Encouragements
Joshua 1:9
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
IT SHALL BE AS GOD HAS SAID IT WILL BE!
Acts 27:25 “Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.”
Do you have specific promises that God has told you?
Do you have a journal for what God has told you?
Do you believe it shall be exactly as God has told you?
Jesus told Apostle Paul that he would represent Him before kings.
Acts 9:15 “But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:”
It was God’s Will for Apostle Paul to testify of Him in Rome.
Acts 23:11 “And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.”
On Paul’s journey to Rome, there was tempestuous wind and stormy weather that stood against the Fulfillment of Jesus’ Promise to him.
Acts of the Apostles 27:7-9, 14, 18, 20 “We had several days of slow sailing, and after great difficulty we finally neared Cnidus. But the wind was against us, so we sailed across to Crete and along the sheltered coast of the island, past the cape of Salmone. We struggled along the coast with great difficulty and finally arrived at Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea. We had lost a lot of time. The weather was becoming dangerous for sea travel because it was so late in the fall, and Paul spoke to the ship’s officers about it. But the weather changed abruptly, and a wind of typhoon strength (called a “northeaster”) burst across the island and blew us out to sea. The next day, as gale-force winds continued to batter the ship, the crew began throwing the cargo overboard. The terrible storm raged for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone.” NLT
From all indications, it looked like Jesus’ promise of bringing Paul to Rome would not be fulfilled.
The Lord saw the opposing forces of the enemy and Paul’s predicament, thereby, He sent His angel to reassure Paul that His Promise to him will still come to pass.
Acts 27:23-24 “For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Cæsar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.”
Apostle Paul had a choice to believe God based on his relationship with God and experience of God OR doubt God because of the forcefully opposing reality of the tempestuous wind and stormy weather.
Apostle Paul chose to believe in God!
Acts 27:25 “Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.”
Jesus did exactly what He promised Paul!
Paul arrived in Rome safely despite the conflicting opposition of the boisterous wind and stormy weather.
Acts 28:16 “And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.”
I do not know what God has told you and the conflicting facts that stand against the fulfillment of God’s Promise and Word to you.
You can either believe God because of who He is and what He has done OR choose to doubt God because of the towering facts.
I beseech you to believe God that it shall be as He has said it will be.
Do not cast away your confidence in God because it will be greatly rewarded by God.
Hebrews 10:35 “Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward.” AMPC
Luke 1:45 “And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.”
Numbers 23:19 “God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?” NLT
Prayer:
Lord, I thank you for seeing what I am going through and for sending a Word of encouragement to me.
I pray for the grace to hold on to my Confidence in you and in your Promise to me.
I pray against every spirit of doubt and alternatives that want to rob me of receiving and enjoying your Precious and Glorious Promise.
I believe it shall be as you have told me it will be. In Jesus’ mighty name, I pray. Amen.
