The Lord’s Encouraging Presence
Acts 18:1-17

Paul’s time in Corinth not only showed how the Holy Spirit ministered through him, but , equally important, how the Spirit ministered to him. Paul’s 50-mile walk from Athens to Corinth was filled with painful discouragement because he had been driven out of Macedonia and barely tolerated in Athens where he had not found the spiritual fruit he had desired. So, upon his arrival at Corinth, he was met with hostility, similar to what he faced the with Jews in other cities. Paul would later remind the Corinthian believers of his discouragement when he first came to them – 1 Corinthians 2:3 “I came to you in weakness and in fear, and in much trembling.” The sinful-ambience and evil-culture of Corinth didn’t help matters either. This cosmopolitan and leading commercial city was full of sinful debauchery which had developed the synonym, “corinthianize,” for all the fornication that was going on. As Paul observed all the materialism, sensualism and sinfulness, he must have wondered what plan of attack God would give him for these lost people.
He desperately needed the Lord’s reassurance if he was to have any spiritual fruit and success in Corinth…

The Lord did several things to bring reassurance to Paul…and He does the same for us.

1. The Lord brings us encouraging friends (vv.1-8)
2. The Lord brings us affirmation through His Word (vv.9-11)
3. The Lord brings us His perfectly timed interventions (vv.12-17)