BULLETIN ARTICLE – 28 0ctober 2018
The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome” (Acts 23:1).
When Apostle Paul was in Jerusalem he was caught up in a riot based on a deliberate attempt by some anti-Paul Jewish dissenters to cause misunderstanding. As a result, Paul was dragged from the Temple in Jerusalem and was nearly killed. He was, however, saved by a local Roman military unit. The Roman unit commander, instead of arresting those inciting the riot, arrested Paul. Paul was mistaken by him for a notorious Egyptian rebel terrorist leader. He was saved from further interrogation and beating only by informing his guard that he was a Roman citizen. He was confined to the prison barracks and had a special appearance by the risen Jesus.
Although there are not many records of appearances of Jesus after his ascension to heaven, he appeared before Paul in his time of great challenge and trouble. This special appearance was a reminder that Jesus was risen from the dead and still alive and that he was with Paul everywhere he was and in every situation. It is not the norm that Jesus encourages the individual through his personal appearance and through dreams and visions. Jesus said that after his departure from his disciples, God the Holy Spirit would be sent to teach the believers. The role of the Holy Spirit is to speak to believers through the Bible. That is why it is so important to read, study and memorise the Bible. The Holy Spirit helps us to understand what we read, study and memorise. In various situations, the Holy Spirit will teach us and give us illumination especially by reminding us of those very words from the Bible. In the Bible, there are many promises that assures us of God’s protection and help. Some of them are:
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
“He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:8).
As we go through various seasons of life, we could have been hurt, misunderstood, insulted, in pain, in sickness and in the valley of despair. Yet, even in our darkest hour, even though we do not see the physical Jesus himself, we can feel his abiding presence as he tells us to take courage, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20b).
