll be not harmed. I've had many people in this area in this town. I Believe that Paul received this word from the Lord because he was discouraged maybe depressed but he had just been like Beaten up over and over again for so long I mean literally from being stoned with rocks to being belittled and mocked and called names in Acts 17 Basically, they call him a seed picker, which is a very derogatory name, which seems strange for us in English But he's been beaten with rods. He's been stoned So badly that people assume he's dead and he just gets up and keeps going so he's been going and going but it's this constant Like this kind of thing if you ever suffer trauma sometimes it's just the byproduct of like a little things that are just seemingly never-ending and The Lord just encouraged him and said I'm with you And so I said that to say it Paul's humanity for me is very encouraging Because I can get discouraged but also receive that word the Lord said to Paul I'm with you My daughter had an accident several weeks ago on the interstate and a car had hit her from behind And I'm the least competent person. I know when it comes to Anything related with automobiles. I mean, it's embarrassing, but it's just not my thing And she called me wanted me there. Of course, I took off as quickly as I could. She's 21 and Independent lives on her own and she knew that I am not competent with cars But she knew there was just something about being together Not being alone that would make her feel better And so, of course, I was present and that's why the Lord just told Paul don't be afraid I am with you Something about us being together. We can endure anything when we're together, right? So just want to encourage you as I'm aware of this Human characteristic of Paul that if you are in a place of discouragement Or maybe you're just walking in a great season of fruit right now. The Lord is with you He is for you. Encourage you just take a few seconds just to pause Be aware of your breathing and just be aware of his presence and thank him blessings to you today