Amen. Thank you for joining us. I'm Darrell Bailey. Service for Christ, for we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus, the Lord. And ourselves, your servants for Jesus' sake. Thank you. As we continue on in, in our study on the life of the Apostle Paul. Here, we had previously had talked about his first missionary journey. And here in verses 18, Verse 1 down to verse 22, we'll be continuing talking about Paul's second missionary journey. Amen. As we go forward here, each and every one of us in life, we all will experience some times in our life. And while Paul was on his second and third missionary journeys, we're reminded that as Paul focused on two things, that you'll see on the screen. He focused on spreading the gospel and strengthening the church. Here we talk to you about Paul's Corinthian comeback, amen, because he had already endured some hardships and he had already encountered some problems when he was at Thessalonica, when he was at Berea, and so he was continuing on to do the work of the Lord. You know, wherever we're at, we're on mission. We're on mission wherever you are. And whatever part of the country that you're at, you're always on mission wherever you are. Now when we look at this, we're going to be talking about in Paul's Corinthian comeback that sometimes God's people need a spiritual second wind. Hey man, I'm glad that when we spread the gospel and when we strengthen the church, We look and realize and discover that God's primary calling on all of our lives is to be on his mission regardless of what day jobs are or what our jobs are. And as a result, we learn to see our occupations as platforms, as we proclaim the gospel, and as we discover new ways to mentor and strengthen those that are around us. we focus on those two things to leave a legacy of faithfulness for those behind us, Amen. And so I'm glad that as we move forward, and get ready, here at Corinth, the city was a major city of Greece. It was a peninsula at the southern tip of Greece with land stretching only about five miles across, and it was bordered by two harbors, one line on the west coast and the other on the east coast. All the traffic north and south passed right through the city of Corinth. Now, of all the statues and the gods and everything that was there, we know the goddess of fertility of Aphrodite was worshipped. It was a big-time sports-minded city, second only to, as we know, the Olympic Games, because this was one of the second places, second only to the Olympic Games, that they did a lot of the sports-minded city and mentality. The Judaizers had run him out of Philippi, Thessalonica and Berea. Now let's open up with a word of prayer. Heavenly Father, Lord as we come before you in your presence, give us that wisdom and understanding as we get into your word and I pray God that help us to find our spiritual second wind as we're on a comeback Lord, there's many, Father, that needs a comeback in their life. They need to get back where they used to be in their spiritual life. They need to get some spiritual wind in their sails, and they need to begin to get back out on mission for the Lord right where they're at. They don't need to go a long ways off. They don't need to go across the country. Right in the little area that they dwell in is their mission field. It's their area of expertise. It's their area of giving the gospel out and being on mission for you. Now, Lord, just as Paul did his very best to win everyone, help us to do the same. Lord, as we close in the end, maybe someone that listens to this Bible study, Lord, will come and have a comeback in their life and they will get a hold of their spiritual second wind. as they get into the wonderful word of God. We pray that it will happen and Lord for that person that's never ever got anything whatsoever from the very beginning. They're starting out fresh and brand new and I pray you'll knock upon their hearts with the convicting power of the Holy Spirit and come into their lives and change them forever and bring them into the family of God as they step out on faith and take you at your word and Jesus is marvelous. Mighty name. Amen. And so I'm glad that when we look at this, we're all reminded of how life can be sometimes. You know, when we look and we realize that suppose all of us at some time or another, we get depressed, you know, and we want to give up and we want to quit. And here when we look at Paul's second missionary journey, Amen, we're reminded of how Paul used the amazing Romans road network and sometimes by sea to travel across Israel, Syria, Turkey, Greece, and Italy and a lot of the details in the book of Acts because we look and we realize that as he traveled over 10,000 miles by foot That would be equal to walking between New York and Los Angeles nearly four times. And when you read the Book of Acts, you begin to realize that Paul's missionary journeys were not an easy walk. Paul gives us some insight into his journeys, a man. And he talked about, he said, three times I've been beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Thrice I was shipwrecked in a night and a day. And I've been in the deep. And think of all the things that Paul had been through. The travelers of Paul, Silas, Timothy, Luke, Priscilla and Aquila. here and the locations that he had been. A total on this second missionary journey of 2,800 miles that he went. Here currently as we look and realize that through the canal that's around Corinth and going through this area What a mighty place that it was that you look and you begin to see all of the characters that were involved in Paul's life. Silas, Timothy, Priscilla, and Aquila, tip makers and fellow missionaries, Crispus, a synagogue leader, Gaius, the host of Paul, Apollos, an eloquent preacher, and their locations of Corinth that they're currently in right now, which was a major city in ancient Greece, Philippi, which was in Macedonia, and Thessalonica that it came from, that he got run out of in Macedonia, and also in Bari in Macedonia. and Athens where he did a little bit better there, but in Ephesus as well that he had stayed briefly. Right here in Corinth that we see of these locations that he was in. Now, from verse 1 all the way down to verse 22 of Acts Chapter 18, from Corinth to Centuria, to Ephesus, to Caesarea, to Jerusalem, to Tyre, Sidon, and Antioch of Syria. All of these places that all of a sudden that he started out from Antioch, He goes to Syria, to Derbe, to Lystra, to Iconium, to Antioch of Pisidia, to Troas, to Nepalias, Philippi, Amphibolus, and then on to Apollyonia, to Thessalonica where he got run out of, Berea. He did a little better as he got over into out of Berea into Athens, a little bit better, but from Athens he goes on in to Corinth. And then in the green, as from Corinth to Centuria, to Ephesus, that he comes on and goes into Ephesus in number 17, comes all the way back down in to Caesarea, and from Caesarea to Jerusalem, amen, that he goes. Then from Tyre to Sidon and Antioch. When we look at the timeline of Paul, we cut right to the chase and we get right in, in AD 46, AD 47, the first missionary journey with Barnabas Lackley that lasts one to two years. But here he goes and attends the Jerusalem Council in AD 50. But in this second missionary journey in AD 51, he leaves and he lasts about two and a half to three years, including 18 months right here where we're currently talking about in the 18th chapter of Acts in Corinth. And then later on, we'll come back in 1854. He goes on his third missionary journey. That trip lasts more than four years, including in Ephesus. And so when we look, Paul's Corinthian comeback, we're reminded that each and every one of us, as we go forward, that all of us have a place that we've got to be in, Eggman. And so when we do this, Sometimes we often find that we have a hard time. Maybe we just, in the heat of a moment, we say, well, I'm just going to leave this job. I'm going to leave this church. I'm going to leave this family. I know I'm going to miss them and they're going to miss me. You know what? Sometimes we often have all of these feelings a lot of times, but there's no use because sometimes we spin our wheels, And all of a sudden we get stressed out and we go through all of the daily grind of things that happen when we minister. And so when we look at this, we realize the reality of discouragement. And that's what we see with Paul. Because I'm glad that after these things, Paul departed from Athens and he came to Corinth. And I'm glad that when we look at this, here we see what was happening with Paul, because Paul began to go through some extraordinary things as he began to minister, because as Corinth was a place that was a vast wealth. It was a cosmetology and made up of Greeks and Romans and Jews and adventurers who piled and transacted their businesses day in, day out. The nightclubs that they were there, the pleasure that was in the city, all of the sensuality, the drunkenness, the fertility of Aphrodite, the sports-minded, the home of the Isthmian games, second only to the Olympian games. It was just a kind of metropolitan city that Paul, look for to spread the gospel worldwide. The church at Corinth furnished one of the longest writing of Paul's epistles, which was 1st and 2nd Corinthians. And when Paul entered Corinth, he entered in weakness and in fear and in much trembling because the reality of that discouragement that had happened to him. And so the Jew daughters had run him out of Philippi, run him out of Thessalonica, and run him out of Berea. Even in Athens, he had experienced a little success, but now facing car rent, he was confronting a very sort of diverse population, culture, and a population that was proud intellectual, busy, and immoral. And here he began to face it alone because Paul, Silas, and Timothy, they remained in Macedonia to minister. And he was to speak at the mercy of God alone. God met Paul's need almost immediately. God brought across Paul's path two believers, Aquila and Priscilla, who were tent makers by profession. and these two godly Jews had been expelled from Rome along with all the other Jews by the decrees that were taking place at that time. The Emperor Claudius, Silas and Timothy also, that returned soon afterwards bringing news of the firm stand of the Thessalonican believers against persecution. But Paul met with such a success that he was forced out of the synagogue by the hostile Jews. He moved next door to the synagogue basically, A house that was owned by Justice. The home of Justice became his base of operations in Corinth. God gave Paul a vision assuring him that many people in the city were to be reached for Christ. In verse 10, when we get down to it, his ministry lasted 18 months and the longest of any ministry other than the three years that he spent with the Ephesian church and the car, the converts at car rent paint one of the most magnificent pictures of the kind of success Paul experienced in city after city. And so, There were some wealthy converts. Gaius was the host of Paul of the whole church. Eraticus was a chamberlain or a treasurer of the city. Chloe was probably a lady of extreme wealth and business interests in both Corinth and Ephesus. And some of the believers, they were engaged in legal disputes. Others were attended wealthy banquets and these wealthy people, but the greatest number of converts came from an average people who had come from the most sinful backgrounds imaginable. Remember, car rent was one of the cesspools of immorality of the nightclub life in the ancient world. And as Paul clearly says, not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble call, but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the things which are mighty and base the things of the world and the things which are despised hath God chosen, yea, and the things which are not to bring to naught things that are that no flesh should glory in his presence. He said that over in First Corinthians chapter one. And so the reality of that discouragement that we look at and that we see because Paul left Athens and he traveled to Corinth. He says, and after these things, Paul departed from Athens and he came to Corinth. Now, I'm glad that as he left Athens and traveled, the decision was by choice that there had been some results in Athens, but the philosophical and intellectual pride that made most people close-minded and self-sufficient When considering God and eternity, Paul felt that his time could be spent more profitably in Corinth. And so he stayed in Athens long enough to ground the Athenian believers in the faith, and then he struck out for Corinth. You know what? Intellectual pride closes a person's mind to the truth of God and eternity. And a person's time needs to be spent where the most fruit can be born unless specifically shown otherwise by God. You know what? When you see it's time to go, you got to get up and get out of there. Amen, because God's got it paid for somebody else. You need to get on out of there because God's got something else for you to do. And so the servant of God must root the young believer in the faith, even if it's under difficult circumstances. And so he says, and found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome and came under them. And so the discipleship, the Christian discipleship, finds and develops people. And I'm glad the word found wherever Paul went, he looked for people who either needed Christ or needed to grow in Christ. And whether Aquila and Priscilla were believers or not at this time, it's not known. But Paul found this couple, he stayed with them, and either he led them to the Lord or into a deeper commitment to the Lord. And so Paul was always reaching out to find people that needed Christ. And so I'm glad that I'm glad that here Priscilla and Aquila were companions of Paul. And they were originally residents of Rome. But the governor, Emperor Claudius, had the Jews banished from Rome in AD 52. And Priscilla and Aquila moved to Corinth. And they were the couple who opened their home to Paul the Apostle when he first entered Corinth. They were a couple also that went into business with Paul as tent makers. They traveled with Paul to Ephesus where they settled on and the chief characteristics of this couple was an open heart and an open house, praise God. And so I thank God as we look and we realize that he found and grew people in verse 2 and he worked when required, because Paul was a bifocational pastor. I've been that all my life. There's some folks that are lucky enough to be a full-time pastor, and they ain't got to hit a lickin' up except do the Bible study. But boy, you got some work on your hands. When you got to hold down a full-time job, take care of your home, and then plus, all your other time you're going and doing for the Lord, God works it out. There's nothing that you do. God does it all, amen. And he makes time, and he works it out. And so, I'm glad, in verse 3, because he was the same craft, he abode with them, wrought, for by their occupation they were tent makers. In verse 4, and he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. In verse 5, and when Silas and Timothus would come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. And so he had to come alone for a little while. But I'm glad God always sends somebody alongside of us, amen. And so, when we look and realize what the Lord wants to do in all of our life, amen, one of the things of the reality of discouragement is after all of this, amen, is that even faithful servants of God like Paul face moments of discouragement. In Corinth, he faced opposition and rejection despite his efforts to share the gospel. But also, Not only do we encounter trials, but we face resistance. And Paul's experience reminds us that even when we're doing God's work, we may encounter resistance and opposition, and people may reject our message or even speak out against us, amen. And so in verse 6, And when they opposed themselves and blasphemed, he shook his raiment and said to them, Your blood be upon your own heads. I am clean from henceforth. I will go unto the Gentiles. Amen. And so, I'm glad that as he did this, and as he began to travel, amen, and do everything, Paul reasoned and he presented sound, thoughtful points. And I'm glad that Paul persuaded and prevailed and urged and induced and pleaded and begged and sought to move and bring about a change of heart and mind as he did this, all that he could do to reach and help people to trust Christ the Lord. And I'm glad that we see it was in a continuous action that he continued to persuade. But in five verses five and six, the Christian disciple, as we look at this, they brought financial support, which free Paul to preach Christ full time. And so I'm glad Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia and Silas coming from Philippi and Marie and Timothy from Thessalonica. They brought wonderful news about the churches of Macedonia growing in the Lord, and Paul was pressed in the spirit, constrained by the Word to give himself completely to the preaching and the teaching of the Word of God. Hallelujah. Amen. Paul was rejected. The Jews opposed and blasphemed in the name of Jesus. And the idea is that they organized and opposed the preaching and teaching of Jesus as the Messiah, and they reviled and spoke reproach. of Christ. But Paul turned from the Jews to the Gentiles and this was the turning point in the ministry at Corinth. Here was the Corinthian comeback. Hallelujah. Praise his mighty name. Paul was not pronouncing a curse upon the Jews. He was declaring that he had fulfilled his responsibility to them. And I'm glad that he was free of their blood and responsibility for their salvation, exactly what he was saying. And their blood, the responsibility for their salvation was now upon their own heads. And so the Christian disciple is to turn from those who continue to reject the gospel. But when rejected, he's to continue on not quitting or slacking up. Paul did exactly what Christ said for him to do. He shook off the dust from his sandals of those who had rejected him. And I'm glad that when we go forward, Here, Paul and Apollos and Cephas, all these three pillars of that earthly early Christian Christianity, they stood not as competition in the gospel, but as mentors and pillars, strengthening and budding the faith of those around them. Each brought their unique gifts and perspective to the table, enriching all of the early church. Paul was with a fiery passion uncompromising zeal, blazing the trails across the lands, fearlessly praised God and doing everything that he could for the gospel message of Christ, amen, and all that he brought about, amen. And so we look and we realize these three men, they worked hand in hand together. There's a lot of people look at it wrong. They look, oh, I'm competing with this one and I'm competing with that. No, you're not. You're never supposed to be competing with somebody else. You're not supposed to be competing with somebody else within the church. You're supposed to continue to minister. All three of these, as Aquila and Achilles begin to teach these others about and how gifted they were in their transforming power of being able to take the gospel out. We're not out there to try to compete. We're out there to work together in our ministry together, praise God. And so, as we see Paul's Corinthian comeback, amen, not only do we look and we realize the reality of that discouragement, amen, of that encountering trials, of that facing resistance, of that response to discouragement, despite all of the challenges that Paul didn't give up, he shook off the rejection, he continued to preach the gospel, and he shifted his focus to the Gentiles. But secondly, not only do we see the reality of discouragement in verses 1 through 6, But we see the reality of divine encouragement in verses 7 through 11 that all of a sudden from this point of view, Amen, we see that divine assurance because in the midst of Paul's discouragement God intervened and he reassured Paul through a vision encouraging him not to be afraid, but to continue speaking boldly in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. And he departed thence and entered into a certain man's house named Justice, one that worshiped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue. Hey, instead of going down by the riverside like Paul had always done, Ha! He just went next door. Boy, God, ain't God good? God'll find you a house right next down the road. Woo! You ain't even got to keep going that long ways you've been doing all them years. God said, I'll find one right down the road from your house. And I know what he's talking about. Hallelujah. Praise his mighty name. God is so good, ain't he? Woo! It gets better and better. And so, in verse 8, the Bible says, and Crispus the chief, ruler of the synagogue believed on the Lord with all his heart and many of the Corinthians here and believe and will baptize praise God and so I'm glad the significant lesson we should always be alert to the locations and the establishment of the church amen and the witnessing that we do because it is all through the humility that even though under the leadership of the Lord, he was able to secure quarters for a most favorable location right next door to the synagogue itself. Paul identified with those whom he ministered, and it was a much needed point. He was not removed from this congregation. No, I'm going to tell you something. He was one with a flock of God, amen. And so I'm glad that many people try to compete But it's not about competing, it's about working hand in hand. And if you are a smart person, you'll get close to somebody that knows the way, that's been in the way for a long time, and knows what they're doing, knows what they're preaching, knows what they're teaching, and knows the Holy Spirit of God with a relationship, and you will begin to learn from them, praise God. And so, here in verse 8, we see the witness that the Christian disciple witnessed to high and low. It seemed that the chief ruler of the synagogue and his family were reached for Christ, but so were many of the other citizens of Corinth. Many of the others coming from the most sinful backgrounds, imaginal from Corinth, one of the cesspools of immorality. What an example for the church reaching both the high and the low for Christ, amen. And so the encouragement that kicks in right here in verse 9, then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, be not afraid, but speak and hold not thy peace. Hallelujah, he says for I am with thee and no man shall sit on thee to hurt thee for I have much people in this city and verse 11a continued there a year and six months teaching the word of God among them. He identified with the people praise God. There ain't nothing better than that man that when we can identify with the people praise God. Man that's good. He had faced a terrible discouragement but I'm glad that right here Right here, God began to do something great because Paul sensed fear and terrible fear. But because when Crispus, the chief synagogue leader, and many of the others were saved, then the Jews began to be stirred. Oh, so many were saved, Amen. I'm glad how we can go through life. Keep in mind how severely that Paul had been persecuted and suffered for all the things. He had been threatened in Damascus in Acts chapter 9. He had been threatened in Jerusalem in Acts chapter 9. He had been persecuted and run out of Antioch or Presidia in Acts chapter 13. He had faced possible stoning in Iconium in Acts chapter 14. He had been stoned and left for dead in Lystra in Acts chapter 14 verse 19. He'd been opposed to make the center of controversy by the church itself in Acts chapter 15 verse 1. He had experienced the loss of the closest friend and companion, a part of us, in Acts chapter 15. He'd been beaten with rods in prison in Philippi in Acts chapter 16. He'd been cast out of Philippi. And I'm going to tell you something, his life had been threatened in Thessalonica in Acts chapter 17. And then he had been forced out of Berea and he had been mocked in Athens. But the dear servant of God was stricken from having to face the uproar of persecution because God met the need of that dear servant. with a vision of the Lord Jesus Christ. And I'm glad, he says, I am with thee, hallelujah. Boy, I tell you, I'm glad. He says, for I am with thee, and no man shall sit on thee to hurt thee, for I have much people in this city. Boy, God is so good. I'm glad that when we begin to look, that we realize that here the divine encouragement that begin to come. Amen. He started out with the reality of discouragement in verses 1 through 6, but in verses 7 through 11, here is divine encouragement at its best. Paul was faithful to the Lord's call, remaining in Corinth for 18 months, teaching the word of God. Amen. And by faith endured, he lived on that spiritual highs by faith. Amen. And I'm glad that when we look at this, and begin to realize what the Lord is doing, Amen. One of the things that we begin to see out of this is there's three promises for the winded. You say, what? Yeah, you need to get your second spiritual wind, praise God. There's three promises for folks like you that's getting winded in the Lord. Oh man, you've fallen by the wayside and all of a sudden you can huff and puff and you can huff and puff and you need to get a second spiritual win, praise God. And that is, we've got the promise of God's presence. Amen? Out of that, when we have the promise of God's presence, amen, I'm glad that the greatest leader, handpicked by God, had God's power on his life. But I'm glad that each and every one of you We're reminded that Joshua, God's greatest general, handpicked by God to lead Israel into the promised land. But in Joshua 7, he said, we're to God. We have been contented to dwell on the other side of Jordan. So this is what we get for serving God, he said, after a great defeat. Joshua the general felt like quitting he got over it thankfully old man Elijah the greatest prophet of the Old Testament Willing to challenge everybody all the way and face off with the prophets of Baal a man all of a sudden He requested for himself that he might die and said it's enough now Oh Lord take away my life when you get over in first Kings chapter 19 Oh Elijah boy We've got the promise of God's presence. Old Job, he got down and out, and boy, he wished that he had never been born and became suicidal and depressed for a period of time. And Job 3, 3 said, let the day perish in which I was born, amen. Old Jonah, he wanted God to kill him. He was spiritually depressed. He wasn't even happy for all the souls that just got saved in Nineveh. Oh, man, I'm going to tell you, Paul, right here we find him in his second missionary journey, arriving from Athens to Corinth, experiencing a low time in his life of depression. Boy, I'm going to tell you, he was fatigued for that 53 mile walk. He was alone. He was a bivocational tent maker. He was stressed, impressed in the spirit. Amen. He had a sense of failure. But I'm going to tell you something. He was frustrated, leaving a city of idolatry and heading for the worst world of immorality since city itself. The temple of Aphrodite, the goddess of six thousand of prostitutes, sold their bodies in the temple in the name of religion. Unappreciated, he later wrote to the people of Corinth. And I'm going to tell you, he spent his time for the Lord. And I'm glad that when he went on a trip, he had been beaten. He had been jailed at Philippi, persecuted Thessalonica and Berea, ridiculed at Athens. But now he was facing car rent. Brothers, sister, listen, these three promises for the when you need to get your second spiritual wind. When you get winded, we've got the promise of God's presence, amen. Get out of the way, devil. Get out of the way, hallelujah. Because we got the promise of God in times of loneliness, amen. I'm glad, listen, God can be right there. Your best friend may stab you in the back, but he's the friend that's, there's a friend that sticks closer than a brother, amen. All of a sudden, there's times of loneliness. You get down in the valley. Oh, man. All of a sudden, you get discouraged and sick, financial. Oh, man. There's a little boy went home after school very sad. He told his mom about Billy, his best friend, who had been absent for three days and found out today when he returned to class that his daddy had died. And when he told this, he cried and he just laid his head flat on his desk. Mom, what do you do? I didn't know what to do. So I just laid my head on my desk and I cried with him. That's the kind of Savior that we have. He touched the feelings of our infirmities. I'm glad that every one of us, he's there in the valley with you because he's made us a promise of his presence. Amen. The loneliness, amen. When there's death, amen. I'm glad all of these things that we see that God can be for us. Oh, when we look at Paul's comeback, we see the reality of that discouragement. We see that divine encouragement. He had a dream. God said, hey, listen, plow the fields up with him. Take the word of God and rip up the ground because the Holy Spirit is going to do a great mighty work, hallelujah, with the perseverance and the impact that you're going to make. Praise his mighty name. He said, just go forward. Amen. And so I'm glad that when God began to open up the doors, amen, we see thirdly that perseverance and that impact that Paul is about to make in Corinth. Amen. Here, when we look and realize that what the Lord is doing, what the Lord is going to do, amen, because we face that opposition. Paul continued to face it, even being brought before the judgment seat by the Jews. However, God's protection remained evident as Galileo dismissed the case, amen, as we get into the wonderful word of God, amen. Praise God he said and when Galileo was the deputy of Acadia and the Jews made insurrection with what accord against Paul and brought him to the judgment seat in verse 13 saying this fellow persuaded men to worship God contrary to the law verse 14 and when Paul was now about to open his mouth Galileo said unto the Jews if it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness of you Jews reason would that I should bear with you But if it be a question of words and names and of your law, look ye to it, for I will be no judge of such matters.' And he drove them from the judgment seat." And then all the Greeks took Sophates, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Galileo cared for none of those things. He didn't participate in it. Amen. I'm glad that when we look at this, The Christian disciples saw God's hand at work. God fulfilled his promise. And I'm glad that Galileo began his rule in the district of Acadia, to which Corinth was a part. The Jews, thinking they might be able to manipulate this new speaker, rose up against Paul and dragged him before Galileo. But Galileo would have nothing to do with this religious hair splitting. He had them removed from the court. The Jews, embarrassed in shame, turned against the leader, Sothenes, who had aroused them against Paul, and they beat him so their own people beat their own people. Hey, I tell you what, Sophonis later became a convert to Christ, praise his mighty name. He became a minister of the gospel with Paul, and it tells us that back over in 1 Corinthians 1, verse 1, how marvelous the Lord fulfilled his promise to Paul, not only in protecting him from harm, but the Lord converted the very leader of those that would bring harm his way. And so, when we look and we realize that we face opposition, But God's protection remained evident as Galileo dismissed the case that was there. Amen. And so we see that steadfastness of it. Amen. When it happens. You know what? Here are those three promises for that second spiritual wind to get. That second one, we have the promise of God's protection. No man shall sit on thee to hurt thee. They might be killed. They might have been killed, Pastor Paul, but not until he was saying, I finished my course. Paul had a job to do. And I believe that with us. There ain't nothing going to happen to you till you get done with what God's got for you to do. That's your mission. That's your purpose. Don't be worried about it and be afraid of all this other. You get up and do what God's gifted you to do. God has a purpose for your life. greater than your job, and if you choose to, you can live it out fearlessly, though there will be persecution, though there will be trials, though there will be hardships, but until your work is done. God's not finished with you, ma'am. God's not finished with you, sir. The devil can't harm you. Man can't hurt you. Disease can't touch you. And there's no accidents because God alone, he'll call you home when the time is right. I know for a fact, I know the power. I know what I'm saying. I've done there, been there and done that, but not by myself. The Lord did it all. I did nothing but obey Him and stand up and He spoke. Amen. I stood up and He did everything. I stood up, He saved. I'm glad I did nothing but make myself available and obedient servant to the call. And so I'm glad that every one of us, when we look at life today, to live is Christ and to die is gain. And so Ahead of us, we got a guide. Behind us, he's our guard. Under us are the everlasting arms. Above us, as we look up, he's ever-present. And in the cloud of glory, hallelujah, praise God's mighty name. I'm glad that all that we go through, every one of us, we have a Heavenly Father, that we have the promise of God's protection. Amen. And so, We go on, and Paul, after this, tarried there yet a while, a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila, having shorn his head in Censurea, for he had a vow. Now, when we look at this, he struck out despite being comfortably settled there. He put himself under a vow when he needed to. He made the disciples of those that would go with him, and then he witnessed faithfully wherever he was. And I'm glad that each and every one of us, as he struck out, he was protected. And I'm glad God did everything to do to keep that wonderful promise of protection, amen. And so when we look back and we realize that everything that God did for us, God's always in that spiritual wind of what he's going to do, amen. Sometimes I'm glad that God's people need a spiritual second wind, amen. And so when that happens, God provides for us, amen. Because I'm glad every one of us, as we go through life, we see what God is wanting to do when we go forward and begin. How many turn away from God's call because of family and friends, success and acceptance, position and prestige, possessions and materialism, security and safety? Boy, Paul had been there 18 months and he says, I got to keep on going. I'm glad that he made a vow. He put himself under a vow when needed. Paul left Corinth and he took some vow before the Lord, refusing to cut his hair like a Nazarite vow until the vow was fulfilled. It was completed when he reached Caesarea and he cut his hair. What was the vow? What was that vow? Well, I don't know precisely, but can I assume maybe? Maybe it was a vow of thanksgiving and praise for such a fruitful ministry in Corinth. Maybe it was a vow of commitment to break away from the comfortable and peaceful ministry that was in Corinth. Maybe it was a vow of prayer for safety as he traveled back home to Antioch. The answer is unknown. But however, there was a great lesson for all of us when we look at this second missionary journey coming to a close. Paul took a vow and that vow Every one of us, if a man vow a vow unto the Lord or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth in Numbers chapter 30 verse 2. The eastern part of Corinth, a separate town in Caesarea, the city had a strong church there. Paul praised Thebe, a deaconess of the church, according to Romans chapter 16 verses 1 and 2. and their heroic disciple trained others because Paul took Priscilla and Aquila with him. And I'm glad Paul was committed to making disciples, to building witnesses and ministers. He trained them that were willing to go with him. Priscilla was named before her husband, Aquila. And this is very significant, probably pointing to the fact that she was the stronger, more mature Christian of the two men. You're supposed to be that strong servant, but if you ain't going to be what you're supposed to be, move out of the way and let your wife come in. She'll take, she'll lead if you can't lead. You're supposed to be the spiritual leader, but if you're not, get out of the way and let her lead you. Amen. And so Paul stay in Ephesus at this time that we get down into here in just a minute. He says in verse 19, and he came to Ephesus and he left them there. but he himself entered into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. Amen. Here was another witness. No matter where Paul was or the brevity of his stay, He bore testimony to the glorious salvation of Jesus Christ, amen. The humility that you see, he says in verse 20, and when they desired him to tarry a longer time with them, he consented not. Oh my goodness. He goes on, but bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem, but I will return again unto you if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus. You know what? Paul's courtesy to the leaders. who asked him to stay. The whole tone of Paul's answer was a gracious reply. He went to extra pains explaining that he must keep, bid them farewell and keep the feast and that he would return again if God willed. We've got to show the honor to other believers that are around us no matter what. You know what? You need to be the most humblest. Are you the pastor? You need to be the most humblest before everyone because you're the servant of all servants. How important is God's call? You know what? If you don't start out and if your church don't see that in you, they'll never see it because you're the one that is in their face every single day, teaching and preaching and standing up in front of them. And if they don't see no humility and humbleness and crying and sincerity in you, then who will they see it in? They need to see it in the leadership, the spiritual leadership to get that second wind. And so we must show honor to other believers. How important God's call is, how significant our gifts are, how important people may view us, how busy that we may be. And so in verse 22, and when he had landed at Caesarea and gone up and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch. Boy, this wonderful disciple was attached to the mother church at Antioch. I'm glad this was most likely the church at Jerusalem. Jews always spoke of going up to Jerusalem. Nothing is shared about the visit beyond the simple fact that he visited the church in Jerusalem. But another fact is right after visiting Jerusalem church, he went down to Antioch church and nothing is shared about the visit there. Paul had just had the most significant experience of all time, carrying the gospel for the very first time to Europe itself, bursting at the seams with a joy and the fullness of the Lord. He was bound to desire to share the glorious news with his mother church Antioch, but he also longed to share with the mother church of Christianity, Jerusalem itself. And he experienced the fruits of Pentecost on his second missionary journey. And he wanted to share the glorious celebration of Pentecost with the apostles and the others who had experienced Pentecost itself. I'm glad every believer needs such an attachment, a sense of responsibility to their home. Now, again, when we look and we realize the three promises of that getting, catching that spiritual second wind, We have, amen, the promises that the Lord has made to every one of us, amen. And that is when we look and realize that all of the things that the Lord is doing, we got, first of all, the promise of God's presence. Secondly, we've got that promise, amen, that the Lord is going to give us, each and every one of us as we go through life, amen, that we're going to have God's protection. But that third spiritual wind that we have the promise of is God's potential. Why? Because, listen, how could God, as we look at all of the things that are happening, he says, I've got much people in this city, he said a while back. God didn't see all of the perverts of that city for what they were, but for what they were going to be. They were some sinful people. When you go, you don't need to be so judgematic that you begin to see God can save that woman. God can save that man. God can change that old drunkard. God can make a difference because it's God that's doing, not you, not me, myself and I. I'm glad every one of us Some of us, when we see, we need to look with spiritual eyes of what the Lord wants to do. Amen. Because when we face all of these things, we face opposition. Because I'm glad as we get ready to close out, here are some pictures of Centuria, some pictures of where Paul got his haircut when he had made his vow and he got his job done and his mission completed. Amen. I'm glad. when we look and realize, and right in here in Caesarea, right in this point, it was right close by, for someone to need a spiritual second wind, there's an acronym that I wrote. It's the acronym for revive. You need to be revived to get that spiritual second wind reminder. Why? The R is you need to reflect and take time to reflect on your spiritual journey. acknowledging where you've been and where you aspire to go. Secondly, to be able to get that spiritual win, you need the E of revive, engage with scripture, engage with prayer, engage with community and spiritual verver. That V of revive, the vulnerability, be vulnerable with yourself and trust individuals about those aspirations in your faith journey. Also of that revive, the I, The intentionality. Be intentional about cultivating spiritual practices and habits that nourish your soul. And the V of that revive. Vision. Have vision. Revisit your spiritual vision and purpose, allowing it to guide your actions and decisions. And lastly of that revive. Encourage. The word E. Encourage. Seek and offer encouragement within your spiritual community, recognizing that we are all on this journey together. Hey, it's not your church. It's not your church. It is the church of the Lord. These steps can help provide a framework to seek a renewed sense of spiritual vitality if we just seek them out. And so when we look the reality of that discouragement, the divine encouragement and the perseverance and the impact that it makes, God's people need that spiritual second wind. Amen. And I'm glad that when we do that, when we get that spiritual second wind, I'm glad that all of us, we may, like Paul, find a renewed strength and courage in the face of adversity. We got to remember that God's with us, empowering us to overcome every obstacle. And as we continue our journey of faith, we can cling to his promises and press toward the prize that awaits us. Every Christian should know the gospel. Every Christian ought to be able to explain the Romans road, amen, and the passages of the truth that it talks about, that God says, listen, in Romans 3.23, for all who have sinned and come short of the glory of God. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord in Romans 6.23. In Romans 5.8, for God commended His love toward us and that while we yet sinners, Christ died for us. And I'm glad that He told us in Romans 10.9, that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thy heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. And lastly, Romans 10.13, for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Put your name right there. for the whosoever, for Daryl Bailey, for John, for Mike, for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. I'm glad on that Romans road that we go, we can be fully committed to God. Here in that commitment, would you make that commitment right now to be fully committed to God? I'm glad that, listen, Simply step out on faith and pray this with me that you believe it with all of your heart. Understanding that I'm a sinner, but believing that Jesus Christ died on the cross to free me from the punishment of my sins. I now receive him as my Lord and Savior. And from this day forward, I desire to live to please Christ and in placing my trust in him for the gift of eternal life. Amen. Listen, you can sign that. You can make that available to yourself, that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in thy heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. How about it? Huh? How about it? Because it's all about Paul's Corinthian comeback, spreading the gospel, strengthening the church on mission wherever you are, because everybody needs to catch that second spiritual wind. Now, I'm gonna tell you, how can we look at ourselves and begin to do that? Let's close out with that time of prayer, amen, for the Lord and ask him to do what no one else can do for us, amen, right now as we remember what the Lord wants to do. Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us that spiritual wind. Your presence is with us, your power, your potential. I've got that second wind, Father. I want to have a comeback. I don't care what's discouraged me. I don't care what's happened to me in past days. Right now, I'm on the comeback for the Lord. Touch that individual right now in Jesus's marvelous mighty name. Amen. Thank you for tuning in.