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Plans for You

Plans for You
Words of Faith 6-20-16
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2016
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
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Acts 18
[5] When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. [6] But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles."
[7] Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. [8] Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.
[9] One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. [10] For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." [11] So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.

Silas and Timothy finally caught up with Paul. They were following up the ministry in northern Greece. Their arrival was encouraging in many ways. They brought a financial gift from the churches in Macedonia (2 Cor. 11:9; Phil 4:15) and encouraging news about the faithfulness of the church in Thessalonica. The financial support allowed Paul to devote himself fulltime to preaching.
But things became contentious again in Corinth. Paul found himself in conflict with religious leaders. Many were becoming believers including the synagogue leader and his family! This was disturbing to many others. Preaching the cross of Christ was no doubt divisive.
Later, Paul would point out that "Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles (1 Cor. 1:22-23)."
Paul finally had to leave the synagogue and preach in a home next door. This was all sounding like a familiar pattern and Paul probably wondered if he would not be run out of this town like all the others!
It was in this situation of turmoil that the Lord gave Paul a precious word of encouragement. 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." That was all Paul needed to hear.
The reassurance that Paul was in the right place doing the right thing was immensely empowering. Paul stayed in Corinth longer than in any other place except Ephesus.
Wouldn't it be wonderful to receive a word from the Lord like that? Just a special whisper in your ear that you are cared for and will be protected? The truth is we have such a word! Scripture is so very clear. When we are facing adversity and turmoil, the Lord is with us (Matt. 28:20)! We need never fear those who can only harm the body (Matt. 10:28). And God has a plan! "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).

Lord, thank You for the encouragement of Your Word. Keep me on track as I seek to follow You and speak for You. In Jesus' name.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2001, 2016
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2010 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.