I have many people in this city

Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.” And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

 Acts 18:9–11

In our midweek meetings we have been going through the book of Acts.  This past week while looking at Paul's ministry in Corinth, Paul is preaching the gospel, people are becoming followers of Jesus and many others are upset by this.  Usually this proclamation of the Good News meant bad news for Paul personally as he would usually be beaten up or run out of the city at this point.  

This is a critical moment for the ministry in Corinth as Paul is experiencing fear.  Jesus tells Paul in a vision not to fear, in fact the New American Standard Bible reads "Do not be afraid any longer."  So often we can experience fear when telling people the good news of Jesus.  Often people do not see it as good news but are rather insulted and begin to retaliate, which can easily have a cooling effect on our zeal and desire to proclaim such a glorious gospel.

Last week in preparation for our home group, I was meditating on these words of Jesus here in Acts 18.  Paul is afraid; Jesus speaks; then Paul stays longer at Corinth proclaiming the good news of Jesus longer than anywhere else to date (18 months).  What was the encouragement that Jesus gave Paul to embolden him?  Part of it was the personal promise to Paul that he wasn't going to get his teeth kicked in while at Corinth, and Jesus was faithful to that promise.  But I believe there is much more than that.

Jesus says, "for I have many people in this city".  That word used for people is laos in the Greek which is usually the word used for God's chosen people.  Jesus is telling Paul that many people in Corinth have been appointed to salvation.  

Jesus is imparting to Paul his vision for the city of Corinth.  Because of fear, it would be easy to forget that Jesus has a vision and a purpose for the city.  The Father tells Jesus in Psalm 2:8, "Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession."  Jesus wants the city of Corinth and he has a vision for that city because all the cities and all the nations are his inheritance.

What about your context?  What about your city? your workplace? your neighbourhood? your social network?  If you are from our church, what about Leatherhead?  Do you know what Jesus' vision is for your church, neighbourhood, marketplace, and city?  I'm convinced that he does have a vision.  What is his vision?  We do not know to whom salvation is appointed, but we do know that there are those out there waiting to hear the Good News. 

Let us commit to seeking the Lord, and asking him to impart his vision and desire for the places he has strategically placed us.  Let us receive our perspective from our Master as Paul did.  The result for Paul was the opposite of a cooling effect on his witness and mission; it was fuel for his fire. The disciple knew what his Master/Friend was doing (John 15:15) and joined Jesus on his mission for Corinth.  

Jesus said, "for I am with you".  This would have been a great comfort to know that Jesus was with Paul.  Paul wasn't 'going it alone'.  Jesus is with Paul in the proclaiming of the Good News.  Notice what Jesus tells Paul, "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; FOR I am with you...".  We see a very similar phrasing in Matthew 28:18-20 as Jesus calls his disciples to make disciples, promising to be with them.  There is a strong connection between the presence of Jesus and the proclaiming of the Good News.  Jesus' mission was the gospel (good news).  Our mission should be joining him on his mission.  In other words, there is a sense that he is with us because we are with him in what he is already doing.

May the Lord encourage you in this.  To be on Jesus' mission is to be with Jesus as he promised in the "Great comission" (Matt 28:20), "Lo, I am with you always." As he promised to Paul in Acts 18, "I am with you."  It's Jesus' vision, it's Jesus' mission, it's our joy to join Jesus in what he is doing.