Discouragement

Acts 18:1-17

Paul spent months in Corinth. (18:1)

What Was Corinth Like?

1^st – made up of a of people and races – this was because it was a .

2^nd

3^rd – In the ancient world the name “” was used for perverted behavior – and was an .

Was Paul Discouraged?

Paul had:

• great .

It is hard to live above discouragement without expecting , , , and .

• meager results in .

And when I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come as someone superior in speaking ability or wisdom, as I proclaimed to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I also was with you in weakness and fear, and in great trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of mankind but on the power of God.   1 Corinthians 2:1-5

It is hard to establish that we are and and at the same time realize our need of .

• Paul was .
• lack of .

After these events, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He came to them, and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them, and they worked together, for they were tentmakers by trade.  Acts 18:1-3

• rejection at the .

And Paul was reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began devoting himself completely to the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.  But when they resisted and blasphemed, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood is on your own heads! I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”  Acts 18:4-6

• abuse from the .

But while Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews rose up together against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat.   Acts 18:12

It is easy to acquire an Elijah :

I, even I , am left the .

Are There Any Cures for Discouragement?

1^st God gave some with like .

Principle: is not good.

That is the reason for the church.

Life is about .

If we didn’t lean toward being , God wouldn’t have brought it up.

2^nd God helped Paul with .

God tells us He is faithful to supply our .

And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way and will continue to do so.  2 Corinthians 11:9 NIV

3^rd God blessed Paul’s .

Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.  Acts 18:8 NIV

4^th God to Paul.

One night 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.” So, Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.   Acts 18:9-11 NIV

• Don’t be ! v. 9
• Go ! v. 9
• God promised His ! v. 10
• God promised ! v. 10
• God promised there were around him. v. 10

For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”
Acts 18:10 NIV