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.” – Acts 18:9-10
When considered in context, it would appear that the Lord's words to Paul must have come during a time of discouragement in the ministry. Most of us can only imagine the physical and emotional stress this good man of God endured over his many years of service, but Paul never gave up or gave in to the pressure. Of course, that does not mean he was always a “pillar of positivity.”
It is somehow comforting for me to know that though Paul never gave in to discouragement, he probably felt it. I have certainly been discouraged from time to time and I am also certain that most of you have. Yet, as with Elijah of old, God assures us we are not alone in the fight. When the prophet of God felt isolated in the ministry, God reminded him that there were 7,000 other people who had not bowed the knee to idolatry.
God is at work all around us drawing men and women to Himself. All we have to do is obediently go and spread His gospel. If we remain faithfully engaged in the Lord’s work, we will soon see that we are not alone. He has many in “your city” and so do you.
Some Christians try to go to heaven alone, in solitude. But believers are not compared to bears or lions or other animals that wander alone. Those who belong to Christ are sheep in this respect, that they love to get together. Sheep go in flocks, and so do God's people. – Charles Spurgeon
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