20-03-2022 What made Apostle Paul’s Heart Bold?

Title: What made Apostle Paul’s Heart Bold?

Acts 28:11-16 talk about the last part of Apostle Paul’s life. At this stage, he was about 70 years old and couldn’t see much because of the eye diseases that he had. He didn’t have a wife nor a son: no family left for him, even if he had anyone, the Bible didn’t say that they were with Apostle Paul. He was in extreme restriction because he was being shifted to Rome to be executed. He couldn’t even go to the toilet freely.

However, Apostle Paul in verse 15 says to us that he thanked God and found courage (Acts 28:15).

1. Courage

What is courage?

It is said in the English dictionary that it is the ability to do something that frightens someone or the strength in the face of pain or grief.

• Will

In order to have a marital relationship, to educate your children, and to attend various meetings and services in the church, you need the will. Without the will, you may still do things but there is no feeling of reward of worth. Therefore, the will is the courage.

• Determination

Our life is an adventure because we don’t know what is coming. In the same way, our life of faith or spiritual life is also an adventure. If you don’t have the determination, you cannot go even one step forward.

Think about the incident of Jericho. The people of Israel had to walk around the city for 7 times. While they were doing it, the enemy could come out and attack them or the enemy could lock down the castle even more securely. But in such adventurous situation, the people of Israel were determined to follow God’s instruction and walk around the city 7 times. Therefore, to be determined for what to do and what not to do is also courage.

In the final journey of his life, when everyone is losing hope, he found courage and was restored with great will and great determination. The figure of Apostle Paul was not the figure of a loser but a brave soldier. Do you feel like receiving such blessing? Do you feel like becoming a person of courage and bravery like Apostle Paul? Amen.

• When or how do we become courageous?

• When we have the object to love

Some of the believers came to meet Apostle Paul. They were the people who received the Word and implanted faith about a year ago through Apostle Paul. They came to Appius where is about 50 miles (80km) away from Rome. They were not the rich, nor the powerful, but lay people who just loved the Word of God.

Apostle Paul was a bit worried because as he was going to be executed, there would be no one who would come to him. Yet, when he saw that there were still people whom he can deliver the Word of God, when he saw that there were still the people who are spiritually hungry and thirsty, he became courageous and found the reason or the worth of his life in Rome.

Look at Jhn 3:16, God stated that the reason why He sent His only begotten son Jesus to us is also because He loved us.

See, to have the object to love becomes the source of courage. Of course, we love our children, we love our husband and wife, we love our parents, we love our colleagues. But did Apostle Paul become courageous because they were any of these? Did he become courageous because they brought something good to him first?

Apostle Paul saw the spiritual hunger. Therefore, who should we love today? The one who are spiritually hungry and thirsty. When we have the love for those who need the Word of God, those who are wandering in the world, we will be given the courage to go to them and do greater works regardless of situation (2 Cor 12:15; Col 1:24)

(2) When we have spiritual comrades

Look at these brethren who came to Apostle Paul. They didn’t mind travelling for 80km. They didn’t mind being caught or being persecuted to be known as the followers of Apostle Paul.

Look at Jesus Christ. When He preached that only the ones who eat His flesh and drink His blood will be saved, many left Jesus. So, He asked His disciples whether they also want to leave Him (Jhn 6:66-68).

Peter answered “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Isn’t it amazing? Can you see that it refreshed the heart of Jesus?

Church is the place where the people believe Jesus as the Word of Eternal Life, and the people who are the spiritual comrades gather (1 Cor 1:10).

When we compete in an athlete game, although it is not my turn to play, we all cheer out and regard as if we are playing. This is the heart of comrades.