Greater Things
One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.” -Acts 18: 9 (NLT)
We always hear "greater things are yet to come," but waiting for those greater things is difficult. In Acts 18, Paul in Corinth, a city with about 600,000 people and a strong Greek culture and philosophy. Preaching the Gospel in this environment was challenging. People were skeptical of the Gospel and close-minded to the hope God could provide. Even though Paul spent all his time preaching, Acts tells us that the Jews and Greeks in Corinth "opposed and insulted him" (Acts 18:6).
In the face of this opposition and ridicule, Paul "shook the dust from his clothes" and went to preach to the Gentiles (Acts 18:6). He went in search of greater things. What do you do when you’re not experiencing the fruit you’re believing for?
God gives us three ways to encourage ourselves and stand firm in our faith for greater things He has for us, individually and corporately. The first is the partnership of friends.
In Acts 18, we see Paul had two types of friends in Corinth: old and new ones. He leaned on both for encouragement. In fact, after spending time with two of his companions, Paul's spirit was so encouraged that he "spent all his time preaching the word" (Acts 18:5).
The second thing is the power of our perception. Sometimes, we have to get in a different position to see the positive results God is bringing into our lives. After Paul said he would preach to the Gentiles, he went next door to Titius Justus' home. When they heard Paul speak, many people "became believers and were baptized" (Acts 18:8). That one shift in Paul's position allowed him to see greater things, and the same can happen to us when we shift our stance and look from a different vantage point. The greater thing that God wants to do in our lives is often seen in the spirit before we can see it in the natural (1 Kings 42-44).
The last thing God gives us is His promises. These declarations from God include the promise of His presence, His protection, His power, and His provision. God’s promises and His word strengthen our faith to believe that greater things will come. God told Paul not to be afraid and to speak out because He was with Paul, and no one would attack or harm Paul (Acts 18:9).
When life gets tough, and we're facing opposition and insults, we can hope for greater things by partnering with new and old friends, shifting our perception, and holding onto God's promises. What greater things are you believing God for in your life?
