This message is an edited version of a message given at Loving God Fellowship. Copyright © 2008 Loving God Fellowship, Inc. http://www.LovingGodFellowship.org . Click to have messages emailed to you as they are made available. You are encouraged to share this message with those you know that are hungry for God's Word.
Jesus Will Come to Your Aid
By Rev. Greg Johnson
Acts 23:11
In the latter part of the Apostle Paul’s journey of following Jesus from earth to glory, he found himself in Jerusalem telling the people of how Jesus called Him out of a life of religion, discrimination, violence and even murder and gave him a second chance. The Apostle Paul’s conversion (Acts 9), as with all Christ followers, was life changing. He was never the same after he denied himself, took up his cross and followed Jesus.
As Paul told of his conversion and his mission (Acts 22), he made mention of Jesus saying (Acts 22:21 NIV) "Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.” This made the religious and discriminatory crowd angry to the point of trying to kill Paul. Paul was arrested and taken before the Sanhedrin where he suffered much of the same abuse.
Paul finds himself in yet another crisis and in need of strength. In that moment Jesus came to him with a sweet visitation. (Acts 23:11 NIV) "The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, "Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.""
As you follow Christ on your journey from earth to glory you will find yourself in times of crisis and in need of strength. Jesus will come to your aid. Jesus will give you sweet visitations and will minister to you at your point of need.
JESUS STANDS NEAR HIS FOLLOWERS IN CRISIS.
Jesus stands near His followers in crisis and He gives them strength to endure whatever may come their way. The devil, who is seeking to steal, kill and destroy, is wanting you to panic and live in fear, but you have not been given the spirit of fear. You have been given the Spirit of power through Jesus Christ and He is sustaining you with His strength. Looking at your crisis, you should be weak, your knees should be buckling under the pressure but instead you are strong in the Lord! Jesus is standing with you and giving you supernatural strength!
JESUS IMPARTS COURAGE FOR THE JOURNEY.
Jesus Christ was the most courageous man that has ever walked this earth. It took tremendous courage to willingly go to the cross and take our punishment. It took tremendous courage to be whipped and beaten for something that He did not do. He courageously lived and He courageously died and today He stands near His followers giving them His courage. He’s giving His followers the courage to live and the courage to die.
Beloved, with Jesus standing near you giving you His courage, there is no crisis that will overcome you! You will not grow weary with lack of strength for the journey. You will not faint in fear. You will endure until the end and you will be saved and it’s all through Jesus Christ! Glory be to God!
SWEET VISITATIONS AND SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS.
So Jesus comes and gives us sweet visitations of His presence. We draw strength and courage from Him for our journey form earth to glory. And it’s in these sweet visitations that He gives us specific instructions that when followed out, will testify of Him and our life becomes a living testimony of Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul went from crisis to crises with strength and courage. He testified of Christ in Jerusalem. He testified of Christ in Rome. He testified of Christ to the Jew. He testified of Christ to the Gentile. He never wilted in weakness. He never fainted in fear. He stood strong and courageous, completed his mission on earth and is now standing with Jesus in glory!
Beloved, be strong and courageous in the Lord. Jesus will bless you with sweet visitations in the midst of any crisis. He will give you His strength and courage as He gives you specific instructions. As you carry out those instructions, you will testify of Him. And one day you will stand with Jesus in glory!
Amen!
Know that you are loved,
