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by Sandy Shaw
Acts 17:14-34. We read here of the apostle Paul - a man of God exercising a prophetic ministry - with apostolic power and authority - with prophetic insight - with that ability to discern what was of God and what was of the evil one - with gifts of the Holy Spirit operating in his life - and the fruit of the Holy Spirit so visibly obvious - and he has to flee to Athens for his own safety.
This was all the result of a vision. "O God give us a fresh vision". Be careful when you pray that. The consequence of that vision given in Troas was - Paul in prison in Philippi - at the centre of a riot in Thessalonica - and the target of agitators and stirrers up of people in Berea. All this followed one fresh vision.
He is alone in Athens. Everything looks so desolate - so totally disastrous - he is surrounded by idolatry. What can a man do? Go for a walk!
Do you see yourself in these verses? Tell my pals to come soon. Command my colleagues to come quickly. Instruct the others in the team to join me as fast as they can.
If I may add a personal note - I was teaching in Kisumu, Kenya, earlier this year, and I experienced a season of being alone - an aloneness when everything went so quiet at night. This was the verse I spoke from, on my return to Scotland when reporting on that time in Kenya. These verses are highly relevant and most apposite.
Paul was alone in Athens for his own safety and survival. In verse 16 - we read 'greatly distressed'. O surely dearly beloved Paul, a slave of the Lord Jesus Christ, was never 'greatly distressed'. Luke - you must be exaggerating! No, No, No!
How many would turn to these words as one of their favourite passages? Yet we probably experience this more than some of the other great biblical truths.
Paul is facing the fury of the enemy - physically and emotionally and spiritually. It is as though he is experiencing this cauldron of confusion and turmoil - alone. It all appears a bit of a mess, Jesus.
If you happen to be going through something akin to this in these days, do not think that you must be out of the will of God. These are seasons we have to experience, and it is when we study the Scriptures that we are given an insight and understanding as to why.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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