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 in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.
Sometimes it can seem as if the whole world around you is against you. Your message and what you stand for are building walls around you everywhere you go. These walls come with angry people and friends who are disconnecting from you. Your spouse may even be at an obtuse angle with you when it comes to matters of Christianity. In Paul’s place, it was the constant attack from the Jewish community. The same Jewish blood, the same Jewish background, and yet everywhere he went, the same group of people seemed to be against him and driving him out of town or getting Paul arrested.
Paul finds himself in Corinth, and once again, the Jews in that city become abusive towards Paul, and because of this, he goes to the Gentiles. One night, Paul receives a message from the Lord in a vision. “….Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent…” Because of this message from the Lord, Paul stays at Corinth for a year and a half, the longest time he spends at any place thus far.
I would be lying if I said I don’t need a word from the Lord. I believe we would be better off with a message from the Lord like the one Paul got. A vision, a clear sign that you are right where the Lord wants you to be, and He is with you. The truth is that much of us don’t get a vision like this and we struggle to find peace in every step in our current circumstances, whether it be that job you are at, the friends you hang out with, or your spouse who cannot get along with, the struggle is real and without a vision, the Bible says in Proverbs 29:18, “Where there is no revelation (vision), people cast off restraint” Jesus said in Matthew 16:4, “A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.”
God is not against signs. He has not closed up the “giving a sign book”; in fact, he is all for gathering all men unto Him, and signs and wonders are often the calling card, but they cannot be the only thing we seek. If you only seek signs, Jesus called you an “adulterous generation”. So, what should we do then when the place we are in seems like God is absent? Proverbs 29:18 says it best, “But blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.” And where do you get this “wisdom”? You study the Bible. Yes, sounds simple, but it is called the Living Word of God for a reason. You have to study to show “thyself” approved. That is you! No one else. “Thyself” means that you have to study the word of God so the Holy Spirit can work through the promises in the Bible so that you can stand on them when that is all you have left. Today, choose to stand on the promises in the Bible instead of your own understanding.
Mark 16:17-18 tells us where signs and wonders should be seen. It reads, “17 These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages.[a] 18 They will be able to handle snakes safely, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.” Don’t be fooled into looking for signs and wonders. The Bible tells us that signs and wonders should be following us, not the other way around. In other words, you should be busy spreading the gospel, and when you do that, the Holy Spirit will use you. And those signs and wonders everyone seems to want to see, well, Mark 16 tells us they should be the caboose of our lives in Christ and not the engine.
Prayer: Father, I pray for the strength to move forward, proclaiming your truth, and let the signs and wonders follow. I pray that I won’t see a sign, but I will trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding in Jesus’ name, amen.
Let It Go 
Leave a comment