Turn with me, if you would, to
Acts 18. You know what's amazing about
the Scriptures that we're studying in the book of Acts? These were people just like us. Paul was a man that the Lord
called out of darkness, gave him a heart to preach, and he
was doing what he wanted to do. He was going where he felt God
would have him go. And it's just a record of how
God Almighty blessed His people, was with His people. Let Him
and guide Him just like us. I mean, you take a day-by-day
account of God's people. Well, Paul had preached at a
place called Mars Hill. He told them what he knew. He
told them what he believed. And most of them rejected him
and mocked him Riddick killed him. And he departed from Athens. But there were some, the Scripture
says, that cleaved to him. Some of them heard. The Lord
opened some of their hearts like He did Lydia's. And after he
left Athens, he came to a place called Corinth. At that particular time, there
was no church there. The Lord hadn't raised up a church,
an organized assembly. And he went to a place, a house
that was owned by a man named Aquila and his wife Priscilla. They were tent makers. And Paul,
because there was no church there that would support him, he made
a living for a while. make intents because he wouldn't
be a burden to them. And later, Silas and Timothy
came there to Corinth, and it was a real encouragement to Paul.
And he was pressed in the Spirit. That's what we looked at in verse
5 last time. He was encouraged and he testified
more boldly. that Jesus was Christ. In fact,
in the book of 1 Corinthians 2, it tells us what He preached
when they came. He said, I determined not to
know anything among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified. You know, that's the message
of comfort to God's people. Christ crucified. Now when you
say that, you're not just talking about the day that He went to
the cross. You're talking about the complete
fulfillment of all that God Almighty purposed to do. Before the foundation
of the world, God loved a people, chose them in His Son, knew that
they would fall. in time, and they did. But before the foundation of
the world, God Almighty saw, beheld, it was done, their redemption. He was slain, the Lamb slain
from the foundation of the world. Here He was the substitute, the
Redeemer, before they actually ever fell in time. He comes in the fullness of time,
made of a woman, made under the law, subjected Himself to the
law of His own decree, obeyed it perfectly, lived for them,
died for them, redeemed them by His own precious blood. There
was the fulfillment when He said it is finished. God who had seen
it eternally saw that event right there, knew it. And seeing that
event justified His people, forgave them, meaning He was not going
to impute their sin to them. That's forgiveness. I will not
charge you with iniquity. Well, Paul, he preached, he proclaimed,
Christ and Him crucified. The gospel of free grace. And the Jews heard that and they
opposed themselves. That is, they aligned themselves
against Paul, but it was against themselves. They were doing themselves
harm. And they blasphemed. Spoke disrespectfully
toward God. Toward God's preacher, but actually
toward God. and refused to submit to the
sovereign commands of Christ. And Paul shook his raiment. And
he told them, he said, your blood is on your head. I'm clean. He
said, henceforth I'll go unto the Gentiles in that city. Well, we pick up right there.
Verse 7 of Acts 18. And he departed thence and entered
into a certain man's house named Justice. one that worshiped God,
whose house joined hard to the synagogue. And Crispus, the chief
ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house,
and many of the Corinthians hearing, believed and were baptized."
Now, Paul had said that he was going to go to the Gentiles,
and he did. He even left Priscilla and Aquila's
house, and he came to this man's house. Man's house name justice. And it said concerning this man.
That this was a man that worshiped God. Rose Scott just read a passage. And back what he just read you
if you want to just look at it, I'll just read this to you. It
said that when the disciples, the 11 disciples went to Galilee. into a mountain where Jesus had
appointed them. And when they saw Him, they worshipped
Him." Now that word, worshipped, right there, when they saw the
Lord, it means to kiss the hand. It means to reverentially bow
before God, knowing Him that He's the Lord. Worship, that's
what that word means. This word here doesn't mean that.
This word is a word that actually means religious. It's a different word, and almost
all of the examples that I found where this word is used, almost
without exception, this word is a word that kind of leaves
a doubt about where that person really stands that He is talking
about. They worship. Let me give you
a couple of Scriptures that uses this same word right here about
justice, worship God. It says, Matthew 15, 9, But in
vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines that commands or
commandments of men. In vain they do worship Me. They
are religious. They talk the talk. They've got
their lingo down. You know what I'm talking about? They talk about salvation and
grace. They use words like that. Here's another one, Acts 16 and
14. A certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, a city of
Thyatira, which, worship God, heard us, whose heart the Lord
opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken
of Paul. Well, if the Lord opened her heart, after she heard Paul
preach and she was said to worship God before, what does that mean? She was religious. It also means
devoted. People can be devotedly religious
and not know God. They're just religious. Well,
whether or not justice was a true believer, we're not told. But
I do know this, justice was the man that God Almighty had exactly
where Paul needed to be. Paul left and here was a man
that took him in. He was a man that was a religious
man. He knew Paul was a preacher.
And he took him in and the Lord used this man to meet the need
of His servant. You see what I'm saying? God ordains sovereignly. He orders all events. I heard Bro. Don Fortner make
this comment one time. And he was talking about folks
that, you know, they may be in the church. There may be tares. There may be questions. He said
this. He said, it appears as though
that God uses a lot of scaffolding. building his church. When it's
over, he removes the scaffolding. You know, the Lord was pleased
to use this man. And Paul had faithfully preached
the gospel because we're told that someone else heard Paul
preach. Crispus, verse 8, the chief ruler,
he believed on the Lord with all his heart. Now that's a good
one. That's a good term there. And many of the Corinthians hearing,
believing, they were baptized. Though Paul had seen what was
apparently to him, failure. He had been in the synagogue,
Neal. And this man heard him, Crispus. Why, this man right
here, he was the chief ruler in the synagogue. And as far
as Paul knew, all of them stood up in defiance of him and rebellion
against him. And it looked as though there
was no fruit as far as Paul could tell. Ah, I'm clean of you. You can have it. I'm not going
to fool with you anymore. But God at least, you know, right
here, this man in his house, and it says in many others, some
of them heard. And the Lord called them out
of darkness and blessed His Word. He had promised, My Word is not
going to return void. It's going to accomplish the
purpose for which it was sent. That's so comforting to me because
we come together, come this July, this July 20th. I will have been
here five years. That's hard for me to believe.
I still feel like the new kid on the block, you know. Glad
to be the new kid on the block, but just, you know. But I think
to myself, you know what God has accomplished. in these five
years just exactly what he's been pleased to accomplish. Comforting
his people, settling his people, selling them, teaching them. Paul preached the gospel. God
blessed the gospel. Many of them heard and believed
that gospel. And they confessed him in baptism.
Baptism is for believers. That's what it's for. It's a
confession of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, openly
telling the world, I renounce. That's what they're saying. When
someone is baptized, they're saying, I renounce all former
religious freewill professions, and I confess those to be idolatrous
and disrespectful. That's baptism. Salvation is
by grace. Baptism is a confession that
God has done something for me. Baptism doesn't save a man. Baptism
is a confession. That's what it is. That's how
men confess. So the Lord blessed His Word. But the next few verses
reveal something that was a real special blessing to this Apostle. Then, verse 9, spake the Lord
to Paul in the night by vision, be not afraid. but speak and
hold not thy peace, for I am with thee. And no man shall set
on thee to hurt thee, for I have much people in this city." Now,
you think about for just a minute what the Lord said to this man. First of all, it says, "...then
spake the Lord to Paul." He spoke to him in a vision. But you know
what that says to me? Our God is an aware God. He's aware. I mean, it's so easy
for us to forget the awareness of Almighty God. I mean, there's
times in our flesh that we just think God is not aware. You know,
does He know? Oh my! He watches over the eyes of the
Lord. watching over his children. I
mean, which one of you parents would let, you know, your little
one? Laura, you wouldn't let that
little one get out of your side and not know where she was. You
wouldn't do that. Do you think the Lord allows His children
to just be out there? No. Then spake the Lord to Paul. The Lord knew where Paul was
and He knew Paul's need. And He knows your need. He knows
where you are. He knows where Don is. He knows
where Nancy is. You think He's unaware? He knows. Keenly speak to Paul. Be not afraid. Don't fear those
that have opposed themselves and blaspheme me. Don't be afraid. But speak, and hold not thy peace."
Preach freely. Preach boldly. Don't hold anything
back. Someone told me one time, don't
ever be afraid to deal with something that the Scripture deals with.
Don't ever be afraid you're going to hurt, you know. You know what? A believer will never get upset
with you over proclaiming what the Scripture proclaims. An unbeliever
will get mad at you and feel like you're meddling and stuff
like that. But a believer wants to hear the truth. He says, speak
and hold not thy peace. I don't doubt for one second
that Paul felt the pressure. He knew that they hated him.
He knew that they despised him, opposed themselves. But you know
what? This is the only hope that a
sinner has, the truth. God Almighty has never blessed
a lie to the salvation of His people. Paul said, I'm not ashamed
of the Gospel. It's the power of God unto salvation. I'm not afraid. I mean, think
about it. If God saved one of yours, wouldn't
you a whole lot rather let them hear the truth? Just tell me
the truth. Tell me the truth. Paul preached,
don't be afraid. Why? For I'm with you. And if that won't settle your
heart, I'm with you. I'm with you. I told you this
example, but I thought about it just then. And I'm telling
you, this became very clear to me. This was a good illustration.
Sarah, my daughter, and her husband Jimmy. came when they were here
and it was October because we was in Morgantown and went to
this little Halloween gift thing and they had a little maze in
there and it was black. It was black. I mean I couldn't
see. And you had to just feel your
way through there trying to get through this maze, little fun
house thing. And I had Jack, my little grandson, with me and
he wanted to go. And I'm telling you I got about
halfway through that thing. And I'm telling you I didn't
know where I was. And I kept feeling, and man,
Jack had my finger, and buddy, he wasn't going to let go, you
know? He figured as long as I'm with
Papa, everything's going to be alright. Papa didn't know what,
but Jack, you know, why? Because I was with him. He figured
I, Papa ain't going to let anything happen to me. As long as I'm
with him, he's a, Paul, don't be afraid. Why? I'm with you.
I am with you. Be not afraid, Jeremiah 1.8,
of their faces, for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the
Lord. Jeremiah 1.18, For behold, I
have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, brazen
walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against
the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, against
the people of the land. Nothing can hurt you. Except if Almighty God allow
it, and it's going to be for your good. I hope I remember
that. You know, I do. I want to remember
that. All things work together for good to them that love God,
to them who are called according to His purpose. Now, you know,
if all things work together for good to God's elect, Well then, there's no bad. If all of it's good, all things,
all things. Who said that? God said that.
I'll never leave you. I'll never forsake you. You know,
as long as I can keep that on my mind, I can settle down. I can go to sleep and close my
eyes. Don't be afraid of them. Why?
I'm with you. But Scott just read this passage
a minute ago, Matthew 28, 20. Lo, I am with you always, even
unto the end of the world. There is not a moment that God
Almighty, the Lord Jesus Christ, is not with His people. I am
with you. I am with you. Lord, bring that
back to my mind. He has eternally loved us, saw
us, considered us in Christ, In time, He's called us out of
darkness. He assists us, gives us light,
teaches us, just like this. I need this. I need this tonight. You know, we're in the midst
of this world, but we're not of it. And coming together, this
is how the Lord comforts His people. I enjoy meeting with
you. I enjoy being here. The Lord's
here. I'm convinced of that. That's
not just religious jargon. I believe that. Two or more gathered
together. Two or three, he said, gathered
together in my name. I'm in the midst of you. You
know, you just stop and think, the Lord's here. As a special
blessing. I like CDs, you know. If I'm driving, riding or something
like that, pop one in and I'll listen to it. And it's good.
I enjoy them. I really do. I think that's good. But it's not like assembling
yourselves together with God's people. There's a difference. There's something special about
this. I'm with you always. And no man shall set on thee
to hurt thee. God preserves His people. From
all harm, God preserves His people from
all harm. You say, but haven't there been
some that's been martyred? Haven't there been some that
died? Hadn't there been some that,
you know, that God has allowed Satan to...? What about Job?
It was for his good. And it was for God's glory. It
was good. what David said, ìYouíve dealt
well with me.î Look at David. Look what he went
through. Think what youíve gone through. What would you take
for what youíve learned through experience? Now thatís the way
you learn. How many of you sitting here
tonight have had something that has crossed your path providentially? And I know just the little bit
of stuff that I've gone through. But I know of a few instances,
and I told you, I've been there. I know how you feel. I know what
that feels like. Yeah. Yeah. Would I change it? No. No. I mean, at the time, I didn't
know what to think, to be honest with you, but what I learned
what I've been taught, and to be able to tell you that I love
and respect and appreciate. I know how you feel. I've set
just exactly where you are. I've heard those very words.
I know how you feel. This Apostle here, the Lord spoke
with him and told him, don't be afraid, Paul. I'm with you. But then the Lord told Paul something
that was surely the greatest encouragement to this preacher,
for I have much people in this city. You know, Katie's a small place, and I
don't know who's the Lord's. I don't know who's His elect.
I just don't know. I know this. I want to be here.
preach the gospel. Because I know this, that's how
God's going to comfort His people and call out His people and settle
His people. I know that. But here Paul had
the Lord Himself told him, He said, don't be afraid. I want
you to preach. Don't hold your peace. Preach.
I have much people in this city. Now, do you think that that would
be a shot in the arm for this preacher? God's got some people
here. And I'm going to preach. They
providentially, they either were born there or moved there or
something. And maybe they didn't know the
Lord now. Maybe they'd never heard with
the heart before. But God's everlastingly loved
them. He told Paul, I've got some people here. I've got some
sheep in this place. They're mine. Chosen in Christ. The Lord told some in John 10,
16, other sheep I have, not of this fold. He was talking about
us. He was talking to some Jews then.
He was talking about us. I've got some folks. Here he
was as a man walking in a Palestine area. But you know what? He knew where Katy, West Virginia
was 2,000 years ago. He said this place wasn't even
established until, what I see, 1767 or something on the sign
over there standing. I don't know, 17 something like
that. Oh, it was established a lot longer than that in the
mind of God. God's will. God saw this place
right here. Oh, the sheep I have. They're
not of this fold. They're not Jews by nature. Them also I must bring, and they
shall Hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd."
And in time, He called this one out of darkness, and then He
called this one, and then He moved this one here. Knowing that the Lord has a people
and that He would surely call them out of spiritual death,
He called them to Himself, to the gospel, Verse 11, and here
we'll stop. The Scripture says concerning
Paul, and he continued there. He sat there. That's what the
reference says on the word continued. He sat there. He stayed right
there for a year and six months. Eighteen months he stayed right
there teaching the Word of God among them. Why? Well, the Lord
had told him, I want you to preach, Paul. Don't be afraid of them. I'm with you. Nothing's going
to happen to you that's outside of my power or will or providence. I've got much people in this
place." So Paul, in the midst of many that would oppose him,
he was encouraged by the revelation of Almighty God. He was there
because that's where he knew God wanted him to be. This is
where God wants me to be. I'm convinced of that. This is
it. I told Brother Carl today, of
all the decisions that I've ever made in my life, I've never been
more convinced that moving to Katy, West Virginia was the right
decision. This is right. This is right.
The Lord, I'm convinced, was in this move. This is home to
me. He stayed right there. That's
what he did. There'd be times, I'm sure, that
Paul might not see some fruit among the people. But he knew
this, that God was going to save his own. And he taught them. That's what he did. He taught
them the Word of God. There's nothing that is of greater
encouragement to God's people than the realization that God
is sovereign and He's going to do what He said He's going to
do. That was the final word of peace
and comfort to Paul. I have much people in this place.
The Lord's got some people here tonight. I know He does. And
it's a fellowship. A time of peace and comfort and
joy. It's like a nice dinner. We come here and we feast on
the Word of God. We eat of Him, drink of Him,
rest in Him. I've enjoyed this service tonight.
It's been good to have been here with you because He's here. All right, Bro. Gary, dismiss
us with a chorus if you would.