There was this time in our lives when God called us to leave ministry positions in one place to join another ministry in another state for “such a time as this”.  This ministry on the outside looked right and good, flourishing with numbers of believers, but we would learn very soon that it was rotten at the core.  We didn’t know that, of course, until a few days of working alongside the leaders. 

When led by God but faced with what you didn’t expect and realizing it would be a hard road to follow, your first thought is to quit and question.  “Did I miss what God was calling me to do?”  “Did I totally misunderstand what God was saying to me about the work to be done here?”  Those are the exact questions I asked in the first two weeks of arriving.  I immediately saw the challenge ahead of me and trembled.  But I also saw the people in need of growing in their walk with God. 

God called me to help people to not just believe in Jesus but to follow in His ways, allowing their lives to be transformed by Him. We left two good salaries to do this because of our faith in God who led us.  Even though our income of cut in half, God provided.  Randy would be a “tentmaker” as a teacher in a new Bible college forming in the area as well as fill in as a sub teacher so we could pay our bills.  God provided.  Our income was doable and we trusted God all they way.  He did not let us down.  He protected us and provided for us. 

It was rough from day one as God used His gifts graciously given to me in the work to fulfill the mission of discipleship for this church.  From the beginning, I was met with underground opposition with quiet intimidating comments, made only to me in isolated hallways by small minded men who wanted to retain their position and power.  I had dealt with troublesome people before in God’s church but never to this degree.  One of my mentors even called it, “spiritual abuse.” 

I rose each day to be at work early to pray for God to guide me.  I studied His Word for His plan, assurance, and guidance for the next steps I should take for that day.  But I was accused of spending too much time in the Word and should get to the tasks at hand—listening to what the leaders wanted me to be and do for them.  At one point, I was told, “You were hired to make us look good, so do that.” 

I knew God called and sent there, but I asked often, how can your work be done, Lord, given this opposition?  How could I keep doing what you called me to do with “my hands tied behind my back” by those who had hired me?  How can I rise above the man, second in charge, who works overtime to discredit me with attempts to stop everything we’re trying to accomplish, Lord?  This man formed an alliance with another man who was third in charge who watched every move I made.  He would then falsely “tattle” with accusations of my work to the pastor in charge. Yeah, that was fun—not!

But our Lord heard my frantic prayers.  He upheld my strength by His power that is greater and gave me a peace that truly was His gift to me.  God proceeded to do a work in and through me to help others see Jesus, really see Him in all His glory as they learned to imitate Christ, developing the mind of Christ, so they could learn to walk in His ways.  To God be the glory!  I witnessed God working in and through many people.  No regrets. 

Unknown to me, the pastor’s plan all along was to hire me for only one year or less because that’s all their budget could afford.  Their budget was kept hidden from view, so no one really knew.  What I did know was God led me to build a discipleship program from infant to adults and train leaders as quickly as possible.  Somehow, I knew in my heart that I didn’t have much time.

The pastor who began this church hired me to, as he said, “do discipleship because we suck at it”.  He soon realized that his plan was working.  He began talking to volunteers to take my place in various ways.  Then he called me into his office after nine months of hard labor to let me go. What surprised him was my reaction.  I was the most relieved person on the planet!  I walked out praising Jesus and thanking Him for releasing me and moving me on.  I had no regrets!  I had done my best to follow what God told me to do and I grew through the challenge!  We were now jobless and had to move, but didn’t matter!  I knew God was leading and in control!  Why worry?  Several miracles of provision followed in the next 24-36 hours.   

Randy and I survived physically, although it took its toll on my heath.  We survived mentally and emotionally because we learned that most of the people saw the Truth.  In fact, we are still friends today after all these years.  Most of all, we grew spiritually because of the challenging circumstances which taught me that God is always in control and turns bad to good for those who believe as He turns ashes into beauty for His glory! Jesus is still King of kings and Lord of lords, and that obeying the Holy Spirit is the best way to live.  We also realized internally Paul’s words to the growing church in Ephesus;

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12

When you really believe these words, grudges with those who “sin against you” fall away when you forgive “for they know not what they are doing.” Don’t wait for an apology you will probably never receive.  Forgive and pray for your enemies that they will know Jesus and follow Him, too.  Go where God leads for as long as He tells you.  Don’t quit until God tells you to it is finished.  “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

–Paul to the Philippian church, Philippians 1:6

So, as Paul jumps from the “frying pan” of Athens in the “fire” of convincing the Corinthians about Jesus, we get it.  Most of what God calls us to be and do will include circumstances beyond our abilities to resolve; that’s why we trust HIM to complete the work—His work!  What we learn from what Paul learned and lived is: Where God guides, He provides the ways and means to accomplish HIS mission in and through us.  Always. 

The place will change but the ministry is the same.  Jesus died to save us, set us free from our sins and then rose again to give us hope for living forever—all because God so loved us.

Acts 18, The Message

Corinth

18 ^1-4 After Athens, Paul went to Corinth. That is where he discovered Aquila, a Jew born in Pontus, and his wife, Priscilla. They had just arrived from Italy, part of the general expulsion of Jews from Rome ordered by Claudius. Paul moved in with them, and they worked together at their common trade of tentmaking. But every Sabbath he was at the meeting place, doing his best to convince both Jews and Greeks about Jesus.

^5-6 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was able to give all his time to preaching and teaching, doing everything he could to persuade the Jews that Jesus was in fact God’s Messiah. But no such luck. All they did was argue contentiously and contradict him at every turn. Totally exasperated, Paul had finally had it with them and gave it up as a bad job. “Have it your way, then,” he said. “You’ve made your bed; now lie in it. From now on I’m spending my time with the other nations.”

^7-8 He walked out and went to the home of Titius Justus, a God-fearing man who lived right next to the Jews’ meeting place. But Paul’s efforts with the Jews weren’t a total loss, for Crispus, the meeting-place president, put his trust in the Master. His entire family believed with him.

^8-11 In the course of listening to Paul, a great many Corinthians believed and were baptized. One night the Master spoke to Paul in a dream: “Keep it up, and don’t let anyone intimidate or silence you. No matter what happens, I’m with you and no one is going to be able to hurt you. You have no idea how many people I have on my side in this city.” That was all he needed to stick it out. He stayed another year and a half, faithfully teaching the Word of God to the Corinthians.

^12-13 But when Gallio was governor of Achaia province, the Jews got up a campaign against Paul, hauled him into court, and filed charges: “This man is seducing people into acts of worship that are illegal.”

^14-16 Just as Paul was about to defend himself, Gallio interrupted and said to the Jews, “If this was a matter of criminal conduct, I would gladly hear you out. But it sounds to me like one more Jewish squabble, another of your endless hairsplitting quarrels over religion. Take care of it on your own time. I can’t be bothered with this nonsense,” and he cleared them out of the courtroom.

¹⁷ Now the street rabble turned on Sosthenes, the new meeting-place president, and beat him up in plain sight of the court. Gallio didn’t raise a finger. He could not have cared less.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Where God guides—God provides.  God provided new friends for Paul in Corinth, a place of idolatry with great evil paraded in the streets.  Aquila and Priscilla provided Paul with a place to live with an income in tentmaking.

Paul fell to discouragement but God gave him the encouragement needed: “Keep it up, and don’t let anyone intimidate or silence you. No matter what happens, I’m with you and no one is going to be able to hurt you. You have no idea how many people I have on my side in this city.”  This isn’t the first time God has said this for those who listen to Him and obey His call—and it won’t be the last!  He still does!

PAUSE TO PRAY

When has God stepped in to encourage you at your lowest? 

What did He say?  What did He do?  As we reflect, thank God for all He has done, is doing, and will do throughout our lives of serving Him.  It is our humble, grateful hearts that He hears as He provides all that we need.

Our response:  Trust God.

Lord,

Thank you for the all the ways you have encouraged me in your work as a helper for others to know and follow you.  Guide me.  All my faith, hope, and trust is in You.  I love you back with all that is in me.

In Jesus Name, Amen