INSPIRATION FOR THE WEEK: Just testify for the Lord!

“But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must bear witness at Rome,” – Acts 23:11

This was a painful and frustrating time for Paul. He was under arrest and uncertain of his fate. The bottom line is that the Jews wanted him dead – only that they did not have anything warranting a death sentence. Here he was in prison for professing the truth. On his own he was probably in despair and actually afraid because of the situation he found himself in. 

No man could rescue him here. No man could comfort him under these circumstances. But the Lord Jesus himself showed himself to Paul. Him alone could give Paul the courage he needed. He knows what we are going through. He knows our thoughts and He knows the intents of our hearts. He is the one to give us the rightful words of encouragement at any given time.

Sometimes we go through situations and we wish to have a certain answer. Sometimes we wish we could be delivered from the situation. Sometimes we wish we could be taken out, removed from the situation. We feel like we are better off without undergoing that situation. We worry about our own wellbeing. We worry about our own safety. We put our own interests ahead of anyone else.

There is something we can learn from Paul, a man who fought the good fight of faith in Jesus Christ. This is a man who devoted his life for the gospel since meeting Christ. This is “a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the Gospel of God.” He faced so many trials and tribulations but he was not interested to save his life in the midst of every tough encounter with opposition.

When Paul was in need of comfort the Lord was there to say, “Be of good cheer, Paul.” Regardless of the chains the Lord was there to say “Be of good cheer, Paul.” When there was no visible sign of relief the Lord was there to cheer him up.

Perhaps Paul could have wished for a miracle that will shake off the chains, open the doors for him and lead him out of the prison. But no; the Lord had a different game plan. In as much as the Lord was cheering him up, He was practically telling Him that he will stay in chains much longer.

The fascinating thing about this encouragement is that the Lord is revealing an assignment He has for Paul. Most importantly is that Paul proved his worthiness to carry out this assignment to testify for Jesus in Rome. He had a good track record for testifying for Jesus in Jerusalem. So Jesus encouraged him by saying that what brought Paul to jail is what he will have to continue doing even in Rome. Could it get tougher than that?

Paul was dedicated to ensure that whatever happens his conduct is worthy of the gospel of Christ. He bore witness of Jesus in Jerusalem and he was arrested, falsely accused of causing a rebellion amongst the Jews. It does not matter what life situations you are going through, you have to give testimony about the Lord Jesus. The Lord has pulled you through other tough situations and you trusted in Him. You will have to trust Him again.

You may be going through different stages in life, where life seems to be tough but you have to know that the Lord is with you and watching over you. He is keeping track of the way you conduct yourself. Do not be ashamed of the gospel of Christ. Just testify of the horn of our salvation.

“Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.”

There comes a time when you feel like you have had enough, when death becomes the best solution to your troubles. But it’s not over until God says so. You can pray that God takes your life away, unless he feels you have finished the task he has prepared for you on earth, he won’t take away your life. Instead he will show you how great HE is.

God knows the most important thing you need in order to continue with the journey. God is aware where you are coming from and he will prepare you to continue with the journey.

Elijah felt he had had enough and prayed for his death. God was aware that he had been on a day’s journey running away from Jezebel, and he was hungry and tired. He sent an angel to provide him with food. He went back to sleep.

“And the angel of the LORD came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.” So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God.” (I Kings 19: 7 -8, NKJV).

Even though Elijah was discouraged and had said “I have had enough” – God had much more in store for him. When you feel discouraged and want to give up, remember there is God who is above all situations. When you feel powerless, remember that God will give you strength.

When you are down, arise and do the will of God. Jesus said, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work” (John 4:34). God has a purpose for your life and therefore don’t give up before you accomplish what God has sent you to do. When you feel like giving up, remember these words - ’Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you!’ There are great things that God wants you to do.

The word of God will give you the strength to carry on with the journey, because he has sent you to do his will. Have faith in God and he will show you how great he is. All you need to do is to come closer to him and he will come closer to you.

The LORD said to Elijah, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” (1 Kings 19 : 11). He was about to show him how Great he is.

“Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.” (1 Kings 19: 11 -13)

You see, sometimes God allows you to deal with challenges in life before he shows himself to you. This he does in order to show you that you are strong when you are with him. Because he was in the presence of the Lord, Elijah was not shaken by the powerful wind, earthquake and the fire. However, when he heard the GENTLE WHISPER, he covered his face because he was in the awe of God. His power is above everything!

There is nothing that will destroy you as long as you are in the presence of the Lord. Get back on your feet and continue running the good race. Elijah was lamenting that he had always been zealous for God but the Israelites rejected the covenant, broke the altars, killed the prophets and wanted to kill him also.

You may be blaming God that even though you have been faithful to him, you are having troubles that you cannot take anymore. Just know that God doesn’t want you to give up because of the trials and tribulations. He still wants you to persevere and finish the work he has sent you to do on earth.

In Galatians 5: 7 -8 Paul says; “You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.”
It is not over until God says so… ’Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you!