18:9,10
Paul was facing increasing opposition, and it would be no surprise if this was having an effect on him. None of us are immune to the pressures we may face in difficult situations. We may think we just have to keep on going, to overcome the fears or the stress in our own strength. However, God thinks differently. As Ps 103:14 says “He knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust”. So the Lord speaks to Paul in a vision. He tells him to keep on speaking, and assures him that He is with him. He also tells him that no one will “attack and harm” him, because God is with him. Perhaps most importantly, God tells Paul that He has many people in the city.
18:11
As a result, Paul stayed in the city for eighteen months, teaching the word of God. This was God’s mission, God was involving Paul in what He was doing. It was not a matter of God getting involved in what Paul was doing. We often get this wrong in our own lives. When we are doing something in our own strength we will ultimately fail. When we know we are working with God, rather than Him with us, it puts a whole different complexion on things.
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