A few months ago I was in a country doing an outreach where we were handing out Bibles to the public while members were performing music and dances.  After awhile, a woman came up and scolded some of the dancers saying they should not be playing music in any other language other than that language of the nation.  That and they shouldn’t be doing outreach on this Christian holiday.

Soon after the dancers and musicians and everyone just dissipated into the crowds.  Criticism didn’t feel good.

It was distressing to watch something so simple cause an outreach to fade away.  The good news is that 300 Bibles were passed out before this time.  So in some ways it was successful.

But then I think of Paul.  His way of doing this was to preach until they drove him out barely alive.  Conflict didn’t stop him.  He attracted it.

Here in Acts 18 we find him in Corinth preaching the gospel and things are getting heated.  Should he stay?  Should he go?  He is creating problems and conflict after all.

But what does the LORD tell him?

“And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people” (Acts 18:9-10).

The Lord was the one who told Paul not to stop, to keep going, and to keep preaching.  Yes, it would create conflict.  This is normal.

Church, we are not called to be sheep among the sheep, but sheep among wolves.  We have to keep going even when it gets hard.  And we have to listen to what the Lord tells us, when to stay and when to God.

But for now, Paul would be safe.  Why?  Because there are many people of God in the city.

I find this part very interesting.  The fact that there were many people in the city is the reality that they were known.  They would not be silent if there were harm brought to Paul.  Others would be angry, yes.  But they would not tolerate violence against a Godly man without standing up.

We need the Godly like this.  They are the ones who have a presence in the city and make a difference.

Bold preaching that doesn’t back down.  Christian presence that stands for the preaching of the gopsel.

We need both and more.