Encouraging the Brethren 2

by Lou Pressman

Paul, a prisoner, had warned the centurion commander and the ship's captain not to set sail, but to wait until the spring. They set sail anyway and were caught in a fierce storm. Luke writes in Acts 27:20, "that all hope of our being saved was gradually abandoned." For days they were tossed and pelted by the storm. Yet, because God was with Paul, he heard from God. No matter the severity of the situation, no matter how loud and violent the storm, Paul was able to hear from God. Despite Paul's desperate circumstance, he had an ear to hear. Paul was a witness and testified about God. He even encouraged the people guarding him, the same people that had him chained and shackled.

Paul and all on the ship were spared and made it to Malta. On top of everything else, a poisonous viper bit him. There was something about the apostle Paul that should be working within us. Consider his reaction from being bitten by a viper. "Oh great, what else can happen?" Or, "why me?" Certainly not, there's none of that with Paul. There was no "woe is me." He just shook off the snake as if nothing happened. There's this amazing character that has been built into the apostle Paul. Our God, who never changes, is looking to build that same character in His people today. Faith and character matters much to God. O' that we would come into that closeness of relationship with God, so assured of our salvation, so assured that His hand is upon our lives that we could go through the storms of life and remain unscathed; not letting the storms effect us or bring us to a state of depression, but going through the storms, keeping our integrity, and being an amazing testimony to the people around us, giving glory to God.

Think of the state of many in the modern church realm today, and how there has been a settling--just wanting to keep people saved. There is very little thought today of building character, of impartation, or of training God's people to discern the situation. A real need exists to allow not just the gifts of the Holy Spirit to manifest, but the fruit of the Holy Spirit as well.

The amazing thing about Paul was that he had come to understand that God has a reason for everything. Everything! For every storm that comes into our lives, God has a reason for it. Could He prevent it? Of course He could. But it's these storms that build faith and character in our lives. James says to let our "yes be yes and our no be no." Our word should be sufficient. That is character.

So here were these unbelieving people who thought Paul was a murderer or that he had done some great evil and was getting his just rewards. But from Acts 28:7 on, a different picture unfolded. Paul went from being looked upon as a murderer, or some evil man, to having God put Him in a situation where he found favor with the people. One of the lessons we have to learn is to rest in the Lord. Let's stop trying to manipulate situations, or worrying about situations, and put our trust in the Lord. He will never fail us, nor will He forsake us. Only God can take our worst of situations, when we think that this is the end and that "we've reached the bottom," and turn it around for His glory. Only God can take a life that is broken and make it whole.

Paul didn't say to himself, "I don't have to go to Rome now, I've found great favor with the people here. They'll hide me out." There is no thought of that. Paul is fully persuaded that he is going to meet his destiny, whatever it is and whatever it means. Paul trusted God with his life. We know that eventually Paul met a martyr's death. But that death wasn't defeat, it was victory.

Believers in Christ are people of destiny. Certainly, most of our lives won't be as dramatic as the apostle Paul's life, but who will we meet and what situation will occur in the future? Who will we influence? What divine appointments does God have for us that will alter someone's life? We are people of destiny.

When we look at Paul, let us not look at him as some super human being. Keep in mind that he was a real person. There are many times during his journey to Rome that he had to wonder what would happen to him. Even our Lord Jesus Christ, in the Garden of Gethsemane cried out, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me." Luke 22:42 As He was praying, "His sweat became like drops of blood falling down upon the ground." Vs. 44 In our humanity, we have our soul, and we have our emotions. Emotions did not rule our Lord, they did not rule the apostle Paul, and they should not rule our lives. We need to continuously be filled with the Holy Spirit.

The scripture that started me thinking in this direction is Acts 28:15. (Remember that Paul was on his way to Rome and most certainly his death). "And the brethren, when they heard about us, came from there as far as the market of Appius and Three Inns to meet us; and when Paul saw them he thanked God and took courage." Just by seeing the brethren, at a distance, without a word being spoken, "He thanked God and took courage."

The brethren that came from Appius walked about fifty miles to Rome. Most of these people would have walked that distance just to meet Paul, just to accompany him to Rome. When Paul saw them two things took place. First, he thanked God--just seeing their faces caused him to thank God. Second, he took courage.

Brethren, there are some who are downtrodden, going through life's difficult situations, and have just about lost hope. May it be that just by seeing us, seeing the Christ within us, that they will be enabled to thank God and take courage. We can have a Godly affect on one another and even on the world.

May we be able to take courage and also give courage. May our very presence bless and build confidence in others. That is the high calling. There is no higher calling than to be a fragrant aroma to the Lord and to others.