Scripture
10As the conflict grew more violent, the commander was afraid they would tear Paul apart. So he ordered his soldiers to go and rescue him by force and take him back to the fortress. 11That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, “Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well.” Acts 23:10-11
Observation
Paul was bulletproof. He was untouchable. Now, that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to suffer. Like Job of old, he would indeed suffer, but he would not die until it was God’s time to take him home. Remember that conversation between the Devil and God? God pointed out Job’s integrity. Satan was certain self-preservation would cause Job to curse God. “4Satan replied to the Lord, “Skin for skin! A man will give up everything he has to save his life. 5But reach out and take away his health, and he will surely curse you to your face!” 6“All right, do with him as you please,” the Lord said to Satan. “But spare his life.”(Job 2:4-6) God determines our days, not the Devil. Like Job, Paul would endure suffering to the point of death, but never, not once, did he let this pain deter his path. Even when Paul received a prophetic word a few chapters earlier from Agabus that suffering was in his future, he took this as confirmation that he was on the right path. Paul was a dead man walking. His life, his days, his destiny, his purpose was ordered by the Lord. He wasn’t going to live in fear, because his feet were led by faith. “But he said, “Why all this weeping? You are breaking my heart! I am ready not only to be jailed at Jerusalem but even to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 21:13). We find him almost torn apart by the crowd here in chapter 23. It must have been such a traumatic event that even Paul needed encouragement that he was still on the right path. So do we.
Application
Jesus visited Paul, as He wants to visit each of us in our pain right now. He literally stood by him when he felt most alone and most like a failure. He said, “Be of good cheer.” This Greek word is used five times in the New Testament… each time by Jesus. He is speaking this to us! He wants to encourage us where our faith is failing in the face of so much pain. He wants to bring back the promises that have yet to come to pass. Jesus wants to remind us that resistance doesn’t mean we’ve missed it. In fact, it is very often the proof that we are doing exactly what Jesus wants us to do. Are you feeling torn apart by the demands of your day and the pressures of life? Jesus will hold you together because your assignment is not yet completed here on this earth. In the very next chapter we read that there was a conspiracy to kill Paul. What secret conspiracy can stand against the spoken Word of Jesus? “But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the LORD; their vindication will come from me. I, the LORD, have spoken!” (Is. 54:17). Do you have people speaking against you? Those who are attacking you and want the worst for you stand no chance against the One who is standing FOR you! Last year when the doctor told me I was going to die from Covid Double Pneumonia I wondered if it was my time to go. That night, in the dark night of my soul, Jesus spoke clearly breaking through my fear, “I have more songs for you to sing. Pray for a five day miracle.” This was the word I held on to over and against what I was feeling in my body and what the experts were telling me. When it’s time for me to go God will take me home, but until then, I am a man on assignment and that makes me bulletproof. This doesn’t give me an excuse to be foolish with my personal safety or health choices. No, quite the opposite. As I approach my 48th Bday I want to be healthier then ever, because there is still more for me to do and I need my body to keep up with God’s will. This clarity on my God-given purpose keeps me from the self-preservation so many are prone to today. The sad truth is that longer we are Christians, the easier it is for us to get more calculated, careful and cold with our love. We used to take big risks for Jesus, but over time we do less and expect less. What can break our faith out of self-preservation? Job said it best, “Our time on earth is brief; the number of our days is already decided by you. Every man has been allotted a number of days here on earth.” (Job 14:15). We don’t have much time, so let’s spend it all on Jesus and not wast a moment serving ourselves. The enemy can’t take our lives when our lives belong to Jesus!
Prayer
Wow! You are standing with me. Let me live in the ever present reality of Your presence. Forgive for self-preservation and an avoidance mentality. It’s in time’s of crises, not calm, that I have seen you clearly. I was reminded yesterday that you told me at the end of 2020 that I would be going through a valley in 2021 so I could help others through theirs. I didn’t realize that valley was going to take me so close to death, but I see You have brought me out and brought me through. This new lease on life isn’t to be squandered, but rather poured out on You and those You bring me to! Thank you for another year of life. Thank you that in You Jesus, I’m untouchable!
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